Hello from blandford forum, Dorset.

[malcolmt]

Hello one and all,
My name is Malcolm and i am from Dorset, UK.
i was drawn to this site by finding a very comprehensive description of a steam engine design / build of a twin cylinder spool valve engine by Bogstandard (John) which i found on another steam engine page. John, Superb work sir. My interests lie in R/C boats of which i think i have 12 in various states of readiness, R/C aeroplanes of which i have 9 also in various states. I am currently looking to build my first steam engine ( i have a small lathe and other machinery, alas no milling machine ( No room in my tiny flat ) although i have not had an interest definitively in paddle steamers in the past i can see the attraction quite clearly. So we have similar ground upon which to stand. i have browsed a few pages of your site and found it to be immensely entertaining and informative for which i thank you all. hopefully i will be able to contribute something to your forums in the future. Well that's a brief introduction, Looking forwards to enjoying your company in the future.
Kind regards
Malcolm

[Eddy Matthews]

Hi Malcolm,

Nice to have you with us at Paddleducks. I'm sure you'll fit right in, and we'll convert you to paddlers if it's the last thing we do!!

Regards
Eddy

[malcolmt]

RE RE RE RE

we'll convert you to paddlers if it's the last thing we do!!

Regards
Eddy

Thanks for that Eddy, To be perfectly honest that conversion will not be hard fought, I have models of just about every type of boat from a scale model of bluebird, trawlers, MTB, flower class corvette, Tug, Classic speedboat, etc etc, so a paddler powered by steam is seeming like a very interesting next step.
     Thank you for your warm welcome.
Kind regards
Malcolm

[bogstandard]

Hi Malcolm,

Thank you for the comments on my engine.
It ended up as rather a large beast, a bit too big for the average paddler.

If you want to go down the steam paddler route, I converted one of my production engines to horizontal, specifically for use in a paddler. and if you are really interested I could give the web site where the basic design came from, then by looking at pics of mine you could convert one fairly easily.
The only problem is that a miller or vertical slide would be required.

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2855.0

But they don't even need to be that complicated, much easier engines can be built to do the job perfectly well.

Just keep this thought in your mind - got to make a paddler - got to make a paddler - got to make a paddler - got to make a paddler - got to make a paddler etc.

John

[malcolmt]

  JOHN !!!!!!!!

 I am deeply honoured that you have replied, for which i am humbled. Kind of you to suggest taking an easier route to start with, however i have never been one for the easy way (removes the challenge and most of the fun) I accept that having no miller adds a degree of difficulty, But also adds to the challenge. I like a challenge, I do have a vertical slide for my lathe and a few milling cutters with which i have had some degree of success so far. In a way not having a miller adds to my enjoyment because i have to fathom out how to achieve the desired results with the tools available, I often get to a point where i want to machine a certain part but can't for want of a miller, the best solution which i have found to be nearly 100% reliable is a cup of tea and a fag (not the public school variety) by the time i have enjoyed both i usually find i have a way round my dilemma. Now of course i have a further tool in my (i was going to say arsenal, but that may get misconstrued) tool box................. this forum.
   
       John, your work has inspired me and no doubt will continue to do so, and hopefully others too. on the subject of scale i am currently scratch building a scale model of the De Havilland DH 88 comet with a nine foot wingspan, having researched and drawn up my own plans, It will be powered by two 15cc four stroke engines (purchased not home built, as to fly this especially a twin engine you require near perfect reliability and as much power as is achievable) full retracts, flaps etc etc.

        Anyway i thank you for your reply and wish you a full recovery and remain hugely impressed by your abilities in your current state of health. i must just ask how you where able to get your spouse to carry 12 sash weights home when i can only get mine to make the tea, cook the dinner, do the shopping, clean the house, bring me breakfast in bed and do the washing and ironing, she keeps complaining that there aren't enough hours in the day women's logic i guess.

Kind regards
Malcolm
   

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's ....& welcome Malcolm....... Bogstandard & you will get on like a house on fire.....with the fag packets...  I mean .....when you get to read previous posts in LIVE Steam  .....you will get to understand that John uses the backs of fag packets for most of his design sketches  .....but if all else fails  ...just ask him for a loan of a few pages of A4 paper...kindly donated by our OZ PD members with the full REAM...... ROCKETED to UK by a second hand ICBM directly to CREWE via the refueling stop at that Lockie be - holden thing place in Scotsland 

[bogstandard]

Malcolm,

No need for celebrity status, the lads on here have a lot more experience than I have on what the forum is about, it was that I parked my bum on here a bit back, and they couldn't get rid of me.

I am very busy at the moment trying to calculate where all my new machinery is going to fit in my tiny workshop. So my engine production has fallen drastically, except for three I have to finish for just over a weeks time.

If you have a vertical slide and know how to use it to best effect, you should have no trouble building the engine. There are now a few coming up to being finished, I just can't wait to see the results, and I have had very few requests for help, so I am assuming that the build sequence and explanations worked. What I do get though, are requests that are generated after they have made a part and it is slightly not right to sketch, asking how it can be modified so they don't have to make a new one. But the design allows a lot of leeway, so it can usually be corrected as you go along.

BTW Eddie, time for getting some motors to you, can you PM me your address.
Unless of course you can drive here (or someone else) and pick a load up. Maybe you can auction them off at your paddler day, and make a bit for club and forum funds. Even at £5 apiece for the super geared ones (all perfect ratios for model paddlers, and a couple for an independant paddler up to about 10ft), you should be able to raise a few hundred, and some of them are worth a lot more. Even the small ones are priced at over £20 each on the web, and most are new. I don't have long to get rid of them all, as the workshop will soon be cleared, and I would hate to see them end up at the tip.
Please, no begging letters, I don't really have time for running about packaging and posting things.

Time for bed.

John

[Tug--Kenny]

Hi Malcolm

Welcome to the club. I relatively new myself, but have covered 285,000 letters so far. (bleary eyed !!)  It certainly is a great club, full of interesting subjects in great detail. You should find all you need to complete your very detailed modelling needs.

I came over from Model Tugs and was converted to Paddlers with the desire to build the Waverley. Hopefully, one day I shall go the steam route, but won't be boring holes or turning metal, as my skills are not so refined as yours. If you would like to do a build Log, then I'm sure we would all be interested.

All the best

Ken

[malcolmt]

   Hi all P.D's

What a warm and welcoming bunch you are.

KEN... 285,000 letters, clearly your eyesight has not been depleted by a misspent youth. I must go and get my glasses ! I am looking forwards to hearing about (and seeing ?) your progress with the Waverly, many thanks for your good wishes. 

JOHN... OK we'll skip the mutual admiration society from now on, but you are an inspiration to many i am sure. I am very much of the same school of engineering as yourself (fag packets in the drawing office, recycling all and sundry and particularly the if it fit its right, if it works how can it be wrong ?) I am still in a quandary as to how your significant other has time to fetch and carry for you when there is always so much housework to do. I only recently moved to Dorset so i am still searching for a decent scrap merchant, but as the saying goes... slowly slowly catchee monkey. 

DEREK... I am a little puzzled by the second hand ICBM is that similar to the nine times veteran kamikaze pilot by any chance ? He He He !!

I am sure that having discovered this forum it will be of great assistance in my future endeavours and i hope i will be able to contribute in some way.

Kind regards to all

Malcolm