A link to Model Engineer

"Good" I suspect is a relative term and very personal.

I stopped getting it about 5 years ago as it was getting to "samey". I now get Australian Model Engineer

I know that ME has changed hands recently and some people consider the content has improved. I cannot comment on that.

I can't help with the links and price, I am sure that others will.

Cheers

Peter

--In ages past it has been the motherload of all things steam and model engineering related. It's been in more or less continuous publication for over 100 years (!) so if you can get back issues you'll find something has been written about *almost* anything you could imagine. There are keyword databases that can be downloaded (sorry, don't have the link handy). --Sadly, although in ages past it covered quite a bit of what was then state of the art, nowadays it seems to be largely devoted to these same onow-old topics. Every year I live in hope that the next looooong project they cover will be something *other* than another old locomotive or traction engine, but so far, well, no luck. The list of things I wish someone would write a build article about is growing, not shrinking, sigh..

Model Engineer (ME) mostly contains constructional articles for models. It's a good quality magazine, with a very long and respectable pedigree, but if you don't happen to be interested in making any of the models they happen to be serialising then its interest for you may be patchy at any time.

To a large extent this is because they floated off most of the "workshop tools" type articles into a separate magazine, "Model Engineers' Workshop" (MEW), 15 years ago. Now that magazine is, I would humbly suggest, is an absolute must for anyone into fine scale hobby engineering.

Both are published by Encanta Media, no website that I can see, but (assuming you live in Denmark) e-mail snipped-for-privacy@subscription.co.uk for new subscriptions, or snipped-for-privacy@encanta.co.uk for back issues (those details for MEW, but I assume the same people will deal with ME as well).

Personally I take both, as the techniques in ME are often interesting even if the model is not, but if I had to choose one it would be MEW every time.

David

They (ME) are currently running an article on build an 15cc 4 stroke motor, which is one of the best constructional articles I've seen in a long while (aircraft and marine versions) - don't know if that "floats your boat" Ed.

Steve

Thanks for the link. I have now subscribed for Model Engineers Workshop. Ten issues 42 £ european price.

"Steve W" skrev i en meddelelse news:0qOdnUd2d-gfZU snipped-for-privacy@bt.com...

I have only one copy of each (ME and MEW), so I can't judge about their content very well. From your description (and the one issue I have), I think MEW is a must (for me). But what kind of models does the ME describe? The one I have is mostly about a clock. Interesting, but not what I need.

Nick

Steam railway locomotives, stationary steam, steam traction engines, IC engines, hot air engines, clocks, plus some articles on workshop tools and techniques (but not as many as MEW).

Not all these in every issue, of course; usually a constructional article will be serialised over several issues, and as one finishes another begins.

Interested parties may also find "Engineering in Miniature", published by TEE Publications, worth getting as well. Bit of a mixture of ME and MEW, but with perhaps more emphasis on the model constructional articles.

David

--Well it's a start! :-) I *still* want to see plans for... well should I post my dream list here?

If four strokes are part of your dreams, you should look at "Model Engine Builder".

Nick

Go on, I'm sure collectively we could find suitable plans for most things.

I know I've certainly got a good list of plans I want to do at some point.

--OK here ya go; no particular order, just thot they'd be fun!

-A braiding machine, like the one at the Penngrove Power &Implement Museum (used to make things like parachute cords during WW II) -A hydraulics system to make scale models of earthmoving equipment -1/2 or 1/3 scale working hay baler that could be used with a PTO on garden tractors -An in-line 3-cylinder poppet valve steam engine, any scale, but scalable. -A variable speed drive, similar to the 2-pulley setup in the Bridgeport -A jig to sharpen single-flute countersinks (I've since figured out how to do this without a jig...) -A better coffee grinder (we're all coffee snobs now!)

--Please append! Maybe we can pen a letter from our group to M.E. and get 'em to change their ways??

An interesting list there! I've got a book that explains the workings of a square bailer. I'm sure it also had some good (although simplistic) diagrams, explaing how they work. If I can find it, I could scan the relevant pages. The knotting device always fascinated me. Hydraulics are fun to make things with. Only problem is buying new bits gets expensive (spent about £1k last month, to build a PTO driven hydraulic power pack - luckily I wasn't paying!). I should also have plenty diagrams of CVT transmissions from my college books/notes.

My current model(ish) list involves -

-Finish my T&C grinder (using the Bonelle plans)

-CNC one of my Harrison Mills

-Build the Dux, miniature diesel engine (plans from Strictly IC)

-Build a scale version of a tractor engine (still not decided between 6cyl merc, or 3 cyl perkins)

-CNC Plasma cutter table

-Build an Atkinson Differential engine

-Build some of the other engines from Strictly IC / Model Engine Builder

-All the other tools needed to build the above (ie crank/cam grinder, shaper.....)

The non model related list involves -

- New fence post driver with sideshift, and levelling

- Larger wood processor (already built a Kindling Wood Processor)

- Compact woodchipper (self contained driven by a 70ish BHP engine)

- Numerous other bits of machinery

I think getting ME to change their ways will involve more people submitting articles on other items.

This is an excellent point. They are AIUI almost totally reliant on people submitting suitable articles. Obviously the editor then has to decide whether they will be of some general interest, but if they are not submitted in the first place there is zero chance of them appearing. He may well have some facility for "twisting arms", but he has to know of someone expert in the field first, and sadly it will tend to be the usual suspects who he approaches.

David

Forgot to mention, my (very rarely updated) website is