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Hi, I've recently bought a set of parts to make a Geo Thomas Pillartool. I have the castings for the two arms but I need the one for the sensitive drilling machine head. Has anyone got a spare? Thnaks, Richard

I had a Mamod SE1 stationary steam engine as a Christmas gift - in about 1967. It was disappointing because I was desperate for a traction engine. I rectified that disappointment a couple of years ago when I bought and restored a Mamod TE1 traction engine.....of course, in this century it's very...

You need a 55º tool - the ME thread won't be too happy with 60º and won't form properly. It's worth checking the angle of the 1" x 32 tap that you have to see if that's 55º. In your video of the thread too going in, I feel that the tool spring is not helping you - ISTR using a very fine cutting...

No, I haven't finished the engine yet. I bought a Myford Super 7 that needed some work to get into shape and I rebuilt my 1972 Triumph Stag which took a lot of my time away from the engine. This year I'm making a new crankshaft because the first one was 10 thou out of true on the camshaft...

Here's the thread about my engine: https://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/threads/first-steps-into-a-gnome.33644/ I haven't a mill, so everything gets done on the lathe. Looking at your mill set-up, I think I'd go for the tap rather than single-point, it looks more rigid.

Mine is the Chenery engine, so I believe the same as yours. I haven't got the drawings with me so I can't comment on the thread size but it is the one specified on the drawing. I also cut a test cylinder to check each boss as I cut the threads.

I cut mine with a single-point tool.

The earlier design was by L.H. Sparey, published in Model Mechanic in 1950 from which the Algoa and Machin seem to have been developed.

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!