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[Aeronut4]

In view of the fact that I read little about it on these forums, I thought I'd post a short video of my recently completed PM Research V-twin.  Assembly was the easy bit, what took longest was the polishing and painting. Humbrol enamel over Hammerite special metals primer was used, I only hope it holds up to the heat OK.  It started first time on air and seems to run smoothly enough, though there's one slightly tight spot which should go after a bit more running.  Awaiting delivery of the Maccsteam boiler before I can try a run on steam. It's destined to go in the 'Choupette' launch which I'm currently building.
http://vimeo.com/18496400

[Bernhard]

hi,,Your new engine,,look reale good,, ,nice color ,,it will be fine to se it run on steam,,and se if it will work  ok on that to,,,

Regards Bernhard

[Timo2]

Hi All

  They work like a dream from as little as 5psi , my one is 2 year old and has run for about 4 hours on steam easy to start smooth to reverse


 timo2

A happy owner   

[Aeronut4]

Thanks chaps - hoping it'll last quite a while!  Also hoping that the hex-head bolts will arrive soon, I'm sure this will make it look LOTS better.  Will post a pic when they're fitted.

[kiwimodeller]

You will find that you have enough power with this engine in Choupette to be able to run it on either low pressure or a very small throttle opening and I am sure you will be very pleased with it. Nick Monahan posted a suggestion in an earlier thread about mixing some Graphite Powder with the steam oil occaisionally. I did this and it made the engine run even smoother and also syopped a small amount of leakage from the cylinder flanges. I fitted the engine to a customers 44" Kingston Mouldings Steam Yacht Tender with a 68mm prop and it fair flies along on even small throttle. He later tried a 75mm prop and that was even better as it loaded up the engine and reduced the steam consumption. These may not be the best engineered engines in the world but for an inexpensive engine they work very well and I am sure you will get good service out of it. Let us know how you get on. Cheers, Ian.

[Underpressure]

That's a smart looking engine Aeronut 

Can anyone tell me what the bore and stroke of this engine is please.

It might be a good engine to replace the Puffin I have in my Antheo tug, which will then free up the Puffin for use in another project.

Thanks.

Neil

[Bernhard]

                                Double acting, self starting with a 1/2" bore it is a little larger than the Stuart Twin Oscillator steam engine. Stroke is 3/4

                                           http://cgi.ebay.com/Live-Steam-Engine-Marine-Twin-FULLY-MACHINED-Kit-/270638739694?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f035370ee#ht_8519wt_1139

[Aeronut4]

Ian - thanks, I'll bear it in mind about the graphite, should I need it when I get it running on steam.  I did have an inkling that it may be a bit too powerful for the Choupette, so I'll just have to go easy on the throttle! The problem I think I'm going to have is that 50mm is the largest propeller I can fit on the Choupette.  I'm finding it difficult to correlate engine size to hull size and prop size - haven't found a simple guide yet.

Underpressure - thanks for the compliment.  I think Bernhard has already answered your question, but I think the engine is a bit larger than the Puffin.

[kiwimodeller]

The engine is 1/2" bore and 3/4" stroke so it will produce plenty of power even on low pressure but it is better from the self starting aspect to have a reasonable pressure so you do not have condensation problems. 30 to 40 PSI will be ample and you will not need much throttle. The best way to keep steam consumption to a minimum (and therefore get long run times) is to load the engine up with a big prop. You will not be able to do that but at least get a four blade with as much blade area and pitch as you can find. The other way to do it would be to have an O Ring or Gear drive with the prop running at 1.5 to 2 times the engine speed but you may not have room for that in the hull either. Regardless I am sure you will have a lot of fun with it. Regards, Ian.

[Aeronut4]

Ian - Thanks - I'll make another posting when I (finally) get the boat up and running.