IndianaRog and the Temple of Steam
Toy and model steam engines and turbines by Jensen, Karsten, Mamod, Stuart, Empire, LiNEy & others plus engine videos with sound & helpful restoration tips
LiNEy Machine Engines
Engines in this Collection:
(click hyperlink to jump to that engine type)
Date: Model Origin
2006........................."Thimble Engine" ___ (Machinist Built) USA
2008........................."Simple Prop Engine"__________(Machinist Built) USA
2008........................."Power Plant Prototype" __ (Machinist Built) USA
2008........................."Four Cylinder Aircraft Engine" _(Machinist Built) USA
A little something about LiNEy Machine
When you visit the LiNEy website, the first thing you read is a couple of slogans:
For people who see a machine as a work of art
- If you are interested in non-traditional pressure driven engines, then you’ve come to a good place
LiNEy is a small family based machine shop in Spokane, Washington, founded by owner Lance Erickson, He has created a number of unique designs which are available as plans and sets of metal components for the home machinist to build them himself. Lance describes his pieces as capable of being put to "work" and designed to run very well, but they are intended primarily as works of art.
When coming up with a new design, Lance will often make a few pieces and sell them as finished engines, but these are available in limited quantity as each one is hand built and every part precision machined from solid stock. While plans and components to build them are his primary business model, Lance will build-to-order, allowing for some customization. My LiNEy Four Cylinder Aircraft Engine is a good example of such customization, he incorporated a steam oiler into the design at my request.
The original Thimble engine in this collection was from a run of about 25 he made for sale and was my first example of LiNEy quality work. The Simple Prop Engine was a multiple run as well. Others such as the Power Plant prototype were one offs and the Four Cylinder Aircraft engine is potentially his last hand built of that specific model. It just depends!!! Lance has a full time day job in aviation himself, but rounds out the available time with custom machine work and selling his designs via an eBay store.
As the slogan says, you've come to a good place and Lance is a great guy to deal with, I highly recommend his products and his workmanship.
LiNEy Machine Thimble
One VERY Tiny LiNEy from LiNEy Machine
In Dec. 2006, with a bit of Christmas gift money burning a hole in my pocket, I went browsing on eBay for something to relieve that situation!! I was immediately attracted to a new engine offering with a Buy It Now price of just $55. How many quality, machinist built, ready to run engines can be bought for such a sum??? If you find any others...let me know!
While it's officially called the "LiNEy Thimble"...I have come to call it my "Tiny LiNEy". Though small indeed, it is an enjoyable piece, begs to be run and always amuses ...definitely not a shelf sitter!
As pictured above, I have it mounted on a nice piece of marble for stability, but LiNEy also sell a nice walnut base visible on my other engines from them. This engine simply screams when powered up and brings the kid out in me every time I hook it to air or preferably steam.
I don't know how fast it turns, but several thousand rpms would seem a minimum. Without the heft of the base I added, it would surely dance right off the table top, so don't get one without this or another base to keep it in one spot.
Like all LiNEy engines, this piece is precision machined from solid brass stock (except for the machined aluminum pedestal).
The diminutive flywheel is just 1-1/8" in diameter and the piston a mere 0.3" in diameter.
There are no valves involved. Instead, it utilizes a "blow by" style piston machined such that it tips sideways on each return stroke, allowing the steam to blow by the piston. My three Thimble based engines all operate on this "blow by" principle. It is amazing in it's simplicity and efficiency of design.
One more pic just because it's so darn cute!
Click below to see an instant video via YouTube:
LiNEy Steam Powered Prop Engine
With a son who's a pilot and an interest in RC airplanes myself, I was on the lookout for a workable steam powered prop eng
ine if such could be found.
There were several machinist built versions I found...if funds were no object!!! Since funds were a factor, I was delighted to find a reasonably priced design made by LiNEy Machine, using their Thimble engine as the power source.
This little jewel is a ball to operate. If you get into the propwash coming off the engine you literally get a cool misting of condensing steam blown in your face!
I might just get a triple blade prop for this one to make it resemble one of those wind powered generator towers that are popping up all over. It is very cool looking and visitors to the "Temple" often spot it early and ask for a demo. What can a host do but give 'em a demo???
Like my other boilerless engines, I power this with a dedicated Jensen 25 standalone boiler with a connecting piece of silicone tubing. It will run a good 15 minutes on a fillup.
To the right is the back side that will give you a steam facial.
Lance Erickson, the fellow who designed and machined this engine, works on real aircraft engines for his day job, so it was probably inevitable he would adapt his Thimble to power a prop.
There are no valves involved. Instead, it utilizes a "blow by" style piston machined such that it tips sideways on each return stroke, allowing the steam to blow by the piston. I've not encountered anything like that design before, perhaps it emanated from piston design in real airplane engines??
Most of LiNEy's designs have been made into machinable kits and/or plans and schematics targeted to the home machinist. Lance occasionally sells a finished piece or a run of such pieces, which is how I got all mine....I tinker, but I don't have this sort of creativity nor the equipment to pull it off.
ine if such could be found. There were several machinist built versions I found...if funds were no object!!! Since funds were a factor, I was delighted to find a reasonably priced design made by LiNEy Machine, using their Thimble engine as the power source.
This little jewel is a ball to operate. If you get into the propwash coming off the engine you literally get a cool misting of condensing steam blown in your face!
I might just get a triple blade prop for this one to make it resemble one of those wind powered generator towers that are popping up all over. It is very cool looking and visitors to the "Temple" often spot it early and ask for a demo. What can a host do but give 'em a demo???
Like my other boilerless engines, I power this with a dedicated Jensen 25 standalone boiler with a connecting piece of silicone tubing. It will run a good 15 minutes on a fillup. 
To the right is the back side that will give you a steam facial.
Lance Erickson, the fellow who designed and machined this engine, works on real aircraft engines for his day job, so it was probably inevitable he would adapt his Thimble to power a prop.
There are no valves involved. Instead, it utilizes a "blow by" style piston machined such that it tips sideways on each return stroke, allowing the steam to blow by the piston. I've not encountered anything like that design before, perhaps it emanated from piston design in real airplane engines??
Most of LiNEy's designs have been made into machinable kits and/or plans and schematics targeted to the home machinist. Lance occasionally sells a finished piece or a run of such pieces, which is how I got all mine....I tinker, but I don't have this sort of creativity nor the equipment to pull it off.
Click below to see an instant video via YouTube:
LiNEy Power Plant Prototype
This is my third LiNEy Machine piece and the third built on the basic frame of their "Thimble" engine.
It is to my knowledge the smallest, fully functioning "power plant" driven by steam...at least the smallest I have come across. The "mighty" Thimble drives a flywheel tethered to a tiny generator which feeds a bulb inside the lamp post.
LiNEy's Lance Erickson offered this engine to me as a prototype he'd been working on. I asked for some minor modifications which he implemented perfectly and added a few nice extras upon receipt of the final piece. 
Features incorporated into this prototype "Power Plant" include:
- stainless cylinder liner and piston with tapered con rod
- a shaft riding in two sets of ball bearings set into brass mounts
- machine beveled black metal engine mount
- turned solid brass lamp post
- LiNEy logo engraved into the end of the 1/8 inch diameter shaft
- flywheel jeweled on both sides
- brushed aluminum base plate
- walnut plinth measuring just 3.5 x 4.25 inches.
That bulb screws directly into machined threads in the lamp post which is quite precise but robust in and of itself. The top part of the lamp post was turned from a solid piece of brass and snuggly slides down on the post within making bulb changes if needed very easy.
There are no valves involved. Instead, it utilizes a "blow by" style piston machined such that it tips sideways on each return stroke, allowing the steam to exhaust by the cylinder.
Piston and con-rod are machined of one piece of stainless steel and piston is just a couple of mm thick, rounded at it's edges to rock smoothly at the correct point in it's cycle.
Brilliant but simple engineering!LiNEy incorporated their logo in a tiny location indeed...the end of the 1/8" diameter shaft, it can be seen below in a super closeup:
I am well pleased and hope you commercialize the design which I think would be very popular.
Click below to see an instant video via YouTube:
LiNEy Four Cylinder Aircraft Engine
I have seen this LiNEy design for a couple of years now and was longing to buy one when funds permitted. Well, fortunately the time came in Sept. '08 and I added this, a fourth LiNEy engine to my collection.
Machinist Lance Erickson urged me to hang on to this one as it was likely the last of this model he would be hand building. Not to worry Lance, I love this thing!!
This engine is a four cylinder opposed type with gear driven valves and timing. The design of this engine is similar to the internal combustion engines that power many small general aviation aircraft as well as VW's.
The pistons are 3/8" with a 1/2" stroke driving a one piece crankshaft riding in miniature ball bearings. The "RV" designation in the name stands for "Rotating Valve"...a unique valve design incorporating a pinion gear on the crankshaft which times the one piece rotating valve.
Some of these features can be seen in the photo of the open bottom below:
Lance jeweled the back plate simply for looks, and at my request added a custom in-line oiler for use with steam. It runs equally well on compressed air and live steam.
Another close up showing the beautiful machining work on the back plate, oiler and the included muffler set up. Lots of polished brass and aluminum highlights.
I did add a small touch myself. The prop as received was blond/natural hardwood, probably ash. I removed it, stripped, stained and polyurethaned it to a color I prefer, just can't leave well enough alone!
Click below to see an instant video via YouTube:
Machinist Lance Erickson urged me to hang on to this one as it was likely the last of this model he would be hand building. Not to worry Lance, I love this thing!!
This engine is a four cylinder opposed type with gear driven valves and timing. The design of this engine is similar to the internal combustion engines that power many small general aviation aircraft as well as VW's.
The pistons are 3/8" with a 1/2" stroke driving a one piece crankshaft riding in miniature ball bearings. The "RV" designation in the name stands for "Rotating Valve"...a unique valve design incorporating a pinion gear on the crankshaft which times the one piece rotating valve.
Some of these features can be seen in the photo of the open bottom below:
Lance jeweled the back plate simply for looks, and at my request added a custom in-line oiler for use with steam. It runs equally well on compressed air and live steam.
Another close up showing the beautiful machining work on the back plate, oiler and the included muffler set up. Lots of polished brass and aluminum highlights.
I did add a small touch myself. The prop as received was blond/natural hardwood, probably ash. I removed it, stripped, stained and polyurethaned it to a color I prefer, just can't leave well enough alone!
Click below to see an instant video via YouTube:
