oh I love finding engines at auction, in almost any state of mis-build or repair. if you're confident you can correct horrible mistakes and still end up with a fine, rebuilt model then don't be shy to buy at auction. just plan on having extra time for this one or that to make things right
Keith,recently when you were trying out some ER collets you mentioned the availabilty of ball bearing nuts and how they eased tightening and undoing the collets,so I ordered one and I am very pleased with the result,so thankyou for the heads up,Cheers from Tasmania,Bill.
I got a Staurt S50 off ebay that said it was in working condition, it did work, but the piston was only held in place with a single bolt, ended up getting parts from Stuart and replacing the piston rod and those broken screws, the engine now runs properly, but you never know what you're getting into from photos...
That "port face" - eek! And the slide bars; all you have to do is clamp them all together, then machine them all as one, then they'll all come out the same. :-) :-) :-) I'm currently doing up an engine which has been butchered by someone who shouldn't even be allowed to be in sight of ANY machinery. Just 1 of the things is the crankshaft, which should be cast, but it's been "fabricated" with the two webs in different lengths (although the crankpin throw is the same for both), and the only engine I've ever seen with the crankpin in soft brass, making the whole thing easily bendable (there was a 45 thou wobble in it: mark as scrap!). But once I've worked through & corrected the faults it should turn out to be a pretty good engine.
You made my day Keith, at 09:42 about the flies. I had a good laugh. Where I live we call them Budgies. Wonderful videos. Kind regards and greetings from Africa.
An old friend of mine buys old Briggs and Stratton gas engines to restore and I showed him this series on how to buy from the internet. His additional advice is first, how big are the photos? Some good closeups of all four sides are a good sign and a video of the engine running is even better. If the engine doesn't run, then the seller should say so but still have big photos. With camera phones now so common, there is no excuse for no photos! He got burned a few times but is a lot more careful now of what he buys. Some people are dishonest, and some are just ignorant, it's up to the buyer to look closely and ask questions.
Hiya kieth, this is John from Leeds, I am enjoying all the work you are doing, I am an ex diesel mechanic and never been into steam engines till I started watching you and all these people what keep telling you how to things, take no notice, what I have seen it looks fine from here, I just wish you was still on every day as I am a pentioner now and money doesn't come very easy and If I could afford it I would be on your patreon, just keep on with the good work and looking forward to the next video, thanks, John
Hello John, I am a pensioner too, that's why I can't spend all the time that I do, making these videos for free. I don't think the minimum of $1.00 (77 pence per month) is a lot to pay for the amount of vides that are available. My Patreon Supporters get to see a video almost every day and they are now over two Months ahead of the public ones which are currently uploaded once a week on TH-cam ......... the next free upload will be on Friday the 10th of May }:-))) - by the way, the name's Keith .....
My Stepdad has built some amazing model steam engines. He built his own 4" Foster agricultural engine, 4" Clayton steam wagon and numerous engines for customers. His current personal project is a 7 1/4" B1 loco. He does lots of repairs and rebuilds but gets frustrated working with glorified junk. He has forgotten more than I'll ever know as a layman, but even I get a laugh seeing some of the bodges that people (who often should know better) make, including off the shelf plumbing fittings and nasty metric nuts and bolts.
I'm much more comfortable designing/building a steam engine from bar stock. I don't quite understand what you don't like about bar stock. Esthetics? Castings certainly look more realistic, but bar stock is easier to work with for a beginner, and no doubt cheaper. On another note, i'd love to find something like a Victoria to rebuild. I'm also retired, and the casting kits are expensive.
Bonjour Keith, Help ! Could you help me to understand the word "bastock" you mention several times and seem no to like ? Google traduction is my friend and your English is as perfect as my teachers one a long time ago, but at this moment, I fail to. I have learnt "casting" thanks to Stuart, you are needed for another progress :+) Thank you in advance, Amicalement, Raphaël
@@keithappleton "Barre de métal" Thank you very much, you are a great steam vulgarizer and also a perfect English speaker/teacher :+) Amicalement, Raphaël
I once had on girl on Facebook trying to sell me a 5 inch gauge Alice class quarry hunslet. It looked fairly ok, unpainted but in undercoat. There was only two photos so I asked her to see a video of it steamed up and running on the workbench. she then told me that it hasnt run for some 30 odd years and sat in her Dads shed for 20 of those years, and ten in hers. No boiler certificate, and from what i could see from the photos a cracked wheel, no funnel, no hand pump and somehow a missing buffer at the back. It was then i decided to build my own petrol electric locomotive with my family instead XD
Are you following the journey of the Big Boy 4014, Keith? There are lots of great videos. It's a wondrous week for steam trains in the states, this week.
Hi Keith, it's easy to say the milling is poor, but we all have to learn somewhere. It would be interesting (as all your videos tend to be) to see an absolute beginners video on building engines. I have always wanted to get into it, but when you speak to people about these things, they assume you should know. Can you do something on what each part does and the general theory of the engines?
Thanks for showing us the potential pitfalls of buying from a picture, if they are done right they’re a thing of beauty and workmanship, I’m not an owner of steam(currently a follower and potentially look further afield into the workings of model steam), I like them for their machinists skill with making the parts that they fit correctly and function as they should. I have a small machine shop and one of the employees is an apprentice, to show him this knowing that in a month of Sunday he is unable to correctly work a piece of sheet aluminium with a marking out, cut and drill. He’s bobbins. Apologies for going on but my question I’m leading to is, in this day and age,what has happened to the young generation who showed a keen willingness to learn how to make items or have pride in their work. I’m certainly not seeing this and wish that I would, with the apprentice not showing this after a yearlong simple tasks, would be doubtful if he becomes a permanent addition to our company. What got you started into small steam engines Kieth? Thanks for your time...Phil
@@keithappleton It's interesting and a pleasure to see that, although we are on different continents separated by a big pond, we can share similar interests. I am a model railroader smack in the middle of the U.S., and I love going to old thresher's reunions, where anything from the size of the models you are showing to those that can occupy a quarter of a city block exist on exhibit. I have (very) limited machinery skills. In my hobby, that's not too much of a hardship to still be able to create and operate a model railroad layout. I have never been able to learn precision machinery work skills. So it is pleasing to see someone with those skills take the time to carefully explain what is wrong with the models you have shown in your three videos. Your deadpan humor and sarcasm is another skill that I greatly admire - keeps me chuckling through the videos!! I have tried that kind of humor, and either my limited audience didn't get it, or didn't think it so humorous! Best to you!!
Funnily enough Keith I bought an old post drill...which arrived damaged... I'll have to weld it.. It were the couriers fault and the seller had said he'd sent it insured... So we agreed to get some compensation from the courier... I still had to chase it though and threaten the seller with ebay action before he passed on the compensation... It does your head in... P.S. I live in Dewsbury... I collect vintage and antique machine tools... All old lineshaft driven stuff...👍
Dear Keith You have quite a collection of abandoned steam engines. How about running a competition with them? Take five of them and put them up for the competition. People will send emails stating how they would rescue/rebuild them. You would choose the best five entries, and then sell them the engines at a pre-stated price. They would have 6 months to repair and video their repairs, and send the videos to you. You would put the videos up and your viewers could vote on the best rescue. The winner would get the full price refunded, the runner up 1/2 price refunded, and so on. You would clean some monstrosities out of your life, 5 people would get a chance to reclaim steam engines, and your viewers would have fun. Dan
A nice idea, but I prefer to give old engines and other things to my disabled friend who then sells them on Ebay. He needs the money, owing to the way our government treats people like him - - - the ones in the video belong to a customer from a few years ago - I am currently trying to contact him.
Keith, thank you for repeating the millennia old caveat emptor warning. Laws against dishonesty merely augment careful scrutiny by the buyer, when making any purchase.
oh I love finding engines at auction, in almost any state of mis-build or repair. if you're confident you can correct horrible mistakes and still end up with a fine, rebuilt model then don't be shy to buy at auction. just plan on having extra time for this one or that to make things right
Sometimes people are too quick to label ignorance as dishonesty, and you were very good to point out the difference. :-)
Keith,recently when you were trying out some ER collets you mentioned the availabilty of ball bearing nuts and how they eased tightening and undoing the collets,so I ordered one and I am very pleased with the result,so thankyou for the heads up,Cheers from Tasmania,Bill.
Christ, that guide bar analogy.
Totally unexpected to be honest! XD
I got a Staurt S50 off ebay that said it was in working condition, it did work, but the piston was only held in place with a single bolt, ended up getting parts from Stuart and replacing the piston rod and those broken screws, the engine now runs properly, but you never know what you're getting into from photos...
Yet another great series of informational videos. Thanks Keith.
Thanks Keith for your videos on buying a steam engine from the net. Armed with your information I might stand a better chance of not being ripped off.
That "port face" - eek! And the slide bars; all you have to do is clamp them all together, then machine them all as one, then they'll all come out the same. :-) :-) :-) I'm currently doing up an engine which has been butchered by someone who shouldn't even be allowed to be in sight of ANY machinery. Just 1 of the things is the crankshaft, which should be cast, but it's been "fabricated" with the two webs in different lengths (although the crankpin throw is the same for both), and the only engine I've ever seen with the crankpin in soft brass, making the whole thing easily bendable (there was a 45 thou wobble in it: mark as scrap!). But once I've worked through & corrected the faults it should turn out to be a pretty good engine.
To be honest the last one looks like it was built using only hand files and a hand held drill
I actually love the bar stock! I've done a few myself, and only one castings model. I find bar stock easier to machine (mostly the setups).
You made my day Keith, at 09:42 about the flies. I had a good laugh. Where I live we call them Budgies. Wonderful videos. Kind regards and greetings from Africa.
An old friend of mine buys old Briggs and Stratton gas engines to restore and I showed him this series on how to buy from the internet. His additional advice is first, how big are the photos? Some good closeups of all four sides are a good sign and a video of the engine running is even better. If the engine doesn't run, then the seller should say so but still have big photos. With camera phones now so common, there is no excuse for no photos! He got burned a few times but is a lot more careful now of what he buys. Some people are dishonest, and some are just ignorant, it's up to the buyer to look closely and ask questions.
Hiya kieth, this is John from Leeds, I am enjoying all the work you are doing, I am an ex diesel mechanic and never been into steam engines till I started watching you and all these people what keep telling you how to things, take no notice, what I have seen it looks fine from here, I just wish you was still on every day as I am a pentioner now and money doesn't come very easy and If I could afford it I would be on your patreon, just keep on with the good work and looking forward to the next video, thanks, John
Hello John, I am a pensioner too, that's why I can't spend all the time that I do, making these videos for free. I don't think the minimum of $1.00 (77 pence per month) is a lot to pay for the amount of vides that are available. My Patreon Supporters get to see a video almost every day and they are now over two Months ahead of the public ones which are currently uploaded once a week on TH-cam ......... the next free upload will be on Friday the 10th of May }:-))) - by the way, the name's Keith .....
My Stepdad has built some amazing model steam engines. He built his own 4" Foster agricultural engine, 4" Clayton steam wagon and numerous engines for customers. His current personal project is a 7 1/4" B1 loco. He does lots of repairs and rebuilds but gets frustrated working with glorified junk. He has forgotten more than I'll ever know as a layman, but even I get a laugh seeing some of the bodges that people (who often should know better) make, including off the shelf plumbing fittings and nasty metric nuts and bolts.
I'm much more comfortable designing/building a steam engine from bar stock. I don't quite understand what you don't like about bar stock. Esthetics? Castings certainly look more realistic, but bar stock is easier to work with for a beginner, and no doubt cheaper.
On another note, i'd love to find something like a Victoria to rebuild. I'm also retired, and the casting kits are expensive.
Bonjour Keith,
Help ! Could you help me to understand the word "bastock" you mention several times and seem no to like ?
Google traduction is my friend and your English is as perfect as my teachers one a long time ago, but at this moment, I fail to. I have learnt "casting" thanks to Stuart, you are needed for another progress :+)
Thank you in advance,
Amicalement, Raphaël
Bar Stock - engines made from lengths of metal Bar Stock.
@@keithappleton "Barre de métal" Thank you very much, you are a great steam vulgarizer and also a perfect English speaker/teacher :+)
Amicalement, Raphaël
It sounds so much better in French }:-)))
great channel. thank you for your videos. 6:25 laughed out loud
Glad you like them!
I once had on girl on Facebook trying to sell me a 5 inch gauge Alice class quarry hunslet. It looked fairly ok, unpainted but in undercoat. There was only two photos so I asked her to see a video of it steamed up and running on the workbench.
she then told me that it hasnt run for some 30 odd years and sat in her Dads shed for 20 of those years, and ten in hers. No boiler certificate, and from what i could see from the photos a cracked wheel, no funnel, no hand pump and somehow a missing buffer at the back.
It was then i decided to build my own petrol electric locomotive with my family instead XD
The grass is greener on your side of the fence with family near.
As my father always said: Paint hides a lot of sins.
Didn't know about the fish belly technique until just then.
That girlfriend joke ... I had to laugh way too hard.
Appreciate you sharing your experience's. Thank you.
How easy would it be to repair the issue with the first engine in this video and would it be worth it?
Very easy - I gave it to a disabled friend and he sold it on Ebay as he needs the money ......
Are you following the journey of the Big Boy 4014, Keith? There are lots of great videos. It's a wondrous week for steam trains in the states, this week.
I really do need to look at that - been a bit busy lately .....
Keith, one of the best 1:1 scale model building I've ever seen, no disrespect to you intended.
It is a magnificent thing ......... far too big for us mere Humans }:-)))
Hi Keith, it's easy to say the milling is poor, but we all have to learn somewhere. It would be interesting (as all your videos tend to be) to see an absolute beginners video on building engines. I have always wanted to get into it, but when you speak to people about these things, they assume you should know. Can you do something on what each part does and the general theory of the engines?
Thanks for showing us the potential pitfalls of buying from a picture, if they are done right they’re a thing of beauty and workmanship, I’m not an owner of steam(currently a follower and potentially look further afield into the workings of model steam), I like them for their machinists skill with making the parts that they fit correctly and function as they should. I have a small machine shop and one of the employees is an apprentice, to show him this knowing that in a month of Sunday he is unable to correctly work a piece of sheet aluminium with a marking out, cut and drill. He’s bobbins. Apologies for going on but my question I’m leading to is, in this day and age,what has happened to the young generation who showed a keen willingness to learn how to make items or have pride in their work. I’m certainly not seeing this and wish that I would, with the apprentice not showing this after a yearlong simple tasks, would be doubtful if he becomes a permanent addition to our company.
What got you started into small steam engines Kieth? Thanks for your time...Phil
Please watch my profile video for more details: th-cam.com/users/keithappleton
That first bar stock engine sounds better than anything I've heard on your videos so far
glad to hear that you have seen all of my other 1282 videos - well done you }:-)))
Do you really think that that pile of bar stock rubbish sounds better than this one ? th-cam.com/video/jm3dzE--JDo/w-d-xo.html
Great advise these videos are extremely useful!
I like the steam engine sound in you opening segment!
{:-))) Thank you.
@@keithappleton It's interesting and a pleasure to see that, although we are on different continents separated by a big pond, we can share similar interests. I am a model railroader smack in the middle of the U.S., and I love going to old thresher's reunions, where anything from the size of the models you are showing to those that can occupy a quarter of a city block exist on exhibit. I have (very) limited machinery skills. In my hobby, that's not too much of a hardship to still be able to create and operate a model railroad layout. I have never been able to learn precision machinery work skills. So it is pleasing to see someone with those skills take the time to carefully explain what is wrong with the models you have shown in your three videos. Your deadpan humor and sarcasm is another skill that I greatly admire - keeps me chuckling through the videos!! I have tried that kind of humor, and either my limited audience didn't get it, or didn't think it so humorous! Best to you!!
The girl friend jokes are gold
Thank you for your advice.
The through ports are for extra power when you need it.
}:-)))
I’ve bought 2 pups off said site being a noobie I’m learning fast !
2 is not so bad, you soon learn. please keep watching }:-)))
Excellent collection of horror stories. Thank you
Funnily enough Keith I bought an old post drill...which arrived damaged...
I'll have to weld it..
It were the couriers fault and the seller had said he'd sent it insured...
So we agreed to get some compensation from the courier...
I still had to chase it though and threaten the seller with ebay action before he passed on the compensation...
It does your head in...
P.S.
I live in Dewsbury...
I collect vintage and antique machine tools...
All old lineshaft driven stuff...👍
I am selling some machinery shortly - maybe we should meet up ?
@@keithappleton
Hi Keith...
All my stuff's currently in storage...
I'm down middle road in Earlsheaton...
What kind of engine do you recommend for a novice? I dont want to spend more that $500 either haha
A Stuart Models "Victoria" mill engine, easy to build and not too small and fiddly.
@@keithappleton Thank you I will give them a look.
i have to agree . . . i don't like bar stock either . . . it has made for some of the worst mornings of my life.
They say sarcasm is the lowest form of whit, I say, there is an art to it and you sir are an artist, loving the videos and keep up the good work.
Dear Keith
You have quite a collection of abandoned steam engines. How about running a competition with them? Take five of them and put them up for the competition. People will send emails stating how they would rescue/rebuild them. You would choose the best five entries, and then sell them the engines at a pre-stated price. They would have 6 months to repair and video their repairs, and send the videos to you. You would put the videos up and your viewers could vote on the best rescue. The winner would get the full price refunded, the runner up 1/2 price refunded, and so on.
You would clean some monstrosities out of your life, 5 people would get a chance to reclaim steam engines, and your viewers would have fun.
Dan
A nice idea, but I prefer to give old engines and other things to my disabled friend who then sells them on Ebay.
He needs the money, owing to the way our government treats people like him - - - the ones in the video belong to a customer from a few years ago - I am currently trying to contact him.
YOU REALY GOOD TEACHER AND BIG ENGINIER
What I don't understand though, why even bother buying them? why not just make them?
Because some people do not have the knowledge, patience, skill or tools to make them.
There are no flies on you - but there are flywheels on your workbench.
only the marks where they've been }:-)))
Keith, thank you for repeating the millennia old caveat emptor warning. Laws against dishonesty merely augment careful scrutiny by the buyer, when making any purchase.
indeed . . .
you have some interesting friends, you might need to educate them
slack and tight girlfriend hmmm lol
I'm really curious about your former girlfriends haha, ;))