What Makes a Good Model Engineer?

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

'About the only thing that "makes" me do anything. these days is my wife ! ( ….and I can't remember her insisting on anything………. however she does seem to have some secret way of influencing my actions. In 50 years or so I've not quite figured out just how she does that )

The unanswerable conundrum, it's in their genes… when you've proved yourself right & other people have confirmed the same you still ask yourself… I was right, why do I feel I've committed a terrible sin…

George.

[julian atkinsParticipant @julianatkins58923]

Having known model engineers such as Don Young, Martin Evans, and Jim Ewins, and many who made parts for the trade, I would say that most really clever model engineers are an odd lot. Anti-social and introvert, difficult to get to know, and in some cases with challenging home lives.

In the club environment, some great guys depending on the club, who will do everything to encourage newcommers and help out.

I hope I follow the latter category!

Cheers,

Julian

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 03/07/2016 14:41:26:

Is there such a ting as a bad one, or are we all just 'improvers'?

Neil

I agree that you could argue it's a positive influence regardless of whether or not you're any good at it. It's one more interesting thing you didn't do yesterday.

Michael W

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

I think a hard hat and good sized spanner go a long way to making a good model engineer. The pen and the plastic pocket protector go a long way too.

[Simon CollierParticipant @simoncollier74340]

I think a good model engineer is one who sticks to the main project and makes regular progress, not one (like me) who get distracted by other projects, while the main thing languishes, and is in danger of becoming yet another unfinished loco.

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Posted by Hopper on 04/07/2016 02:27:39:

I think a hard hat and good sized spanner go a long way to making a good model engineer. The pen and the plastic pocket protector go a long way too.

 

I take it the 5 o'clock shadow and bright orange duds are non obligatory? I know you said a good sized spanner but can a lego one count too? You see i've got an old pair of record stilsons up in the loft and i've probably got a lego one also and i was wondering which of the two would be better? 

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 04/07/2016 06:16:08

[J HancockParticipant @jhancock95746]

Slept on this one last night !

No, my reply to this question, not the last respondent's wife !

I think a lot of fun can be had substituting 'our' words into Rudyard Kiplings poem " IF".

Always ending, " then you will be a model engineer my son (or daughter)" ,

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

A bit of basic common sense. The ability to look at a lathe which is a very simple machine (of the type MEs use) with hardly any moving parts and understand how it works so they don't break bits.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I think it depends how you define great. It's clear that there are people with outstanding abilities and others who are exceptional communicators/teachers and a very few who combine both.

But along with most (all?) of the posts here I think what really matters is the competition we have with ourselves – to do better, to solve problems and devise solutions and enjoy the satisfaction of making things that work.

Neil

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Responding to title only.

From observed usage..Myford is popular ( in sense of frequently used)

Along with ( again by observation) …brass with occasional bronze… ( seems the magpie gene is strong)

[BERT ASHTONParticipant @bertashton57372]

Engineers t-shirt

[Nigel BennettParticipant @nigelbennett69913]

Determination. Like anything else you do, if you're determined to do something, you'll find a way of doing it. Lots of people seeing things I've made say, "You must have lots of patience!" but they haven't seen me, with steam coming out of my ears, jumping up and down on the bit that's just turned out wrong…

Neville Shute's quote on the cover of "Trustee from the Toolroom" :

"An engineer is someone who can make for five bob what any bloody fool can make for a quid" pretty well sums it up for me.

[DustyParticipant @dusty]

Bert, I want a 'T' shirt like that, where did it come from.

[SteambuffParticipant @steambuff]

Posted by Dusty on 19/07/2016 15:29:20:

Bert, I want a 'T' shirt like that, where did it come from.

Amazon sell them …

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Engineer: Someone who shapes materials which we don't fully understand into shapes which we can't properly analyse to resist forces which we can't fully define without anyone noticing.

The difference between Mechanical and Civile Engineers is that mechanicals build weapons, civils build targets

[colin hawesParticipant @colinhawes85982]

Patience: " I will make one of those one day" and 20 years later there it is. Colin

[Stuart BridgerParticipant @stuartbridger82290]

Time…

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Posted by Stuart Bridger on 19/07/2016 20:33:34:

Time…

What? no time, lots of time?

There has been a thread on here recently about people who have built traction engines & trains in a few months whereas others have taken years.

Are you suggesting someone who faffs about going slow is a good model engineer whereas someone who gets on & does it straight off is a bad one — or vice versa

It also used to be said that to be a good tradesman you had to serve a long apprenticeship. I have always thought that to be utter balderdash. If you are good enough to learn how to do something in a short time & have the confidence to go ahead & do it on your own then go ahead & do it.

A good model engineer is surely someone who can sum up what is required, plan the work to be done, plan how he is going to do it then go ahead & do it accurately & to a standard suitable for the task in hand.

For that you need a clear structured determined attitude of mind & the ability to solve problems before they arise plus an ability to understand "engineering" as opposed to ,say, art or literature

Whether he does it quickly or not is up to him, but how he does it ( ie not dithering in the set ups etc) is the mark of a good model engineer – is it not

 

Edited By Sam Longley 1 on 19/07/2016 21:23:11

[Stuart BridgerParticipant @stuartbridger82290]

My response was a bit off the cuff. Given more time, I could be a much better model engineer. I am working too hard, have a busy social life and have a number of other hobbies. It took me 6 1/2 years to complete my first model, a Stuart 10V. That included setting up my workshop. Mind you before that I took 20 years to complete a Billing model ship kit. Golden rule is no machining when tired, which tends to preclude weekday evenings. Need more time….

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Posted by Stuart Bridger on 19/07/2016 21:53:13:

Golden rule is no machining when tired, which tends to preclude weekday evenings.

+1

[Bob RodgersonParticipant @bobrodgerson97362]

What makes a Model Engineer. People have already said it in this thread. I think the quality of determination has to rank high on the list, without it you will give up before completing the project.

My wife thinks I have no patience, this obviously stems from the profanity that exudes from the workshop when things don't quite go right. However, I think that these outbursts are anger/frustration at my stupidity for making the mistake in the first place. Determination and patience will win the day and I eventually get round any problems.

Vision, is also required. To visualise the end result and how to achieve it is also needed.

[Author]

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