• Articles
  • Motorcycles for Sale
  • Motorcycle Parts
  • Motorcycle Manuals
  • Models
  • Collectibles
  • Contact

The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Exquisite Little V12 Engine

By Paul Crowe

Home built V12 engine machined from stainless steel, bronze and aluminum
Home built V12 engine machined from stainless steel, bronze and aluminum

Machine tools make much of what we see and use in the world around us, enabling a skilled machinist to create almost anything out of basic blocks of metal. With today’s relatively low prices and high precision, you can find small home shops turning out incredible work from lathes and milling machines hidden away in basements and garages. This tiny V12 engine is a perfect example. Made from stainless steel, aluminum and bronze and over 1200 hours of work, a craftsman in Spain designed the engine and then created, each of the 261 pieces himself. The engine runs on compressed air because it will be run in exhibits and educational demonstrations where real fuels might be problematic.

Home built V12 engine partially assembled
Home built V12 engine partially assembled

During the build he kept a video record of the work in progress giving us a detailed look behind the scenes, making the final minutes of the video showing the engine running seem even more remarkable.

There are now many small engine builders creating almost every shape and configuration of engine imaginable, but we seldom see so many of the steps along the way showing exactly how the engine was built. If you’re at all interested in engines, machining or mechanics, you’ll definitely enjoy this video. You’ll also enjoy the great choice of music that fits the spirit of the work. Makes you want to go shopping for a little lathe or milling machine, doesn’t it?

via Make

Video below:

Posted on November 29, 2011 Filed Under: Engines, Workshop & Tools


-- Subscribe to The Kneeslider --

Be the first to know when something’s new!


Be sure to check out The Kneeslider’s motorcycle parts listings.

Your purchases through ebay links on The Kneeslider may earn a commission for this site.




« Art Deco Gold Wing Streamliner
Roland Sands Vmax Hyper Modified »

Comments

  1. HoughMade says

    November 29, 2011 at 10:16 am

    Any woman who would wear those pistons as earrings would have my devotion forever,

    • Carolynne says

      November 29, 2011 at 10:11 pm

      On you knees then houughmade, how long do I have to wear them for?

  2. NextVoiceUHear says

    November 29, 2011 at 10:33 am

    Kneeslider never fails to please! Thank you!

    This would be the ultimate Christmas Stocking Stuffer.

    Since this is an “external combustion” engine (runs on compressed air), I bet he ground those little toothpick-cams into a 2-stroke configuration. I think the size of the cam drive gears show that.

    For those of us who don’t have the time or the shop to build their own, here’s a pretty good substitute:

    http://www.jensensteamengines.com/

    • Carolynne says

      November 29, 2011 at 11:29 am

      Thanks! that is perfect. Its a lot easier to understand how it works when you can see the parts and how they fit together, really really cool. I know what a certain 9 year old is getting for Christmas

  3. rohorn says

    November 29, 2011 at 11:21 am

    If you like micro-engines, check out “Strictly I.C.” magazine.

    • Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" says

      November 29, 2011 at 12:04 pm

      My personal favorite place for small engines is The Internet Craftsmanship Museum. Lots of incredible stuff. Especially Clen Tomlinson! Plus now they have the Internal Combustion Engine Collection. Very, very impressive and fascinating.

      Caution, if you haven’t been there before, you should get a cup of coffee first.

      • rohorn says

        November 29, 2011 at 2:15 pm

        That site is owned by the man behind Sherline – great connection. His online book on starting a business is a great read for any “doer”.

        It takes machines to make machines…

  4. B50 Jim says

    November 29, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Those cams are driven at crankshaft speed, hence 2-stroke configuration so it will run on compressed air. Shows how well-thought-out the project is. I know my way around a machine shop (a bit out of practice these days but it’s like riding a bicycle), but I tip my hat to this builder. I don’t know if I’d have the skills to do a project like this. It’s a piece of jewelry that runs.

  5. Hawk says

    November 29, 2011 at 1:13 pm

    Enzo would have hired him ….

  6. Alan says

    November 29, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    Te valve train alone makes my jaw drop.

  7. Bob says

    November 29, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    How about a working scale model V-12… with a working car around it?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeUMDY01uUA

    http://mps-sportproto.com/fr/

    • Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" says

      November 29, 2011 at 3:27 pm

      Covered that over on HorsePowerSports a long time ago. Superb model.

  8. kim says

    November 29, 2011 at 3:54 pm

    Obviously it needs to run on regular gasoline, and find its way into a Norton Featherbed chassis.

  9. Paulinator says

    November 29, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    This is truely impressive. When’s the last time anyone even saw a vernier caliper? The man is an artizan. File marks and all. LOVE IT!!!

    • Thom says

      November 30, 2011 at 6:56 pm

      I use a vernier caliper every day… But I suppose I’m a but odd… Lol.

    • Carolynne says

      November 30, 2011 at 11:07 pm

      Paulintor I would have sent you a message to filling in on how I met your evil but charming twin but your messages are disabled. Nice to see you’ve done well anyway. I am not surprised at that at all

  10. JOhndo says

    November 29, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    Impressive indeed. Man I wish I had that knowledge and know-how…

  11. Carolynne says

    November 29, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    This really is amazing. It does make me wonder though why we don’t have more of these little engines around for educational purposes . I don’t think I have ever seen anything like this during the education of my kids. I know my 9 year old loves this stuff we watch inventions that shook the world and how machines work all the time together. Seems like something we should expose them to both earlier and more.

  12. Yeti B. says

    November 30, 2011 at 12:33 am

    DON’T DO IT!! I clicked that link and next thing I knew 6 hours had passed. I’m now planning my vacation to go to the museum in person.

  13. Steve says

    November 30, 2011 at 5:04 am

    Who wouldn’t like to have that on their mantel?

    You might like this full-scale, working Henderson V8 built by the late Carl Vandre: http://www.hendersonkj.com/carl-vandre/vee8/index1.html

  14. James McBride says

    November 30, 2011 at 6:09 am

    I can’t fathom the amount of work that went into that, let alone the precision. Great work.

  15. akaaccount says

    November 30, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    I want to see him installing the valves, springs, and retainers.

    Plus, flathead screws? Masochist no doubt.

  16. Dr Robert Harms says

    November 30, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    If you are into things of this sort go to Cabin Fever in Jan in York PA. real running scale motors incl an Offy thnat sound like an Offy and a panhead which sounds correct and all kinds of really good stuff. I nevr miss it. Worth it

  17. Thom says

    November 30, 2011 at 7:09 pm

    Not a bad use of 1220 hours!

Subscribe to The Kneeslider

Be the first to know when something's new!

Search articles on The Kneeslider


Do You need motorcycle parts?

Everything from normal maintenance items to hard to find out of production parts, look here first.
Be very specific for best results! Use part numbers if you have them.


Be sure to check out The Kneeslider’s new motorcycle manuals and literature listings.



Your purchases through ebay links on The Kneeslider may earn a commission for this site.



From The Kneeslider Archives

Triumph Millenium 900 by Vicente Design

D1200R – BMW Based Concept Motorcycle

RSS What’s happening on HorsePowerSports

  • DeLorean Motor Company is Coming Back with an Electric
  • Ford Shares Open Source CAD Files for 3D Printing Truck Accessories
  • If You Need a New Car, Buy an Old One Instead

Motorcycle Engine Powered Cars

Copyright © 2025 · The Kneeslider · Website by Crowe Computer Services
US Army veteran owned and operated
This website proudly Made in the USA!
Made in the USA