Customer Reviews

Building Simple Model Steam Engines: Book 2 (v. 2)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It has been two months since I received this book and I have already built two of the engines shown! (they run perfectly). The author guides you through the building process as if he were beside you all the time, even though, a little machining experience is needed.

This book is excellent reading because of its suttle and charming humoristic style. It also has some good projects with very thorough instructions. Being from mainland Europe I'm not used to the Imperical measurements used and this can be a bit confusing. If you like model steam engines this book should be on your shelf.

This book gives fairly good instuction on how to build a few types of small model stationary steam engines. But it could use some
more detail and better illistations.
A steam engine is a pretty simple device, but keep in mind that you are not going to build one on your kitchen counter. The author
assumes that you have basic machining workshop skills and know how a steam engine operates. You will need to be able to use a
lathe (also a mill would make it easier, but not required) and be able to do a little brasing and grinding.
This isn`t rocket science, but you will need the tools and know how to use them.

As Author indicated, this book is for beginners. What he failed to mentioned is what is beginner
If you're beginner in a way of having a good knowledge of steam engine and read about it before and have a set of tools and experience with lathe and understand poor explanation of component of steam engine (which he failed to explain any of it at all) then yes this is for you.
However, if you're a beginner that doesn't know much about steam engine then don't even waste your time with this book. To just give you a very brief example, on his first engine he has a section call "spring". Instead of explaining what is spring is used for he mentioned where he looked to find the spring. Again, he has another section call "Steam Chest" again he failed to explain the mechanism of the steam chest. Instead he mentioned make a whole here and there without any explanation as what is steam chest is use for and how it works.
Again if you're really a beginner without any previous knowledge of steam engine, them THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR YOU

This is a very simple entry level book containing very little that was not contained in other texts, in what I thought covered in a better way.

As Author indicated, this book is for beginners. What he failed to mentioned is what is beginner
If you're beginner in a way of having a good knowledge of steam engine and read about it before and have a set of tools and experience with lathe and understand poor explanation of component of steam engine (which he failed to explain any of it at all) then yes this is for you.
However, if you're a beginner that doesn't know much about steam engine then don't even waste your time with this book. To just give you a very brief example, on his first engine he has a section call "spring". Instead of explaining what is spring is used for he mentioned where he looked to find the spring. Again, he has another section call "Steam Chest" again he failed to explain the mechanism of the steam chest. Instead he mentioned make a whole here and there without any explanation as what is steam chest is use for and how it works.
Again if you're really a beginner without any previous knowledge of steam engine, them THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR YOU