The skills of old school machinist/Tool makers

That model rotary engine can be bought as a hobby engineers kit of castings with drawings and instructions. A friend, a retired taxation inspector made one and is now working on a scale model RR Merlin. He started off after taking early retirement with small hobby shop steam engines working up to a triple expansion big enough for a 24' boat. He then built the boat to put it in. He plans to build a scale model Offenhauser 270when he finishes the Merlin. Given his progression with the steam engines, I would not be surprised to one day hear of a replica Indianapolis roadster growling around the streets of Coorparoo. He is but a boy of 87. One of my other customers is 92 and has almost finished a scale model of a South Australian main line steam loco. No hobby shop kit of castings this one. Made from scratch.

At a old hydraulic mining site there is a old 1880s steam engine.
It is single cylinder (about 15 inch) with the high pressure piston pump driven on the same piston rod.
The single throw crank has a fly wheel of about 16 ft in dia.
The interesting thing is the fly wheel is two piece and the two halfs are double dove tailed together perfectly.
This was done so the engine could be handled and transported.
To this day that fly wheel runs perfectly true.
The machining of the large castings is perfect.
The engine was made in Melbourne.
The engine was last used in the 1930s depression as a diesel was too expensive to buy.

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Originally Posted by Offender90

Truly impressive... just like the bloke who built a 5/8 scale series 1 from scratch, engine and all! Attached scan downloaded from www.mulgo.com.au

Bojan

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Yes, saw it at Cooma.

John

A bloke I used to work with is building a 3/4 scale Mustang, not the car but the WWII fighter aircraft, with a V8 Chevy engine. Last time I saw it all the timber was cut out and stacked flat ready to assemble.

It keeps him off the pokies I suppose.

:rocket: Jeff