Model Making: Workshop Practise, Design, and Construction of Models. a Practical Treatise for the Amateur and Professional Mechanic Giving Instructions on the Var

Model making is far from a senseless hobby - just the opposite; it is practical, educating and carries with it the prestige and dignity of a specialized science. Its scope is unlimited and its ramifications are unnumbered. The giant four-cylinder compound locomotive is reproduced in miniature complete in every detail from Walschaert valve to throttle; a torpedo boat destroyer is modeled and provided with workable steam engines, a model speed boat is constructed and coaxed into going 30 miles per hour; a six-cylinder engine is built with a six-throw crankshaft turned out of a solid piece of steel. This cannot exactly be called model making. The expression is inadequate and does not carry with it the full meaning of the work. It is really model engineering - engineering in miniature. The construction of a model locomotive involves no small amount of work and knowledge. Its constructor must know something of steam engineering, he must be able to read the most advanced blueprints to enable him to produce his model to scale from a drawing of its prototype. Aside from this, he must be a mechanic of no mean ability. He must possess infinite patience and resourcefulness. Of course, not every model maker can build a locomotive. More simple mechanisms are usually chosen to start with. This is where part of the real value of model making presents itself, and its educating value becomes manifest. The man who makes a miniature locomotive, a torpedo boat destroyer or airship, has increased his own knowledge to a great extent; the experience has made him a better mechanic. In many cases, the fundamental principles of operation must be mastered before the model is made. As an example: A young man decides to make a workable model of a gasoline engine. First, unless already acquainted with its principles of operation, he must study them until he becomes sufficiently acquainted with them to proceed intelligently with the design and construction of his machine. The engine must be carefully laid out and drawn accurately to scale its bore, stroke, power and cycle must all be decided upon. After the design is completed upon paper, the patterns for its castings must be turned out and then the machining starts. Precision and accuracy is essential to a well-working engine and the lathe must be manipulated with skilful fingers. The engine is finished and assembled. What has its builder accomplished ? He is perfectly satisfied to stand and watch it run on the workshop bench. That is all he made it for, but aside from this, the love of his hobby has taught him much of practical value, as can readily be understood. The thousands of model makers in England have been of great value to their country through the wonderful knowledge they obtained by DEGREES tinkering" with models. After a man spends many hours - yes, even days, weeks and months - on the model of a certain machine, upon completion the thing represents something to him very remote from money. It is not made for money, and therefore its value is not estimated in money. It is difficult to explain just how a man regards his model. His eyes' never tire of it - he actually loves it. The writer has in mind a man who cried like a child when a model upon which he had worked faithfully for a period of many months was damaged beyond repair in transportation. The man was no exception. The insurance he received from the express company was nothing to him in comparison to his work. He was merely an ordinary modeler possessed of some peculiar God-given instinct that made him love a miniature creation of his own hands.