Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[kiwimodeller]

Hi, has anybody tried the 3&1/2" diameter boilers from Cotswold Heritage ?http://www.modelsteamenginesuk.com/acatalog/Gas-Fired_Boilers.html
I am in the market for a vertical boiler and theirs would seem to suit but I am interested to hear of anyone having experience with them. I know that most of the reccomendations on Mayhem are for Macc Steam boilers and the price for their vertical is almost the same but the Cotswold ones do have a price advantage from my point of view as Cotswold are registered for VAT and deduct the tax when exporting outside the EU and Macc Steam do not. As I have to pay another 15% Goods and Services tax when the item lands here any reduction in cost at that end makes a considerable difference here. Having said that I do not want to end up with a boiler that wont do the job so would like to hear about good or bad experiences. Thanks, Ian. Sorry, dont know how this got posted twice, the board told me the first post was unsucessful and timed out! Hopefully a moderator will remove one.

[gondolier88]

I would contact CHS about what you want to use it for- they are a very friendly company to deal with, and the proprietor is a massive steam enthusiast so knows what he is talking about.


Greg

[TAG]

GHi kiwimoddler.
I thoughly endorse Gregg's comments about Cotswold, although I do not have one of Russell Nichol's boilers I have been running one of his Avon engines for about eight years in my picket boat without any problems. Suggest you have a chat with him, he is most helpful and knowlegeable. Usual disclaimer. Looking at the picture of the vertical boiler in their catalogue showing the top tubeplate it looks very professionally made.
Regards Tim
 
 

[southsteyne2]

Hi Guys just my thoughts on the cotswold boilers although I am sure to be very professionally made, they have multiple tubes with the consequence being very short run times because of the low capacity for water 400mm ,ok in a locomotive where water is pumped continually by axle pump or injector not so in a model boat ,I would prefer a boiler with a large center flue and cross tubes preferably horizontal but as i mentioned just my thoughts
John

[TAG]

Hi
Interesting comments from southsteyne2 re water capacity, as I use electronic water level detection/electric feed pump I tend not to worry about run times, only with reference to the 3 bar litre limit. Interestingly the Cotswold catalogue shows the water capacity of the 3.3x6.5 inch horizontal as 500ml whereas the vertical 3.5x7 inch boiler as 400ml. It would be good if all boiler makers quote capacities especially total volume.
Regards
Tin     
 

[derekwarner]

Hi Tag/Tin.....may I ask are you the same member 'Tin' on our old common friend John Moores [bogstandard] Model Engine WEB site?..........
The reason I ask is the issue of........ "water level detection/electric feed pump ...etc" is very important to many members of  a number of WEB sites ......Derek

[TAG]

Hi Derek
The straight answer to your question is no. However I am curious about John Moores site but a search got me nowhere! On the matter of "water level detection/electric feed pumps" if you would like to search Mayhem I did quite a number of posts on the matter in the past (whether they got lost in the great meltdown I am not sure). I have been discussing circuits with someone on Paddleducks lately. If you want more info I can let you know numbers of back issues of Model Engineer where I discussed various methods. I sent them an article late last year but they have not published it yet. It is about the merits of electrode in boiler versus opto couplers on gauge glasses.
Regards
TiM
 

[derekwarner]

TAG....here is the link for bogstandards WEB site....yes, he created the site for his love of model engineering & the site has an extensive member base
http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php
I am aware of your water level detection posting on PD's being a near founder member    & would be very interested in reading your latest paper in ME.......Derek

[Circlip]

No he didn't, he administers it .
 Regards  Ian

[derekwarner]

Apologies Circlip....you are correct.....the http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php registered WEB site owner is AdeV ....however I understood in a PM from Bogstandard on August 16, 2012,  that he was a principal member in "getting the site up & running" ....Derek

[kiwimodeller]

To get back on subject it is interesting as John (southsteyne) says to compare water capacities. One has to presume that the manufacturers who do give capacities are quoting useable volume, not total vessel capacity. The Maccsteam vertical centreflue boiler has a pressure vessel 3 & 1/2" dia and 6" tall and a water capacity (makers figures) of approx 750ml so presumably it will give a considerably longer run than the Cotswold vertical which is taller but has (again, manufacturers figure) only 450ml capacity. I have read correspondence explaining why horizontal boilers are preferable but in this particular boat there is only room for a vertical and there will not be room for water tank, pump etc. It seems I should bite the bullet and pay the extra for the Maccsteam one to get a longer run and the lower height of the boiler will help with balance too. I guess I am also saving the cost of the pump to. A pity though as the Cotswold boilers look to be a nice piece of kit and it is good to see a maker listing complete ready to operate packages. Cheers, Ian.