This is a story about a number of first ones for me.
It is mainly about the first steam engine I machined from raw castings.
This is a PMR #3B that I purchased the casting set for back in 1999. This is the all bronze kit that they offered back then before they started with the 3BI bronze with iron base. I machined the kit until it was about 95% complete, and then put it away on a shelf and kind of forgot about it.
I came across it a few days ago and decided to finish it. I only had to drill and tap a couple of holes and make a couple of small parts (I think I put it away because I didn't have the proper size tap and die back then, I do now) Here are a couple of pictures with the disclaimer that I didn't bother with paint and polish yet. I wanted to see if it will run before I Paint and polish.
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You will notice that I took some liberties with the original kit to make it my own. I never did like the largeish screws that were provided with the kit, so I replaced all of the screws with very small brass hex head bolts. I also did not like the head design with 4 screws so I changed it up to have 6 bolts. I also redesigned the bearing supports to make them look more like they are split bearings with the bearing caps bolted on.
After completing the parts and assembling it, I gave it a test run on air. It ran first try on very low air pressure. I left it hooked to my air line running at a couple of PSI for about 2 hours just to get it broken in.
For fun, after I disconnected it from the air line, I tried blowing into the hose. I was able to run it for 10 or 15 seconds before my lungs ran out!
I know you guys like pictures, and I know that you really like video so here is another 1st for me. I Put my 1st video up on you tube on my new you tube channel. I started a channel which I am calling Jim's Workshop (I already have one subscriber, Thanks Nick!!) where I will hopefully put on some content on my metal working hobby. And my Steam and Stirling addiction.
So here is my First Video:
https://youtube.com/video/bNrHItNri6s(Hope I did this right)
Jim in Minnesota
