Hey everyone,

I'm currently working on my dissertation project, which is a search engine specifically designed for "Model Engineer" magazine. The goal is to make it easier for hobbyists, enthusiasts, and researchers to find articles and resources within the magazine's extensive archive.

This project is close to my heart, and I've put a lot of effort into it. But now, I need your help! Whether you're into model trains, engineering, or just love helping out with academic projects, I'd greatly appreciate your input.

Here's how you can help:

1. Check out the search engine here: https://agd698.poseidon.salford.ac.uk/MeSearchIndex - Note: You might encounter a security warning since it's hosted on my personal site. Please click on "Advanced" and proceed. It's perfectly safe, I assure you!
2. After giving it a whirl, please fill out this quick survey: https://forms.gle/W55WqV2EHTERcJHE8. It won't take more than a few minutes, and your feedback will be incredibly valuable for the improvement of this project and for my dissertation.

Your insights and suggestions could really make a difference and help refine this tool to better serve the model engineering community.

Feel free to take your time, and let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or if you need more information. I'm all ears for any feedback or suggestions you have!

Thanks a ton for your support. It means the world to me!

Cheers, Josh R

I have acquired several large bags full of model engineer magazines circa 1950s to 1970s not sure as they’ve been in my attic for a while and haven’t finished sorting them but i want them gone as I am saving up for a new airsoft gun Open to offers as i’m not sure on how to value them but I’m guessing they are around £2 each

Was thinking one could also cast it from 3d printed parts. I majored in business in uni and graduated with a four year degree but right out of school I found mechanical engineering technology as a potential degree plan. I was always good with technical stuff but I needed a hands on approach, and this would have been perfect but it was too late. Anyone have any books on building a model steam engine that's maybe half a horse power in power? Thanks.

Hello Machinists Hivemind!

I am currently facing the most strange part I have yet encountered: In the process of recreating a rather intricate mechanism from old factory construction plans, I am completely puzzled by the following component: https://imgur.com/XFM8GSe As you see, the most challenging operation on this part is creating the long vertical spiral groove on the cylinder. (Excuse the German, Translation: The slope of the spiral is 20 mm per revolution, and the cylinder itself is only 2.5 mm in diameter)

How the hell was this originally machined in the 1950s? It seems to flimsy to do on a Lathe.

My Question now is: Do you think it is feasible to first mill a straight slot and then twist the part? Would such an operation even create a constant slope on the vertical spiral? How would you go about this?

Sidenote: My first attempt at this, was to build a rather wonky fixture, where i push the cylinder into a grinding disk, similar to the way that twist-drills are ground. (to get the correct axial and rotational movement, i scaled up and 3d printed the spiral, and used this plastic part to sortof screw my work into the grind-wheel) ...Aaaand that failed. With broken grinding wheels due to alignment errors. So if i can avoid it, i'd rather not go down that path again.

Hi,

My Grandfather was a very big model engineering enthusiast. Sadly he passed away last year and left in my possession 100s of "Engineering in Miniature" and "Model Engineer" Magazines. The dates range from 1979-2004 for "Engineering in Miniature" and I have some copies of "The Model Engineer" that date back to the 1930/40s to present day. Judging by eBay listings, it is hard to tell how much they are really worth and was wondering whether anyone could give me a rough idea, or if anyone is interested in buying them, they are for sale. Thanks

Hello! I'm new to the community.

My Grandpa was Tony Walshaw, a model engineer from Cumbria, United Kingdom.

Sadly, Tony passed away this April. With Christmas round the corner he is in the forefront of my mind and was wondering if anyone here knows anything about where his models have ended up. Unfortunately I don't have a whole lot of information on the models themselves. His father (my great grandfather) was Tom Walshaw who went by the pen name Tubal Cain if that helps.

I don't suppose anyone here has any information/ knows of the location of any of Tony's models. I know they were mainly sold in the UK, but some were sold across the seas.

My Grandpa kept a log of them all but unfortunately we can't access his laptop and I would really like to categorise all of his models and ideally find where they are.

Apologies if this is the wrong place and any information would be great 😊

Thanks!

For the model locomotives is the gauge referring to the spacing between the rails or something else and if I had full scale prints what’s the scale to scale it down to 3-1/2” 5” or 7-1/4”?