raveney
Well-Known Member
I thought I would take a break from four stroke engines and build a hot air engine for a quiet change of pace. I had purchased the "Steam and Stirling" book, and I am attempting the lovely Rider Ericsson in 1/4 scale as drawn. This is the largest I can make with my benchtop lathe and mill. The book assumes that one has purchased the castings, but I thought it would be fun to make the patterns and cast the pieces myself. Some scaling and CAD drawing was done to come up with useable dimensions.
![20240426_164641.jpg 20240426_164641.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/109/109510-9a1b5bf33d74cada06aef2d88200b3d5.jpg)
The base plate was fairly easy. Three pieces of MDF board cut with my scroll saw and beveled using the disc sander. I milled down the 1/4" top frame to 1/8" after gluing it to the larger base so it wouldn't break. I think I will order 3/16" plastic letters and glue them on also. Probably add some fillets to the border also.
![20240421_160830.jpg 20240421_160830.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/109/109511-138f1a5524487e792cf8a9287ea2cfe2.jpg)
The legs were more challenging. I attempted to steam bend 1/4" plywood and clamp in a glued up jig, but the curve didn't set right. Too much spring-back using plywood I guess. I then cut the jig up and removed everything that wasn't a leg using a coping saw and foredom tool. I still need to add the feet, but the general concept looks good. It will be tricky to mold it as I never attempted a "irregular" parting line on a single pattern.
![20240426_110150.jpg 20240426_110150.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/109/109512-3c25705419f62e0b4f97b0f741ec8bc2.jpg)
![20240426_162742.jpg 20240426_162742.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/109/109513-e23b2ae42809bf3acab923d75bfe4425.jpg)
![20240426_164641.jpg 20240426_164641.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/109/109510-9a1b5bf33d74cada06aef2d88200b3d5.jpg)
The base plate was fairly easy. Three pieces of MDF board cut with my scroll saw and beveled using the disc sander. I milled down the 1/4" top frame to 1/8" after gluing it to the larger base so it wouldn't break. I think I will order 3/16" plastic letters and glue them on also. Probably add some fillets to the border also.
![20240421_160830.jpg 20240421_160830.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/109/109511-138f1a5524487e792cf8a9287ea2cfe2.jpg)
The legs were more challenging. I attempted to steam bend 1/4" plywood and clamp in a glued up jig, but the curve didn't set right. Too much spring-back using plywood I guess. I then cut the jig up and removed everything that wasn't a leg using a coping saw and foredom tool. I still need to add the feet, but the general concept looks good. It will be tricky to mold it as I never attempted a "irregular" parting line on a single pattern.
![20240426_110150.jpg 20240426_110150.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/109/109512-3c25705419f62e0b4f97b0f741ec8bc2.jpg)
![20240426_162742.jpg 20240426_162742.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/homemodelenginemachinist/data/attachments/109/109513-e23b2ae42809bf3acab923d75bfe4425.jpg)