Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[kusuchi]

Some pictures of Marten, Howes & Bayliss, 45" Edwardian Steam Launch at home in the Virgin Islands.



General view from the handrail at our house.




The M,H & B Boiler and Steam Plant.




The Anton Cristal Steam Plant.   A sewing machine on steroids. 




Bow Detail.




Under steam in the UK.




Under Steam in the Virgin Islands, today.


Were hoping to take her out to sea today, but the weather was too rough.  So the tight confines of the pool had to do.

Yes, I know the fenders are supposed to be inboard, but with my 9 year old son at the RC, leaving them out seemed prudent.

[kusuchi]

Had really hoped to put her to sea today, but with winds blowing 25 to 35 mph from the North, Magen's Bay was far too rough.

The beach below our house, (on the south side of the island), looked calm, but when we arrived with Topaz primed and ready to steam, it was very windy and reluctantly I decided to cancel.

Not to be completely thwarted, however, we took her to the pool at our Condo.

This boat is very, very fast. :shock:   I edited the fastest shots.  They seemed somewhat inappropriate to the character of the launch.  We had to almost completely shut the gas tank valve to keep the pressure below 3 bar. :shock: 

My wife, Val, ran intercept and damage control.  Andrew, my 9 year old son, did a great job as Captain, improving his skills as the video progressed.  The slightest movement of the RC levers can cause the launch to take off like a hydroplane. :lol:  :lol:  I left a small shot of that in so you can see what I mean.

Apologies for the rather amateur video.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NOqpptYwad4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NOqpptYwad4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOqpptYwad4

Not sure which link is going to work.

[Proteus]

the Boat looks very nice , But I think you need to have a look at the ballast as it is a bit low at the front and high at the rear so needs some weight moving back ill see if I can find some pictures that will give you an idea.

Proteus

[Bernhard]

hi..........ohh yes wery nice it is,,,and a great enginen Anton is,,.....what boiler do you have in

Bernhard

[kno3]

Very nice boat and engine. What is the small black dome on the boiler that doesn't seem to be connected to anything?

[Proteus]

steam dome ,Its the take off for the engine,  Oh and its a martin Howe's and Baylis boiler.

Proteus

[kno3]

Then, where's the steam pipe?

[Proteus]

Its a dummy


Proteus

[MONAHAN STEAM MODELS]

Hi Kusuchi,

Welcome to Model Boat Mayhem.

I am glad to see you made your way over to this forum. I normally see you on the Mamod forum site. It is good to have you aboard and I am glad to see that the Topaz arrived safely and all in one piece. It is a beautiful boat.

Kno3,

Proteus is correct that the black dome is a steam dome. This is actually functional and is not a dummy.

 Brian Marten is a very good friend of mine. We normally talk on a weekly, sometimes daily basis and I know his boiler designs inside and out. I can tell you that they are very high quality.

The Topaz boiler is a return flue type boiler. The Topaz boiler as well as his Seekadett boiler has a super heater inside the upper return flue of the boiler. The super heater is made from copper tubing which picks up its steam from inside the boiler and more specifically from up inside this steam dome by way of the beginning of this copper tube which stands vertically inside this hollow steam dome . The super heater's tubing is routed through the top wall of the upper return flue and then up inside this steam dome from inside the boiler. After passing through the inside of the upper return flue it then makes a few back and forth passes inside the return flue before exiting up and out the side of the base of the chimney mount. It is a very efficient design which Brian has been using for many years.

Hope this has helped you.

[kusuchi]

Hi Nick,

Great to talk to you again.

Given the expanding marine component of our steam collection, I thought it appropriate to join a Model Boat forum, and was advised that this was the place to be.

That certainly seems to be the case.  I recognize quite a few of the members and have enormous respect for their expertise.

Thanks for the information on the M,H & B Boiler.  It certainly performs beyond expectations.

Still coveting your exquisite vertical Heron.  A truly magnificent piece of steam engineering.

As I've said before, if you're ever visiting the Virgin Islands.....................

Best,

[kusuchi]

the Boat looks very nice , But I think you need to have a look at the ballast as it is a bit low at the front and high at the rear so needs some weight moving back ill see if I can find some pictures that will give you an idea.

Proteus

Thanks, Proteus.

I had already noticed this problem.  It will be of particular concern when we go to sea.  The boiler is located forward of midships and when empty the boat sits on a very even keel.  Although I can easily add ballast to the stern, the boat already sits very low in the water, and I am reluctant to do this.  There is no ballast in the bow, so if you have any ideas on how to shift the weight aft I'd really appreciate hearing them.

Best,

[kno3]

...

Kno3,

Proteus is correct that the black dome is a steam dome. This is actually functional and is not a dummy.

 Brian Marten is a very good friend of mine. We normally talk on a weekly, sometimes daily basis and I know his boiler designs inside and out. I can tell you that they are very high quality.

The Topaz boiler is a return flue type boiler. The Topaz boiler as well as his Seekadett boiler has a super heater inside the upper return flue of the boiler. The super heater is made from copper tubing which picks up its steam from inside the boiler and more specifically from up inside this steam dome by way of the beginning of this copper tube which stands vertically inside this hollow steam dome . The super heater's tubing is routed through the top wall of the upper return flue and then up inside this steam dome from inside the boiler. After passing through the inside of the upper return flue it then makes a few back and forth passes inside the return flue before exiting up and out the side of the base of the chimney mount. It is a very efficient design which Brian has been using for many years.

Hope this has helped you.

Thanks Nick, that was very helpful.

[derekwarner]

kusuchi.......I understand you say

1) the vessel sits low in the water
2) you are reluctant to add ballast to the stern

Mass & physics go hand in hand... to get the vessel to float higher it must have less mass or greater floation [hull displacement or surface area]   
You mention "when we go to sea"....but the original vessel was designed as a river craft? & hence little waves or swell   ... just a bit of breeze now & then ....Derek

[kusuchi]

Hi Derek,

Maybe, 'when we go to sea', gives the wrong impression.

We have numerous sheltered beaches, coves and bays here in the islands.  On a calm day the water is as smooth as glass.

More tranquil than the average river.

Sailing our boats in these scenic locations is a huge source of pleasure for us and makes for great video.

With regards to ballast, Proteus had mentioned 'moving the weight'.  I look forward to hearing him expand on that.

Thanks.

[Bunkerbarge]

I'm sure all he is basically saying is that the available weight you have in the model must be moved.  The boiler being the biggest weight and therefore having the most significant effect on the boat should be considered first and repositioning that further aft would have a positive effect.

Other weights though such as separator tank, gas tank, water tank, electrics, batteries etc..etc. should all be looked at with a view to moving them aft, all of which will help the trim of the boat.  It might be that you are now restricted by having things in the way but there really is no magic answer and the only way you are going to get the trim better is to reduce weight forward and, at the same time, add it aft.  You may get away with it by nothing more than repositioning battery packs etc but you might also have to consider putting up with it as it is and therefore operate the model appropriately.

Do you have anything that you can vary such as using a smaller battery or less water in a feed tank?  These may all help the cause and a few smaller changes may have as much impact as one larger one.

[Bee]

If you don't want to move things straight away you could add extra buoyancy with a hollow false keel, and then regain stability with a fin keel. It may seem messy but could be less trouble.

[Proteus]

There have been a few hundred Topaz boat kits built ,its there best selling boat,the boiler is a standard boiler designed for the Job, and in the correct place MHB boats are well designed and tested to work with this boiler where it is , they should not have water tanks just the side slung gas and separator. i have seen lots sailed and never seen one so low at the front so there must be a simple reaon for it, has it got anything in front of the boiler, batteries and servos should be in the rear, so if it has had a water tank fitted for a pump that is the problem as it is non standard.


Proteus

[mogogear]

Ahhh that Topaz is a gem!!! the location ain't bad either!!

[kusuchi]

Ahhh that Topaz is a gem!!! the location ain't bad either!!

You've seen a little bit more of it though than most, Mo.

Thanks for your kind words.

[ROSYTH]

Well Hello there Richard,
Quite a few comments on your Steam Launch but just to add 'IT'S A REAL BEAUTY' and I should know as I built it and sold it to you.
Those in the know, will know that it is a fully detailed and built to design from plans by MHB. Nothing has been changed or added in any way from the original build spec by MHB.
The full steam plant is one as recomended by MHB and is the Anton steam plant Crystal with all associated fittings. The Gas Tank and Steam Exhaust Tank are all sited in there
correct positions as stated.
She does need some form of ballast adding which can be done by placing small bags of lead shot in the stern section by simply lifting the rear seating cushions off and dropping them in
until your Launch sits correctly with the Boiler full of water ready to steam.
I did mention this at the time Richard, but it has taken such a long time to get to you over there in Paradise it's easy to forget. lol
You are in possesion of all the original plans and build details as well as the full steam plant specification so if you browse the detailed plans you will find a good area to place your ballast
and level her up on the water ok.
She looks real good in the first picture with the back drop, so good I think we'll fly out and have a Steaming session or two eh!!!

Steve has collected your newest floater and it went in the back of his car with room to spare. He has also got the full plant running instructions which is from the Hemmens stable and
is his full steam plant and brand new too ok. Except the amount of time I took to run it in off course.
Basically everything you do with the Steam Launch Topaz you will do with this one too ok, real easy and goes like the clappers too.

Now lets see how long it takes to get this one out there this time, do you think it will take as long or not?

Cheers for now
Wal (nee Cliff)
In Sunny Scarborough

[Admhawk]

Richard,

Nice Steam Launch! I wish I'd known you were down there a few weeks ago! I visited Magens Bay Feb 25 during my cruise, maybe we could have met up for a visit.

Darren

[kusuchi]

Well Hello there Richard,
Quite a few comments on your Steam Launch but just to add 'IT'S A REAL BEAUTY' and I should know as I built it and sold it to you.
Those in the know, will know that it is a fully detailed and built to design from plans by MHB. Nothing has been changed or added in any way from the original build spec by MHB.
The full steam plant is one as recomended by MHB and is the Anton steam plant Crystal with all associated fittings. The Gas Tank and Steam Exhaust Tank are all sited in there
correct positions as stated.
She does need some form of ballast adding which can be done by placing small bags of lead shot in the stern section by simply lifting the rear seating cushions off and dropping them in
until your Launch sits correctly with the Boiler full of water ready to steam.
I did mention this at the time Richard, but it has taken such a long time to get to you over there in Paradise it's easy to forget. lol
You are in possesion of all the original plans and build details as well as the full steam plant specification so if you browse the detailed plans you will find a good area to place your ballast
and level her up on the water ok.
She looks real good in the first picture with the back drop, so good I think we'll fly out and have a Steaming session or two eh!!!

Steve has collected your newest floater and it went in the back of his car with room to spare. He has also got the full plant running instructions which is from the Hemmens stable and
is his full steam plant and brand new too ok. Except the amount of time I took to run it in off course.
Basically everything you do with the Steam Launch Topaz you will do with this one too ok, real easy and goes like the clappers too.

Now lets see how long it takes to get this one out there this time, do you think it will take as long or not?

Cheers for now
Wal (nee Cliff)
In Sunny Scarborough

Hi Wal,

Thanks for the kind words.  Topaz certainly is a credit to her builder. 
I've received numerous compliments on the quality of the build, even from Brian Marten himself.
I'd already examined the instructions and full scale drawings.  It came as no surprise to see that everything is exactly according to specification, with no additions, just as you say.

Whilst I remember you talking about adding ballast to the Lady Jane, I had forgotten about Topaz. It has, indeed, taken a long time to get her home.

Knew the solution would be simple, though.  I'll correct it immediately.  Thanks. 

Like Topaz, the Lady Jane will probably be a while getting here.  If only you'd finished her a few weeks earlier I could have picked her up while I was there and they could have made the journey together.

Feel free to drop in whenever you feel like it.  You'd always be welcome.

[kusuchi]

Richard,

Nice Steam Launch! I wish I'd known you were down there a few weeks ago! I visited Magens Bay Feb 25 during my cruise, maybe we could have met up for a visit.

Darren

Hi Darren,

Thanks.  Had a member from another forum visit us on February 17th.  Sorry to have missed you.  Magen's Bay is our preferred location for sailing Topaz.  Don't know what it was like when you were there, but on a calm day it can be smooth as glass.

Best,

[Admhawk]

Richard,

Nice Steam Launch! I wish I'd known you were down there a few weeks ago! I visited Magens Bay Feb 25 during my cruise, maybe we could have met up for a visit.

Darren

Hi Darren,

Thanks.  Had a member from another forum visit us on February 17th.  Sorry to have missed you.  Magen's Bay is our preferred location for sailing Topaz.  Don't know what it was like when you were there, but on a calm day it can be smooth as glass.

Best,

Not quite smooth as glass, but not too bad! A little cooler than I expected. Cracked open a coconut for my wife, it was fun! Don't know if I'll ever make it back, though!

[Bernhard]

Hi.......How long runing time do you have,,,And,,,how mouch water can the boiler take,,

Regards Bernhard