The Engineers Emporium – Red Wing hit and miss engine

[TiddlerTadParticipant @tiddlertad]

Hi

I've been looking for a hit and miss kit for a while and see the Engineers Emporium sell a Red Wing 1/4 scale version. This seems to really fit the bill as I can just manage to machine the 8" flywheels on my Sieg SC4 lathe.

However I've seen little customer feedback regarding The Engineers Emporium (LA Services Ltd) and I just want to make sure that I'm dealing with a well respected company. The other concern I have is that their website has no secure method of providing credit card information.

If anyone has had recent experience of this company (or indeed the 1/4 scale Red Wing), I would really appreciate your feedback.

Many thanks

Andrew

[TiddlerTadParticipant @tiddlertad]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I've had a few bits off them in the past and they have been fine to deal with.

Not quite sure if they will be able to dispatch straight away as I understand Adrian is in hospital but best to call or e-mail as they may have stock on the shelf ready to go.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

They often attend the Midland Model Engineering show but they don’t seem to be listed for the Ally Pally show in January. I don’t have any personal experience of dealing with them but I am sure they would have featured on here if anyone had a negative experience, so that must be a big positive.

Mike

[TiddlerTadParticipant @tiddlertad]

Hi Jason – many thanks for the feedback – it's very much appreciated.

Andrew

[TiddlerTadParticipant @tiddlertad]

Thanks Mike. I had seen that they had attended previous shows but nothing recently – so that worried me a little.

Based on Jason's comment, I'll email them to see if they have one in stock, and take it from there.

All the best.

Andrew

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

I'll be interested to see how you get on Andrew as I am planning to do that or one similar in the new year.

Regards, Henry.

[LathejackParticipant @lathejack]

Forest Classics also offer the Red Wing engine, so it might be worth comparing their engine kit with the one from The Engineers Emporium.

There is only a £10 difference in the listed price from both companies, Engineers Emporium list 9 Iron & 10 brass castings with the kit, but Forest Classics list 11 of both.

i bought the water cooled Red Wing kit from Engineers Emporium several years ago. Overall the kit was fine but at that time did not include the conrod or crankshaft casting. They did include them later but when I spoke to the chap at the Harrogate show and asked if I could buy the conrod and crank for the engine I had bought from them he replied with a rather blunt NO without explanation. But they were very helpful when I asked them if they would replace the two flywheel castings which were both badly misaligned each side of the casting joint line, and they replaced them at the Harrogate show 18 months after I originaly purchased the kit.

 When the Forest Classics Red Wing Kit appeared it did did look to be a slightly neater kit with much better brass or bronze castings, and a few extra parts included, but the Engineers Emporium version might have improved since I bought mine from them.

 That reminds me, I still haven't finished this engine, so I must root out all the parts and jolly well get on and finish it.

 

Edited By Lathejack on 27/12/2019 22:25:39

[LainchyParticipant @lainchy]

Do I feel a new build diary coming Andrew! I'll be watching another for sure, and strangely enough, I've been googling a nice hit and miss engine today, including the RedWing!

[Jeff ChilverParticipant @jeffchilver13861]

Hi I bought the Red Wing castings from the Emporium a couple of years ago . I picked them up at Doncaster , Adran even carried them out to the car for me ! . On looking through the kit at home I found a couple of the small items to be missing . Rang the firm and the missing items were dispatched straight away . I have purchased other sets from them and had equally good service .

I finished the engine and it looks good and runs well so I'm delighted with it .Hope you are equally so in due course.

[TiddlerTadParticipant @tiddlertad]

Many thanks for all the advice. Having just checked out Forest Classics I must say that their 1/4 scale W/C Red Wing is very tempting. In fact I would have gone ahead and ordered one, but they are currently out of stock. I'll contact them to see when they expect them back in.

And yes – hopefully a series of a Red Wing build will start to appear on my YT channel.

Thanks again!

Andrew

[Dennis RaynerParticipant @dennisrayner52782]

I just wondered if you were aware of https://www.rcdon.com/html/red_wing_engine_project.html

[TiddlerTadParticipant @tiddlertad]

Wow – thanks Dennis. That is extremely informative and it will be an excellent reference.

All the best.

Andrew

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I am 99% sure that the ones Forrest sell come from the US and the ones EE do are cast here so some differences.

[LathejackParticipant @lathejack]

Yes Jason I'm sure that is correct, it's what I was told when I bought my engine.

Because the chap at Engineers Emporium wouldn't sell me the crank and conrod castings I ended up buying the two items from Forest Classics, who were happy to supply them even though I hadn't bought the engine from them.

[Anonymous]

PM sent to the OP.

Andrew

[Philip BurleyParticipant @philipburley44197]

I got mine from Forest Classics a few months ago , I have machined the base casting and the crankshaft , Working on the flywheels now

regards Phil

[MalcParticipant @malc]

Hi Andrew,

When I was looking for my first lathe I rang Engineers Emporium several times, each time I was promised a call back but never received one. As the firm is local to me I decide to call in. On arriving I was asked whether I had made an appointment, when I said no I was asked to leave. Needless to say I took my business elsewhere. Wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole personally!

[TiddlerTadParticipant @tiddlertad]

Many thanks for the latest posts. I've decided to go with Forest Classics. Their website looks very professional and they have received very good feedback. Shame that they are out of stock of the w/c Red Wing at the moment.

Cheers

Andrew

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

Posted by Andrew Whale 1 on 28/12/2019 14:26:41:

Many thanks for the latest posts. I've decided to go with Forest Classics. Their website looks very professional and they have received very good feedback. Shame that they are out of stock of the w/c Red Wing at the moment.

Cheers

Andrew

I've just asked for an expected delivery date Andrew, no reply yet, did they suggest when they might be in stock?

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Posted by Dennis Rayner on 28/12/2019 08:47:46:

I just wondered if you were aware of https://www.rcdon.com/html/red_wing_engine_project.html

Good link thanks

H

[Dennis RaynerParticipant @dennisrayner52782]

I kept this link because I have been thinking about building one of these for some time. I'm alternatively considering the Economy engine which is also from Engineers Emporium. https://modelengineeringwebsite.com/Economy_engine_1.html

[TiddlerTadParticipant @tiddlertad]

Hi Henry – I'm still waiting for a reply from Forest Classics – but it Christmas hols – yay!

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

Posted by Andrew Whale 1 on 28/12/2019 21:36:05:

Hi Henry – I'm still waiting for a reply from Forest Classics – but it Christmas hols – yay!

LOL, I'm waiting to buy a new lathe so I know what you mean. I was wondering if there was any advantage in a group buy as there seems to be a bit of interest…

[TiddlerTadParticipant @tiddlertad]

Thanks Harry – Dennis also suggested rcdon.com. It will be extremely helpful.

All: I contacted Forest Classics the other day and Phil advised that they were expecting some Red Wings in during the first couple of weeks in Jan. So I'm ceeping my eyes peeled.

Many thanks for all the advice – very much appreciated.

Andrew

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