The Breakroom > The Water Cooler

What will happen?

<< < (6/8) > >>

28ten:
There a lot of interesting points raised here, it is point raised on other forums I frequent, and in my local cycling club there is a constant worry that no youngsters are joining, so it isn't just restricted to 'making things'
I share the glass half full view that Unless schools teach the youngsters, and there are jobs for trained apprentices,  the skills will disappear in a generation.
My local model engineers club is very good at involving the youngsters. hopefully this will bear fruit and one or two will go on to pursue the hobby as they grow older.

Darren:
Isn't it all relative, I mean what is fascinating or important to you doesn't mean it has to be to the next generation.

Maybe it's us that are not moving on.

There are plenty of new designs, it happens almost daily.....just not in our world. But I'm sure those involved are very excited and don't clutch onto the past as we seem to do.


The whole world is moving, don't expect it to stop for your sentimentality....

bogstandard:
That was the reason for this post Darren, it seems we have to go back to the past to find something worth making.

What I want to identify is how recent do we have to go before there is nothing to focus our hobby on.

Ripslider has pointed to maybe new powerplants for models, but that would only appeal to a very select few model engineers.

Almost anything can be scaled down, with a bit of artistic licence, to get around manufacturing and scale size problems, but what do we copy? A model of the Chunnel digging machine? Rather a boring thing to watch in action. :lol:

It is very difficult to come up with miniature copies of interesting modern machines, because there is a distinct lack of them. So we have to come up with using old ideas in a new way, or new ideas used in an old context.

There is one area that is having a massive resurgence because of a modern way of looking at an old idea. Ten years ago, you hardly ever heard of a model Stirling engine being made, it being restricted to experimental model engineers. But since the green brigade started kicking up a stink, and manufacturers thought it was the thing to save the world from our forthcoming plight, everybody and his dog are using the old formulae to make more powerful and efficient versions of the Stirling type, even in model form.

How about fitting cars with a modern day designed hit 'n miss engine, that fired once every half mile. 500 MPG would then be within easy reach. Beats hybrids any day. For high performance motors, they would fire every 1/4 mile, and wagons and caravan towing, once per mile. It sounds very far fetched, but compared to some ideas that have been thought up, it would be a world beater.

Just a suggestion, but these are the sorts of things we should be looking at.

John Hill:
Interesting ideas you have there Mr BogStandard.  I wonder though how those big flywheels on the hit-n-miss engine will effect the cornering ability of my next roadster! :scratch:

Darren:
I believe if that's what you're looking for then it may take you a while..
It's all down to physics or rather energy conversion. One measurement of a given power source has only one measurement in it to yield.

The only improvements can come from reducing losses.

Or am I missing your point here?

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page