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Thread: Model Steam engine build

  1. #1
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    Model Steam engine build

    My Father-in-Law isn't well and can't use his workshop any more.
    He's told me to take whatever I want and sell off anything not needed.

    He ordered a fully machined Stuart Turner Victoria Twin steam engine Kit. He painted most of the parts, went traveling in his motorhome but came back early because he was out of breath and found he had fibrosis of the lungs. He's now on oxygen but can't move far without his oxygen levels dropping.
    Anyway, he said "unfortunately I won't get to see the Victoria Twin working....." so, you guessed it, I've set myself the task of building it so he does get to see it before he goes !

    He spent an eye watering amount on the kit so I need to do a good job of finishing it.
    Stuart Twin Victoria

    Some parts have surface rust so I need to clean & polish all the bare steel parts then find his taps and clean out all the threaded holes, make a plinth and start assembling......sounds easy doesn't it.

    Last night was spent painting the flywheel which was about the only part he hadn't done. I soon realised why when I started painting round the double spokes with a small brush.

    The Victoria twin has been around for some years, several on YouTube.
    The governor on this one is an addition YouTube but I found several governors he'd purchased so maybe I can add this later.

    This one is a work of art with lots of additions YouTube

    There were also a number of other steam engines and a boiler setup plus he'd built a winding engine and was building a diorama of a gold mine. No plans for the winding engine he made it up as he went along ! The gear ratios weren't correct so new gears have been cut but it won't get modified now.
    Not sure yet what to do with the winding engine & gold mine.

    Lots more stuff to sort through, I can post pictures if anyone is interested in the build.


    Colin
    '56 Series 1 with homemade welder
    '65 Series IIa Dormobile
    '70 SIIa GS
    '76 SIII 88" (Isuzu C240)
    '81 SIII FFR
    '95 Defender Tanami
    '58 Series II (sold)
    Motorcycles :-
    Vincent Rapide, Panther M100, Norton BIG4, Electra & Navigator, Matchless G80C

  2. #2
    Homestar's Avatar
    Homestar is offline Super Moderator & CA manager Gold Subscriber
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    If you need some inspiration, check out Keith Appleton on Youtube. He has hundreds of videos on building, restoring, setting up and timing model steam engines.

    He has a whole series on building a Victoria - you just have to do everything twice...



    Unfortunately the rest of this series is on his Patreon feed, but for $1 you could watch them if they are of any use. I used to be a Patron of his, but I share my money around a bit, so haven’t been for a while.
    If you need to contact me please email homestarrunnerau@gmail.com - thanks - Gav.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Homestar View Post
    If you need some inspiration, check out Keith Appleton on Youtube. He has hundreds of videos on building, restoring, setting up and timing model steam engines.

    He has a whole series on building a Victoria - you just have to do everything twice...



    Unfortunately the rest of this series is on his Patreon feed, but for $1 you could watch them if they are of any use.
    Thanks Gavin,

    The Stuart Turner instructions are a bit sketchy but I should be able to work it out. Mind you the video you posted has made me think about checking the steam ports in the cylinders for casting sand !
    As all the machining is already done it's really just a case of polish, paint and assemble....oh and get the timing correct.

    Rather than needing inspiration I really just need time to do the assembly.


    Colin
    '56 Series 1 with homemade welder
    '65 Series IIa Dormobile
    '70 SIIa GS
    '76 SIII 88" (Isuzu C240)
    '81 SIII FFR
    '95 Defender Tanami
    '58 Series II (sold)
    Motorcycles :-
    Vincent Rapide, Panther M100, Norton BIG4, Electra & Navigator, Matchless G80C

  4. #4
    Homestar's Avatar
    Homestar is offline Super Moderator & CA manager Gold Subscriber
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    Time is everything isn’t it. Hope you find some!

    As for engine timing, He has quite a few videos on this amongst his other stuff.
    If you need to contact me please email homestarrunnerau@gmail.com - thanks - Gav.

  5. #5
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    One of my good customers, now deceased, was widowed in 1980 and decided to retire when he was offered a redundancy package from the ATO where he had worked all his life. Trev decided he needed a hobby and for reasons unknown to me decided to take up model making. He started with a small single cylinder steam engine of the type one sees in hobby shops. He had never had any involvement with metal trades but was a good learner. He progressed to bigger and better models driving me mad in the process with 'phone calls "how do I do this", "how do I set this up". By steps over a number of years he worked his way up to a three cylinder triple expansion big enough to power a 24' launch. Then he built the launch! He built a model WW1 rotary engine as used in aircraft which ran nicely and sprayed castor oil like a full size one. Next was an Indianapolis Offenhauser made from drawings not a kit. Ran well too. Age and illness caught up with him and his model RR Merlin was never finished. This was a semi-finished kit. The biggest challenge with this was making the jigs and fixtures.

    R.I.P Trevor Jones 1924 to 2015
    URSUSMAJOR

  6. #6
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    Flywheel painted, sourced some timber for a stand and then found a couple of parts missing....bugger.

    The model has been in the shed for over a year with some parts painted some still shrink wrapped. Searched high & low and nothing.

    Sent an email to Stuart Models in the UK explaining the situation, just had a reply.....they are sending the parts out FOC ! Fantastic customer service.

    Once the parts arrive I can get cracking.


    Colin
    '56 Series 1 with homemade welder
    '65 Series IIa Dormobile
    '70 SIIa GS
    '76 SIII 88" (Isuzu C240)
    '81 SIII FFR
    '95 Defender Tanami
    '58 Series II (sold)
    Motorcycles :-
    Vincent Rapide, Panther M100, Norton BIG4, Electra & Navigator, Matchless G80C

  7. #7
    p38arover's Avatar
    p38arover is online now Major part of the heart and soul of AULRO.com
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    More pics, please!

    I bought a set of Stuart Turner 10V castings about 30 years ago when I was a member of the Sydney Society of Model Engineers. I did a little work on them before moving to Norfolk Island in 1990 but have never got back into them after returning to Oz.

    I should sell them, I will never finish the engine.

    Last edited by p38arover; 12th February 2020 at 02:36 PM.
    Ron B.
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  8. #8
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    As a kid i always a model steam engine, still love them and the larger varieties. Pics please.
    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
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  9. #9
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    Started building last night, I'll try & remember to take some pics.

    I'm making a hardwood base (I'm a member of the local woodwork club) but last night was fiddling with 7BA screws to assemble the cylinders.

    I purchased a 10V kit many, many years ago when I lived in the UK. Never got round to doing anything with it so gifted it to my father-in-law and he built it (it may have been me who got him onto model engineering....).
    Clearing his garage I found a boiler, several MS (Minature Steam) engines which are like the 10V, other small engines, a boiler feed pump, several governors, valves, gauges the list goes on......


    Colin
    '56 Series 1 with homemade welder
    '65 Series IIa Dormobile
    '70 SIIa GS
    '76 SIII 88" (Isuzu C240)
    '81 SIII FFR
    '95 Defender Tanami
    '58 Series II (sold)
    Motorcycles :-
    Vincent Rapide, Panther M100, Norton BIG4, Electra & Navigator, Matchless G80C

  10. #10
    cuppabillytea's Avatar
    cuppabillytea is offline Loud Mouthed Rat Bag Gold Subscriber
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    My brother Peter is a double barrel chief engineer.(Steam and Diesel). I could forward any questions about timing and efficiency on to him if you like.
    Cheers, Billy.
    Keeping it simple is complicated.

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