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[BlueWotsit]

A launch recently purchased has the following steam plant installed:

3/8" Stroke Twin Caton Plant

Included with the boat was paperwork from Maxwell Hemmens Precision Steam Models back in the early 1990's.

The plant looks almost mint, but I am trying to find out a little more about it.

Has anyone come across this item who can give more information

thanks
Andrew

[Colin Bishop]

Bunkerbarge is the man!

[BlueWotsit]

A- Hoy there bunkerbarge where are you   

[ian kennedy]

Hi Andrew,

I know John Hemmens very well and I'm going to see him on Saturday, just let me know what you need to know about it and i will ask the man himself.

This caton engine was the predecessor to the stronger max 2 engine and both types were available in, in-line twin and V 4 configurations, supplied with and optional oil and water feed pumps. Both engine types were Produced from the mid 80's up to the mid 90's and if well looked after will give you a life times worth of running.

I have seen his latest prototype engine parts and they are looking superb and will hopefully be available next year.

Regards

Ian

[Bunkerbarge]

A- Hoy there bunkerbarge where are you   

I'm in Germany drooling over shipyard ship models!

I have the 'V' four version of the Caton and it is simply a stunning engine.  I cannot get any other engine to turn over as slowly as this one  and I can enjoy simply watching the running gear in operation as it works.

What do you actually want to know about it?  Unfortunately my manual is at home and I won't be there for a few weeks but it sounds like you are going to get some unformation soon anyway. 

The only points I can pass on from my own are the fact that the reversing valve needs to be set up very accurately otherwise you may restrict steam flow and the speed control valve is on the boiler and not the engine which should help reduce vibration effects on the linkages.

The Caton is a piston valve engine and there are those who do not rate such an arrangement but it all boils down to how much you are going to use it and how well you look after it when in service.  For the vast majority of us we won't be getting huge numbers of hours on them and wear of the valve should be negligible if you lubricate properly.  If you do use it a lot you may want to consider changing the piston valve 'O' rings but, once again, good lubrication and you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

[BlueWotsit]

Hi Guys thanks for your offers of help.

Basically any information at all, Ive not used steam myself in a boat before, and I know nothing about starting them up, maintaining adding bits to etc etc

So anything would be super

cheers
Andrew

[Colin Bishop]

Andrew,

Bunkerbarge recently had a series of articles published in Model Boats magazine which cover exactly the ground you are interested in - how to care for and correctly use a bought in model steam engine plus lots of practical advice and info on installation of steam plants. If you are a subscriber you can browse the back issues on the Model Boats website http://www.modelboats.co.uk/. If not you can order the issues by phone or email. It will cost you a few quid but probably an investment if you want to make the most of this engine.

If you want more info on which issues the articles were in, send me a PM.

Colin

[Bunkerbarge]

Andrew, if you are new to steam you have a lovely model there which deserves to be properly looked after and cared for.  I agree with Colin in so far as you need to do a bit of reading and the articles I put together in model boats was aimed at people in your position.

You need to determine first whether the engine has been run in correctly, how old it is, whether it has been run on steam etc, to give you an idea of how to progress.  Could you please let us know a bit more about the plant such as feed water arrangements control set up, separator location, lubricator etc..  This is all relevent to how you are going to run the plant.

[BlueWotsit]

what I will do is get some pictures and post on here and hopefully that will help give me guidance

cheers
Andrew

[BlueWotsit]

Right here we go - bit of background on this - the launch was one of several I recently bought with a view to resale either now or at a later date.

Ive also considered steam to be a bit of a black art so have not ventured into it at all - however seeing the quality of this model has tempted me into finding out more information.

Hence the initial enquiry on here, and ascertaining the various things to read.

I know absolutely nothing on steam at all - at this stage until all reading has been done I dont even know what the various parts are if they have special names

Pictures hopefully attached below

[Bunkerbarge]

First concern is the regulating valve disc is missing.  Have you removed it?  It's what the servo connects to to control the engine.  Without it if you put steam in the engine it will simply escape through the open ports that you can see on the top face. 

If you do not know enough about the history I would suggest first running the engine in properly.  This is best done with compressed air through a rubber hose and a lot easier if it is outside the boat.  Connect the air line to the inlet and, in your case you'll have to rig up a temporary means of by-passing the control valve and run the engine for at least three hours, stopping and lubricating every 10-15 minutes via a hyperdermic into the rubber air supply line and all over the running surfaces such as bearings.  Start slowly and gradually increase the revs over the three hours.  I would use a light oil not a normal steam oil because if you use a very good steam lubricant the faces will not bed together.

If you don't have access to compressed air then an old inner tube blown up at your local garage will keep you going for a couple of hours and if that isn't possible then you could try using a lathe or a pistol drill to rotate the engine by turning the crankshaft, again oiling regularly.

Only when you've run the engine in like this should we move onto putting steam in it but before then you need to have refitted the disc on the regulating valve.  This disc will also need the spring assembly with it and the disc should be carefully lapped into the surface of the valve body.

[BlueWotsit]

Hi - thanks for that - yes it was removed as I needed to access some securing bolts to undo the access area to the electrics.

Some stuff for me to get on with there, will come back soon as completed

thanks
Andrew

[steamboatmodel]

A launch recently purchased has the following steam plant installed:
3/8" Stroke Twin Caton Plant
Included with the boat was paperwork from Maxwell Hemmens Precision Steam Models back in the early 1990's.

Hi Andrew,
Looking at the photos, the engine and boiler look like the Graupner/Willesco combination.
Regards,
Gerald.

[BlueWotsit]

Hi Gerald - definitely the Maxwell Hemmens as the original paperwork invoice was in amongst everything


Andrew

[HS93 (RIP)]

has the paper work got a picture of the engine on it as I am not an expert on Hemmins  engines and boilers but i have seen a few and never seen one with the fluting covers around the cylinders..

peter

[Bernhard]

Thats a WILESCO   ........THATS  IT ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,what ever you have of paper on it........nice toy it is....

Regards Bernhard

[BlueWotsit]

All I know and have no reason not to believe is that the boiler originates from 1991, I have no reasons to doubt the integrity of what has been advised to myself.

[HS93 (RIP)]

Have a look at the cylinder on this steam traction engine, it is the same as yours down to the covers etc so I think some one has sold you a Wilsco not a hemmins I would have words with them.


Or look at this site      http://cedesign.net/steam/brass.htm   a version of your engine I think

Peter

[Colin Bishop]

I just happened to be looking through some old issues of Model Boats for something else and found this advert in the April 1985 edition.

Colin

[steamboatmodel]

Peter has it right, Its the Krick Brass Marine Engine from the "The Patricia" model boat kit It has a brass boiler which does not like gas fireing, There were a couple of them around here a few years back and they all leaked. I have the Wilesco D48 set and it has the same style cylinder covers (the original boiler with it leaked too).
Regards,
Gerald.

[kno3]

I've been wondering if this steam plant was made by Wilesco or by someone else (Krick?) using their parts? Wilesco never had it in their catalogue as far as I know.

[Bernhard]

so.......here it is
it is not a Hemmens and will never be.....ok.........

[BlueWotsit]

I would like to refer people to an earlier response I gave >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hi Guys thanks for your offers of help.

Basically any information at all, Ive not used steam myself in a boat before, and I know nothing about starting them up, maintaining adding bits to etc etc

So anything would be super

cheers
Andrew     <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<


To be honest I really dont give a monkeys who infact has made the plant, I gave the information I had to hand more importantly I wanted to know how to test and use the item.

Im now questioning whether it really is worth all this hassle or not and I go back to the original plan of just selling it on.

Whatever make the item is - it still looks stunning and immaculate as far as I am concerned. One final question before I depart where on the plant would I find the boiler number generally

If anyone wants to buy the boat and would like further pictures feel free to PM me as I will consider

thanks
Andrew

[HS93 (RIP)]

A launch recently purchased has the following steam plant installed:

3/8" Stroke Twin Caton Plant

Included with the boat was paperwork from Maxwell Hemmens Precision Steam Models back in the early 1990's.

The plant looks almost mint, but I am trying to find out a little more about it.

Has anyone come across this item who can give more information

thanks
Andrew

You asked for more information about it and thats what you got, you where told it was not what you thought it was . which is important because if you tried to run it at the presure a mawell Hemmens runs at it would have gone Bang as it is a brass boiler and will not take the same pressures

Peter

[Colin Bishop]

Also, If you had sold it on in good faith as a Hemmens you may well have got a very cross buyer back on your doorstep!

Colin