Start Model Engineering

John Somers, site author of Start Model Engineering, a website designed to help beginners in model engineering.

Model Engineering -

is it for you ?

When I attend shows with my display of model engines I am frequently asked

Did you make these ?

Did you use a kit ?

Where do you get the plans ?

How much does it cost to get started ?

So this page has been created to try to answer some of these very basic questions and from this you may be able to decide if model engineering might be for you.

Assuming you already have a garage or well insulated shed investing in the equipment necessary to make a start is likely to cost a minimum of £700. You could spend a lot more than this and many people do but the following should get you under way.  You would no doubt add further equipment and tooling as you progress but this should provide some idea of scale of setup costs.

Mini-lathe                                                                    £300
Additional chucks, decent cutting tools         £200
Band saw                                                                       £100
Small grinder polisher with mops/polish          £50
Misc bits and pieces                                                    £50

If you really get the model engineering bug you will soon want to add a milling machine to your armoury and with tooling you are looking at maybe a further £600 to £700.

I would advise against buying secondhand equipment as the savings are not likely to be significant and you could finish up wasting your hard earned money with worn out or damaged equipment.

On the financial front the good news is that once you have a reasonable set up the cost of building models is relatively low. Plans are quite often freely available and whilst the cost of materials is always rising buying bar stock is reasonably affordable.

You could buy castings from which you can make model steam engines but don’t make the mistake of thinking these are an easy option as the reverse can be true due to lack of datum lines from which to measure from. These casting kits are very expensive and mistakes even more so. My only exception is that I do buy cast flywheels for my larger scratch built models.

The other resource that will play a major part in deciding if model engineering is for you is time. Whilst the simpler oscillating type engines can be built in a few days you should consider weeks and months to build the more complex engines. Experienced engineers who build scale traction engines for example measure their build time in years. My advice would be to start with something modest like Elmers #25 Wobbler which is featured on here under Starter Projects and this excellent little engine can normally be built in a matter of days.

Other options which may enable you to sample model engineering before making a decision are in theory part time model engineering courses but these are now few and far between. The other is to join a local model engineering club but despite their acclamations I wonder just how much they do welcome and make total beginners feel at home. If my assumptions on this latter point are totally wrong I would love to hear from any Model Engineering Clubs who can provide the help and hands on guidance which beginners are seeking.

Please remember this site is designed with the beginner in mind - there are plenty of other sites for the experienced engineer. If you would like any specific advice please get in touch via email and I will try to help.
remove the obvious bit  john(spam)@start-model-engineering.co.uk

One very important note please do not underestimate the need to pay due respect to health and safety. A lathe will remove flesh and bone just as easily as metal. Avoid loose clothing, long hair, jewellery or anything else than can be dragged into revolving machinery.

My Background

I am very much a late arrival on the model engineering scene. I have no career background in engineering though I have always had an underlying interest in things mechanical. I restored the first of several motorbikes when I was 14, I’ve rebuilt an MG sports car, restored numerous antique wall and longcase clocks and even dabbled at restoring vintage clarinets. My active participation with motorcycling came to an end five or six years ago and it was then that my thoughts turned to the possibilities of model engineering.

So, what qualifies me to develop a website aimed at up and coming model engineers. Not a great deal apart from a fantastic apprenticeship under the guidance of John (Bogstandard) Moore known to many model engineers as Bogs and who is kindly adding some content to this site. In the space of less than three years through Bog’s help and encouragement I have learnt so much. Not only is Bogs a superb and ingenious engineer he has that rare gift of being able to convey his thoughts with clarity and humour.

When I took my first tentative steps into the world of model engineering I was hungry for information to help me get started. I bought the magazines, visited exhibitions and scoured the internet but I found it all very confusing.I didn’t even know what questions I should be asking. Then I had the good fortune to meet up with Bogs and slowly but surely I gained the knowledge and skills to make progress.

So this site is clearly not written by a skilled and experienced engineer but rather by someone who as a newbie has made some progress and had a lot of fun and satisfaction along the way. If it helps others to make a start and get that first engine up and running then I shall be well pleased.

It was early in 2007 that I bought myself a mini-lathe and armed with Stan Bray’s plans for a ’simple’ steam engine I started my first project. The fact that the engine ran at all was due more to the forgiving nature of small model steam engines than any skill on my part.

It was at this early stage that I realised that steam is not essential to run steam engines - compressed air will do just as well. In fact, in my opinion, compressed air is far better. My first engine was run on a small ‘cheapo’ tyre inflator. Building boilers is not easy and can be downright dangerous so my advice is to steer well clear, at least in your early days. You will have enough of a challenge making the engine, let alone constructing a boiler.

Any questions ?

Well I hope you find my website of interest. Even if you don’t build any of the projects featured you may find some of the methods I have used of interest. If you have any specific questions that you think I may be able to help you with then please email me at (remove the obvious bit) john(spam)@start-model-engineering.co.uk

I also welcome any comments or suggestions you may have on this site and your photographs are always welcome for possible inclusion.