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[kno3]

Hello! I noticed a reference to Miniature Steam in another thread and looked it up. This Australian company seems to make, among other engines, a beautiful oscillator, the Clyde, which looks very much like the old Cheddar Puffin.
Here's the link:
http://www.miniaturesteammodels.com/category1_1.htm
Now does anyone have any experience with them already? I'm interested in reliability and quality. If it's anything like the old Cheddar, then it should be a great engine, but ho knows...

[derekwarner]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm No kno3....I   think the Australian company is simply on-selling components from other manufactureeeeeeeeeeeeeeers   ....Derek

[kno3]

Then who makes that engine?

[gondolier88]

Hi Kno3,

Been trying to find out myself to obtain castings- in the UK there are a couple of suppliers, just Google 'Clyde Oscillating Engine'.

Greg

[stuart177]

At risk of duplicating a previous "etherial" attempt to comment, may I say that "Miniature Steam" is a 100% Australian company based on 100% Australian designs and manufacturing - apart from a few screws!
Please checkout www.miniaturesteammodels.com  for details.
The Clyde and associated steam plant is available in the EU through www.jotika-ltd.com, otherwise direct from us through.
We also offer a more extensive range of casting sets for machining, machined castings and fully assembled engines - PLUS matching boilers and associated components.

[derekwarner]

Hi Stuart177 ....... ...I certainly stand corrected ...apologies.............a very professional WEB site & good looking product range  .........regards Derek

[bogstandard]

may I say that "Miniature Steam" is a 100% Australian company based on 100% Australian designs

So what you are saying is that you came up with EXACTLY the same design as the old Cheddar 'Puffin' engine by pure research and development.

That sure says a lot about Australian designers, as that kit was marketed around the early to mid 80's as the 'Isis' here in the UK, and to come up with that design is surely a miracle in our little world of steam engines. You didn't say how long you have been in business, or was it yourselves that were marketing the 'Isis' kit in the UK at that time, using importers to get it into the marketplace?

If so, I congratulate you for having the foresight to design such a great little engine, and having it still in production so many years later.


Bogs

[kno3]

Stuart, thanks for informing us about the Clyde engine.

[Proteus]

well bogstandard I bet he doesent come back and try to argue that,     the only difference is the gland on the bottom of the cylinders knurled.. 



Proteus   

[derekwarner]

mmmmmmm   well knurled nuts are nothing new Proteus....even if they are OZ & unique   .............my own interpretation was a quick release nut....... but as made in the UK by a well known & respected specialist knurled nut manufacturer

I rest my case for OZ designed knurled nuts.......................... Derek

PS....Bogs......this image was only the dummy 1/8 OD tube set trial...........the final will be silver soldered.......with the CuPalloy material......

[Proteus]

derekwarner_decoy has that joint failed on the gas tank ?  have you had an x-ray Check to check it ? 


 Proteus 

[bogstandard]

Proteus,

I really slipped up there, not noticing the excuses for stuffing glands, and I think also they may be using brass piston rods, can't quite make them out.

I need to go thru their whole website to see just what else everyone has been copying from them over all these years. There are a few designs there that I seem to recognise from way back.

Bogs

[derekwarner]

Proteus asks .......have you had an x-ray Check to check it? 

Sorry.....X-rays are not invented in OZ yet....the current Government has banned Dye Check due to green house gas concerns...& ultrasonics consume electricity ..... so are on the short list to be banned unless you can plug the ultrasonic gadget into a solar panel

It was actually my youngest daughter who asked "why is smokey stuff coming out of there dad?" ......daughters....just love them don't you  .................Derek

[stuart177]

Boy are there some skeptics out there!
Sorry Proteus but your assumptions are wrong. I am responding for no other reason than to put the record straight. I resent the implication/s that we are “guilding the lilly”. We are not!

A steam engine is a steam engine and it is difficult to design one that does not look like any other. None of our products have been reverse engineered. Yes the Clyde does look like the Puffin but that is where the similarities stop. Three engineers had a go at drawing up our requirements starting 4 years ago. The last one got the design right and we have polished the design in prototype testing. The design has many superior features as a result of this testing. If you thought the Puffin was good wait till you try Clyde. This work is also spawning an extension to the range that will be announced shortly.
A similar story applies to the other products we offer.
A boiler is a boiler but I challenge anyone to get one that outperforms ours.
To Proteus: Steam sealing is important for efficient operation – hence the knurled nut packing gland.
To bogstandard – yes the piston rod is brass. It would be stainless steel if we could source SS rod of the right dimension.
ps. Thanks Proteus - I did post to the wrong thread!

[Neil]

For what it's worth, I have been into Stuart 177's establishment.

It exists, but, I have not seen his manufacturing side. (Would you let anyone see your secrets, on the pretence of going to the toilet?) This happened many, many times to me in my business. (Oops, I nearly said his name), is way more canny than I was, but, he's a lot younger too.

It looks like a bona fide business to me, but what would I know?

Neil.

[SteamboatPhil]

You can go way back and have a look at S-Turners osillator, and the one that Bond's produced------two engines that looked (for all intense purporse) the same, but a big difference in performance, they both reached the same conclusion without someone "nipping to the toilet" ( I like that expression stuart177)"

Just my thoughts