Model The Pennsylvania A3 Switcher / Kozo Hiraoka

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
KH1.jpg

I don't mind admitting that I didn't buy this book for the engine that Kozo built (its 3/4" scale on 3 1/2" track), I bought it because he showed how he built it and as a beginner / dreamer, that is just what I need.

First things first, its a nice book, hardbound, 264 pages and printed on glossy paper with clear black and white photographs and drawings. Plenty of drawings in fact - made more astonishing by the fact that they are all beautifully inked by hand and used to illustrate not only the part to be made, but how to make it, often broken down into individual stages.

KH2.jpg

Where a bit more room is needed, there are fold outs

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Drawings of assemblies as explanations and techniques are used extensively.

KH4.jpg

The quality is fantastic and as an appreciator of books and other peoples engineering skills, it is worth the cover price alone. Its main selling point though is that it addresses the question of building a live steam engine from raw materials and if you have flirted with that as an idea, I don't think you'll find a better book. I bought a copy from Camden Miniatures having heard that Kozo's work was well worth the £41.50 and I was not disappointed. To be fair, it won't take you from being utterly green because he doesn't talk about sharpening tools, setting up a lathe etc, that knowledge is going to have to be learnt elsewhere (or worked around with quick-change tool tips etc). There are chapters concerning The Art of Silver Soldering and setting up a workshop which talk about tools and their uses, made all the more interesting because Kozo lives in a flat and established his workshop in a corner of it :)

The engine was built free from the use of castings (driving wheels excepted) so Kozo has taken the opportunity to show how cylinders are shaped from block, how to bend pipes (making the jigs to do so), machine connecting rods etc, I have learnt a bucket load just from reading the pages and using some of the information gleaned in my recent projects. There is a big difference between reading about it and flying the tools but you have to make swarf and the book instills both a bit of confidence and faith in the way that it is presented and the way it is written.

Downsides? There are not many really, its a bit too nice to have in the workshop (buy a second copy...) and it assumes a tool competency / familiarity which I suppose it has to, that would be too much of a task to have included.

I can't recommend it enough, both for the presentation and the fact that the techniques demonstrated will translate to both larger and smaller scales. If you have that engine building dream, this may well be one of the best steps towards achieving it.
Steve
 
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jamiepage

Western Thunderer
Oh, I completely agree the standard is wonderful, and so educational.
Here are the three others he has written. Each were published following a monthly series in Live Steam magazine (USA published.) He is currently serialising a K36 build (I think it is, don't have it immediately to hand) in the magazine; when it is finished, it will hopefully result in another book.
Ahhh, just remembered another one; I think it was the first actually . Building the Shay. (A smaller type than the 'New Shay'). He even makes gear cutting look easy.
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Puddlejumper

Western Thunderer
Having just had a cursory glance on Amazon to ascertain availability and cost (HOW MUCH) sadly I will have to look harder........
 

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
Having just had a cursory glance on Amazon to ascertain availability and cost (HOW MUCH) sadly I will have to look harder........
There are always dreamers on Amazon :)
The best price I have found in the UK so far is that from Camden Miniature Steam Services, the link to their website is in the first post, highlighted in blue. Adam is a lovely bloke and the service and communications are first class. If you do find any of the books cheaper, please flag them up here :thumbs:
Steve
 

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
Oh, I completely agree the standard is wonderful, and so educational.
Here are the three others he has written...snip...
A nice collection Jamie :)
Given that I think they are all likely to be pretty good (!), is there one you would you recommend over the others for variety of techniques? I think the New Shay book is the prettiest engine, but I wouldn't be buying it for the aesthetics, more the information.
Many Thanks
Steve
 

jamiepage

Western Thunderer
Steve, that's a good question. By that I mean, a hard one. The Climax tackles skew bevel gears which is a fascinating read (!), but the others contain various little stand alone classes in something or other.
Rather than trying to list the topics and risk missing something, are you going to Shepshed on 25th? If so, I'll put them in the car so you can have a flick through.

Aesthetically, I like the original Shay -
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Here's page 1 of skew bevel gears

IMG_0001.JPG
Jamie
 

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
Steve, that's a good question. By that I mean, a hard one. The Climax tackles skew bevel gears which is a fascinating read (!), but the others contain various little stand alone classes in something or other.
Rather than trying to list the topics and risk missing something, are you going to Shepshed on 25th? If so, I'll put them in the car so you can have a flick through.
Jamie
Thanks Jamie :)
I am going to Shepshed on the 25th so would be delighted to meet up with you there and have a flick though the books.
Looking forward to it already!
Thanks
Steve
 
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