Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Next up for the hit and miss engines.....

1/4 Scale IHC Famous Air Cooled Vertical Hit & Miss Gas Engine

1 of 2 extant.

Here is a great running and rare model as it is one of just two in existence. Each part was hand made by Lee DeGood. The other example was built by his friend, Tom Forward. It is an exact replica of an original that spent a winter in their shop. A local farmer had the original in his barn and he asked Lee if he would be able to get it running for him. Lee looked it over and told the fellow he would do it on the condition he takes it home with him for the winter so he and Tom could measure and photograph all of it so they could build these 2 freelance 1/4 scale models. Come spring they returned the original looking and running great to a very happy owner.

There are no castings in this model. It is carved out of solid metals. The cooling cones sticking out of the head are 3 different heights just as on the original. Rather than try to make a complex pattern for just 2 small heads, they made each one on their lathes with threaded bottoms. They drilled and tapped into the top of the head and threaded each little cone in individually. The fuel pump works identical to the original. The outside plunger can be pumped manually for priming and the inboard plunger is eccentric driven off the cam gear. The head and cylinder bore have the appearance of aluminum because they have silver paint, the correct original color. These parts were machined out of chunks of solid cast iron. The cooling cones threaded in at the top are steel.

The last time I ran it was about 5 or 6 years ago at Coolspring.

It is an honor to have this fine piece in my collection.

Enjoy,

Gil

This video was filmed in 2011 shortly after I got home with it.




Pictures from today... It needs a little dust wiped off even though it has been in a wooden box the whole time.


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Here's a video from 2015 testing a monster sized buzz coil on it.

Thanks, Carl.

Now I am making a video of this engine running just a few minutes ago.
There is a Model T type coil attached and wired under the wood base.

Gil

At Cabin Fever Expo in January 2020 I managed to win this little vacuum engine or flame licker that was built by our friend Joe Higgins.

I got it for Mrs. RedRyder to go with her collection of miniatures.

Today, for the first time, I actually got it to start and stay running for a while.

I used an alcohol burner from Phoenix Solar or early PM Research.

Enjoy,

Gil

Nice table Gil!

I never get tired of seeing your treasures. 🤠

Thanks, Charlie!


and....


me, too... even while seeing them every day!

Nearly 15 years later, I bet that Rider Ericsson would still win awards 

Great to see you here Gil 

Hi Nick, Thank you!

I think you're right.

It is still looking great.

Stunning craftsmanship!  Definitely top shelf equipment!

Thanks, krypto Doug!

Great to see you here!

Gil