Making Simple Model Steam Engines
Stan Bray
ISBN: 978186126773 3
US $45, often on sale for less

This book is simply outstanding. So many books I have bought on the subject of building model engines of one sort or another are just disappointing in one way or another. Not so with this book. I enjoyed it from one end to the other.

I like this book because it isn't just a recounting of the author's experiences, but rather takes an instructional approach. And I love the detailed drawings presented. Some model engine books just go on about how the author built something without providing suffience detail for the reader to do the same and Bray's book is a welcome change. I hope more authors follow his example.

Here's are the contents:

 

  • Part 1: Introduction
  • Chapter 1: Getting Started
  • Part 2: The Engines
  • Chapter 2: Hero's Engine
  • Chapter 3: Simple Sam
  • Chapter 4: Tin Can Tommy
  • Chapter 5: Slim Sam
  • Chapter 6: Millie, a Mill-Type Engine
  • Chapter 7: Invar, an Inverted Vertical Engine
  • Chapter 8: Douglas, a Double-Acting Engine
  • Chapter 9: Twinky, a Twin-Cylinder Engine
  • Chapter 10: Victor, the Vee-Twin
  • Chapter 11: Clarence, a Clapper Engine
  • Part 3: Boilers
  • Chapter 12: Basic Boiler Construction
  • Chapter 13: Boiler Fittings
  • Chapter 14: Boiler Number One: Pot Boiler
  • Chapter 15: Boiler Number Two: Basic Vertical Boiler
  • Chapter 16: Horizontal Boiler with Water Tubes
  • Chapter 17: Vertical Boiler with Flues
  • Chapter 18: Boiler Number Five: Double-Barrelled Boiler
  • Chapter 19: Supports and Burners
  • Part 4: Finale
  • Chapter 20: Vertical Boilderd Locomotive

 

The engine designs are predominately for oscillating steam engines. The exceptions are Hero's engine - a very simple engine and Clarence the Clapper engine which sports a very simple valve design.

Many model steam engine plans tell you boilers are much too dangerous and instruct you to use an air compressor instead, but Stan Bray takes you right into boiler design. Chapter 13, on Boiler Fittings, deals with a variety of boiler devices including pressure relief valves, regulators and more. While the power of a steam engine is often talked about, the fact is the boiler and associated fittings has as much to do with the overall power of a system as the engine itself.

The blueprints are all presented in both metric and imperial measurements.

When you write a book review, you are supposed to be objective and give both sides of the story – present the facts and let the reader decide. Well, I liked this book so much I have a hard time finding anything wrong with it. The author is English and some of the terms may be unfamiliar to American readers, but this is remedied easily enough. The writing is mature and educated, younger readers may struggle with it.

I recommend the book for those interested in model engines, especially those just getting started in the hobby.