Beginners Choice

[Ian FullwoodParticipant @ianfullwood22733]

Is this a suitable project for a beginner? Timescale not a problem (retired). Skills are really finescale modeling (2mmFS) rather than engineering but will have a lathe soon. Would rather have a 'project' to work too than just mess around on producing nothing. I do not own a milling machine and will be learning 'on the job'. I am a member of an ME club but have been unable to attend for a while.

Would not want to get disheartened if to difficult for beginner.

[Ian FullwoodParticipant @ianfullwood22733]

SINGLE CYLINDER MILL ENGINE By Julius de Waal

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

If it were me I would go for another design that Julius has redrawn, either his plans for the Potty Horizontal or contact Stew Hart the original designer for his drawings of the engine in this thread.

Being a bit smaller it would be easier to do the milling on a lathe and there are a lot that have been built so you should find other peoples build threads to see how they went about it

[Jim NicParticipant @jimnic]

+1 for the Potty engine.

This one has a bought in governor and throttle valve but is a good project without enhancements.  It was originally designed as a part of the "Dad's and Lad's" series for beginners.

I also find Stew's drawings easier to work to than Julius' offerings.

Jim

 

Edited By Jim Nic on 01/07/2023 21:14:01

[WearyParticipant @weary]

Maybe worth getting Stuart Hart's book, 'Making Model Victorian Stationary Engines', which covers three of his designs (including his horizontal mill-engine) with full drawings and construction notes.

Phil

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

I made the pottymill a while ago and found it fairly straight forward but added a few mods.

David

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

I would be inclined to make one of Stuart’s designs, they are proven to work and buying his book will give you everything you need to be successful, I am not a great fan Julius de walls designs, he seems to bash out a couple a month and there are some errors in them, the last thing a beginner would want, nothing is more soul destroying than spending time making a couple of bits only to find they don’t fit. No connection with either gentleman, just an opinion I have formed from reading various forums and magazines and talking to people.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I found Mr De Waals system very easy to follow once I got into it for drawing the Dake Square engine

If his Potty does have any issues you'll find them in the numerous build threads on the netty

Some drawings are quite a challenge to figure out but De Waals system dovetails together nicely once you get over the cramped style. Just use a pdf viewer and zoom into each part in the sequence

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The main problem with JDW's drawings is if the geometry does not fit he just makes things a loose fit so the simulation on screen allows the engine to turn over. You don't hear the loose fits knocking in screen. Plus all boiler designs are untested and some you simply can't put together.

As most are taken from existing model designs the originals are often the best bet. I've not seen threads of the potty built to JDW drawings only Stew's

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Jasons advice is the way to go ^^

[Ian FullwoodParticipant @ianfullwood22733]

Posted by Weary on 01/07/2023 21:17:23:

Maybe worth getting Stuart Hart's book, 'Making Model Victorian Stationary Engines', which covers three of his designs (including his horizontal mill-engine) with full drawings and construction notes.

Phil

Thanks – sounds like this is the way to go before going too far with little knowledge.

Ian F

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I just checked Stew's original build thread on MEM and he actually did it without a mill, just using a lathe and bench drill. Pictures are watermarked now but should give an idea of what is involved here

[Author]

Posts