Hot Air / Stirling Cycle Engines

[Peter]

I was wondering if there might be enough interest to break out a forum for hot air engines. there have been several posts in the gas engine side that could be moved. Might be slow at first; but it could catch on.

I lucked into a pair of rider ericsson's several years ago. I found there is a small group of serious collectors out there and the situation is similar to gas engine scene 20/30 yrs ago. Except these things are obscenely pricey. Some guys share parts for patterns and some patterns have been made. One guy sell leather gaskets. There is a source for expansion domes. One person in PA has made parts on request. There is even a series of very high priced booklets published by a collector in Germany. Basically not much published. No BYB. We have coolspring - they have cottonwood.

I found some contacts the old fashioned way -phone calls and email exchanges. There is quite a network but no forum like smokestak.

[Brian Triebner]

There seems to be several hot air engine collectors in the south west that have been having meets since 2001. They call them the Southwest Regional Hot Air Engine Meet. Every other years or so, last one 2007 in Ca. and the next to be in 2009 in Kansas. I just got their video and its a must see if you're into hot air engines. It was $30 plus postage I think. I have an email address if interested. Doesn't seem to be much talk on Harry's about hot air engines but maybe there is another forum we are missing. I wouldn't mind seeing one as most engine guys have some interest in hot air.

[Buster]

The next big hot air meet will be the International Hot Air Meet To be held in Winfield Kansas At the K and O steam and gas engine show on august 14-15-16-TH 2009 The Host of this show will be Judy and Perry Kolb of Kansas there will be phone numbers and more information in the near future .. This show could turn out to be one of the largest hot air shows ever held there will be 25 plus big engines and hundreds of fans models and smaller engines . the video mentioned by Brian in last post is a must see for anyone interested in hot air engines. nearly all of engines in the video will be in Kansas at the next show . Mark your calender Hope to see you there some info on early shows can be seen at WWW.hotairengines.com Buster Brown

[Peter]

Looks like its off to a slow start, but I think this will catch on. Its a fascinating old technology.

Thanks.

[Orrin]

Here is the link to some more pictures from the SW Regional Hot Air Meets and Charlie Bethards' exceptional engines:

http://www.oldengine.org/members/orrin/Pic_lst.htm

Here are some links to hot air-related sites. You may find some broken ones because I've not updated the page for a couple of years.

http://www.oldengine.org/members/orrin/lnk_stir.htm

Because of the generosity of Jim Dunmyer I now have server space for more pictures, so I hope to post some Lake Itasca pictures, soon.

Orrin

[Rob Skinner]

Originally Posted by Brian Triebner

I just got their video and its a must see if you're into hot air engines. It was $30 plus postage I think. I have an email address if interested.

Or just go here to get the DVD:
http://hotairshow.rustyiron.com

Dick Bouma is the one handling the mailing, and he says there are still a few left.

[Danny J]

I have always found hot air (stirling) engines fascinating. But unfortunately the originals are very pricey. Years ago I had a bunch of models from PM research that ran good and were reasonable in their price.

PM research can be found in the link below.

http://www.pmresearchinc.com/store/home.php

They also sell models of machine tools, steam engines ect.

I also started a thread a while back that shows how to convert a briggs engine to a stirling engine! The link is below!

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58744