Well Bogs got us off on the season greetings. So I thought I'd get one up on him by posting a New Years resolution of sorts.
I have a habit of starting a project with great enthusiasm , get into the project and then something else comes along that piques my interest and I forget about the project I began. This why I have many projects started or "want to build" and none are finished.
So with that in mind here's my resolution, "I will begin a project and see it through from design to the finished stage."
Now for the project. My first hobby is model railroading, my second is live steam model railroading and I've always wanted to build a live steam engine to ride behind. The project is to take the old "CliShay" design and redesign it.
What I want to build is a 1890 12 ton Climax engine pictured below. This is actually a model in what is known as G gauge, what some of you may recognize as LGB.

This is a side plan view of the locomotive.

This is a print of the real engine used in these locomotives. They were basically launch engines from steam powered boats.

The original "CliShay" looks like this.

Here's a size comparison to a human being.

I actually started the CliSahy back in 1993. Didn't get very far. So now I would really like to redesign it to look like that model in the first pic.
I've been collecting raw stock and looking at modifying engine designs and drive train designs. I would like this to be a design to completion project by modifying what has already been done.
Now I will need your help to stay on track and keep prodding me to keep at this project to see it through. Along with this project I plan on documenting it in detail on my web site, plus posting updates here on the MadModder.
When will I start? Well I've already started. I've been gathering pics, drawings and raw stock. This will be the biggest hobby project that I've ever tackled both in size and work involved.
Wish me luck as I know I'm going to need it. This won't be a "get her done" in a month project. I'm looking at a couple of years at least. So let the fun begin.
Bernd