Exquisitely Detailed Diorama Of A 19th Century Machine Workshop Driven By Steam-Powered Lineshafting

Tribute To Michael Parrington

Firstly I would like to thank Michael for such an exquisite production. Michael has presented the video that you will see below on his YouTube channel and I also thank YouTube for allowing me to replicate it below.

Timeline On The 19th Century Model Workshop Diorama Video

This is what to expect when you watch the movie below:-

• The first 3 minutes show the workshop itself in working mode. The model machine tools are running and the camera moves around the workshop zooming in and out of the various models.
• At the 3 minute mark, called “Setting The Stage” the movie move to the full-size workshop as it were showing how the model was constructed.
• Near the end at the 7:20 minute stage there is a zoom-in on the Victoria Steam engine and then the steam boiler and it’s plant is displayed. It looks like the steam boiler and associate plant is from the Stuart Turner range.
• This is followed by a useful list of credits, indicating some of the suppliers used in the construction of the model diorama

I have listed some of the credits and their websites at the end of this page because they may be a useful and if not useful, then at least interesting – fascinating even – resource for you.

Now here is the exquisite and wonderful diorama of the steam-powered old-fashioned machine-shop:-

Some Notes On My Impressions Of This Wonderful Steam-Powered Machine-Tool Diorama

The Stuart Models Victoria Steam Engine Driving The Line Shafting

The steam engine driving the model workshop lineshafting is definitely a Stuart Turner model Victoria steam engine (the same model that I’m building but have put on hold while I build my Half Sized Model Little Samson Traction Engine).

Little Touches Of Detail That Make This 19th Century Model Workshop Look So Authentic

Whilst the details of the models and the diorama generally are so magnificent, a few little touches caught my eye and add so much to the model.

• The little rings on the lineshafting. I believe (someone please correct me) that these were to keep the shafts clean.
• The blueprints in the Foreman’s Office.
• The spare pulley on the base of the steam engine.
• The light reflections in the polished floorboards.

If you have your own favourite ‘little touch’ please share it in the Comments Section below.

Source Of The Machine Tool Models

My first impression is that the model workshop metalworking machine tools were from the Stuart Turner range, simply because these are relatively convenient to build into a diorama. But upon looking closely and comparing the machine tools in the model to the images on the Stuart Models website it’s clear that the models are from another source or scratch-built.

Take the lathe, for example. Here are some differences between the one in the model and the one on the Stuart Turner website:-

• Model has twin V bedways, one for the carriage and one for the tailstock. The Stuart Turner lathe has common flat bedways.
• The lathe in this movie is backgeared and has a leadscrew. The Stuart Turner set of castings for their lathe does not have these features.

The shaping machine in the steam-driven model workshop, too, is much different from the Stuart Turner castings the latter being far simpler. Here are some obvious differences between the two:-

• The model shaper, as depicted here has a proper table on vertical knee lifting ways and the table is automatically driven by the proper crossfeed ratchet and eccentric rod. These are not apparent on the Saturate Turner model.
• The shaper in the video and the Stuart Turner model are both driven by flat belts from overhead lineshafting. But the shaper in the video has the main drive pulleys at the side of the shaper and on a shaft running in an outer bearing in a floor-mounted pedestal whereas the Stuart Turner model’s main pulleys are on the back of the shaper.

All-in-all the model machine tools in the moving diorama as seen in this movie are far more details and realistic that the ones offered by Stuart Models. Please note that this is in no way intended to deprecate the Stuart Models model machines. The Stuart Turner castings, being simpler, are likely to be built by a great number of hobbyists and I have seen at least one other diorama featuring the Stuart Turner range of model machine tools and it, too, was a delight to behold.

PM Research Inc

After a little bit of head-scratching I began to remember other models of old-fashioned metal-working machine tools. Then after a bit of Internet search I came up with the company and website offering those alternative – and much more realistic and detailed – machine-tool models. The company is PM Research Inc in the USA.

Credits And Useful/Interesting Resource List

I have listed below some of the Credits from the end of the video. I have also added their website URLs because they may be a useful and if not useful, then at least interesting – fascinating even – resource for you.

Stuart Models
PM Research Inc
American Model Engineering Supply
Stacey’s Miniature Masonry
The Little Dollhouse Company
Lakefield Hobby & Game

Is This Delightful Diorama A Thailand Model Engineering Project?

You may well be wondering how this model is related to Model Engineering In Thailand and I must admit that it was only after I had started to create this web page to feature the workshop diorama that I realised that there was no connection at all really!

Well, my excuse for continuing to finish the showcase was that having been given the URL to the YouTube move in an email, and seeing how delightful it was, I wanted to share it with you.

The simple way would have been to simply send you an email with the link to YouTube but I wanted to ‘add value’ and add my comments to what is undoubtedly a masterpiece of nostalgic model engineering.

So that’s why this YouTube diorama is featured on the ModelEngineeringInThailand.com website. Apologies to the purists!

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