Building the Shay Hardcover – January 1, 1982

First of all, this book itself is gorgeous and is standing the test of time in my shop… embroidered hardcover, sturdy pages. Incredible amounts of detail on holding parts, using machinery, highly in-depth plans, and great photo examples of both finished locomotives and sections in progress. Cannot recommend this book enough for anyone considering building either a small vertical steam engine OR a live steam locomotive in any scale, specifically Shay or narrow gauge builders. Such a great collection of knowledge, proportions, and measurements between the covers that will transfer to any live steam project.

Need Hiroaka's designs to build a 3 cylinder steam engine for a boat. Book's content is invaluable.

Excellent presentations/drawings.

Kozo Hiraoka brought a whole new standard of quality and accuracy to American model engineering when the contents of this book first appeared in "Live Steam" magazine in the 1970s. Reprinted and revised in book form, the work describes the construction of a complex 3/4 inch scale live steam model locomotive. What makes Kozo's work so impressive is a descriptive technique you could almost describe as "digital" in that thousands of small, easy steps add up to something very impressive and also very beautiful. He takes you from the very beginning of the project to the very end, teaching every moment in a gently humble style. This man - who taught himself English so he could write the book - has quietly brought greatness to an obscure but wonderful hobby. I've never met him and probably never will, but the world would be a better place if more people took their dreams as seriously as this quiet Japanese engineer. No lie. If you like model steam locomotives, buy this book.

This is a great book for the beginning live steamist and even the experienced live steam fan. The only things that I would do differently would be to give it a different smokestack (I don't like balloon stacks), to make the engine cover slimmer and more elegant, and put an air resevoir on the running board in place of the toolbox, convert it to propane fuel, and to alter the appearence of the square shafts. Great work Kozo!

Bought this to complete my set of Kozo's publications.I find his drawings and methods an inspiration.I am building a Koxo Climax and have found that all the information is in the book with text supporting excellent drawings, even if it's spread about, and the Shay is identical.Additionally and not very well publicised are the Appendicies, which are in my opinion are of equal if not more value than the topic of the book. I find myself constantly referring to the apendix of the various books, as there isn't much they don't cover.