Re-Start Project/ Minnie

[David Watson 3Participant @davidwatson3]

I am about to re-build my workshop and start model engineering again.I am thinking of projects to start things off. Recently I inherited my late fathers Warco Mini Lathe, my ML4 had to go. Cost and time would prevent me from building any thing too big. I remember the articals in the ME magazine about building the Minnie. I always thought rollers had there own special charm as they clanked along the roads so I thought about the Minnie convertable as listed by Reaves. Has any one built one or would like to coment please. .

[David Watson 3Participant @davidwatson3]

Minnie Roller

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

As you can see from my avitar I made the TE version but the roller should not present any problems.

You will need a vertical slide at the very minimum to do the milling though a milling machine would make things easier. Mine was done without a mill.

May also be worth looking at Blackgates for some of the shared parts to see if one is a better deal than the other

J

[David Watson 3Participant @davidwatson3]

Hi Jason, The lathe was bought with a vertical slide . I had a vertical slide on my ML4 for milling mainly because of the cost of a milling machine. My fathers friend built a Minnie when the article was first published and at the the time I thought it a nice sized engine. I know you really need to go to 2/3" to make a drivable engine. I only wanted some thing to use the lathe for and get back to model engineering now I am semi retired. With regard to Blackgates, they are a bit easier for me to get to for bits and I used to find them a bit cheaper than Reaves. I notice they have moved from Drillington. I think the book would a be a wise investment next. Perhaps the articles for the roller from the ME.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Yes definately get the book which also means you don't need to buy the drawings as they are all in the book (roller excepted).

J

[David Watson 3Participant @davidwatson3]

Still thinking about the Minnie and I mentioned it to a Model Engineer that I work for part time. He recons the Minie will pull an adult on level ground in low gear. I certainly havnt heard this before and am a bit sceptical. As I said this will realy be my limit size wise due to the workshop equipment on hand.

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