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I thought i'd have a little break from Tich for a bit and have a go at another Oscillating engine. The Stuart ST (also known as the S.T. Oscillator) is a classic beginner’s model steam engine from Stuart Models. It’s a compact vertical single-cylinder double-acting oscillating engine with a 7/16 in bore and stroke, standing only about 2½–3 in tall, with a 1 in diameter flywheel.
Enter LBSC's "Tich" — the legendary 3½" gauge 0-4-0 tank locomotive that has introduced thousands to the joys (and frustrations) of building a working loco from scratch.
Enter the Brass Wobbler — a small oscillating steam engine kit of materials I picked up here from eBay. For about £52 delivered, you get a bundle of brass bar, rod, plate — everything needed to machine your own shiny wobbler from scratch.
After getting Elizabeth chuffing happily on the bench, and the heroes engine spinning away, I wanted something simple to build confidence before tackling anything more complicated. Enter Simple Sam from Stan Bray's Making Simple Model Steam Engines.
The first project in Stan Bray's excellent book Making Simple Model Steam Engines (Crowood Press, 2005) is a modern take on Hero's Engine (also known as an aeolipile), the ancient steam reaction turbine described by Hero of Alexandria nearly 2,000 years ago.
After finishing my setup and some practice pieces, I decided Elizabeth — the horizontal oscillating steam power plant from that book — would be my first proper running steam engine.