Build threads.

Hi,

Is there any chance the site could help promote more 'build' threads and in particular those of beginners ? It seems at the moment the site is slowly drifting away from its main focus with chat on all manner of subjects whilst the 'build' threads get less and less.

At the moment out of all the postings on the site there is only 1 (possibly 2) active build threads yet the site should be full of them. These are the threads that generate interest and engineering discussion, why not promote them more ?

At the moment with the site in disarray if someone wants to show some work they've done it ends up lost in the multitude of vague topic headings to the point nobody bothers anymore.

I won't name names but another regularly used engineering forum is full of build logs / photos / ideas / advice, yet here no-one seems bothered.

Come on mods lets have a shake up, get things back on track, lets promote build threads and encourage beginners to show their simple projects etc.

Peter.

That bloke above has a very good point !

I agree with Peter and I have learnt so much from build threads on other sites, not just with locos but also with restoring my pillar drill and mill. I am in the early stages of building a 5" Sweet Pea but sadly don't feel inclined to share my progress on here. Equally I only chat to a few friends about progress at my club, preferring not to get involved in the open forum discussions about what I am doing which can be counter productive and discouraging.

Regards. Nick.

I agree that for some reason there doesn't seem to be as many but put this down to the fact that the site changes over time. There have been long periods where there is nothing of interest here at all (for me) and also periods where there has been many threads that I have followed. That said Clives bee keeping is always fascinating and Neils / others astronomical bits and pieces are of interest.

Regards

David

i posted a few pics of my current build with no comment so have given up posting on a thread and progress is via my albums instead without comment.

for miniature loco builders the modeleng.proboards.com site is great and full of knowledgeable people with excellent work and lots of build threads some of which are really pushing the boundaries such as Roger Froud's Speedy thread. most of them started off here, but got such a poor response they have 'gone over'. that is a bit of shame and reflects poorly on ME and MEW.

in addition to Roger's revolutionary Speedy in 5"g, there are a couple of excellent Don Young 5"g Doncaster threads, an excellent 3.5"g Doris thread from down under plus an excellent 5"g Brit down under, plus much else besides including my own current 5"g terrier build. detailed extremely informative threads on driving, superheaters, injectors, DRO, tooling etc. even long threads on types of coal!

**LINK**

cheers,

julian

Edited By julian atkins on 11/11/2015 23:15:57

Many thanks for the feedback guys, 5 replies and 5 supporting the point I'm making.

It's useful to read the info about morse tapers and 12mm reamers etc but the threads that get new traffic to the site and promote general interest are those that show pictures of builds or talk about build progress etc.

A lot of new visitors to this site (and potentially new magazine subscribers) are interested in seeing what people have built, how they did it etc, they are looking for ideas. A considerable number of these people are beginners, they want to see how someone built a simple wobbler or maybe a Stirling engine.

I'm a complete beginner to this game having only been at it for 6mths but have so far built 2 working engines and 2 others part finished, I'd happily show photo build threads including mistakes to generate discussion / share ideas etc but at the moment it feels like build threads get in the way.

Here's a couple of pics of 2 engines I'm currently on with, neither of them are award winners but satisfying to achieve as a beginner.

The first is intended to work off a tea light candle once I've built the boiler next week, the second is a bigger wobbler which I think will work but is going to need a bigger boiler than the camping kettle I now use !!

Peter.

Edited By Peter Nichols on 11/11/2015 23:34:29

Peter,

It looks like the next 'build thread' has just started.

**LINK**

MichaelG.

I also agree with Peter,

Build projects do get lost in the many articles about specific problems that we have with machining but do not show the model that we are working on. A description and photos of our model projects would be of great interest. (having said that, I will now have to put something together for MEW)

Paul.

I'd love to see more too but have found it to be a loosing battle, with my fellow Mods wanting to add topics about Astronomy and motorbikes the core subject of whats going on in peoples workshops will only get diluted further.

Its a sad fact that to help a beginner who joins this forum for advice it is often better to direct them to other forums such as the one Julian mentions for Locos, Traction Talk for TEs and the likes of MEM, HMEM for IC and stationary steam subjects.

Its all very well chatting away in far more depth and going off topic but a beginner really wants pictures to look at as they can convey whats happening far better than a page full of posts.

I too have put several builds on here but as others have said there is very little interaction and the posted will feel like they are talking to themselves. Current build is not being posted as it should be going into ME but I have been showing the odd completed part in the workshop thread. It would be nice to see more in there even as I would hope there is more being made out there.

J

.

Jason,

May I make one very serious point ?

The problem seems to be one of getting the right balance of 'interaction'.

... I have never built a model engine, and probably never shall; so my only interaction with one of your build threads is likely to be "that looks wonderful, Jason", or-else something that effectively takes he thread off-topic.

Are these proposed build-threads intended to be 'demonstrations' [in which case they should be largely free of audience participation], or 'master classes' [in which case the discussion would be between the worthy], or 'this is what I'm doing ... but I may need some advice' ... or what?

I'm very happy to see any or all of these on the forum ... 'though I may not feel it appropriate to participate in some of them. ... It might help if the builder clearly stated his/her expectations in the subtitle.

MichaelG.

Jason, you've hit the nail on the head.

There's now so many subjects that the site is no longer an engineering forum, it's now little more than a site to discuss anything by people who are interested in engineering.

Let's be honest here, 1 guy is good enough to post ongoing build updates of his engine but people seem more interested in discussing the Andromeda galaxy or carbon emissions in electricity generation - what on earth have they got to do with model engineering ?

It could be a great site, there's are loads of experienced engineers here and I'd bet nearly all would love to help less experienced people by seeing their build threads.

Come on mods get your heads together, give Jason a bit of support and let's try to get things back on track.

Peter.

Personally I think one of the problems is both ME and MEW share this forum, I have an interest in ME but my primary passion is Motorcycles, my workshop is build around building them, having said that I have made clocks, and I have build my own aero engines for model aircraft, I am also building a 9F Loco, I make my own circuit boards, I often write software, I have a passive interest in astronomy.

I use forums for some of these interests, however sometimes I don't, for instance I am not on any electronics forums or aero modelling forums, I don't expect any forum to only include the stuff I'm interested in.

I do read a lot of stuff one here but mostly the bits that interest me the other stuff I simply skip, but sometimes I spot a gem......

I have a friend who's a bit OCD, he has his own forum, it has one member, only he can post, he keeps it off line though because he hates criticism.

Shaun

I'm not sure I get this point of build threads being 'sterile' - my guess is when the builder creates a thread of his or her work it's to prompt discussion / share ideas etc.

I can't speak for everyone but the few build postings I've made, I have made it clear I'm a beginner and welcome any tips / ideas / criticisms etc.

I'd be more than happy to do a few more 'beginner builds' if I thought people would get active in discussing and sharing ideas. The bigger of the 2 wobbler engines I'm building has reached a bit of a glitch but I'd have no problem sharing photos of the work so far including the mistakes in order that I can get some advice and at the same time promote a healthy discussion in order that others can learn or get a few ideas.

Thanks Jason,

The little wobbler runs well but I've not made a very good job of the big one. I think I can get it to work but I need a bit of a rethink.

The idea of the big one was to make an engine that has a bit of oomph but makes a lot of noise and mess I've made it up as I'm going along so it's not very well proportioned (the big end bearing is too big and the stroke is too short for the bore making it a bit stubby).

It's a double acting and the flywheel will be overhead although the photo isn't very good, to be honest though so long as it works and makes a lot of noise I'll be happy

Not quite what was asked for but here is a comprehensive build in video.

I'm at a bit of a loss as to the OP's perceived problem.

There is, as far as I can see, no problem with publishing build threads on the forum - see Garry's current efforts. On a personal note i would prefer JS's contributions (irreverent or otherwise!) or Jason's succinct one-off explanations of techniques which he employs. Motor cycles, astronomy, etc. excellent 'brain food' and all the more attractive for it. If PN wishes to publish his day-to-day efforts, fine, but I really don't see self-publicising as necessarily the prime objective of a general model engineering forum. If I wanted build sequences, I would go to any of the dedicated fora but on this one, I like the diversification - my two-penn'orth (or throw away washers in new currency!!)

rgds

Bill