Recent content by mole42

I got into building a model engine because I’ve always been interested, I use a Drummond roundbed in my everyday work and I wanted to improve my engineering skills. A pal offered me the casting for a Monosoupape 9-cylinder rotary, and off we go. Of course, it didn’t end there…..

I got into building a model engine because I’ve always been interested, I use a Drummond roundbed in my everyday work and I wanted to improve my engineering skills. A pal offered me the casting for a Monosoupape 9-cylinder rotary, and off we go. Of course, it didn’t end there…..

I bought a couple of cabinets of assorted bits - I'm very pleased but there's a couple of small items that have "Dore Westbury" on the bag - so if the person who bought that item would send me a message on here, I'll see if we can get the parts to you. Richard

I love simple jigs & fixtures to make jobs easier! This is a superb example. One point - when I was taught silver soldering (far too many years ago!) while building oboe & flute keywork we were encouraged to have the two faces as near parallel and in as close contact as possible so that there...

Hi Eric, there's a fabulous series of articles in Model Engineer from January 2002 with many tips which I have found useful. There's also a series of pictures on the web detailing the machining of most of the parts, here: Gnome - Google Drive There's another here: Gnome Rotary Aero Engine...

Thanks Pete, it's good to know there's another incomplete set of engine parts somewhere! I have been able, while setting up the new machine, to check the truth of the Gnome crankshaft between the main bearing journal and the front journal and I'm happy with it. Making the crankshaft in two...

I've just noticed that I haven't posted anything on this thread for six months. That's what happens when you buy another lathe that needs fettling before use!

Lovely work! As ever, it’s the jigs and fixtures that takes the time but the work would be impossible without them!

Very impressive!

In my case, I’m building the 9-cylinder Gnome radial to improve my skills in machine work. I’ve already made several more parts than strictly necessary. When I get the engine running I’ll be happy.

One of the comments in the ME article is that the main parts of the engine are finish machined assembled on a mandrel, to ensure concentricity. There is so little of the casting left after machining that variations in density are unlikely to make a difference. If the cylinders and valve gear are...

Oh dear! Now the lathe is for sale….I’ve only gone and bought a Myford Super 7. ask me for details!

A couple more photos of the tappet guides: Lots of tiddlers.....

Here's a couple of photos I forgot to include, first one is a collection of parts, I made a couple more before work this morning: And I've established a process for the first procedure, adjust the material length in the chuck, set the DRO zero on both axes, reduce the diameter to 0.25" for a...

Oh, it's so slow sometimes - sometimes it seems like days of work produces only a few parts! Here's some more progress: A series of photos showing the front gear housing; first roughing out the mounting flange, then boring out the internal gear case, reducing the outer diameter and tapering for...