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Office of Steam Forum for Model &amp
;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Toy Steam Gas &amp
;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Hot Air Engines
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(DIR) Return to: Restorations
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#Post#: 63399--------------------------------------------------
K.J. Miller Junior Engineer Model SE 100 Restoration
By: Gregowen Date: May 12, 2024, 11:34 pm
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Here are some photos of my restoration of a KJ Miller SE 100.
Since these were already made to be taken apart, I focus more on
the aspects that were more problematic, particularly the wiring
to the boiler. A lot of these have damaged cords. If the wiring
is still firmly attached (soldered) to the connections then it
makes the job easier, but the big problem is to re-connect the
wires to a new cord in such a way that there is still enough
room in the small available space below the boiler (which has to
all be stuffed into that space so that the boiler can be
re-attached to the base). I ended up using silicone tubing and
so far it works fine.
The original gray paint on the base is always in bad shape on
these (they used the wrong paint). I used some black BBQ grill
paint that I already had. Despite plenty of sanding of the base,
since it is zinc the paint does not adhere well at all (requires
multiple coats, and then touch-up in spots with a brush). I
painted the flywheel in burgundy to closely match the boiler.
Other engine parts were sprayed battleship gray - which then had
to be shaved off in some areas where the paint interfered with
the joints of moving parts.
Despite the shortcomings of these engines, I have always
admired their clever design, one of the best of the 1940s-50s
"toy" models in my opinion, with educational value.
Be sure to take photos before taking these apart (even if you
have the "blueprint" diagrams) and note the location of each
brass screw and fastener, as it is not quite as simple to
reassemble as it might seem.
[attachimg=1][attachimg=2][attachimg=3][attachimg=4][attachimg=5
][attachimg=6][attachimg=7]
#Post#: 63400--------------------------------------------------
Re: K.J. Miller Junior Engineer Model SE 100 Restoration
By: Gregowen Date: May 12, 2024, 11:39 pm
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Well, the rest of my photos did not go. Try again here for the
rest!
[attachimg=1][attachimg=2][attachimg=3][attachimg=4][attachimg=5
][attachimg=6]
#Post#: 63405--------------------------------------------------
Re: K.J. Miller Junior Engineer Model SE 100 Restoration
By: Stoker Date: May 13, 2024, 11:27 am
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Say Now ..... That's nicely done and looks very SHARP!!!
I actually really like these steam plants and all their unique
features. Even though they are really not good steamers, nor
anything like efficient and they tend to run rather wet, they
are still in a class by themselves in many if not most respects!
Seeing that the Zamak/Mazak base seems nearly impossible to
paint and have it stick for any length of time, I've often
thought about just leaving it as bare grey metal, as it also
doesn't seem to corrode much at all, and so should probably
remain in better shape than any paint job over the long haul?!?!
#Post#: 63414--------------------------------------------------
Re: K.J. Miller Junior Engineer Model SE 100 Restoration
By: Gregowen Date: May 13, 2024, 10:36 pm
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Thanks very much, glad that you like it, and I believe that
the idea of just leaving the base as bare metal is excellent. I
never thought of that, but it would no doubt be great,
especially if the right polishing compound was used to get just
the right finish. It would also open up more options for
painting the engine parts some other color than gray, as the
standard gray probably would not be the most attractive with a
bare-metal base.
Here are some more photos that I should add to complete my
account of this engine re-furb, including an original set of the
accessory parts needed to make the other two engines, and the
fragile little paper that lists those parts. I am guessing that
slip of paper is pretty hard to come by. All the parts are
there, but there are two "machine screws" as opposed to only one
on the list, I assume that one of them is correct but I don't
know which one.
Also some photos of both sides of the three pages that cover
each of the three engine versions. Not the greatest but they
should help anyone who might need illustrations of all versions
(as far as I know, all of these engines were originally sold
assembled as the beam engine version, with the additional parts
provided separately).
[attachimg=1][attachimg=2][attachimg=3][attachimg=4][attachimg=5
][attachimg=6][attachimg=7]
#Post#: 63430--------------------------------------------------
Re: K.J. Miller Junior Engineer Model SE 100 Restoration
By: Stoker Date: May 14, 2024, 2:56 pm
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I'm still unsure whether Miller sold the SE-100 as a complete
set to make all three engines, or as a single configuration
set-up, and then sold the parts to make the other two
configurations separately?
Possibly they sold them both ways, but to my mind, the
relatively small bundle of parts needed to make the other two
engines couldn't have been very expensive or it wouldn't sell,
so by the same token couldn't have been a significant profit
maker as an after-sale add on. It does make more sense to me
from this distance, to charge a bit more up front for the total
package of the three-engine steam plant, with all parts
included. Even if done this way, there would likely have been a
packet of parts inside the box, and a tag like that one shown,
would likely be there with those parts!
That being said, it does amaze me that so many of these engines
are found in just one configuration, and not always the Beam
Engine either, without any of the other parts to produce the
other engine configurations. I actually have one that I received
as just the horizontal mill engine, but it did have all three
sets of plans with it. So, perhaps it was available in any one
of the three configurations, and then you could buy the parts
for either or both of the other two later. Also possible, that
they might include the blueprints for all three configurations
just to tempt the purchaser into buying the other needed parts.
Most likely of all, or so I think, is just that owners of these
engines tended to build them into a single configuration and
leave them that way, eventually losing/misplacing the other
parts?!?!
Yet another steam mystery lost from the ages!!!
Meanwhile, here's my most recent acquisition along these lines,
with an interesting Red repainted base:
(HTM) https://www.officeofsteamforum.com/general-discussion/and-then-there-were-four!/
#Post#: 63437--------------------------------------------------
Re: K.J. Miller Junior Engineer Model SE 100 Restoration
By: Woe is me Date: May 14, 2024, 7:57 pm
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Hey Gregowen, that black base looks pretty good. Adds a nice
contrast.
I don't know Daniel, as far as I can tell mine is, was complete
and unfired.
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
and a good price too.
[attach=4]
#Post#: 63438--------------------------------------------------
Re: K.J. Miller Junior Engineer Model SE 100 Restoration
By: Stoker Date: May 14, 2024, 8:07 pm
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Ooooh NICE, I don't believe I've ever seen a pristine one before
.... that looks mighty fine, mighty fine Indeed!!!
Now you ain't tryin' ta tell me that you paid $4.88 for that now
..... are you?!?!
I'm still of the opinion that bag came in the box with the rest
of the engine at time of purchase. But I most certainly could be
wrong about that.
#Post#: 63439--------------------------------------------------
Re: K.J. Miller Junior Engineer Model SE 100 Restoration
By: Gregowen Date: May 14, 2024, 10:18 pm
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Wow, that is certainly the only example I have ever seen that
is obviously in mint condition, and I can't recall seeing any
that did not have al least some wear and paint loss on the base
(and almost all of them, had a lot!). And none with that
additional instruction sheet in red there. Nice to see what my
tattered little parts list looked like when new.
For a while I had one of these in the horizontal
configuration, but it did not have any additional parts or
papers.
#Post#: 63468--------------------------------------------------
Re: K.J. Miller Junior Engineer Model SE 100 Restoration
By: Weedensteam Date: May 15, 2024, 3:15 pm
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Perhaps all the missing parts are keeping company with the
burners and smokestacks of so many other engines particularly if
the were like my son and most of his cousins with Lego. There
was only one of them that insisted that all the parts belonging
to a model stayed with it and was not used elsewhere.
#Post#: 63476--------------------------------------------------
Re: K.J. Miller Junior Engineer Model SE 100 Restoration
By: Woe is me Date: May 15, 2024, 9:48 pm
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[quote author=Stoker link=topic=7203.msg63438#msg63438
date=1715735222]
Ooooh NICE, I don't believe I've ever seen a pristine one before
.... that looks mighty fine, mighty fine Indeed!!!
Now you ain't tryin' ta tell me that you paid $4.88 for that now
..... are you?!?!
I'm still of the opinion that bag came in the box with the rest
of the engine at time of purchase. But I most certainly could be
wrong about that.
[/quote]
Yeah guys, that little bag with the parts list stapled to it is
the original one and all the parts
on the list came in it. There's a funnel that came with it also.
It's marked 1oz, a K, and SHEL-GLO
PLASTIC, MADE IN U.S.A. The copy rights on the blue prints is
1946.The cord is still bundled up from
the factory and I never plugged it in. The steam line is hard
and brittle but I have put air through
a silicone hose to watch it run.
No Daniel I didn't get it for $4.88, somebody did way back. I
paid $110.00 to my door.
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