Mr. Iqbal Ahmed is a pioneer and leading model maker from Nagpur. His experience with running a car repair workshop helped him to develop miniature model making as a serious hobby. He has won many contests in USA and Germany for making working miniature models of steam engines and machine tools.
It is remarkable to note that although Mt. Iqbal is 9th standard dropout with no formal training from any technical institute and no engineering degree; he is able to achieve his goal of becoming a top modeling engineer by relying only on practical experience, dedication and confidence.
Mr. Iqbal was the guest of honour at our Technex festival during 15-17 February, 2008. We appreciate him for his consent to grant us an interview. For Chronicle, Yogesh K. Upadhyaya discusses with Mr. Iqbal Ahmed about his career and interest in model making.
Q-1: Welcome, Sir. Please tell us about yourself
I was born on June 30, 1946, with a family of grand father, grand mother, father and mother. I was the second child in the family. I was admited in a first class english medium school called Bishop Cotton School. After completing few grades, my grand father observed me as a very intelligent child and thought that I will become an engineer in future and he will send me to England for further studies. His dream did not materialise; we ran into many hard days as days passed. In 1960, my father bought a lathe machine for which he was having very little knowledge, and hired a turner to keep the work going. I observed the machinist turning worn out parts for automobile dynamo, bushes, shafts, etc. As I was interested in knowing how the automobile engines and other machines work, I stealthily operated the lathe in absence of the turner who was reluctant to teach..He too abandoned the work and left the job,with no other option and with little experience, I took over the machine and continued to work for regular automobile jobs.
After mastering to operate the machine, I decided to go for specialised machining jobs and came into machining of special components for VCR and film processing machines etc. I was very much facinated by the link motions of steam locomotives while travelling in the steam powered trains of that era and a dream was to build a steam loco one day. That dream came true when a friend brought some books from England on how to build steam engines and locomotives. I built a complete loco with fully functional working livesteam locomotive, and to my surprise hauled 5 adults plus two child. I built several other working models of steam engines and machines,including the World’s Smallest Thumbnail sized steam engine weighing just 1.72 grams. The latest was Hot Air Sterling Cycle engine.
Q-2: How you became interested in model making? What is the process for making miniature engineering models?
Since 1962, I started developing an interest in model making. The first model was a Swiss miniature electric powered locomotive with a track width of 13.5 mm; I took the dimensions from a swiss train set, which my grandpa brought from England. Model making hobby shot up from 1970 after reading model making books from England and every model was scaled down from the orignal from the books.
In making a Four Stroke Four Cylinder IC (Internal Combustion) engine, all the dimensions were imaginary and no blueprint/sketches/dimensions were made prior to machining, and machining was carried out directly on the machine. No parts were purchased from any store and they were not ordered or procured from any workshops. I select models which ever comes in to my mind and facinate me because of its construction and working principals. There are no takers for these miniature working models in india and foreigners are also not very much interested in buying ,but they go for ready-made high priced items.
Q-3: Please explain any challenges faced while making a working model.
Depends on mood and to spare time for making one, some models were built in record time of 10/15/30 days; while others took months and years. Many models have about 0.5 percent of breakages and some have none! One can not live on Miniature Engineering Models alone, as there is no awareness about model engineering in India.
Q-4: How did you get an opportunity to showcase your talent abroad?
I received an invitation from m/s Echtdampf Hallentreffen, Sinsheim, Germany at their annual world’s Largest Steam Engine Meet in 2004 and requested the then Minister for Human Resources and Development, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi for sponsoring for the show and my participation was sucessful. In 2004, I again attended the Sherline Competition with the funding from Department of Science & Technology. In 2005, I was denied sponsorship, but got the Second prize for sending a 4-Stroke engine through my nephew. In 2007, I was sponsored by Department of Science & Technology; and I bagged 1st and 2nd position in a row.
While surfing on internet, I came across Sherline Website in the section contest, and in 2001 I sent a vertical steam engine to U.S.A, which took 7th Ranking.
Some of my achievements:
- In 2001 my name featured in the Limca Book of Records for making Live Steam Engine working models. And four other records for Lathe Machine, Locomotive, Milling Machine and Thumbnail steam engine in World Record category.
- In 2001 I was chosen by the Guinness Book of World Records for the few select bands of world record holders, breaking the existing record in the Steam Engine category by making the World’s Smallest Handcrafted Steam Engine weighing just 1.72 grams, having flywheel of 6.8mm and height 6.8mm.
- In 2001 I got Special Recognition Award at Sherline Machinist Challenge, U.S.A for miniature Vertical Steam Engine.
- In 2004 I bagged 3rd position and a Special Award of Sherline Bench Milling Machine at Sherline Machinist Challenge Competition, U.S.A for making Miniature Lathe Machine working model.
- In 2004 0-6-0 Tank Steam Locomotive “INDIAN GLORY”, 5” Gauge model was started in 1986 and got completed in 2003. I performed live demonstration at Sinsheim, Germany, along with other stationary steam engines from other participants around the world.
- In 2005 I was awarded 2nd prize in Sherline Machinist Challenge Competition, U.S.A for making the 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, water cooled IC engine which was self designed without any blue prints and diagrams.
- In April 2007 I participated in the Sherline Machinist Challenge Competition, U.S.A with Miniature Milling Machine having dimensions of 4.5” X 3.5” X 4”. This machine being replicated from the original Sherline Milling Machine, received a special award in 2004 competition. It ranked 1st position and also ranked a 2nd position with a miniature Lathe of Sherline make. It is consistent to note that in the 16 year history of the contest, no single entrant has ever bagged both 1st and 2nd prize in a single competition in the same year. This 2nd position award winning lathe machine had been donated to Joe Martin Foundation Museum for exceptional craftsmanship housed at Vista, California, U.S.A.
Q-5: What message you would like to give to young engineers interested in model engineering?
Technex was a very exciting and remarkable event I have ever visited. Hundreds of inquisitive querries came forward from young and upcoming engineers of the future.
Regarding model engineering, it is the best medium for creating an innovative machine or equipment on a very less cost and can be proved on a smaller scale
Q-6: Thank you, Sir. It was pleasure to discuss with you about the interesting field of model making.
Mr. Iqbal Ahmed can be contacted at: iqmodelverk[AT]yahoo.com
Additional links:
1) Iqbal Ahmed-Model Engineering in India
http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum
2) Iqbal Ahmed’s new work in Nagpur, India
http://www.livesteaming.com
