Working Model Steam-Powered Tractors Built From Scratch

Working Model Steam-Powered Tractors Built From Scratch AG WORLD It takes a good-size building to store 8 full-size steam engine tractors That’s one reason Leslie Proper builds scale models which all fit on a couple of shelves in his Minnesota home Amazingly his built-from-scratch machines work sound and move like the full-size tractors - just slower and quieter     Proper was first attracted to steam engines as a boy attending an engine show with his father     “I was fascinated by the gears pistons and other components Everything is pretty much open so you can see all the parts working And they move silent and slow ” he says     Proper also builds stationary engines and model steam boats - and he even wrote a book about them He built his first Minneapolis steam traction engine at 1/20th scale in the late 1970’s It took about a year of his free time while working as a civil engineer     Gears plumbing parts and other materials he had access to fit that scale and the resulting foot-long models are small to display yet large enough to see details Instead of casting parts Proper makes built-up parts He bolts and rivets solders with high-temperature silver solder and finishes with low-temperature soft solder Models include a variety of materials - wire brass steel and iron in all forms The realistic spokes in his wheels are made from street gutter broom bristles while tire lugs are cut from wire used to hold utility location flags     For the boilers Proper uses copper water and plumbing pipe     “The models run on 5 to10 psi very low pressure steam ” he says noting he adds a pressure relief safety valve in the cap on the boiler which he fills with water Butane heats the water to create steam Proper adds a torch end and fill valve from inexpensive pencil torches to the ends of the butane fuel tanks that are concealed in the model     “Younger kids like to see them operate Older people want to tell you their experiences or where they’ve seen one ” Proper says     He carefully picked models that are unusual versions of the steam tractors seen at shows such as the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion in Rollag Minn that Proper frequently attends     His models include a Minneapolis 30-90 a Minneapolis 22-66 heavy gear engine a 1915 Case an 18 hp Avery a New Huber 25 hp plow engine a Birdsall a 35 hp Buffalo Pitts and a Type F 15-30 Rumley OilPull that runs on alcohol with an atmospheric engine instead of steam     They are based on his own plans or plans from other model builders Each had its own set of challenges and interesting characteristics and Proper estimates the models take more than 500 hrs each to complete Examples of some unusual features are the boiler on top of the engine on the Avery And the Birdsall has automobile-style steering with king pins and a tie rod     More than six decades after seeing steam engines for the first time Proper is still fascinated with them He finds inspiration at steam shows and is willing to share his model building knowledge with others      Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Leslie Proper 1994 18th St NW New Brighton Minn 55112 ph 651 633-7198; lesproper@gmail com

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