This workhorse vertical steam engine has combined guide and column supports. The rugged design of this steam engine is unusual, as it combines the functions of crosshead guide and cylinder support in a single set of columns. It’s a robust engine which was, according to Rudy, “a little workhorse.” The double-acting cylinder has a bore of 3/4” and a piston stroke of 1”. The aluminum crosshead is fitted with brass slippers that contact the guiding surfaces of the columns. The flywheel spokes are offset from center in a unique fashion.
Rudy also wrote a construction series on building this engine, which was published in Live Steam magazine, in the issues from May/Jun 2000 through Nov/Dec 2000. Plans for the engine can be found in The Shop Wisdom of Rudy Kouhoupt, Volume 3.
One of the first large donations to the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum was the collection of famed model engine builder Rudy Kouhoupt. Rudy’s niece, Susan Alvaro, was kind enough to donate his entire lifetime engine collection for display at the grand opening of the museum in 2006. After retiring as a chemist, Rudy had a second career building engines and writing magazine articles documenting the process. Many people have built his models, but we have the honor of displaying all of his original prototypes. Rudy’s collection includes scale model engines, locomotives, tractors and more. Additionally, thirteen of Rudy’s model steam engines are hooked up to run on compressed air to demonstrate their function.
