One-Eight Scale Model Of 80 HP Case Traction Steam Engine
May/June 1966
Herbert H. Baker
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This Case engine model was built by myself in five-years spare time from photostats of the actual Case blueprints. It is very close to detail and features of the Case engine, both in appearance and operation.
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Pekin, Indiana
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This model has an over-all length of 32'. width over rear
wheels 13' and 15' to top of stack and weighs approximately
85 lbs.
The boiler has the same number of flues, rivets, stay-bolts as
the big job. Each rivet head was shaped by a special made cutter to
produce the cone shape, the arc of the cone having a radii of 100
of an inch. It was necessary to make special theading taps with a
pilot to thread for the stay-bolts between the top of the boiler
and the crown sheet. It is also fitted with rocking grates and
lever. All wheels have the same number of spokes as the prototype
and gears have the same number of teeth. Local machine shops could
not cut these gears according to my requirements and was necessary
to have done in Akron and Detroit.
Every feature on the model is just like on the big engine with a
few exceptions. I purchased the steam gauge, oil pump and a model
friend gave me castings for the engine frame, crank disc, and
fly-wheel. The injector is an exact model but does not work as I
never finished it up inside. However, the little ejector works like
a clock, its amazing to see it draw water from a glass container
and force into the platform tank.
It was also necessary to make special left-hand taps and dies in
order to obtain adjustments on the links between the upper and
lower cannon bearings, valve gear and fly-wheel friction
clutch.
The boiler is also provided with hand clean-out holes just like
the big boiler.
Oregon. It was tested to 185 lbs. steam pressure for two
hours.
The boiler is also provided with hand clean-out holes just like
the big boiler.
To make the model of the governor, I purchased an old 2
inch New Judson governor, took it all apart and measured each piece
to make the model.
I could not find a stock worm and worm gear in the size that I
wanted for the steering gear so I wrote a gear company for price on
a special worm and rear and they quoted me a price of $30.00. So I
sent off for a book on gear cutting and studied that book one night
to figure out the size of the blanks. The next night I made a hob
in my little basement home shop and the next night I made my gears.
They work perfect and don't believe anybody could make a pair
that would look and work better. I am definitely not a machinist
nor claim to be one. I am a banker and have been for over
thirty-five years and never even worked in a machine shop. I just
bought me a lathe with some attachments, drill press and some hand
tools and went to work.
Any of you that would like to build a model engine bad enough
and willing to work hard and have plenty of patience, you might
surprise yourself what you can actually turn out.
It takes many hours to build a working model and one that
performs well, but it is a genuine pleasure to see them come to
life when you steam them up.