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[vintagent]

Hello all, I wouldn't normally post in this section, but I recently rediscovered a sweet little GRP steam launch hull I've had for ever and thought I'd given away and today I discovered some Model Engineer mags at the Boot Fair in three of which is a design for a single vertical cylindered steam engine.  It said it could be made on a small lathe so I thought it might be ideal, but when I got the mags home and read it, it was obvious that it was way too big for both my lathe and my boat.
So...my question is ..can I just halve the dimensions and build that and have it still work?
I imagine it's only things like steam ports and their position that really matter.  I could make a half size one on my Peatol Lathe and it would be about right in the model.  It would also suit the two or three part-finished boilers I have from an old friend no longer with us.  Spirit fired, too.
So...does anyone have any designs for a modern thinking in wicks for spirit firing and suitable boiler innards?  I have no problem with silver soldering to a good standard.

I have no room in my boat or my head for all that gas stuff!

The engine, btw, is from ME in Feb/Mar1992

Many thanks in anticipation.
Regards,
Vintagent

[vintagent]

Also, does anyone know of the whereabouts of drawings for the steam plant in a boat called Miranda?  I seem to remember having the MAP plans of both boat and engine and actually made a start on the engine, a smallish 2 cylinder with turned pillars between similar brass main plates.

Thanks,
Vintagent

[boatmadman]

Vintagent

I have built a twin cylinder oscillator on my peatol, one of these, (part way down the page): http://www.stuartmodels.com/inprod.cfm/section/casting

I am not suggesting you go for one of these engines, I just wanted to point out that the peatol has the capacity to do it., unless you already know!

There is lots of info and a peatol forum on tinterweb.

Ian

[gondolier88]

Basically Vintagent, the answer to your original question is yes!

Greg

[Circlip]

Miranda Boat plan is MM1348 and the steam plant is MM1349 in the MHS lists Vintagent.

  saw  the Link Check your E-mail.

  Regards  Ian.

[vintagent]

Circlip, many thanks for your mail!

Gondolier88, that's what I wanted to hear, thankyou.

Boatmadman, just off to check that link you sent.
I must also see about the Peatol group.  I've had the wee machine for ages and it has always performed for me.  Excellent tool for so little money and not far Eastern, which is a bonus for me.

Anyone here built the Miranda engine (or boat come to that)?

Regards,
Vintagent

[kiwimodeller]

I used the Miranda plans for the inspiration and dimensions of the cabins etc on my fiberglass hulled Ellsmere launch. The hull is 44" and I am very happy with the shape of the cabins. I have a full sized disposable cannister in the front cabin and radio gear in the rear one. I did not build the engine as I already had a Saito V4 to go in her. Just be warned that once you get sorted with one simple steam powered boat it will never be enough, next one will have to have all the extras, especially a whistle and then there is the need to go bigger and more powerful, perhaps a tug? Have fun, Ian.

[vintagent]

Ooh that's nice Ian!  I have been warned that steam is addictive and I can quite understanfd how.  I would love to produce a bigger, more accurate to life plant, but I don't have the equipment in my workshop.  Then again, I am a reasonably competent fabricator of brass.  Oh dear...I'm talking myself into this, aren't I?

So that's a small steam launch to begin with, a kneeler hydro with a brushless outboard, the finishing of my ancient Crash Tender, the tidying up of my even more ancient Sea Urchin and two kit designs for a new producer!  how long's Summer??

Regards,
Vintagent

[Ivanhoe]

Circlip, many thanks for your mail!

Gondolier88, that's what I wanted to hear, thankyou.

Boatmadman, just off to check that link you sent.
I must also see about the Peatol group.  I've had the wee machine for ages and it has always performed for me.  Excellent tool for so little money and not far Eastern, which is a bonus for me.

Anyone here built the Miranda engine (or boat come to that)?

Regards,
Vintagent

Glad to see you got the answers you wanted, Vintagent!

[vintagent]

Hi all, using a single cylinder drawing from Deason's old Model Boat Book of a double acting oscillator I've designed a vee-twin 120 degree version to work with a forked con rod and keep the weight low down.
When I get my own computer back maybe after the weekend, I'll send pictures.
This is a one off on my son's machine.
Regards,
Vintagent

[Canopus]

I also have a small Peatol and was lucky to time my purchase when a gentleman by the name of Peter Arnot published a whole series in Model Boats on how to build a V4 oscilating steam engine. He assumed you had never cut a piece of metal before so took you through each and every stage. The engine worked well and is not very big about 4" long by 3" wide by 3" high. He also did an earlier article on a V twin some years before which was basically exactly the same only half the size.

These articles were excellend and from these I learned how to build and design my own oscilating engines, so if Peter sees this, a big thank you.

I would recommend these articles to anyone who is just starting out as there is so much usefull information in them particulary how to machine metal and mark out etc and at the end of the day you do end up with a working steam engine which really looks very neat.

I'm sure Model Boats do back issues so would suggest this may be a place to start.

Regards

Geoff

[vintagent]

Geoff, that's very interesting and could well be worth following up.
Depends on their backnumber costs, but it sounds ideal as it probably would contain details of lubricator and steam/reverse valave.

Many thanks.
Vintagent