Starting again.

Hello everyone,

My engineering life started when I was 14 years when I won a school scholarship and attended a turners training center. This is what I always drawn too, every opportunity spent on the school metal lathes making chips. When I left school, I found an apprenticeship but sadly engineering, ship and boiler building went oversea leaving lots of people out of work. Consequently, I went down a totally different route until three years ago and now close to retirement. I am now building my garage machine shop but expensive.

Some things have not changed but my world was never CNC and electronic tech. Picking turning up again was not an issue and I have got to say that I have found the import machines to cut true but not the quality of the old British machines. I have still a great deal to remember but I am hoping to produce some quality models.

I really enjoy the sight and the many skilled engineers offering so much good advice. I still love steam and have fond memories of those steel monsters, many hours in the sixties spent on the sidings in the local yard and workshop. I did some sandwich runs for the workers which in turn allowed me to get very close to the engines. I was only seven years and some would say that every health and safety rule was broken, however, this was a totally different world and the men knew that I just wanted to learn.

Hope you enjoyed my engineering start, will add more posts soon.

Hello David and welcome to the forum. Would it be a model steam locomotive that you would be interested in?

There are some very good designs about, many with castings and/or laser cut frames to speed up the building, at a cost.

If you are interested in running an engine then the best advice would be to join a local model engineering society as that would give you direct access to persons with knowledge and the probable chance to have a drive.

Brian

Welcome David,

It's a bit like riding a bike, you never totally forget. You are about to re embark on a hobby in which your scope is only limited by your equipment, skills, and imagination. You will be able to do all sorts of things that once seemed impossible.

You will find yourself fixing, nay, improving things that others would throw away. And making things that the world in general can only view with awe.

And, best of all, you will be doing it because you enjoy it!

Howard

Too true.

Welcome to the forum David, I hope you enjoy returning to the workshop!

Neil

Thank you all for your thoughtful replies and making me feel very welcome. I do enjoy problem solving and coming up with solutions. Like most people, I don't like waste so have already started to collect a real mixture of metal parts and off cuts. So different today, I remember when the workshop scrap bins were full and you could just help yourself. Wouldn't it be fantastic if it was still the same.

I am interested in the live steam loco building but any type of engine is an option. I have been reading up on boiler construction which seems to cause many discussions. Again, so many skilled model makers producing some great works of art.

I will be joining a club, I previously had a friend who was a model engineer and had the privilege of the occasional drive of a loco. Once you have done it, I can see why people become so passionate as there is nothing like live steam, these machines do have a life of their own.

Again, Thank you so much.

Kind Regards,

David.

Welcome David

H

When things start to return to anything approaching normal, and clubs can meet again, is there one near to you?

Howard