Hemingway Kits

[James Hall 3Participant @jameshall3]

Hi Everyone

I’ve completed my first two models, Stuart 10H and a Stuart Beam. I have a D10 kit bought fairly cheaply on Ebay but, while shared components between models may be convenient for Stuart I’m wondering if I want to go on immediately to machine many of the same parts again.

The Hemingway steam kits (particularly the Fieldhouse Winding Engine and B Hick & Son – Crank Overhead Engine) look tempting – has anyone experience of these, or other, Hemingway kits? Your comments, experiences and recommendations (or otherwise) would be very welcome.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Build log the Hick over on MEM forum, have a feeling someone has also done the winding engine there, have a trawl through the “engines from castings” section. You need to be registered there to see some of the attached images.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

I have done LOTS of Hemingway stuff both tooling and engines and have yet to find any faults yet. I am about to place another order

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

I’ve built two Hemingway kits, the Boring-Bar set (for between-centres boring on the lathe) and the ‘Worden’ Tool-&-Cutter Grinder. I’ve also started a Slotting Tool (for cutting keyways on the lathe).

The last is particularly aimed at Myford lathe owners but could be adapted to fit other lathes with slotted cross-slides with the same or more height clearance; e.g. by making a raising-block.

I am very happy with them: good quality castings, properly-made drawings, clear manuals advising how to make the kits. The company seems to test the construction on a Myford lathe, and base the instructions on that, judging by the photographs in the hand-book.

The only point to watch is that it supplies bar material as blanks cut to length plus machining allowance, sometimes difficult to hold in the machine. In some such instances I have resorted to my “stock” collection of material.

[Nigel Graham 2]

On Nigel Graham 2 Said:

The only point to watch is that it supplies bar material as blanks cut to length plus machining allowance, sometimes difficult to hold in the machine. In some such instances I have resorted to my “stock” collection of material.

I have built quite a few of their kits and my only complaint is that a lot of the bar stock is cut dead to size or in some cases slightly undersized. I usually end up throwing theirs away and using my own stock of metals.

[Andrew CrowParticipant @andrewcrow91475]

If you don’t want the basic steel, brass etc, I believe that for overseas customers they do a castings and drawings only service to save shipping costs,  You could contact Kirk at Hemingway’s to see if he would supply in that format for a UK customer.

Andy.

 

[derek hall 1Participant @derekhall1]

I think Kirk was also looking at a “drawings only” option, instead of having to purchase a complete kit of bar stock. Not seen any recent news of this yet though.

I have even spotted some errors on Kirk’s drawings for the mk3 Quorn! I have let him know…..

I have made many of Hemingway’s tools and bits for the workshop, all of them very useful in my workshop.

[Raymond GriffinParticipant @raymondgriffin40985]

I have made engines and workshop tools from Hemmingway kits and always been happy with the kits. The quality of drawings and instruction sheets is very good, as are the materials supplied. In particular I have found the castings to be of very good quality; no holes or hard bits. As others have noted, the materials are often cut close to size, so some thought can be required on holding in the lathe or mill. Sometimes I substitute from my own stock if it is easier.

I am currently making the Fieldhouse engine (see photo) which is an interesting project. I live in France so probably won’t get to the Tolson Museum to see the original. However, the curator of the museum is very helpful and kindly sent me photos of it. It is worth bearing in mind that the flywheel is 8 5/16 “in diameter and the casting weighs 1.683Kg. The winding drum is also a bit of a lump, weighing in at 2.956 Kg. I have the equipment to cope with it, so no worries there. I have started to write a construction series for an article in Model Engineer but will not put much more effort into it until I see how the new style magazine develops.

I did have an article published in Model Engineer on the Ransome and May engine built from a Hemmingway kit in 2014. That was a nice engine to build and now powers my model of an engineering workshop.

Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have particular questions about constructing the Fieldhouse engine.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Have just ordered a kit (Incl drawings) for a Worden cutter grinder, destined for The WaterWorks Museum

All the tooling kits previously bought have been fault free.

Howard

 

[Dave SParticipant @daves59043]

I used a couple of their small surface plate castings in my current CNC build:

 

They machined and hand scraped very well. Good quality castings.

 

Dave

[James Hall 3Participant @jameshall3]

A rather belated thanks to all of you helpful souls who answered my query.

It looks as though everyone has been happy with the Hemingway kits (except a bit less with the chap pointed to by JasonB) although some reservations regarding stock lengths.

It looks as if buying in one own’s stock might be a good option with the caution that the castings only kits don’t appear to include bevel/spur gears where needed; I’m not equipped for gear cutting so that might be a problem unless suitable ones can be sourced elsewhere.

Once again, thanks for the help.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

The gears needed but not supplied are likely readily available from transmission-parts stockists, sold as “stock gears” with or without pilot bores.

[Nick HughesParticipant @nickhughes97026]

If in the UK, Try HPC gears.

Must say that the Dynamic Toolpost Grinder kit I had from them was fine, with adequate but not excessive machining/holding allowance.

However fast forward a couple of years to the present and because I was not happy with my machining of the belt covers, I have been trying (for 3 months now) to purchase a replacement set. Despite messaging them several times via the Contact details on their website, they have not had the courtesy to reply!

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Depends on the model you want to make as to how easy it will be to substitute gears. The skew gears for some of the IC engines won’t be off the shelf and even things like bevel gears for governors you may have to make some compromises and get the nearest that will fit.

For example you are unlikely to easily find circular pitch bevel gears as specified for the above Ransom & May available you will have to convert to nearest available DP or MOD and adjust parts to suit which is probably what Hemmingway have done for the gears they supply for that particular engine..

[James Hall 3Participant @jameshall3]

Raymond Griffin: Thanks for the comprehensive answer – is that  your Ransome and May Engine on the cover – looks marvelous. I’m tempted by all the Hemingway steam kits – but the winding engine flywheel might be a bit dodgy for my SC4 lathe which will swing 83/8″ over the bed so onl 1/32″ to spare which doesn’t allow for much oversize in the casting (wondering if could mount on rotary table and initially trim if needed). Your pic of work in progress for the winding engine looks very tasty indeed.
Please see also my following posting as regards difficulty.

[James Hall 3Participant @jameshall3]

Thanks again for all your responses to my question.

I should perhaps also have asked opinions on the difficulty/complexity of the Hemingway kits – particularly the steam engines of which I would like to try one. I’m a relative beginner having so far just built the Stuaart H10 and beam and just finished the govenor for the beam. All has turned out well, and the govenor actually works – though I found it rather fiddly. I’m beginning to wonder if some aspects of the Stuart kits are actually designed with the ourpose of presenting a challenge e.g., the two small fiddly screws securing the ends of the govenor throttle link which are threaded 10BA and could equally well have been 8BA. I note, though, that Hemingway say of the Ransome and May Engine that “whilst construction is somewhat more involved than say a Stuart Victoria engine” which makes me wonder a little – wouldn’t want to expensively bite of more than I can chew!

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

If you have  adigital subscription then Stan Bray’s article on building the R&M is in there. I think it goes smaller than 10BA. On the whole Stuart engines are non scale & made to do work, the Hemmingway offerings and Anthony Mount engines are made to replicate originals and are more finely detailed and likely to just run for display.

Current build thread on the R&M on MEM Forum

 

[James Hall 3]

On James Hall 3 Said:

…

I should perhaps also have asked opinions on the difficulty/complexity of the Hemingway kits – particularly the steam engines of which I would like to try one. I’m a relative beginner having so far just built the Stuaart H10 and beam

…

Can’t answer that, but finishing the Stuarts is a good sign the necessary skills are there or on the way.  As for Hemmingway, they do indicate relative complexity.  “Mr. Whittle states that this is a straightforward engine to build, requiring no special skills or equipment. What is required however is patience! The award winning engine took 6 months to complete and contains a total of 550 components.”

I’m beginning to wonder if some aspects of the Stuart kits are actually designed with the ourpose of presenting a challenge …

Possibly!  Kits are a quick way of sourcing fairly reliable materials and plans.  Although castings save a lot of time compared with fabricating from solid, I think most kit designers try to include a range of interesting challenges in their products because there’s more satisfaction in finishing a difficult job than an unthinking “just follow the instructions” doddle.  Many learners like to start simple and work up, whilst others are motivated by going straight in at the deep end.  (Deep end first has a high failure rate, but hey if it works for you, go for it.)

 

I note, though, that Hemingway say of the Ransome and May Engine that “whilst construction is somewhat more involved than say a Stuart Victoria engine” which makes me wonder a little – wouldn’t want to expensively bite of more than I can chew!

Can’t advise!  Don’t know what equipment you have or what level your skills and experience have reached.

As all can be improved if you get into trouble, I suggest don’t worry too much.   But it is a risk!  A running joke in old issues of Model Engineer magazine is that every reader has a half-finished Quorn under his bench.    Reason, I think, is that Quorns take mucho time to build and people gradually realise they don’t grind enough to justify the effort.

Ask on the forum if you get stuck, or sleep on it.  Maybe necessary to practice on some scrap – all part of the fun!  I don’t think it’s wise to rely entirely on metal provided with the kit – buy in some stock, mistakes will be made…

Dave

[Author]

Posts