These pictures show a model engine I made. Ninety percent of it
is made of wood, although the crankshaft, piston, rod, cylinder and
linkage are made of brass and steel. I used plastic gears out of an
old VCR to operate the eccentric that pushes the slide bar forward
to trip the igniter and exhaust valve.
Does this engine run? No, but when you spin the flywheels you
see many moving parts. This engine looks good sitting on a coffee
table or mantel. It’s a good conversation piece – a fun project to
build on a rainy day.
The engine is 8 inches long, 5 inches tall and 4 inches wide.
The bore and stroke are 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch, respectively. The
flywheels are 3-3/4 inches in diameter. Note the crank guard has
been added in the second photo.
A.B. Gardner
2553 Highway 59 W.
Covington, TN 38019
