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[Klunk]

have done electric boats for about 3 years and have now got a steam tug. What equipment do I need. I have a lighter but nothing else!
the boat is a tid tug and the steam plant is a cheddar pintail.

[gondolier88]

Hi Klunk,

Sounds great, and your at the right place to get answers to aqny questions you may have- keep us posted with plenty of pics

Greg

[Bunkerbarge]

Hi Klunk, if you subscribe to Model Boats magazine you have acces to back issues on line where you can then read a series of six articles on the basics of model boat steam, which started in November 2008 and ran through till May 2009.

There are plenty of people here who can point you in the right direction but you first of all need to read up as much as possible on the basics and then tell us exactly wha your plant incorporates.  The Pintail is only a small part of the story, we need to know what other equipment is fitted to be able to give you a better idea of how to run it so a detailed description of exactly what is in the boat, complete with some pictures would be a useful starting point.

It would also be useful to know a bit about the history of the model, who built it, has the engine been run in, how old is the plant etc..etc.. before firing it up.

As an example I purchased a Resolve tug with an electric propulsion system but complete with an originally fitted twin steam plant not that long ago.  What became very apparent though was the fact that although the model had been built very neatly the builder obviously didn't realise just what was involved in the steam plant.  Consequently there is no allowance made for boiler feed or even where to accomodate the gas tank and trying to put all this into an already completed model is going to be very difficult.

Hopefully your model has run successfully in the past and remains in that running configuration but there are some builders who think that putting together a steam plant is simply a case of buying the plant and sticking it in the boat and when they realise there is a lot more to it than that and they get a bit bogged down with it they sell the model on.

Tell us as much about the model as you can and we'll take it from there.

[Klunk]

Right the model is a TID TUG, of wooden construction. the engine is a pintail with a cheddarcenter flue horizontal boiler. It has a hand feed for the boiler pump.

History, I swapped this at the St Albans show a last week for a 49" perkasa. I was hesitant at first as I have never done the BLACK ART, but a couple of club members said they would GUIDE me into the world of stem! I believe the gentlemans name was Dennis Blardale, so the credit all goes to him¬!!!!

As I said, I'm a total NOOB at steam so any pointers as to what else I need will be welcome.
I already have butane/propane gas, a radio with rechargeables etc and a long  lighter and a dentists mirror to see the water pipe. Anything else that I would need at the lake?????
I have all the boiler certificates for the last 4 years as well, and it does not run out till next March!

Will be going down Wardown Lake in Luton tommorrow to see what happens. If you do not here from me for a couple of days, you know I have burnt my fingers!!!

Pete

[gondolier88]

Okay- you will need;

- Oils- steam oil for the displacement lubricator and 3in1 or similar for the bearings.
- Two adjustable spanners- 4inch or less- any bigger and they are too long to get in the boat I find- you might not need them, but if you don't take them you will need them!!.
- Spare batteries (of course).
- More gas than you've got- you never have enough- and don't forget the filling tool if you have an onboard refillable tank.

Make sure all steam and gas joints are tight before lighting up. Make sure you have plenty of gas and water and batteries have power. Make sure the rudder is opperating correctly- these are basic checks but could save the boat/others boats/you from injuring yourself and others.

On your first launching I advise you to tie the boat up and run the engine at full power, timing how long your water lasts- you must never let it go below the bottom of the glass. It may surprise you just how quickly it can go.

Also on first steaming of the boiler check the safety valve works- this may mean adjusting or bypassing any automatic boiler controls that may be installed- this a requirement of any full size steam plant and should be no different in model sizes.

Most of all heve fun and be safe- and take some pics for us mate!!!

Greg

[tonyH]

Welcome to the land of the ungodly Pete!

Most basic rule is that if you find gas in the wrong place, leaking inside the hull for instance when you turn on the gas tap or fill the gas tank, DON'T LIGHT ANYTHING UNTIL IT'S SORTED!

Apart from that, and making sure that the boiler safety valve works, as Greg said, the rest is (relatively) straight forward.

You'll find that your toolbox gets filled with bits of silicone tubing, water funnels, J cloths and the like as you go on but it's good fun.

Good Luck

[Klunk]

just had 2 sails and no burnt fingers,the club steam boffin persused over the steam plant for a full 30 mins before he would let me do anything! Attached the gas cylinder, filled up with de-ionised water, lit the bioler and let her build up pressure!!
She goes very well, a little slow, but goes she does. Will upgrade the prop for a bigger one at Warwick, could be 10mm bigger than present, that should give a better speed.
I have now been told that the boat could be made by a firm called Midwest. More research to be done on that.
Each sail lasts abot 10-15 mins, where upon I bring her in and check the water.

Other than that no problems yet!

Will get some pics up as soon as I go through the tutorial on how to upload them!!!

[knoby]

Hi klunk, welcome to the wonderful world of steam. Happy to hear she went without any fuss, hope the bigger prop gives her the turn of speed your looking for.

Just 1 important point from reading your report , PLEASE PLEASE NEVER USE DE IONISED WATER !!!!! it will ruin your boiler in no time. De ionised water & distilled water are very different things. distilled water is distilled ( obviously ) deionised water has the ions removed chemically, & when placed in your boiler will attack the silver solder joints, causing them to start weeping & eventually fail. I use distilled water, which I purchase from the local chemist around £4 for 5litres.

happy sailing   cheers Glenn

[Klunk]

will keep that in mind thanks

[Bunkerbarge]

Totally agree with the deionised issue.  I use condensate collected from the tumble drier.

[Klunk]

right had another go on Sunday!!! kept losing steam power when on the lake! This was resolved by 2 things!!
1 turn up gas so it heats the water quicker!!! (still had it on low gas!)
2 the safety release was working at 15psi or there abouts! re tweaked this so it started to come on about 35psi!!!


Should this be ok? or does it need retweaking a bit more????
Also, on the steam release to the pintail, how far should I twist the tap???? At the moment it goes 1/2 turn, should it be more??? I have beed told that if I turn it too much the needle might not go in the hole again!

Answers please!!!

[kno3]

2 turns should be enough. Why don't you post some pictures of your steam engine? That way it would be easier for people here to see what the problems are and help you.

[Klunk]

I followed the in instructions but could not upload. I think the pics are too big in size!!! will try again later when I got some time!

[Klunk]

as promised!

[kno3]

Nice ship! Looks like you have the Puffin return-flue boiler and the Pelican engine.

[malcolmbeak]

Pete
Came across these pictures of your Tid on the lake at St.Albans. taken on one of the very few occasions when Den Blazdell ran it.  By the way, your old boat is having some repairs done as Den's dog jumped on it!!
Malcolm

[Klunk]

Thanks for den's name, could not remember for the life of me!!!! Have sorted a few bits out on his old boat and having fun doing it!!!! Tell him I have an old cabin area he can have if he wants! same shape etc someone gave it to me and I was going to refurbish it! It is his if he wants just let me know.

pete

[Klunk]

woot.......got a new prop from prop shop at warwick, 4 blade course, reset the pressure valve to come release at 45psi, and bob's your uncle, boat sorted. Just had 2 good steams without fault. plenty of power and at full power a nice bow wave, really scale like!!! reverse is a nightmare, she does stop from forward but slews round. At full reverse, she goes but not brilliant, now more than happy!!!