Following the good example of TFL/Floyd, since I too have posted a bit, I should say hello.
Ex. Church surveyor and ardent curry cooker and Sci.Fi. reader, living in East Devon.
Since being "retired early" - back injurys - I have been able to take up this grand hobby of model engineering (previously done RC planes and boats) and indulge a bit with a lathe/mill - always wanted these since schooldays but never had the chance until about 18 months ago. Very much a newbie at this - cannot really contribute much.
Built a Stirling engine that refuses to run (I will beat it one day - much kind help and advice proffered from this forum following my first post), a Stuart 10H (which does) and now struggling to build a Wenceslas boiler plus all the trimmings (Tubal Cain recipe) to power it.
Learned a lot from making tooling for the lathe/mill. Much gleaned also from books by TC, Harold Hall and Stan Bray.
Like Floyd said, a steep learning curve - knowlege and theory being gleaned from books and forums - some (like this), better than others.
Bogstandard, like Floyd - I too must say thanks for always and unfailingly being there for help/advice - seen you on many threads around the net - my wife (very supportive in this hobby, thank goodness) thinks you have "much to answer for" as I have often quoted you and your lovely builds as inspirational.
My other "help" has been Circlip (known to you Boggy? as he calls you) - who turned up here in bucolic Devon, on his way back to Bradford, with a load of old ME mags to "get me going" and a lot of blunt Yorkshire advice (long story). He also seduced me into Skype so I can speak to him at length when in need of "How do I do this?" help.
Anyway, what a gentle, laid back group with so much help and experience freely shared.
Thanks for providing such a forum.