Making from castings or scratch build.

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Scratch for me as the subject is often one that has not been modelled before or is heavily modified from published cast designs. So there is not just the actual making but the design aspect as well which makes it even more satisfying when you end up with a working engine.

The actual making is often a lot more involved where the fabrication or cutting from solid to arrive at a "cast" part needs far more work than say just facing and boring a bought in casting.

I'm currently building the Muncaster slipper head horizontal engine from scratch but with a piston valve instead of the slide valve. All parts have been machined from steel and cast bar rather than aluminium. The flywheel is a 5'' cast iron trolley wheel.

Mark P.

Currently building 3 1/2” Evening Star from scratch. Retired so time to me is free and if I don’t complete it then perhaps some one else can. Casting prices increased by nearly 60% in less than a year for the main wheels and had already made the cylinders from scratch. But if time is important then castings or just save and buy a finish machined kit. You pays your money and takes you choice.

I'm with Jason on this.

One of my models required a lot of castings so I made my own patterns, mostly out of plywood with fillets from car body paste.

A commercial foundry (Canlin Castings) near to me suggested the use of Meehanite as they were always using it and it made a superior job. Some of the castings, such as the foundation ring and firehole ring were cast in gunmetal. Very satisfying (when it works).

Brian

Edited By Brian H on 24/07/2019 17:55:17

Over the years I have purchased castings from all the major suppliers, and been dissatisfied with nearly all of them. I now either fabricate or machine from solid

Only castings used so far on my (one and only to date) build project (not steam) were the wheels. Everything else fabricated from whatever I had lying around. If tackling a steamer I would want to use castings for at least wheels and cylinders for a first attempt, after that who knows.

Building from purchased castings is quicker but making something ftrom scratch is definitely more rewarding. It all depends on what you want to achieve. I am building a 6" scale traction engines and would have prefered to make my own patterns and make my own castings but that would be too much of a task. Its been a 7 year build so far.

Most of the accessories, lubricator, valves etc. have been build from scratch. This allows you to modify existing designs and give it a personal touch. It is also much cheaper than paying someone else for their work and definitely more rewarding.

Paul.

Are you proposing to make your own patterns and castings or machine from solid and fabricate? Some ready made castings can be a bit tight on machining allowances and need a good think before cutting metal.

Mike