Brian builds a Corliss

[Cuttings]

Looks and sounds real good Brian. I am looking forward to possibly trying one of these somewhere down the road.

[brian Rupnow]

Years ago, when I first got into designing and building model engines, I designed and built the "Rupnow Engine". It was a hit and miss engine controlled by a flyball governor. It ran---didn't run really great, but it was a "first" for me. Over the years, I have robbed parts from it, to the point where I will never actually rebuild it.---However, it has a beautiful wooden base, and measurements show that with some careful carving, that base will fit my Corliss engine. I am going to remove the remains of the "Rupnow engine" and try to make the Corliss fit into this base.

[brian Rupnow]

Without a whole lot of extra work, the Corliss engine now has it's own wooden base. Next up will be a bit of "plastic wood" to fill the bolt holes drilled in the side of the base and some caulking around the edges of the aluminum baseplate to make it look a bit more professional.

[PStechPaul]

Is this engine a self-starter? And does it run in reverse?

It looks really good on that wooden base, and the brass accents are a nice touch.

[brian Rupnow]

No Paul, single cylinder steam engines are very rarely self starters. It doesn't run in reverse in it's current state. It might run in reverse if there was an air reversing valve added to the ports, but I don't really know.---Brian

[sid pileski]

Is this engine a self-starter? And does it run in reverse?

It looks really good on that wooden base, and the brass accents are a nice touch.

Paul- even in full scale, a single cylinder steam engine needs to be “bared” off of top or bottom dead center to start.
To make this engine run in reverse, you would have to change the cam position in relation to the crank. (Roughly 180*)

Sid

[brian Rupnow]

The great "cosmeticing" has began. First order of the day was to prime the two components that I had used some J.B. Weld on to fill holes drilled in the wrong place and fill in holes left from welding the outer end of the spokes to the flywheel outer diameter. These had been filled with J.B. weld previously, and sanded smooth, but I can never tell until I get some primer on there whether the holes
need a bit more filler or not.

[brian Rupnow]

This afternoon I've got the blues---But that's not a bad thing!!! Everything except for the wobble plate and the linkages got three coats of spray on Tremclad enamel. The wobble plate and linkages were painted by hand with a very small art brush. I have one bearing support that I have to add some J.B. Weld to, and I will let that set up overnight so I can finalize the shape and paint it tomorrow.

[PStechPaul]

I think it would look better with at least some of the brass parts left as they were, perhaps polished a bit and coated with clear acrylic or lacquer. Maybe they are, as I see that the valve bearing plates seem to have been left unpainted. Will the flywheel be painted a contrasting color, perhaps red?

Maybe paint the spokes with multiple colors in honor of LGBTQ+? When the engine is running fast enough, the colors should blend together to appear white.

[brian Rupnow]

Paul--I haven't painted anything that is brass. I am not a fan of the LBGTQ, and although I know it exists I prefer not to hear about it or know about it. Part of the flywheel will be white---This project is going to end up with a very patriotic theme..

[Cuttings]

I have been polishing up the brass parts with Turtle wax which keep it from tarnishing and I think it looks really good.

[brian Rupnow]

Cuttings--Many years ago, when I was still actively involved in hot-rodding, I bought a metal polishing kit from Eastwood. It had three different grades of polishing buffs and four different grades of polishing wax. I still use it occasionally, and it does a marvelous job on aluminum or brass. I find that the polishing wax leaves a protective coating on the brass so that it doesn't tarnish.---Brian

[Tim Clarke]

Brian, just posting to let you know that I appreciate your efforts to post all about your builds. This one's no exception, I've followed it all the way. Thanks, and good job!

[brian Rupnow]

Thanks Tim--This build is a little different, going for the "totally painted" look. I'm burned out on machining--I think I've built three engines this winter. It's kind of nice to do something different for a change.---Brian

[brian Rupnow]

All of the engine parts are painted, unmasked, and set up together for a family shot. One bearing stand is missing---I had to J.B. Weld some "oopsies" on it last night and this morning I sanded it to shape and painted it and the paint is still wet. I have not painted any of the brass parts that show. There are a couple of very minor "blems" in the flywheel and engine base, so in about ten minutes I am off to Canadian Tire to buy a small tube of "spot putty" to fix them, and tomorrow I will paint them. Something I have learned over time---Although the paint dried overnight, it can still be marked by too much handling. Far better to let it set up for three full days before trying to reassemble everything.---Brian