Customer Reviews

Building the Shay

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Kozo Hiraoka brought a whole new standard of quality and accuracy to American model engineering when the contents of this book first appeared in "Live Steam" magazine in the 1970s. Reprinted and revised in book form, the work describes the construction of a complex 3/4 inch scale live steam model locomotive. What makes Kozo's work so impressive is a descriptive technique you could almost describe as "digital" in that thousands of small, easy steps add up to something very impressive and also very beautiful. He takes you from the very beginning of the project to the very end, teaching every moment in a gently humble style. This man - who taught himself English so he could write the book - has quietly brought greatness to an obscure but wonderful hobby. I've never met him and probably never will, but the world would be a better place if more people took their dreams as seriously as this quiet Japanese engineer. No lie. If you like model steam locomotives, buy this book.

This is a great book for the beginning live steamist and even the experienced live steam fan. The only things that I would do differently would be to give it a different smokestack (I don't like balloon stacks), to make the engine cover slimmer and more elegant, and put an air resevoir on the running board in place of the toolbox, convert it to propane fuel, and to alter the appearence of the square shafts. Great work Kozo!