This collection of photos exhibits the range of Iqbal Ahmed’s craftsmanship. His work is even more impressive when considering that he was able to produce these projects with very little consultation from experts, peers, or other resources pertaining to model engineering. He learned much of his craft on his own, and used what would be considered fairly outdated machines. When looking at the breadth of work he has accomplished, it’s clear why Mr. Ahmed was the recipient of the 2012 Joe Martin Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award.
Model 4-Cylinder Internal Combustion Engine
Model Internal Combustion Engine
This is Iqbal’s tiny 4-cylinder overhead cam engine. Seen here is the engine block with pistons installed, and the head removed. The tiny camshaft leans up against the cylinder head.
Model Internal Combustion Engine
Another view of the small gas engine shows the pistons removed from the block. You can see connecting rods, valves, and many other hand crafted components.
Engine Block
A detailed view of the engine block. Notice the scale.
Cylinder Head
The cylinder head with valves in place.
Intake and Exhaust Manifold
Close view of the tubular intake and exhaust manifold.
The Crankshaft
The crankshaft has three main bearing journals.
Overhead Camshaft
Engine Block Bottom View
An early stage of the engine block. The pistons, crankshaft, and flywheel are in place, but the outside form of the block has not yet been machined.
Engine in Progress
Iqbal brought the unfinished engine along on a trip to the Sherline factory in May, 2004.
Engine in Progress
Here the pistons, rods, and piston rings are laid out in the foreground. Amazingly, all the parts were made on a lathe, as at this time he did not have a milling machine.
Engine Block Inside View
With the valve cover tilted up, you can see the single overhead cam shaft and valves. A quarter dollar in the lower left offers scale reference.
Engine Block Side View
Engine Block Top View
This view shows the cam belt.
Engine Block Bottom View
This view with the crankcase removed shows the crankshaft and bottom end of the engine.
Engine Block Bottom View
The black and blue parts were anodized on the same lathe that built them. Iqbal used the engine to generate the electrical current needed for anodizing.
Model Lathe
Model Lathe
A few weeks before the NAMES expo, Iqbal designed and built this lathe as a contest entry for the Sherline Machinist’s Challenge contest. The lathe took 3rd place, narrowly missing 1st by only 26 votes.
Model Lathe
Mr. Ahmed made all the components, including the chuck and gears, on his lathe. It took about two weeks to construct. This model represents a combination of designs from several lathes that Iqbal has owned.
Stationary Steam and Stirling Engines
Mary Beam Engine
A model of a “Mary” beam engine from the 19th century.
Victoria Steam Engine
A small “Victoria” steam engine.
Victoria Steam Engine
Iqbal’s smallest “Victoria” fits easily on the palm of his hand.
Victoria Horizontal Engine
A small working boiler provides steam power to this very small “Victoria” horizontal engine.
Victoria Steam Engine
The largest of Iqbal’s “Victoria” horizontal stationary steam engines is still relatively small.
The John Fowler
A 1/16 scale steam powered road roller called the “John Fowler” measures about 14″ long.
Victoria Engine With Boiler
This view shows the alcohol burner under the boiler, which provides steam power to drive the engine.
Victoria Engine in Action
This “Victoria” horizontal is shown in action, with the flywheel spinning.
Victoria Steam Engine
A very small vertical engine gets its steam power from a boiler even smaller than the one above. This model was shipped to Detroit and entered in the 2001 Machinist’s Challenge contest, where Iqbal’s work was first seen by an American audience.
Iqbal With Sherline Certificate
Iqbal received a certificate for his outstanding efforts, and for having the entry that came from the farthest away.
Modeler John Ponsonby With Iqbal
Modeler John Ponsonby traveled from England to see Mr. Ahmed’s engines. Here he admires the “Mary” beam engine. Iqbal welcomes the visit of any model engineers traveling to India, and loves to share his experience in modeling.
Thumbnail Working Steam Engine
Iqbal’s “thumbnail” working steam engine weighs just 1.72 grams.
Twin-Cylinder Wetzel
This twin-cylinder Wetzel features horizontally arranged pistons with cam action, and a valve system in the shaft. The air passages are drilled through the body.
Electric and Steam Locomotives
HO Electric Locomotive
Displaying Iqbal’s versatility, this is an HO electric locomotive, track, and signals that he made.
Indian Glory Locomotive
Iqbal built this 0-6-0 live steam locomotive called the Indian Glory.
Iqbal and His Granddaughter Take a Ride
Here Iqbal takes his granddaughter, Shahana, for a ride in reverse.
Testing the Indian Glory
Test running the Indian Glory tank locomotive No. 30646.
Indian Glory Trial Run
The first trial run with a full load shows the pulling power of this little engine. Five adults and two children are being pulled along.
The Fairy Queen Locomotive
Another live steam engine completed by Iqbal is the Fairy Queen.
The Fairy Queen Locomotive
Iqbal says of the Fairy Queen, “I built a 5-inch gauge live steam locomotive. The main feature of this locomotive is that it has been crafted from only a 4 x 6 photograph taken from a full-scale locomotive without any drawings, plans or sketches. I just saw the real locomotive at the Rail museum in New Delhi, India, took the photo, and kept in mind every detail.”
The Fairy Queen Locomotive
The full-scale locomotive is still running with the Indian Railways, and is featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest running locomotive.
0-6-0 Tank Locomotive
This 0-6-0 tank locomotive is almost completed. Based on a scaled down version of the Indian Glory, shown above, it is a 45 mm scale engine.
0-6-0 Tank Locomotive
Some local children examine the 0-6-0 tank locomotive model.
The 0-6-0 Engine and Indian Glory
The finished 0-6-0 tank engine is shown in comparison to the Indian Glory, after which it was modeled.
0-6-0 Tank Engine
The tank engine is tested with compressed air.
0-6-0 Tank Engine
It’s capable of hauling the weight of an adult and child, as can be seen here with Iqbal himself aboard for the test.
South African Railways Live Steam Locomotive
Firebox and Boiler
The firebox and boiler of the locomotive begin to take shape.
Firebox and Boiler
Lathe Work on Boiler
In the absence of a large milling machine, a lathe was configured to bore holes in the top of the boiler.
Boiler and Steam Cylinders Mounted
The front of the boiler and the steam cylinders are mounted to the locomotive’s frame. This photo gives a good sense of scale.
Locomotive Drivers
Trailing Truck
With leaf springs in place.
Leaf Springs
Seen from the bottom, leaf springs for the trailing truck are secured in place.
Rotary and Elbow Engines
Coomber Rotary Engine
This Coomber rotary engine was made entirely on a Sherline mill, including the round parts. The “engine” is actually inside the flywheel.
Elbow Engine
Coomber and Elbow Engines
Visible Heart Pump Demonstration
Mechanical Human Heart Pump
Iqbal said of this project, “A doctor approached me to make a functional mechanical human heart pump mechanism, consisting of a pump piston/auricle and ventricular valves to demonstrate the function of a heart to students.”
Milling for Mechanical Human Heart Pump
With his workshop closed and lathe unavailable due to the poor economy, Iqbal decided to turn out parts in his kitchen using his small Sherline mill. He put it in a horizontal configuration to act as a lathe for making the round parts.
Mechanical Human Heart Pump
Iqbal said, “I turned out the required parts with great accuracy and success.” Once again, he demonstrated that a good model engineer will figure out a way to make the needed parts with whatever equipment is available.
1/4 Scale 1886 Benz Motorwagen
The 3-wheeled Benz Motorwagen was the first application of an internal combustion engine to a motorized vehicle in 1886. The bench seat accommodated two people side by side, and it was steered with a tiller rather than a steering wheel. Prior to this a few vehicles had been powered by steam, but this was the beginning of the end for horse-drawn transportation. The photos below outline in detail the process of building Iqbal’s award winning scale model of the Benz.
Drive Unit
Drive unit under construction for the Benz.
Wheel Hub Construction
Adding spokes to the wheel hub.
Drive Mechanism
The drive mechanism parts are seen here.
Horizontal Mill Boring
A boring head is attached to a Sherline mill in horizontal position to bore a hole in the side of the engine casting.
Drive Parts and Wheel Hub
Drive parts and a fully spoked wheel hub sit in front of a photo of the full-size Motorwagen.
Brass Castings
Brass castings and some of the patterns used to make them.
Assembled Wheel, Engine, and Drive
A wheel with spokes in place next to the assembled engine and drive. Part of a wheel rim is on the right.
Iqbal Milling Work
Iqbal demonstrates the ability of his Sherline mill to make round parts with a special fixture he developed. By rotating the headstock to a horizontal position, he is able to use a cutting tool mounted on a rotary table.
Engine Progress
The nearly completed engine is seen in the foreground, while an acrylic pattern for the flywheel is in the background.
Bevel Gears
A close-up shows the tooth shape of the bevel gears on the drive.
Flywheel Casting
The acrylic pattern for the flywheel casting next to a 6″ caliper gives size reference. The curved spoke shape is a characteristic of the big flywheel on this particular engine.
Engine and Drive Unit Progress
Linkages are connected as the engine and drive unit near completion.
Engine and Drive Unit Progress
Engine and Fly Wheel
The engine is mounted onto a test stand, flywheel attached, and is ready for its first test run.
Engine Running
As you can see by the blurred flywheel spokes, the engine is now running. This is known to engine builders as the “first pop”—always an important day for a project like this.
Testing the Engine
Iqbal adjusting the idle during a low speed test run.
High Speed Test Run
The engine during a high speed test run.
Chassis Progress
The partially complete chassis as spokes are being assembled into the wheels.
Motor Assembly
The motor is assembled to the chassis. In this photo you can see the leaf springs on the axle as well.
The Finished Motorwagen
This photo of the finished vehicle captures its vintage feel. It could easily be mistaken for a photo of the original in full size.
The Finished Motorwagen
Very few originals exist in full size, but in 1986 on the 100th anniversary of it’s invention, Mercedes Benz commissioned the production of a short run of reproductions.
The Finished Motorwagen
The reproductions can be found in museums around the world, but to our knowledge, this is the only running 1/4 scale model.
The Finished Motorwagen
The Finished Motorwagen
A little model looks wistfully at the Benz, but she is still too big to go for a ride.
The Finished Motorwagen
Another shot of the Benz being admired. In the background is a vintage 1944 Matchless motorcycle.
Grand Unveiling of the Benz Motorwagen
For the grand unveiling, a special stage and curtain were prepared.
The Motorwagen With Trophy
The model is seen here with the trophy and a photo of the full-size Motorwagen.
Iqbal’s Award Poster
A large graphic poster was used behind the presentation to commemorate the award.
Motorwagen With Friends
The rich oak of the seat harks back to the wagon-making roots of the early auto industry. Our congratulations to Iqbal Ahmed on this outstanding achievement in model engineering.
Showing the Benz at the NAMES Expo
Iqbal displays his model Benz next to the NAMES show poster in 2011.
Iqbal and Arif at Their NAMES Table
Iqbal and his son, Arif, at the table where they displayed their model during the 2-day show.
1886 Benz Motorwagen
The Benz Motorwagen model was given featured exhibit space at the NAMES expo. It was noted as one of the farthest traveled entries in the 22 years that the show had been held.
1886 Benz Motorwagen
1886 Benz Motorwagen
1886 Benz Motorwagen
1886 Benz Motorwagen
1886 Benz Motorwagen
1886 Benz Motorwagen
1886 Benz Motorwagen
Flywheel Pattern and Finished Model
Here Iqbal’s son, Arif, holds a pattern from which the cast flywheel was made. Another pattern for part of one of the pulleys is also displayed.
A Gathering of Outstanding Craftsmen
Iqbal was joined at the Joe Martin Foundation booth by five more of the world’s finest craftsmen. From left to right are George Luhrs, Wilhelm Huxhold, Louis Chenot, Jerry Kieffer, Iqbal Ahmed, and Richard Carlstedt.
1896 Ford Quadricycle Engine
For some background, Henry Ford was working on a self-propelled vehicle at the same time as Carl Benz . His Ford Quadricycle had four wheels, unlike Mr. Benz’s tricycle layout. However, Mr. Benz put his on the road first. In 2013, Iqbal Ahmed started work on a 1/4 scale version of the engine from the Quadricycle.
Watch a video of the first run of the engine below.
Watch an alternate video of the quadricycle engine.
Watch a video of the finished Quadricycle rollling around a driveway.
Iqbal at Work on the Quadricycle Engine
Quadricycle Engine
The engine is a 2-cylinder horizontal layout that produced 6 HP in the full-size version.
Quadricycle Engine
Quadricycle Engine
The engine taking shape.
Piston for Quadricycle Engine
Piston and long connecting rod.
Ignition Components
Valve Grinding Fixtures
Piloted valve grinding fixtures are used to grind the valve seats.
Dual Breaker Points
Unusual dual breaker points for the ignition system.
Engine Assembly
Iqbal assembling the engine on the floor of his shop.
Engine Assembly
Engine Assembly
The engine assembly is coming along in 1/4 scale, but not at 1/4 speed.
Engine Assembly
Remember, this is not a kit. Each and every part has to be made by hand.
Engine Assembly
Quadricycle Progress
The chassis is taking shape, and the motor is installed.
Quadricycle Progress
Like the slightly earlier Benz, the Ford version uses a tiller type steering arm. However, it’s among the first to apply an internal combustion engine to a more stable 4-wheeled platform.
Quadricycle Progress
Quadricycle Progress
Quadricycle Motor in Chassis
Quadricycle Motor in Chassis
Quadricycle Chassis Close-Up
Quadricycle on Display
The finished Quadricycle was shown at the 2014 NAMES Expo near Detroit, Michigan.
Quadricycle on Display
Iqbal travelled from India to Michigan with the model.
Iqbal and the Quadricycle
Iqbal poses with his finished Quadricycle.
Quadricycle on Display
Iqbal explaining the features of the model to Craig Libuse at the NAMES show.
Craig Admiring the Quadricycle
Craig Libuse, of the Craftsmanship Museum, examines the 1/4 scale model.
BMW Ignition Component
Iqbal Working on His Lathe
Iqbal making tiny precision parts to get a BMW Ignition switch working. As usual, he’s seen using his large but familiar lathe.
Ignition Component and Parts
Ignition Component and Parts
Inside the ignition key housing is a complicated casting.
Ignition Component and Parts
The crude silver part is the BMW casting, while the bright brass part is the machined replacement made by Iqbal.
Ignition Component and Parts
Repaired Ignition Component
The finished brass part is fitted into the BMW ignition switch. One more fine car is back on the road thanks to Iqbal’s machining skills.
Rolls Royce Ignition Key
Broken Rolls Royce Key and Finished Replacement
A friend brought Iqbal a broken ignition key for a Rolls Royce when he was unable to find a replacement key blank. Iqbal obtained a solid key blank, and using a Sherline mill, he machined the precise splines and grooves to exactly match the broken original. Though not particularly exciting, this is a good example of some of the more practical things that can be done with small machine tools.
Iqbal and the Rolls Royce
Iqbal next to the Rolls Royce, which was back on the road thanks to a new custom ignition key.