Read a few months of this forum posts and see what you come across. Use the search facility on the front page (not the one on this page) to follow up on things that you want more information on.

There have been several threads suggesting books etc to get. If you can find some old copies of Model Engineer or Model Engineer's Workshop they will also teach you a lot.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that because you are not setting out to build a locomotive you shouldn't spend time reading those articles because in them they describe techniques and processes that are common to all machining.

I seem to remember that Alex Whittaker who designed the Firefly did all the work with a Clarke (Machine Mart) combination machine though it could also be done with just a lathe equiped with a vertical slide for milling. A separate milling machine would make things easier but is not essential.

This is my build thread of the Firefly which will give you an idea of what you are letting yourself in fore but as I say in the thread there are several ways to making each part and I just used the tools that I have and it could quite easily be done with less.

J

There is a guy with a channel on You Tube. His name is John Mills, nickname Doubleboost. He puts out a machining or welding video every Sunday eve called Sunday Night Night Cap.

He’s been doing this for 3 years ish, so plenty to watch. He is really down to earth and very highly skilled, but with that rare ability to pass knowledge on without being condescending.

You’ll learn more from watching a few of his videos than from reading a dozen magazines.

Magazine beginners articles are usually thinly veiled adverts. Avoid unless you want to learn how to unbox something really well.

Hi Tom,

For a first engine i would recommend a simple wobbler type engine as it will teach you about getting the parts to fit together and are not expensive to make , you don't really need a lathe to make one but having one will make life much easier .

If you are new to machine operations – using a lathe or mill etc take a look at a youtube channel called that lazy machinist – you will learn a lot from that channel i promise you !

If you do start out with a wobbler engine then try the youtube channel called mrpete222 as he makes a few of these engines .

If you want to watch someone make some things from brass ( mostly ) take a look at the clickspring channel – it is worth watching this just for the camera work let alone what you will learn !

There are no stupid questions and we have all been where you are now !

Ian.