WOW DUDE-!!! I'm totally Blown away-!!! I have read almost 90% of your posting and all I can say is you have everything it takes to build something this spectacular-!!! I'm just starting my SolidWorks tour, Took me forever to find books, and/or video lessons etc, but I feel I'll get there now-!
I've also been working on re-fitting, re-building a HF 7 x 10 mini-lathe that's now (going to be) a 7" x 16" mini-lathe & Hi-Torque mini-mill from LMS that I have some weird plans for soon as I figure out how to make that happen.
My MAIN point here is NOT all about myself, but that you have made me realize by spending NOT ONLY all the time that "You" have into this build.....but the time you spent writing all this out and taking the time (YOUR PERSONAL TIME) at that to post all this info-!!! Can't say thank you enough times for that.
You have also made me realize that if I intend to build the 3-4 ICE's that "I" have in mind.....Plus all this "other-stuff" I "Think" I'm going to build (One day, before I die)-!!! that I had either better get my priorities squared away and get re-focused, or start thinking about giving up at least half of them.
BTW.....Dude-! Even "IF" this thing NEVER ran for 2 seconds, you've got a BEAUTIFUL Model to look at Terry-! I love this thing-! Gorgeous- incredible work -!!!