looking for an engine

[Southern SailorParticipant @southernsailor76583]

Hi all,

I am looking for steam engines for model boats.  At present I have found the Stuart Turner models that look great but perhaps a bit pricey.  Anyone know of any other outlets/manufacturers?  Perhaps in USA? 

[mogogearParticipant @mogogear]

Old post , and my first post, 

Are you still looking Brian? Graham Industries In Arizona  makes a nice twin( albeit a little akward since it requires 2 channel r/c to run it in a boat)..

Hello All

Graham Industries

And I also forgot to add Nick at Monahans !! Wow , they make the top of the line American made steam marine plant!

Nick has a post here inthe steam section with a link to his site( I am stil getting used to the controls here, sorry..)

[Southern SailorParticipant @southernsailor76583]

Thanks very much Mo.  The Graham twin cylinder looks kit looks as though it could be just the answer.  Your lead is much appreciated.

 I am starting off on modelling marine steam engines and need plenty of advice and guidance.  The latest Model Boats begins a serious of articles on model steam in the December issue. 

 All great fun in a rather dark world. 

Carry on steaming.

Brian

[mogogearParticipant @mogogear]

Let me know Brian if I can help. I am very new to live steam and boats , I have been at this for a little under a year. I do have 4 live steam boats though and live in the Pacific Northwest ( Oregon).

I am on quite a few forums ( steam and models) and happy to share what little I know or think..which could be dangerous!! Though new have been very active learning this new hobby. A little hull work, learning to use a Unimat lathe, working on steam engines, and learning  R/C stuf!!

The TRV1 is a nice little runner, a pretty easy build and have a few live steam riends that have them that really like them. I can post ssome links to some nice buld videos if you want. The price is hard to beat too. The only real down side is that the normal reversing mechanism is not used on the engine. So there is no speed control bult in to the same function. Hence – needing two servos to do the job of speed and direction control.

I bought a nice steam control valve when I thought I would be using one of the Graham engines in my Alexandra Launch.. but another power plant came my way so –  -the little throttle valves aresometimes hard to find. More if you need it.

 It still looks  great and should power aboat of moderate size.. say 40" long…

Chers

[KiwimodellerParticipant @kiwimodeller]

Greg, where did you find the throttle valve? They are hard to come by, the only one I have been able to find though these forums is from Polly Engineering and it is a little small for the engine I want to use it on.

Brian, there seems to be a shortage of UK manufacturers since ACS and Cheddar closed. Some of the smaller engines in the Stuart Turner range were previously made by Cheddar. Some other names to do a Google search for are Anton and Regner in Europe and Quayle Engineering here in New Zealand. I have also seen an add somewhere for a new range made by Graupner but cannot recall who the distributor was. Hope this helps, regards, Ian.

[mogogearParticipant @mogogear]

The Polly valve is what I have… -the ACS one was larger– … and there is a German source…?? I will have to look for the link. I do not knwo what kind of pressure you’re working with – I was going to be working with around 2bar+ so up to about 35PSI.

I went with a twin Graupner and boiler set for my Alexandra launch, so for now that eliminated the need of thethrottle valve. I am just starting a Tubinia build and the search is on for a turbine and boiler combo to twirl three shafts and 9 props… GULP— A guy can dream can’t he!!???

[KiwimodellerParticipant @kiwimodeller]

Greg, I had corresponded with Sandy from ACS re the valve on the Paddleducks forum as it was for my paddlesteamer but then I messed about with what I had ( a needle type valve) for a while and by the time I had decided that was never going to work properly ACS had closed. A great shame but I understand the pressures of being a One Man Band and trying to make a living pleasing everybody. I have followed discussions about Turbinia with interest but as it is I will be 105 before I finish current projects! As you say there is no harm in dreaming. Brian, take this as a warning that once you get a steam plant you will be hooked and always trying bigger, better or different ones. At least there is lots of help available for the addicted on this, the Modelboat Mayhem and the Paddleducks forums and probably others. As an older friend often says " Of course it can go better – open your wallet wider!"

[Southern SailorParticipant @southernsailor76583]

[Eric Moffat 1Participant @ericmoffat1]

Brian, sorry it’s even later, but I just finished looking in Ebay and there is an interesting double action V twin up for sale, close to home too in Aust.

Underatand, I’m not endorsing the engine, only pointing to the availability.

Cheers

Eric

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