Steam Engine Model Kit?
 

Need to get something to do for the summer ... looking like more sheltering going on after "school" will be out.

Can you confirm that the Wilesco (German) steam engine kits come in parts and need assembly? Are those the best kits you can get or are there other model kits that are better? I am looking for something reasonably priced, 200 or less.

Thanks,

G

They come in kits, but I think the assembly is pretty quick. Hours, not days.

Kits are for wimps. Spend 7 years and build one from scratch, and you too can straddle your own engine around the yard. :D

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This bottom one's detail is incredible. Check out the gauges in the cab. Sound makes me think of a 911 needing a valve adjustment/no scratch that- perhaps collapsed lifters on a 944/ or bad injectors or something:

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Ack! Don't show me that. I would LOVE to have a live steam engine.

There are several of these around nearby. One is in Roanoke Va, and several more in Clifton Forge Va, every piece built by hand by obsessed guys in overalls. They are absolutely amazing. I took a bunch of pics of them, but can't find the files right now. I think one at Clifton forge was 1 ton or something and a single guy made it. Can't remember, but incredible! I'm trying to find it right now...

I work with some guys that build those things. They go down to this place in Oregon every year and ride around on their trains for a week. Sounds like fun.
Train Mountain Railroad

I know the place. My Dad has some sort of defect that makes him completely geeky about engines and steam engines in particular. Been lots as a kid. I think it is in Keizer and is called the "steam up" or similar. I think he has drug my kids there as well.

They are cool, however. I guess I passed my limit though.

THE GREAT OREGON STEAM-UP
Two glorious summer weekends of mechanical history in motion

Celebrate 50 Years of the
Great Oregon Steam-Up

https://www.antiquepowerland.com/steam-up/

POWERLAND HERITAGE PARK

A campus community of independent museums and event spaces reflecting the preservation, restoration, and operation of antique equipment, vehicles, steam-powered machinery, and farm implements.

Home of the Great Oregon Steam-Up

.

^^^yes. Glorious.

The Great Oregon Steam-Up is a different event than what occurs at Train Mountain Railroad (different locations, too).

I will have to keep that in mind. My mother lives in Turner, an we are in OR often in the summer.

Back to the original question...I had one growing up (a long time ago!) and recently gave it away. It needed very little assembly. I had several of the machines that the engine could power through a metal flex belt...one was a press-type machine that could punch holes in paper. Do yourself a favor: only use distilled water, I was a kid and didn't heed that advice. The sight glass on the boiler clouded up fairly quickly. I guess when you run out of the fuel pellets, a good alternative to the expensive German stuff will be hexamine camping fuel pellets. Good luck with the engine. I have fond memories of using it.

An alternative to steam engines - Have you looked at Stirling engine kits?

https://www.stirlingengine.com/models/

Entirely possible to build these using scrap materials. Would certainly eat up some time building from scratch if interested. A bit more creativity with these, too.

Yes, sterling engines are also cool but I am trying to start in the industrial revolution and work my way into internal combustion engines. :)

The sterling engines look to make excellent office decorations though! :)

G

These look cool but pretty sure they are $$$

https://www.asterhobbyusa.com/up-fef-3.html

A friend of mine had a steam engine to power his R/C model of the African Queen that he puttered about in his pond with. Was pretty cool actually.

old machinist magazines used to have projects in them. Some were live stream or compressed air engines. But you have to make all the parts.

wilesco's are the best of the commercial ones. Mammod is another I believe English made. there are others. I used to collect them. still have a few.

Brings back memories.
When I was about 10 years old, I wanted to enter a science fair.
I worked with my dad and we (he) built a working reciprocating engine out of clear plastic and brass. Don't remember exactly what kind of plastic, but it was scraps left over at his work and was "new" to industry which added to the cool factor. Some new type of acrylic.
He made the engine on a lathe and mill at work after hours and it was trick. Even had a big brass flywheel.
We snagged a compressor out of an old refrigerator and got it to compress air and that was used to power the engine for demonstration purposes, as a functioning boiler prolly wasn't a good idea at school.
My job was to design the display and do the actual presentation.

I sure wish I still had that little engine. Of all the things that remind me of my dad that's the one I really wish I could get back.

Whoa. I love this idea.