Editorial

This is here for us to add comments about what we've been up to, some great sites we've seen and generally to have a chat. I've started a new page here, but you can get to the older page: Previous Posts

glue-it Blog

Came across a great easy to use database driven package called Wordpress and just had to use this to build a new Blog.

The new site is here: glue-it.co.uk/mediawiki

The great thing is you can now comment on pages and get involved - so makes life easier for us to upload blogs and ideas and lets you get involved.

30 September 2011 | Nigel

Animated Engines

I′ve come across this site on a number of occasions and just sat and stared at the different engines. This time a particular engine has caught my eye and got me thinking. The Revolving Cylinder Engine: animatedengines.com - now that would make a very interesting design project.

6 August 2011 | Nigel

Video Recording from a Glider

Have been busy doing some more filming from an RC glider. The slope soaring videos are now up on our page: Slope Soaring.

We have been busy with the video strapped to the glider and have added some more to our Aerotowing page. This video is particularly cool, but if you want to find out more about the models and pilots then visit - Aerotowing.

If you′re going out flying this weekend then worth checking out the weather on xcweather.co.uk.

17 June 2011 | Dave

Steam Engine Design

Last night I sat searching the internet for "steam engine design" and looking at the images that were thrown up for inspiration. The site I came across was this one by: Richard Krell. Very interesting site to browse and read as Richard covers lots of different subjects and has a great interest in design and engineering and the results show for themselves.

30 April 2011 | Nigel

Bodkin Engine

How many hours do you spend browsing through the internet looking for inspiration for a new model? Well, maybe it is just me. I was looking around and came across Allan Dake′s site modelstationarysteamengine.com. Lots of different steam engines and one in particular caught my eye Bodkin 2, what a lovely looking engine. This engine was made by Ben Peake.

Ben′s site has some great images of this engine: peake-engines.com. Time to stop browsing and off to the drawing board.....I′ll get back to you later.

......Well, one week later and the engine is finished: Lamp Post Steam Engine.

23 April 2011 | Nigel

V-Twin Solenoid Motor

I′ve been quiet for a while and have been building the motor you see in the video below. I wanted a Harley-Davidson V-twin type engine after seeing one on youtube.

I′ll write an article about this project in the next few weeks so that you can see it in more detail.

At the moment this is unfinished and just resting on a simple mount that I made so that I could work on it. I'm now developing a frame, engine mounts and bedplate to display it.

20 March 2011 | Nigel

Materials

Don't know about you, but I'm often looking for materials and so thought I should add a section on the shop and manufacturers pages just for this: Materials.

If you have a shop supplying materials such as balsawood, steel, glue etc then let me know and I'll add you to the database or just fill in a form: Shop Form.

5 March 2011 | Nigel

Battle Scenes

Nick Nasta has just sent me a link to a great video he has produced using the scenes he makes with Alex:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYzvKT3e50E

The website for their work is here: www.battlesceneproductions.net

24 February 2011 | Nigel

Corian

Went to a dolls house show and saw some models turned from Corian (Du Pont corian.com) this got me thinking about using it to make a flywheel for an engine from it. OK not sure about using it for a high speed high stress flywheel, but for a small low speed engine then interesting.

I have some 2" x 2" x 0.5" samples. Firstly I sanded the surface of two pieces and have glued them together with superglue. Will let you know how I get on turning it. Here are my notes on Corian.

4 February 2011 | Nigel

Tracy Tools

Some weeks ago I was sitting down having a glass of wine and looking for tools. I visited the Tracy Tools website as this is one of the best stalls at any of the model engineering exhibitions. I was in for a shock the website was horrible and you could not browse and buy.

Wow just got an email from Tracy Tools, they have a brand new website that is easy to browse and use.

tracytools.com

28 January 2011 | Nigel

V-Twin Solenoid Engine

The latest project on the workbench. I built a simple single horizontal solenoid engine and showed it running on YouTube.

Full article

This got me searching YouTube for some other engines people had built and I came across this: V-twin Solenoid motor - I like the idea and the sound and thought that I ought to have a go at something similar.

I′ve been searching around for images and parts and have been making some parts and it is coming together. Will start writing the article very soon. Been looking at the Harley Davidson V-Twin with 45° between banks and single crank pin.

31 December 2010 | Nigel

Milling Machine

The Amadeal XJ12-300 Mini Mill that I bought and wrote about has been attracting quite a lot of interest over the last few months with people emailing me about issues/concerns they have. However, having said all that mine has been performing very well as a mill and also as a fairly general use pillar drill.

31 December 2010 | Nigel

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