Stirling Engine

Hi John

To respond to your question about purchasing a stationary engine. I started down the road of model engineering a couple of years ago by buying and assembling a Mamod traction engine, which I have steamed. The engine part is an oscillating cylinder and assembly of the whole thing took me about half an hour, 10 minutes of which was spent searching for a miniature Allen key. I followed this with a Wilesco traction engine which is a world away from the Mamod having a double acting valve controlled motor and a more complex chassis. I spread assembly over a couple of hours and I have not steamed it because I didn't want to spoil the polished brass finish on the boiler but I have run it on air. Both these projects are little more than tinplate toys.

For an insight into how a steam engine functions and to allow some experimentation with valve timings I would suggest something like my third project, a Stuart Models ready to assemble kit, (I built a 10H), or something similar from Cotswold Heritage or the like. Having built one of those I was encouraged to get my workshop up and running, make an oscillator from stock material and I'm now machining a Stuart 10V from the castings kit.

I haven't yet got a boiler, a project for later, so I run my engines on air. This gives me the satisfaction of seeing them working but I understand that there's nothing as good as water and heat to bring an engine to life so ultimately that's what I will use.

Jim

Thanks I have purchased a Wilesco D16 on ebay and awaiting deleivery.....I would like to switch between running on steam and compressed air.......is there an easy option or does it involve pipework being altered ?.......Thanks