Photos: Craig Libuse
This is only the second year for this West Coast show, but it is a popular one with the exhibitors and vendors who attend. Visalia is a really nice town to visit in October. Halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco in California's central valley, it is only a few hours drive from each metropolitan center. Parking is free, the show costs only $7 for both days and there are plenty of good places to eat. Hopefully, future advertising will make this event better known so that it can attract the crowds merited by the quality of exhibits.
Sherline would like to thank all of you who came by our booth to say hello. We offer a special welcome to those who got their start in model engineering by purchasing a Sherline tool package at the show. We hope to see some of you displaying projects like the ones shown below in future shows.
Our thanks to Gary and Jared Schoenly of Cabin Fever Expo for putting on the show. For more information on this and their other shows see the their web site at www.cabinfeverexpo.com.
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(Click on any photo to enlarge it to 800 pixel size.) |
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Sherline's booth at the show featured lathe demonstrations by Jim Clark of Clark Precision Machine Tools and a complete selection of Sherline tools and accessories. |
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(L) The Toy Train Operating Society (TTOS) joined the show this year with a display of Lionel trains in the center of the exhibit. Lots of fun for kids and adults alike. (R) Boats were featured this year as well, and this large model even came with its own R/C tow vehicle to launch it from its detailed trailer. |
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(L) The consignment sales area was a popular spot this year with lots of tools and toys for sale. (R) One of the items for sale in the consignment area was this Conley V8 for only $6500.00. I'm already regretting passing up that complete Strombecker 1/32 scale Indycar racing slot car set in its original box for $125.00. |
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(L) This spectacular model of an 1895 American LaFrance fire engine by Lou Cheriot of Joblin, MO got a lot of attention with its highly polished brass and shiny red paint finishes. (R) Tables were lined with interesting engines of all sorts including steam, gas and Sterling. |
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This OHV V8 is topped off by a Roots Supercharger that pumps 6 PSI of boost at 5000 RPM. The engine is a 103 cc (6.3 cu. in.) displacement with 1" bore and 1" stroke that puts out 15 HP at 6000 RPM. The electric starter is off a snowmobile and the twin carbs started life on two different Weedeaters. The engine was built by Ken Hurst, Dwight Giles and Boyd Andrews of the Bay Area Engine Modelers. Casting are by John Vlavianos. |
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V8 engines are popular, especially when fired up at the show. They always attract a crowd. At the foreground in the lefthand photo is a Challenger V8 modeled after a 1938-48 LaSalle flathead. It sports 103 cc of displacement with 1" bore and 1" stroke. Built by Ken Hurst of Napa, CA, this one is similar to the supercharged version seen in the background and in the photos above. |
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Aircooled engines were on display as well as the watercooled versions. On the left is a scale Volkswagen engine like you might find in a tiny dune buggy. It even has the raspy engine note of a VW with headers. On the right is a flat 6-cylinder that looks like it is modeled after a Corvair powerplant. (Note the tiny floor jack in the foreground of the VW photo.) |
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Ever popular with racing fans, the Offenhauser 270 was a mainstay of American dirt track racing for years. This model built by Roger Buzen of the Bay Area Engine Modelers. The plans for the Offy were developed by Ron Colonna who offers a book on how to build the engine. |
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(L) This 1940's type hotrod tether car by Gary Barnes features some state-of-the-art machining on the CNC-cut frame.(R) Some IC engines on display. (R) A highly polished cast midget racer type tether car. |
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Featured on the brass plaque for this year's show, these
boats were not only displayed, they were run in the large indoor pond
provided for the show. These cabin cruisers were piloted by small Barbie
and Ken dolls and displayed a wealth of detail. The steam launch was
flawlessly detailed both on the wooden hull and the live steam engine.
The final photo shows the featured cabin cruiser on its three-axel trailer accompanied by its 4x4 R/C tow vehicle. |
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A Harley Davidson Evolution engine plus a display of four evo V-twin Harley engines. |
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Roger Butzen built this 2.8 scale model of a 1990 Harley Davidson Evolution 1340 cc off a Fatboy motorcycle. He also modeled part of the frame, seat and tank to set the engine in its proper environment. He fired it up and it sounded like a slightly higher pitch version of the real thing, probably partially because of the higher idle speed. The vibration on this solid mount was just like the real one too. It jumped off the table when he first fired it up. |
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Radio Controlled tank models were also seen at the show. |
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