New Member

[DICKEYBIRD]

Welcome aboard firebird. I'm a newbie too; these guys are very friendly & helpful plus have a good sense of humor (humour.)

Would that be a 455 c.i. Pontiac Firebird? Pretty hard on the ol' pocketbook keepin' one of those in petrol over there, eh? (Just kidding, I'm guessing the moniker doesn't refer to the Firebird automobile.)

You'll have to link to a website that your pictures are hosted on. I use Photobucket. http://photobucket.com/ It's free and safe (so far.) You join up, upload your .jpgs to the site, click on the image link and then paste the link in your thread.

Milton

 

[firebird]

Hi dickeybird
Yes it was a firebird, a 1973 350ci esprit. I owned it for several years around 1980. Previous to that I owned a 68 Plymouth Barracuda. These were the times before wives, mortgages and children but I guess I wouldn't swap them now. I can still dream though.

Cheers

 

[firebird]

hi dickey bird

Iv'e just registered with the site you reccomended, your'e right it's a good site and easy to use (even for someone like me) so I'll have a go at a couple of photos of my electric saw. Briefly it's a 12 volt wiper motor from a Ford Escort together with a load of bits from the scrap box. It works well and is a lot easier than cutting steel bar by hand. Like I said earlier it has featured in a couple of magazines so there are loads more photos and plans and a word doc detailing the full build. The link to the photos is
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff17/firebird_021/DSC04526.jpg and http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff17/firebird_021/DSC04525.jpg

Hope this works
Cheers

 

[Julian]

Hi All,

I joined last week and recommended this forum to my mate Firebird who has now joined. I live around the corner from him and indirectly employ his wife so have a little sway on his available time. We know that when his wife is at work working for my wife we can have peace and quiet and discuss mod eng over a beer or three. I am the same as I have been both acquiring and making kit. Latest kit is a division head/rotary table made for virtually nothing for cutting gears. Does not need division plates so will cut ANY number of teeth. The first one was 57 teeth and looks good. Just offered it to Model Engineering Workshop Mag as an article....not heard from them yet.

Started building a traction engine in approx 2" scale. Not steam but running on electric motor. Motor turns the crank which then turns gears and wheels in the conventional way. Crank moves the piston which should give running noises as if steam driven. So far built front and rear wheels, front axle and almost finished perch bracket all from scratch. Will join photobucket and post piccys later.

I have two lathes one of which is a Seig. Just completing a mod for it to get it to run better....made type of gibstrip system to hold cross-slide to the bed. Pity the chinese did not do it in their designs and the factory!!!! CNC on the mill next.


Glad to be a part of this forum and look forward to participating in some interesting discussions.

 

[Bogstandard]

Welcome Julian,
Us redcoats seem to be getting a bit of an army together now. I was all alone in a foreign land for ages.
But I have to admit, the reception and welcome that I had was unlike anything I had experienced from a website before, friendliness and humour seem to be the order of the day.
I hope you continue to tell us all about what you are up to, and really enjoy coming to this site.

John

 

[mklotz]

The Redcoats are coming! The Redcoats are coming! Man the barricades! Dump the tea in the harbor! No taxation without (or with) representation.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The British have a long and distinguished history in model engineering and we colonials are happy to have an opportunity to see your work, tools and methods.

Now, having said that, let me ask a question. Are there any British BBSs along the lines of this one that would be worth visiting? I read uk.rec.models.engineering daily on Usenet but I haven't encountered any UK BBSs on the subject. Perhaps, with your smaller geography and larger number of ME clubs and exhibitions, a BBS isn't as needed?

 

[lugnut]

Welcome Julian. Would like to see the RT.
You know, these guys are going to talk you into running that traction engine on real steam before it's over
Mel

 

[firebird]

Hi

Iv'e watched Julians traction engine build from the ground up and I can tell you it's pretty good. I'll get him to post some photos

 

[rake60]

Welcome Julian

Rick

 

[Bogstandard]

Marv,
With regards to your questions about BB's. in the UK.
There are general boards but these tend to be a bit technical, like the experimental engineers.
But, as you say, we are very geographically close and you are never far from a model engineering society, and most seem to have their own web site. They are mainly geared towards the larger type of model like loco's and traction engines, in fact my local one has its rail track only about 4 miles from where I live, but because I'm not interested in railways, I don't participate.
Here are a couple of examples of regional BB's and one listing a load more (but even that is only the tip of the iceberg).
But please be aware that you are entering hallowed ground here, and really only redcoats should be allowed in. You will be amazed at the diversity of subjects, and you will come away with some great ideas.
Go to one, get the links, go to another, get more links, it is endless.

This is a general one.
http://www.bristolmodelengineers.co.uk/

This is one geared for locos.
http://www.sheffieldsmee.co.uk/

This one is the list of others
http://www.stationroadsteam.co.uk/Clubs.htm

Enjoy

John

 

[GeorgeGreek]

Hi Julian,
welcome from Greece.

Tend to agree with Marv, since your country is probably the only source of hex steel and brass model size (BA 10 - 12) bolts, most necessary to a metal scratchbuilder like me.

George

 

[1Kenny]

Welcome Julian,

Already we have something in common. I like to drink beer in the garden too.

Kenny

 

[DICKEYBIRD]

Welcome Julian; sounds like you'll be right at home here.

You're a lucky man, having a good friend close by that shares your interests. Don't ever take that for granted. I lost a very close friend of 27 years in April of this year and it left a very big hole in my life and an empty chair in my workshop every Friday night. A good wife and family is priceless but a "best ol' buddy" is a wonderful gift as well.

Milton

 

[wareagle]

Julian, you are welcome here, no matter which side of the pond you are on! :lol: Glad to have you.

Let us see the rotary table. It sounds very interesting, and I am sure there are one or two of us who would love to build one!

 

[firebird]

Hi dickeybird

Just thought I'd show you what my pride and joy looked like

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff17/firebird_021/firebird.jpg

 

[airfoil6205]

Hi all,
I'm a Hungarian retired turbojet engineer. I'm interested in jet & steam engines but I haven't workshop. My English is easy to use but I like shop drawings.

 

[rake60]

Welcome airfoil6205

Rick

 

[Tin Falcon]

Welcome to the board.
I did airframe work on jets for a while myself.
Tin

 

[airfoil6205]

I used to be an aircraft airframe & engine crew chief in Hungarian Air force (MiG 21)

Toni

 

[Bogstandard]

Welcome Toni,

I am sure that after a while soaking up the info on here, you will be setting up a workshop yourself to make something.


John