The Home Machinist!

Wasn't Brian Keim developing working compound pumps?

Any steam water pump of his I've seen, has always worked great and reliably.

Agree on keeping it simple when it comes to functioning equipment, but it is neat watching a water pump slowly tick over.

For sure, ya it's a super interesting alternative. Any ballpark of what the mike cylinders were to print? I guess the downside would be if you only had 2 halves printed then one failed etc, so there would have to be some hedging of bets, or I guess could always just have another printed.

I'd imagine the economics of doing it in that way start to break even with more traditional methods once a certain size is hit. Particularly lost wax I'd think would get very expensive for something like a 2.5 mikado cylinder block. but then again the price to hire a pattern maker to make a 2.5 scal...

that would be quite the game changer if patterns like that could be fairly easily and affordably made for one offs or twos etc. Just curious why use cylinder halves vs a single piece block?

If it was from the John Rimmasch/Wasatch auction, who knows what you got, or what kind of construction/material issues there might be. Surely with something that's smaller and more simple like a 7.5 gauge sized boiler it would be alright, but his track record for screwing up full size projects is li...

Would think the 3.75 maxi 2-4-4/2-4-2 design or something like a 2.5 scale k36 would be about the heaviest out there.

Super interesting. I bet you'd get some orders if you offered the 3 gauge assembly RTR. I didn't realize there were many 3/32 tubing fittings available commercially.

That's stunning! Plan to offer those air gauge sets for sale?
Also would love to see how you handle the multiple air connections between the tender/engine

always enjoy seeing interesting tools that others use! Appreciate the links.

The loco at LALS is great looking as well! didn't you also build Richard's US 1919 pacific?

Was thinking at one time this engine had some issues with blow-by due to the I believe teflon rings, but likely that's been addressed. Isn't there also a LE old northern that runs at EPRR?

What do you all find are the best wrenches for model bolts? sometimes traditional crescent wrenches etc are difficult to use and can be hard to find sockets in the tiny sizes.