My first build

This is my first attempt at a model engine. I chose an Elmer's Grasshopper as I think they look brilliant running. I am ridiculously pleased with it. Now just a bit of fettling and tidying up.

https://youtu.be/DzNhpbGo9Bw.

Also my first attempt at posting a link. This is the engine running.

Edited By JasonB on 17/07/2022 14:55:38

Looks good, nice work!

Mark,

I congratulate you on your Grasshopper build.

For various reasons, despite being a reader of ME for a long time and a member of this forum, also for a long time, and having made a great deal of swarf, I have never built an engine! If I had, my first choice would have been a Grasshopper; I still have an envelope of drawings for one in my filing 'system'.

You refer to the 'Elmer's Grasshopper', ought I to know about the 'Elmer' part of the description? How many variations are there on the Grasshopper theme?

In Southampton, there used to be a chain ferry across the River Itchen, just downstream of where the Itchen Bridge is now. When the ferry was taken out of service, its Grasshopper engine was removed and, the last time I heard, was preserved in one of Southampton City Council's cavernous store-rooms. I left Southampton in year 2000 so I am not up-to-date but I believe, in pre-lockdown times, that engine could be viewed by arrangement?

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Edited By Swarf, Mostly! on 17/07/2022 16:13:13

Hi Mark,

Your engine looks good, well done. I have built a few steam engine model but only one beam engine; Rudy Kouhoupt's Walking-beam engine.

Thor

I am ridiculously pleased with it.

And so you should be! Looks good.

A good result Mark, well done.

Jim

Thanks Guys.

And thanks JasonB for sorting the video. I am just mastering steam engines, the internet is a hundred years away yet.

That's a great result indeed for a first engine Mark - you should justifiably be pleased with your endeavours.

Always great to see something you've made burst into life and run and yours looks to be running well

'Congratulations' are well deserved.

Fired with such a good result what do you have in mind next?

Regards - 'Tug'

Actually my next plan is a Honda CBF 500 Scrambler.

My other hobby is building one off motorcycles.

There will be another build and at some stage I think a simple boiler may be in order, but I have other things to do before my next model. I am thinking as age creeps up motorcycles may not be the best thing and I will need something for my retirement in a lot fewer years than I like. Possibly a glow plug engine could be next but I have seen a few lovely looking beam engines I quite fancy building. I have four motorcycles in the garage at the moment and even though one of them belongs to "er indoors" she still thinks I have too many???? Stationary engines are smaller and I might get a few more in under her nose.

Fantastic build, Mark. It looks superb.