@jean_lemire_1 @endlessfix @db11 @SketchUp3D_de @tweenulzeven
Thanks for your responses - in hindsight I may have been a bit naïve thinking I can do this without plugins and I will definitely check out any that are suggested 
I can already see one of the trickiest parts will be animating the connecting rods because they have one end which rotates in a circular motion, and another which goes straight up and down. I’ve been studying the Fredo6 Animator which is fantastic (and it can produce 4K video at 60fps) but it cannot animate that connecting rod movement – but hopefully I may be able to use it in combination with the method described at Muncaster Oscillator - SketchUp / Gallery - SketchUp Community by @DaveR
Anyway – the original maintenance manuals are due to arrive today so I will be studying them with interest. This whole project feels a bit little like I am stripping the real engine down and rebuilding it which is great 