Topic: building a Topaz steam launch (Read 27237 times)

derekwarner · « **Reply #25 on:** June 07, 2011, 07:18:27 am »

Hullo Roy....spent 20 minutes looking at all of the engine/boiler build snaps this evening......loverly tidy work

...but a question...

1. I see the manual steam isolation valve on the output of the boiler steam dome....& then another manual team isolation valve prior to the lubricator
2. I do not see any form of radio controlled steam regulator for engine speed.......

or am I missing something?......Derek

Meyer · « **Reply #26 on:** June 07, 2011, 07:48:28 pm »

Hi Derek,

Thanks for your interest, the main work is complete now, I am just about to add the servos, you can see from the Caton engine close up pic, the the arm ( vertical lever) on the engine, is a piston control valve move this lever from centre (stop) to the left (reverse) and to the right (forward) it also has varable speed control too. so this will be R/c, controled together with the rudder and steam whistle,

Meyer · « **Reply #27 on:** June 08, 2011, 01:53:42 pm »

Hi , Well here's the Topaz engine servo, "there no space !!!! , its not easy fitting it in, with the arm travel not hitting on any of the woodwork, !!!, but it works, I might box it later, or even move to the living area, but its the angle of the wire to consider to do this, !!!

mogogear · « **Reply #28 on:** June 08, 2011, 11:40:02 pm »

Pardon my terrible drawing - but fast and "dirty" -- IS there enough room for a servo mounted sideways like this? Imagine the current orientation of the servo and then rotate it 180 degrees- then mount to the side of the bulwark...

Sorry to "horn " in

Always happy to see another Topaz getting back on the water!!

Meyer · « **Reply #29 on:** June 09, 2011, 03:16:36 pm »

Quote from: kno3 on June 05, 2011, 09:19:39 pm

Are you going to paint the boiler, tanks etc?

Not sure about that one, !!! I will not lagg with wood, but may be sprayed, might do it later on, !!!, thanks for post

HS93 (RIP) · « **Reply #30 on:** June 10, 2011, 04:31:50 am »

Have you tried it in the test tank yet?

Peter

Underpressure · « **Reply #31 on:** June 10, 2011, 07:24:42 am »

Quote from: HS93 on June 10, 2011, 04:31:50 am

Have you tried it in the test tank yet?

Peter

I'm with you Peter, I can't wait to see this beauty afloat.

Neil

Meyer · « **Reply #32 on:** June 10, 2011, 10:31:37 pm »

well just a few little jobs left to do now, servos are in and working well, , I've now increased the working pressure to 60 psi, as the Caton engine works best at this pressure, and helps the mechanical pump output to the boiler and its a new boiler with test cert to cover this working pressure. just need to add a couple of globe valves on the engine and on on the exhaust steam line.
and hopeful to trial her maiden outing on the pond, very very soon

Meyer · « **Reply #33 on:** June 10, 2011, 10:38:22 pm »

well ready to trial, !!!

Meyer · « **Reply #34 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:11:30 pm »

Well at last, I trialed the launch at my club GMYPBC at Greenock Murdieston Dam, it was very choppy conditions, cross winds at 1p MPH, the Dam is very deep and not for the faint hearted.
running at 60 psi, the Caton engine worked at treat,

Meyer · « **Reply #35 on:** June 12, 2011, 11:23:10 pm »

Quote from: Roy Burton on June 10, 2011, 10:31:37 pm

well just a few little jobs left to do now, servos are in and working well, , I've now increased the working pressure to 60 psi, as the Caton engine works best at this pressure, and helps the mechanical pump output to the boiler and its a new boiler with test cert to cover this working pressure. just need to add a couple of globe valves on the engine and on on the exhaust steam line.
and hopeful to trial her maiden outing on the pond, very very soon

Meyer · « **Reply #36 on:** June 12, 2011, 11:28:17 pm »

Quote from: Underpressure on June 10, 2011, 07:24:42 am

I'm with you Peter, I can't wait to see this beauty afloat.

Neil

Hi Neil, Sailed my Topaz to day, I'm very pleased with her. ran at 60 psi, no problems, 10 MPH cross winds, Very choppy conditions, just a little extra ballast on port side, next time out,
see pic, Video on Youtube DELTA1DSV, I dropped the cam, so out of focus, will do better next time out, !!!

south steyne · « **Reply #37 on:** June 13, 2011, 02:31:51 am »

Hi Roy congratulations on a beautiful job,but I have a question as to why the engine needs 60psi to perform satisfactory? as most of these small engines that I know of including my own run very well on 20 - 40 psi this is in no way a criticism
Cheers
John

derekwarner · « **Reply #38 on:** June 13, 2011, 03:58:55 am »

Yes John...I must agree a beautiful image Roy

.......but

when I zoom in I see literally ZERO freeboard amid ships & aft centre of the cabin....on the port side when windage/waves hit......

You have acknowledged the weather as "10 MPH cross winds & very choppy conditions"

one gust @ 12 MPH could have seen your Topaz sink......

I think you have more thought required on the vessel displacement or weather conditions............Derek

Patternmaker · « **Reply #39 on:** June 13, 2011, 08:27:38 am »

Hi Roy, excellent build, congratulations, looks fantastic in the water

Mick

pipercub1772 · « **Reply #40 on:** June 13, 2011, 12:25:48 pm »

yes it looks great,really choppy thought you're a brave man attempting a trial run in those conditions i only sail my windermere launch flat or nearly flat calm conditions and you will find it will look so much better ,i did notice in a other post you were going to use the anton engine and a mhb boiler in the topaz any reason why you changed but well done it looks great regards allan

Meyer · « **Reply #41 on:** June 13, 2011, 01:20:07 pm »

Hi Alan,

thanks for post, the Caton Engine runs so well now, as I run it 60 psi, and its a fast little worker, ideal in fact for the Topaz , I have decided to leave in, I'm going to build the Opal next, if I can find a hull from some were or a kit, what ever turns up first, I only ordered the Anton Cristal a couple of months ago, and was surprised to get so fast, Fabrice must be working over time, !!! no that a great little engine too.

pipercub1772 · « **Reply #42 on:** June 13, 2011, 02:21:14 pm »

Roy what size prop have you used on the topaz,also i have sent you a pm regards Allan

Meyer · « **Reply #43 on:** June 13, 2011, 05:43:21 pm »

Hi Allan,

Topaz prop is 21/2" dia by Prop shop, I like their props, also I recommend going for a ball raced prop, they are great for steam boats, When lining up the prop shaft to fit, I used a lazer (cheap one from a pound shop) this helps to line up correctly, also check the rotation of the prop, (thats the curve on the prop, ie, if you trace your finger around in the grove you will tell if it Left or right rotation, , so if for EG the prop curves to the left, then the engine rotations must be op direction ie right, in order for the launch to forward you thanks for your posts, Roy

Meyer · « **Reply #44 on:** June 13, 2011, 06:46:08 pm »

Hi , here's the extra Globe valves now fitted, just the servo for the whistle, just waiting on ext'n lead for the servo, I would like to get the chimney Stoved enameled, if any one knows of a Comany that does this service, thanks Roy

Meyer · « **Reply #45 on:** June 13, 2011, 06:48:09 pm »

Hi Allen,

Sorry, Prop , its actually 21/4 inch approx dia and 21/2 inch, cheers Roy

pipercub1772 · « **Reply #46 on:** June 13, 2011, 07:06:14 pm »

thanks for that info Roy,any particular reason you have2steam valves to the engine regards Allan

Meyer · « **Reply #47 on:** June 13, 2011, 08:17:33 pm »

Hi, I always use two valves, so that the one on the boiler is fully open, and the one on the engine is to set the flow of steam through to the engine, this helps to control the steam to the engine, so that I have more control over the rpm of the engine, it also means that steam is not being wasted, thanks Roy

HS93 (RIP) · « **Reply #48 on:** June 13, 2011, 08:53:52 pm »

is that the Standard Prop shop prop that comes with it ? do you ball race both ends ? by the way is that the Topaz that was on ebay ?

derekwarner · « **Reply #49 on:** June 13, 2011, 09:12:14 pm »

Hullo Roy......VHT manufacture [very hight temperature] aerosol cans in many colours including black & white....the beauty is that you post cure the enamel in the oven....& this improves chemical resistance....I can clean the brass work without damaging the paint

Do a search on VHT paint here in Mayhem.....you will find a few threads .........Derek

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Author Topic: building a Topaz steam launch (Read 27237 times)

mogogear

Underpressure

south steyne

Patternmaker

pipercub1772

pipercub1772

pipercub1772