Anyone interested in the fascinating topic of building functional steam engines needs a solid foundation of knowledge. This standard work for steam model builders is often referred to as the Bible of steam model building. Anyone looking to successfully venture into the self-construction of steam engines and other components of a steam system, such as boilers, burners, etc., cannot overlook this book. The content not only provides an extensive discussion on the theory and history of various machines, boilers, and fittings, but also explains the area of metalworking before presenting descriptions of various replica projects at different levels of difficulty.