Member postings for Jim Nic

I had both my eyes done about 4 years ago. At the time I used varifocal lenses to correct the state of my vision as it then was. After cataract surgery I had the probably normal lens set up of acceptable vision at medium to long distance and correction needed for close work. It seemed plain to me that the best option for me was a set of varifocal lens glasses with the top of the lens having very little effect and the lower portion having a magnifying effect for the close work. In practice I now only have 1 pair of glasses which I wear all day and as I was already well used to varifocal lenses I had no difficulty. Having just the one pair of glasses I rarely lose them.

Be aware that varifocals can take a bit of getting used to for some people but as I recall when I first started with them it took me only a day or 2 before the action required to see clearly at all distances came naturally.

As an aside I also suffered from PCO in my right eye after about 30 months and although the treatment was as Clive says, a quick laser zap, I waited over a year to get it done. Moral is if you notice a treated eye is getting cloudy again get off to your optician and start the ball rolling to get it lasered as soon as you can.

Jim

Edited By Jim Nic on 24/09/2023 23:56:15

Thank you for those links Sam. Some I had already seen and some were new to me, especially the lengthy description of the build and subsequent snag chasing by John Carruthers and John Silver. I am now keener than ever to give it a go but still have not had a reply to my enquiry from the designer. I note that the build log thread mentioned that e-mail communication between John Silver and the designer ceased in 2017.

I fear that getting a copy of the drawings and build book is now not possible. If this is the case I shall probably look for a similar clock design to have a go at.

Jim

I too am looking for my next project and the Dark Lady clock mentioned by Mike Hurley above seemed like a good first clock project for me and as a bonus Mrs Jim Nic was attracted to it too. I found the clock designers website where the plans should be available but straight away things looked awry. The site included some information about the clock and the designer's blog but the latest entry was dated Oct 2014. There was a contact address ([email protected]) but there was no response to my e-mail enquiring about Dark Lady.

Does anyone here know if Dark Lady is currently available and a useful contact address.

Fingers crossed

Jim

Afternoon all.

Contrary to my hopes, life got in the way of my modelling efforts again and it is only today that I have completed my Stew Hart Radial engine.

It runs smoothly and quietly but I haven't bothered making a video because, unlike most of my other models, there isn't really anything to see different from the stationary engine.

The interest was in the building, which I found challenging, and the satisfaction of now having single, twin and now 3 cylinder engines in my collection.

Jim

Mike, perhaps flies are rare in your workshop because the spiders are eating them all?

Jim

+1 for the Potty engine.

This one has a bought in governor and throttle valve but is a good project without enhancements.  It was originally designed as a part of the "Dad's and Lad's" series for beginners.

I also find Stew's drawings easier to work to than Julius' offerings.

Jim

Edited By Jim Nic on 01/07/2023 21:14:01

Thanks for that info Ian, I'll be changing the 3 in my workshop some time this year.

Jim

Good to see you now have it sorted and another lesson in your store of experience.

Jim

Hi Sanjay

In my experience spring belts are not the best for transmitting power but the 3 engines that I have using them for the purpose do work OK.

I have no experience of the Stuart No 9 but the first thing I would check is that the governor is free to turn and that there is no binding in the belt run itself.

Hope this helps

Jim

That's the 12th October marked in my calendar.

Jim

Afternoon all

I’ve been diverted from modelling, and posting, for the last year or so by other things but I’m hopefully free of all that for the time being.

My current project is Stew Hart’s 3 cylinder radial, here’s a picture of Stew’s finished original:

My last posting on the subject included this picture of my crankcase and cylinders:

I am now at the stage illustrated by the following:

The crankshaft bearing housing and flywheel parts:

and assembled

The return crank which is driven by the crank shaft, protrudes into the valve chest and turns the valve:

The port face mounted in the crankcase and showing the return crank

The rotary valve

The valve in the valve chest

Valve chest cover on

And finally a cpouple of family shots of where I am today

The engine is, in my humble opinion, looking OK but there are few"innards" in it so next are some pistons and con rods, then the air feed pipe and transfer pipes, crankcase breather, and a stand.

Jim

I made this device a few years ago as my first project. Mine didn't work either. The adjusting screw is very difficult to turn and has a very small adjustment range. I was unable to determine why it didn't work very well despite all its components being correctly and accurately made as far as I could tell. I put it on a shelf and gave it up as a bad job and moved on to stationery engines which brought me more success.

Jim

+1 for Stew Hart's Potty Mill.

The flywheel on my example above is home made but the governor was bought in.

If you get on with Stew's plans for this engine there are a couple of others in the series including a popular Grasshopper Beam engine, all designed with the less experienced modeller in mind.

Jim

Hi Dick

I've no knowledge of your machine but sometimes when manufacturers use grub screws in such applications as you have there are in fact 2 screws used. The first one in secures the pulley and then a second is put in on top of the first to lock it in place. May be worth you completely removing the top screw and checking if here is another underneath it. HTH.

JIm

By eck, that's a grand looking tool cabinet. Is it all your own work?

Jim

Well done Robin. It must be very satisfying when giving a machine a bit of poking about results in saving the cost of an expensive spare part. And thanks for coming back and reporting the outcome of the original post.

Jim

Once again Jason, a deceptively fairly basic engine impeccably executed. A good looking result and a lovely runner.

Jim

I bought the gear set shown here on my Norden engine off E bay. They needed the centre holes adjusting, one with a sleeve and one opening out but that was easy done. The pair cost me about £20.00.

  I'm not familiar with the Lady Stephanie so I don't know the reason for the different sizes in the governor drive train or how important it is.  If it's not that important to you just search for "Brass bevel gears" and take your pick.

Jim

Edited By Jim Nic on 08/09/2022 15:19:03

Thank you for that appreciation Howard. Although I have heard of Stan Bray I never met him and did not know him. Having read your post I wish I had.

Jim

A good result Mark, well done.

Jim