Miniature engine

[Alan]

That even sounds like the real thing.

[Duncan Grimmond]

I remember taking my 4 year old son the the Model Engineering exhibition in 1984 where there was an amazing Merlin engine (which IIRC won the top prize). I believe it was started but we missed that exciting bit as there was a crush to hear and see it running.
Some of these ME chaps are absolutely incredible with their range of skills and patience.
My feeble attempt was to machine a set of Stuart-Turner castings for a Vertical single engine, it ran on a boiler which I also built but was too small to supply enough steam for the intended use in a steam launch built by my brother-in-law.
Happy days, unfortunately pre-digital photography so I can't post pics.

[Lance Sheldrick]

Wasn't there a chap a few years ago making a working model of a twin cam seven. There was a photo of it in the grey mag and if memory serves, the makers name was Mr. Bodily? Anybody know what happened to it?

[Tony Betts]

it is truely amazing these engines are made in miniture.

it just stumps me, why it is so hard and so expensive to get the real thing made.

tony.

[Tod]

I have been interested in Model Engineering since starting work and my apprenticeship. Over the years I have made many steam engines, later hot air engines then my current interest open crank hit and miss engines, 5cc to 187cc. (as wel as Austin 7s)
I saw  at an exhibition a number of years ago the model Bently engine which is a really excellent piece of workmanship. Having said that, this Austin engine certainly takes things, in my mind, to a very high level, such detail. I am in awe of such workmanship and detail.
I always feel that while people see the finished model, they do not see the jigs, fixtures, patterns and special tooling made to make some parts. Not to mention the mistakes!
It is now very difficult and costly, as Tony will know, to get a one off casting made, I would assume small specialised volumes fall into this category.
Tod

[jpsmit]

In 2016 SWMBO & I went on a trip to Iceland - Shetland - Britain and to Beaulieu to see the National Motor Museum. It was also the day of the Austin 7 gathering and at the same time there was a stationary engine show. We didn't get to see a lot of either as I only realized the shows were on until later in the day, but, on that day I realized how lovely Austin 7s were (leading to the one I have in the shed) - and how bonkers stationary engine owners were as I watched them lifting these monstrous things back into trucks and onto trailers. 

[Bob Culver]

Hi Tod

Some years ago i read a book by a bloke who made large glass case models of fancy crars. He formed the intricate shapes from brass and used easy flow of diminishing mp to fabricate complex larger assemblies.
I have not read all the refs but presumably the Seven  model maker made his own patterns and castings. Alloy is not difficult; my father used to cast small parts for motorcycles althouugh in the day when could still purchase coke.