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

       Thought I would follow up with a photo comparing the smaller and larger flat-twin TMY engines, I am not aware of any readily available references comparing them. Not a great photo but sufficient for comparison.

      The easiest way to distinguish them is that the smaller (top) has 3 cylinder head screws, while the larger below has 4. The diameters of the cylinder heads are 19 vs 21 mm, and the flywheels are 34 vs 37 mm respectively. I don't know if there are any differences in the bore sizes.

      Another aspect of these that has always puzzled me is the frequency of references I have seen that state that they date from "1945", although other references date them from the 1950s. Seems to me that it would be nearly impossible that any were made as early as 1945, since I doubt that little model engines (or much of anything at all) were being made for export during the last 3 months following the end of the war! I would be curious to know anything more certain about the years they were made, if anyone can comment. Thanks!