Member postings for Jon Lawes

Looks like you have a Model Engineering Society here:

North Model Engineering Society, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Newcastle ST5 0QP

My advice would be go speak to some people there directly; if they are a society worth their salt they will be only too keen to assist someone starting out in the hobby. My MES (down south) gives instruction to new engineers and has equipment for their use.

Best of luck and welcome to the hobby. I've been wondering for years how long I have to do it before I consider myself anything other than amateur; I may never know!

Because you can't smash a Spinning Jenny in total darkness.

Proper model engineering.

Isn't it awful when people discuss things?

Lovely work Eric.

What beautiful work.

Because LBSC used language that would be understood by the common man with limited measurement tools available. Hence he used terms like "the thickness of a tram ticket".

What a lovely finish you have on everything. Congratulations on a tidy build.

I don't wish to drag your attention away from this fine forum but this has been discussed in incredible length (with research and experimentation) on the Model Engineering Clearing House forum (MECH). It might be worth having a look there.

If this post is not allowed then I completely understand if it gets removed.

Probably a quarter of a cup full at a guess? I'll do it more often.

How large will this be? Worth a 3 hour drive and/or a hotel stay? I'm rather itching to get back to exhibitions (really enjoyed Bristol).

I only drain mine every few months. How often do people do theirs?

Yeovil, just up the road from me, I never find bargains like this!

I purchased a cheap mini version of the automotive spray guns on ebay as a throwaway experiment for my locomotive and sprayed it with thinned enamel. I was very pleased with the result. After my son (an experienced modeller) installed the decals we gave it a light dusting of lacquer, which was carried out in a recently warmed garage. It wrinkled and made the finish look like elephant skin.... I suspect the metal hadn't reached room tempterature when I sprayed it. Live and learn!

Welcome Greg

Lug nut being the american term for wheel nuts could he be referring to an inductive heating tool, often used for shifting stuck nuts and bolts as the heat is more localised than gas?

I think we had one of these (or very similar) at an old workplace for lifting large manhole covers in a hangar floor.

Obviously not the case if they have a diff and axle but they bring to my mind the weight bearing wheels of a tanks tracks. I think the driven wheels are usually sprockets so obviously not the case.

A lot of people make the Stuart 10V as a first engine but I prefer the 10H as its horizontal and looks a bit more "mill-like". Also I suspect its slightly easier to machine, but I could be wrong.

Make a visit to your local model engineering society when lockdown is fully eased, you won't regret it. Welcome.

Don't give up on the forum side just yet; the odd bit of conflict is the side effect of being able to communicate with so many people.

The Men's shed would be a great place for you to share your skills with novices even if you don't feel you can carry on doing the work yourself. I dearly miss my grandfathers engineering advice, someone nearby will surely be grateful for yours.