N.A. Subscriptions in Disarray

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

“Six munce ago i cutnt even spell ingineer an now i are one”

Edited By Circlip on 29/01/2010 11:03:42

[Robert Thomas 3Participant @robertthomas3]

One of the problems David must face is how to explain a comparatively simple mechamical operation (offsets was his own example) in a reasonable number of words. If everything is described in detail, his student-readers have to plow through a mountain of words, trying to comprehend the basically simple method he is describing, and becoming lost in the shear detail of instruction. How many words does it take to describe how to tie a shoelace?

 

That demonstrates the advantage of having an on-site mentor who can “show-by-doing”. And that, in turn, leads to a suggestion frequently offered: attend night school classes in shop work,  not always convenient (almost impossible in the U.S.) but worth investigating. M.E. often lists schools that give such training at all levels of complexity; clubs frequently present instruction on elementary shop training. The SMEE, for anyone in or near London, provides an excellent course that leads to students making their own stationary engine and boiler.

 

Dive in. It has been rightly said, “I didn’t know I coiuld do that until I tried, and did it”!

 

Bob Thomas

 

[EdgeHill (8a)Participant @edgehill8a]

Thank you all for your words of encouragement. Unfortunately,I cannot get along to a club as I’m disabled.

I have been looking at the Gauge One ‘Project’ locomotive with the accompanying book, andI wondered whether any ‘newbies’ have experience of building this loco ??

EdgeHill (8a)

[Robert Thomas 3Participant @robertthomas3]

Hi, Sorry to learn a disability will prevent you from visiting a club. The Gauge 1 “Project” locomotive, although nominally intended for beginners, is not a particularly simple construction job if you will be working by yourself with no mentor at hand. In addition to making and fitting the numerous chassis components, there will be the boiler to construct as well as a substantial amount of platework.

 

If you are looking for a very first model engineering project, consider beginning with a single-cylinder Stuart Turner stationary engine, such as their 10V or 10H. There are two construction booklets available describing construction of the 10V.  “Building a Steam Engine From Castings” by Edgar T. Westbury is the older and smaller of the two. The other, more informative one is “Building A Vertical Steam Engine from Castings” (64 pp.) by Andrew Smith, former employee of S.T. Smith’s book goes into greater detail with  very clear drawings of each part, numerous clear photographs of nearly every machining operation, and thorough descriptions in text. If MyHobbyStore does not carry Smith’s book, try Camden Miniature Steam Services, another major book dealer. Check with Stuart Turner, too.

 

The cost of S.T. castings is not trivial, however, and it could be expensive to replace a casting inadvertently spoiled during machining – not an unlikely event! Therefore, another approach (below), is worthy of consideration.

 

On an very elementary entry level, there are two books to consider by Tubal Cain. Book 1 describes two types of boiler/engine combinations and a simple model steam crane. The SMEE uses one of the engines from Book 1 in their training classes. Book 2 describes somewhat more involved projects, going rather beyond the toy characteristics of the machines in Vol. 1.  Both of these books are of the hand-holding type, the next best thing to having an instructor at your side. They include clear detail drawings of every part and patient instructions on how to make it.  Some of the engines employ castings for which an English supplier is listed. The castings are very simple, so if one inadvertently spoiled, it could be replaced at minimal cost compared to some of the castings used for the Project locomotive or S.T. engines, or it could even be reproduced from solid material. All the boilers are meths fired. The titles of the books are “Simple Model Steam Engines, Book. 1 and Book.2”  They were published by Nexus, a predecessor to MyHobbyStore, where you should currently be able to obtain a copy of each.

 

Since you are just beginning, consider an elementary project for your first attempt. The job will not be so long that you will become frustrated, and it’s very likely that you could complete both a simple project and another more complex one in the same time interval as if you began with the complex project!

 

I hope these suggestions will guide you in deciding where to begin. Regardless of what you do, continue to read M.E. and/or MEW to get new insights in this greath hobby. And remember, the forums here have great potential for assistance should you encounter any problems during your construction foray. Good luck!

 

Bob Thomas

[EdgeHill (8a)Participant @edgehill8a]

Hello Bob,

Thank you for your fulsome reply. Given what you have written, I will very likely invest  in the Tubal Cain ‘ Simple Model Steam Engines’ book.

As a ‘tyro’ I feel that a step by step guide is just what  I need,as it is very likely that I will scrap many of my first attempts.I would much prefer them to be pieces of mild steel or copper than an expensive casting.

On the subject of materials, could I ask you or other contributers to the forum if you know of a reliable,competitive mail order stock supplier from whom I could buy small quantities.

Unfortunately, because of my disability I cannot go hunting around scrap yards or engineering companies looking for offcuts.

 

Thank you again for your help,

 

EdgeHill (8a)

[Michael Ellis 1Participant @michaelellis1]

If you have access to a high speed internet provider, Youtube is a nearly endless source of video machining clips. Some are clear, some can be confusing to a newcomer. The best single lot is probably the MIT (University) video set of ten sections which take about 7 hours to go through. I down loaded them to my computer from this site

      techtv.mit.edu/genres/24-how-to/videos/142–machine–shop–1

It may take some digging around to find all ten lessons but you will find it time well spent. 

 

ellis 

[Robert Thomas 3Participant @robertthomas3]

Hello again, An excellent listing of model engineerin suppliers can be found at the following URL:  http://www.modeleng.org/suppliers/supply_m.htm

 

Suppliers advertise regularly in M.E., foremost being Reeves 2000 of Austery and GLR Distributors Ltd, Daventry. As I live in the U.S. I have only limited personal experience with British suppliers, except Reeves, a descendent of one of the oldest model engineering firms in the world, which I have always found to be reliable.

 

As I said on the occasion of your first post here, this subject is Off Topic, meaning it is unrelated to the title of the thread. It has nothing to do with delivery of M.E. in North America. Future correspondence about your concerns should be confined to an appropriate category in topics in the main menu.

 

Bob Thomas  

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

Don’t know if it’s just MY interpetation of this thread but what have newbie machineing questions to do with the distribution problems in North America??? Perhaps something in beginers questions would give a wider response??

 

   Regards, confused.

[Robert Thomas 3Participant @robertthomas3]

Exactly my point when I characterized this subject as Off Topic ten posts ago. But I didn’t want to abandon a newcomer on a technicality.

 

To return it to the thread’s title, I received M.E. 4368 yesterday. However, the dummies at remailer ExpressMag consistently spell the name of the magazine in correspondence and on their return address label as “Model Engineers.”  Not to worry, however, MyHobbyStore’s very own Heather Morrison mis-spells their name as “ExpressMags.”  Who is minding the (MyHobby)Store?

 

Bob Thomas

[RoyParticipant @roy91521]

i subscribed early January this year and still have not received a copy or the promised free gift………

DID I JUST WASTE MY MONEY???

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

Hi Roy

Are you in the UK?

Gifts won’t arrive for January subscribers yet.

Allow 4 to 8 weeks depending on when you subscribed, beginning or end of offer period.

I expect you will get issue 161 next week assuming UK.

regards David

 

[Mike Burt 1Participant @mikeburt1]

Following the theme of subscriptions disarray: on 27th January 2010 I renewed my subscription to ME, completed this online and paid via paypal.

On 16th February 2010 I received a letter from Magicalia informing me that my subscription has expired and offering me a special deal to renew.

 

I am not impressed with this at all, I would have thought that there would be better internal communication at least!.

 

Mike

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

We have checked renewal record and Mr Burt was sent his 3rd renewal letter on 15/01/2010 which he then responded to and renewed his subscription payment taken on 27/01/2010. The next effort if he hadn’t of renewed through this letter would have been a Telemarketing phone call so he would not have received another letter after he renewed. We would be happy to discuss his renewal further if he would like to ring CDS customer services on 08456 777 807

Often, a letter will appear int he post after the customer has renewed.

We try to avoid this but there can be an overlap sometimes.

regards david

 

[Robert Thomas 3Participant @robertthomas3]

It is my pleasure to report that M.E. Nos. 4370 and 4371, and March Model Boats,  arrived today.

 

I notice on the current M.E. masthead, under the heading “Management”, the position of Subscriptions Director (Rebecca Blighton) is no longer listed. The only reference to subscriptions management remaining on the masthead is Marketing Manager, Heather Morrison, who has been helpful in rectifying late delivery problems for some subscribers. Could this mean a layer of management has been eliminated?

 

Anyway, we are now waiting to see if ExpressMag will consistently match on-time delivery performance of the late EWA distribution company.

 

Bob Thomas 

[Author]

Posts