Shooting Star Technology is happy to provide this brief report for those who were unable to attend Cabin Fever in person.

I apologize for the incomplete credits and sound files in this report. My video camera's microphone was intermittant, and many interesting interviews and engine sounds were unfortunately lost.

I had a good feeling about Cabin Fever this year, and the anticipation was not unfounded! The organizers, Gary and Jared Schoenly, once again put on a show they can be proud of. There was a little concern about an approaching snowstorm, but it only made the Saturday portion of the show busier, and in a good, exciting way.

The countryside in Leesport, Pennsylvania is beautiful, as this photo taken out behind the hall on Saturday shows. Note the blue sky! There seems to be a higher per-capita interest in small historical engines the further one travels east, and it makes for an informed audience at Cabin Fever. The atmosphere at Cabin Fever is enhanced by small touches like the peanut roasting oven with a tumbler powered by a hit n miss engine. The mixture of out of town and local vendors was appreciated by the crowd, and treasures were found by many. Of course, we at Shooting Star Technology were there displaying the CBX DRO line. Here, Cabin Fever co-organizer Jared Schoenly stops by the booth to see Cheryl.

Tooling

Model Engineering shows are not all about models. Some folks bring tooling and fixtures that they have built. A good example is Dick S.'s center drilling lathe attachment. After drilling, the center drill flips up out of the way. Bill H. brought two lathes which he built himself. This one is a working model of one he used earlier in his working life. He also displayed and operated his miniature turret lathe, producing these tiny goblets for spectators. Overheard near his display: Q:"Do these lathes actually work?" A:" Well I didn't bring these chips with me!" This fine assortment of miniature toolmaker's tools was on display at a different table.

Roland G. had some mischeveous fun at EASTEC (for those of you who don't know, EASTEC is a large industrial trade show). He showed the girl at the Aloris booth his "Number 00" Aloris toolpost and toolholders, and asked whether he could buy spares. The girl was dumbfounded, and summoned her manager, who caught the joke and just smiled. Roland built his tiny toolpost for his Sherline lathe.

I walked by this display several time before I realized what it was. This, believe it or not, is a lathe with a relieving attachment for cutting the relief on miniature cutters. The gear train which moves the cross-slide is activated by a cam. The form of the cam provides the relief of the cutter. The tool motion is along a gradual curve as the cam follower travels up the ramp of the cam. The tool is rapidly retracted as the follower falls off the lip into the space in the cam, and is then in position to begin the cut on the next tooth. The gear train allows the operator to use one cam to cut different numbers of teeth on different cutters.

Human Interest

Ever since I dutifully (and naively, it turned out) reported that Bob Shore's little carnival wagon had a working organ playing a tune from a punched roll of paper in the P.R.I.M.E. report, I have been a little more careful in what I write. (OK, you got me, Bob!) When the nice lady described this as a hog oiler, I nodded and smiled knowingly: this time I was in on the joke. Well, again the joke was on me, since it really was a hog oiler (it was cast right into the base). The oil is poured into the resevoir base, and the hogs would rub up against the roller part, which would roll the oil up onto them. The new owner painted it up like a watermelon for decoration. Like I mentioned earlier, the model shows aren't all about model engines...

This gas-powered pogo stick(!) was built by Herb Ottoway, Witchita KS, 1960. I tried to get the owner to let me try it out, but he declined.

This bulldozer started life as a pedal-powered tractor. It steers by simulating the steering clutch action of a real bulldozer. To turn, the junior equipment operator pulls back on the appropriate lever which lifts the inside tread off the ground. The tread still touching propels the bulldozer around the corner.

If you've ever wondered what the inside of a sparkplug looks like, here are four examples, sliced and polished.

Here is a nice example of a Kentucky Rifle, in 1/3 scale.

Stirling Engines

This is a Stirling Powered fan, which I believe uses alcohol for a heat source. Notice the effort at lowering the crank bearing friction by using 3 wheels arranged 120 degrees apart on the crank pin.

Friction is a big concern when building small, low temperature differential Stirlings, as it is the one part of the design that doesn't seem to scale down well. Roland G. is an accomplished machinist and he impressed a lot of Stirling enthusiasts by building one of these engines smaller than most people thought possible.

Single Cylinder 4 Stroke

This is an older Briggs & Stratton engine. Sorry for the poor photo.

I spent some time at this booth recording an interesting story, which didn't make it onto the video tape due to the faulty microphone. Here is a shot of the engines anyway.

The owner of this engine said it ran pretty hot till he added the cooling fan. The fan is driven by friction on the flywheel.

Here is a tiny engine (note the penny in the bottom left corner of the photo) with a mean looking turbine-like fan built into the flywheel.

Hit n Miss

Here is a nice -and tiny!- engine made from what appears to be brass castings, along with a handfull of parts.

This is an Otto Langen engine seen at the Grenning models booth. I had more details on the damaged video. When I spoke to the gentleman the booth, he proudly pointed out that his son was the real driving force behind the project. The tremendous care in manufacture really shows in this close-up. These models were for sale in 2 scales.

This engine has an unusual vertical slide with linkage to the crank.

Small Stationary

This Springfield is nicely detailed, as shows in this close-up.

New Holland has been in business for many years, and is a popular choice for modellers. Here is another nice example.

Here is a John Deere, a kit for which is put out by Dinky Dears. This model kit was officially licensed after a meticulous review and approval process by John Deere to assure its authenticity and quality. The instruction manuals for this beautiful engine are the most detailed and clearly explained that you'll find.

This International uses the type of radiator that is so neat: the old screen-type radiator.

If my video camera's microphone hadn't paked it in, I would have better descriptions than a red hit n miss, or a red engine with a 'B', or an Olds, or a grey hit n miss.

Steam

This is a neat little project. Its a double wobbler, with just one stationary valve plate.

The piston here travels in an arc , which is pretty unusual.

This is another fine project. Its a small steam engine with valves operated by rocker arms which are activated by cam lobes on the crank.

Here are two fine examples of triple expansion engines. Here is one.and here is the other.

This is a close-up of a steam roller engine.

This is one of Bill H.'s fine models. Its a double Corliss , produced with the incredible detail we have come to expect from Bill.

If you follow a point on a circle rolling around the inside of another circle that is twice its diameter, the point will move in a straight line. Don't believe me? Look here! The piston moves in a straight line, and the flywheel moves in a circle.

This model shows how they did it in the old days. The steam engine is mounted down on the floor where it was easy to work on an anchor firmly, and the desire for a large flywheel led to the requirement for a pit.

Flyball Governers

Nothing says "Steam Engine" like a flyball governer! Here are six examples seen on engines at the show. Flyball 1 Flyball 2 Flyball 3 Flyball 4 Flyball 5 Flyball 6

Comments and/or corrections are welcome

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