Wife's christmas present

kevingambrell · 23-12-2007

Hi
Just a quick picture of the engine I built for my wife for christmas. Il be doing a second engine and an off ballance plough as time allows. Maybe she will set them up in a ploughing display. Who knows.
Its 1/72nd scale and made from white metal.

Cheers kevin

**Bunkerbarge** · 23-12-2007

Absolutely beautiful Kevin. Is it mostly cast or do you machine the white metal as well?

GeorgePapa · 24-12-2007

Hi Kevin,
am sure wife will appreciate your present.
What exactly do you mean by white metal ? I use linotype metal which is hard enough and has minimal shrinkage.

Merry Xmas,

George

kevingambrell · 24-12-2007

hello George
Whitemetal is a low melt aloy with a high lead content plus tin and a few other metals. It pours very very well but benifits from centrigugal casting. It has almost no mechanical strength and for anything stressed it just wont do the job. It does how ever take very fine detail incredibly well.
The following are two examples of its uses the first as its most common use as a bearing.
http://www.hawkhurst.demon.co.uk/bearings.htm

This one is the wikipedia entry and describes it very well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_metal

cheers kevin

jankers · 24-12-2007

What a grand model Kevin, and those links are very useful too.

Are there any plans for the engine?

J.

kevingambrell · 24-12-2007

Hi jankers
my Fowler drawings are from blackgates and are for a 2 inch to the foot live steam. that said fowler GA drawings are available from a lot of the model engineering people. Il drag up a few links.

Merry xmas Kevin

GeorgePapa · 27-12-2007

Hi Kevin,
thanks for kind response and wish for the coming New Year.
I'm glad your wife accepts happily such kinds of presents.
Best wishes again,

George

jspitza · 27-12-2007

Hello Kevin:
A true work of art! I'm amazed that such things can be built by skillful hands such as yours!

AerynPk · 27-12-2007

Hello Kevin that is some brilliant work there. Im sure your wife really appreciates it.