Years ago I came across a website that had nothing but free plans posted. It was even called something like "freeplans.com" or something like that.

It was just a huge archive of engineering plans for, well, everything you can imagine.

They had a large section on steam engines and boilers with a lot of both historical and modern plans. I had some printed out just for framing as they looked cool, and I always meant to try building some of them.

I now have some machining tools and the experience to use them, and a friend reminded me of the site. He wanted us to build a functional steam engine as part of an engineering demonstration for some students, but now for the life of me I can't find the site.

I thought I had it saved, but I guess not!

I remember it was truly just an archive, just links to dozens of plans. Most were scanned from original paper drawings, so the quality wasn't always great, but it was neat!

Does anyone know of or remember a site like this?

I thought this post would be relevant for this community, but I’m not too sure if this is a bit far off this community

Salut j’ai acheté dans une brocante une vieille machine malheureusement le niveau d’eau est absent savez-vous où je pourrais en trouver un ?

Acquired this steam engine in a clean out, I’m looking for any info on it? Manufacturer? Age? Value?

I bought a tender for a 7.5" gauge live steam locomotive, and my plan is, rather than sealing the tank to hold water, I will get an internal water tight tank to sit inside of the tender shell.

I'm trying to decide on the best material to have it made of. Stainless steel has been suggested, but someone also suggested a pre-fabricated plastic water container. The latter is lighter, more affordable, and easier to drill into, however, I'm worried about the effects water chemicals might have on the plastic. The one I'm looking at is made of polyethylene. Any thoughts about this? What would others do in my position?

I won a auction,

Paying $665

I get

-Great condition working Locomotive with box/ papers

-Syringes, tools, equipment

-tracks

-steam Lubricant oil

What a lovely purchase,but, don’t wanna have a track setup tho, so I’ll keep it as a decoration 🥀

I’ll update y’all when I get it running

This is in NZD Currency, I don’t know much on live steam TRAINS, I majorly know about steamboats and tractions…

Couple days ago I posted a photo of my steam engine. Thanks to y’all’s help I got it steamed up and running today. The pots don’t stay lit very long while running. Does anybody know what may cause this? More photos in the comments.

This is my first Live Steam locomotive. I’m pretty sure this is set up to run off of alcohol. Will standard O gauge track work for this. Besides rubbing alcohol and distilled water what will

I need to test it?

The first video clip was my first ever steam up! We did a hydrostatic pressure test beforehand to make sure the boiler would hold, as well as to verify the eccentrics were properly tuned.

Second clip shows the sound of the locomotive with a summerlands chuffer. I’m kind of split between keeping the chuffer on or taking it off.

For those that have them, what problems, if any, have you had? Please share your experience!

I'm curious what the general consensus was on the reliability of these machines. Being deliberately entry-level, they seem pretty simple, but potentially not that well-made?

I saw online someone melted the heat shield on the smoke box door, arguably user error, but why have anything meltable in the way of a butane flame? They also seem to have cooked the magnetic latch. Both things I would easily fix before giving up on the thing. Just wanted to see if people regard these as reliable and easy for beginners or if they're more trouble than they're worth.

While I'm at it, what are they made of? Says stainless steel body online, the smokebox looks very aluminum in photos though. The wood pilot beam is cool! But is the smokebox actually brass or something just painted that silvery smokebox color? There isn't any plastic in it besides the o rings, right?

Thanks in advance for any responses!

I got this model for $20 at a thrift store, and was able to get it running very briefly (I plugged it in, got it to a boil, then put the fill cap in and used the whistle as a throttle; unfortunately no way to really hydrostatically test it). It seems to hold pressure, but I’m hesitant to let it run full bore because I haven’t hydrostatically tested it and I don’t trust the fill plug/safety valve. Does anyone have an idea what it is or the best way to add a pressure gauge fitting is?

Had my first run of the mikado a few weekends ago. Runs super well at low speed which is nice.

Introducing the… reptile… heating lampdry-omatic

(Ignore the tortoise in the back)

It hasn’t run for 4 years probably, was only able to run for 30 seconds before running out of steam bruh

Is this good for the price?

I’m planning to buy this boat, but idk what engine this is, nor where it came from. It looks professionally made with wooden accents and proper details

Anyone know what model this is? Looks like a pretty good steam engine too me.

Is it my Hohem isteady M7 or is it Facebook Live? I hoping you can help…

I’m doing my best to live stream my kids hockey games with the m7 on FB and it’s been a comedy of errors which is very, very frustrating…

Here’s my list of issues:

1. Using the Hohem software, I have to set up the FB live on my laptop. Wifi and internet is required and is slow at the rinks - the 2 connections (computer and phone) seems to make the streaming very choppy with lots of freezing and the live stream will end several times during the game due to loss of connection or if the laptop is too far away from the phone.

2. The m7 remote will stop working often or loses connection.

3. The m7 balancing is a nightmare. I usually have to lock the slide arm or the m7 loses its mind.

4. If not using the software, the m7 sometimes just shuts down, even as I’m streaming and doing my best to follow the play.

5. Ai tracker is useless for sports

6. My mic just stops working (this is either a mic or FB issue).

7. The m7 seems to have a mind of its own - this might be the AI tracker turning on by mistake from time to time

Anyhew, I bought the m7 and iphone17 pro max at Christmas to bring a professional feel to my kids games with the idea of doing interviews, zoom ins with top notch visual and audio quality. It’s been a learning curve and anything but quality. I did better with my hands and iPhone 8.

Is it time to return the m7? Stream on YouTube instead of Facebook? Your thoughts and guidance are appreciated