Darren Baker takes a look at a 1/35th scale Plus Model offering in the form of a Stabile Engine (Stable Engine in English)

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Interesting subject, but all of that flash clean up that will be required seems to be will take as much time as the build.

Otherwise also known as a "Stationary Engine" in US jargon. (Though this little one is on wheels so it has the possibility of being not quite so stationary.)

Would I be correct that this would be a straight swap out of Steam elements and insert combustion engine?

Dennis I believe this engine is a kerosene/petrol/diesel engine rather than a steam engine.

I know it is a combustion engine of some kind, but I want to know if this is the same set up as a steam engine type would have been?

As you no doubt already know a similar steam driven engine would require an external source of steam or compressed air, severely limiting the portability of the engine. That indeed was the advantage of these small to medium sized petrol engines. Some were so small even as to be used to drive a home washing machine.

Model wise, a small steam engine would look very similar to this hobby casting; (though mechanically quite different.) However the fuel tank and the water cooling arrangement seen on this model would have to be discarded. The steam engine could be mounted either vertically of horizontally on the cart or more likely on a fixed base.

Steam Engines;

Small vertical 2 cyl. steam engine. (Actually two separate engines simply bolted to a common shaft.):




Somewhat larger 2 cyl. steam hoist engine:



Larger still, single cylinder horizontal steam engine used to power a fair sized machine shop via overhead belts and shafts:


All photos property of Michael Koenig - All rights Reserved.
Source: Western Mining & Machinery Museum; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.

Similar use petrol engines:


Maytag washing machine motor:




A somewhat more rustic washing machine arrangement:




A very representative small water cooled petrol engine:



Several somewhat larger petrol engines:




Crossley Bros. Petrol Engine (Otto/Crossley Patent) Manchester:




All photos property of Michael Koenig - All rights Reserved.
Source: Upper photos; Assorted Kentucky Farm Machinery Shows.
Bottom three photos; Toleman Machinery Museum; Lexington, Kentucky, USA.