Modeler’s Corner

By Staff
Published on April 1, 2007
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'Above: “Little York,” a hit-and-miss engine finished in 2002 from Richard Shelly plans. '
'Above: “Little York,” a hit-and-miss engine finished in 2002 from Richard Shelly plans. '
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Left: “Dinky Dears – John Deere.” Mel built this engine in 2001 from Jerry Frisbie plans. Ignition is by a 6-volt car coil and 6-volt lantern battery in the base.
Left: “Dinky Dears – John Deere.” Mel built this engine in 2001 from Jerry Frisbie plans. Ignition is by a 6-volt car coil and 6-volt lantern battery in the base.
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'Below: “Pioneer,” a non-compression engine built in 2007 from Rudy Kouhougt plans. Ignition on this and the Little York are the same as the John Deere, pictured above. '
'Below: “Pioneer,” a non-compression engine built in 2007 from Rudy Kouhougt plans. Ignition on this and the Little York are the same as the John Deere, pictured above. '
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'Above: “Beamer,” the hot air engine Mel finished in 2004 from Jerry Howell plans. '
'Above: “Beamer,” the hot air engine Mel finished in 2004 from Jerry Howell plans. '
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Left: A Rider-Ericsson hot air engine finished in 2005. It is a 1/4-scale pumping engine from Myers Model Engine Works.
Left: A Rider-Ericsson hot air engine finished in 2005. It is a 1/4-scale pumping engine from Myers Model Engine Works.
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'Right: “Fire Eater,” a vacuum engine built in 1990 from Philip Duclas plans. '
'Right: “Fire Eater,” a vacuum engine built in 1990 from Philip Duclas plans. '
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'Right: A tin can hot air engine built from junk: a tin can, beer can, car shock and Mel’s first curved-spoke flywheel. '
'Right: A tin can hot air engine built from junk: a tin can, beer can, car shock and Mel’s first curved-spoke flywheel. '
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'Above: “Miser,” a low-temperature hot air engine finished in 1999 from Jerry Howell plans. '
'Above: “Miser,” a low-temperature hot air engine finished in 1999 from Jerry Howell plans. '
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Below: Mel doing work with his 1941 South Bend lathe.
Below: Mel doing work with his 1941 South Bend lathe.
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'Left: “Ervin,” a hit-and-miss gas engine finished in 1997 from Curt Schlueter plans. '
'Left: “Ervin,” a hit-and-miss gas engine finished in 1997 from Curt Schlueter plans. '
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'Below: “Vickie,” a hot air engine finished in 2000 from Jerry Howell plans. '
'Below: “Vickie,” a hot air engine finished in 2000 from Jerry Howell plans. '
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'Above: “Little Angel,” built in 1995 from Bob Shares plans. Ignition is by an airplane coil and two 1-1/2-volt flashlight batteries. '
'Above: “Little Angel,” built in 1995 from Bob Shares plans. Ignition is by an airplane coil and two 1-1/2-volt flashlight batteries. '
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An oil pumper built between other projects is Mel’s own design.
An oil pumper built between other projects is Mel’s own design.
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Mel’s water pump from Tom Alexander plans.
Mel’s water pump from Tom Alexander plans.
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Another tin can hot air engine Mel also built between other projects.
Another tin can hot air engine Mel also built between other projects.

I really enjoy reading your Modeler’s Corner, the only trouble
is you don’t have enough entries, so I figured I would try and help
you out.

I am an 83-year-old retired farmer who loves shop work, but
money was always tight so I couldn’t buy new tools. I have a 1941
South Bend lathe with 9-inch swing and 3-foot bend, and a small
table top jet mill. I have no schooling on lathe and mill work, so
the little I know I learned by reading, and trial and error.

My engines all run and we show them at power shows. In the past
we went to about six shows a year, but last year, due to age and
health reasons, we only went to three shows.

Contact Mel Hofer at: 312 E. 3rd St., Freeman, SD 57029;
(605) 925-4732.

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