Topic: Steam engine from China qb3 (Read 21283 times)

rhavrane · « **Reply #25 on:** April 13, 2019, 07:46:35 am »

The principle is to mount a siphon to make an air cushion in order to protect the membrane from excessive heat. That said, I often install gas regulators against my boilers without any problem as you will hear it, for examples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdRwDXVLJIA or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utYZJDJPBVg

Bernhard · « **Reply #26 on:** April 16, 2019, 02:24:46 pm »

hi Got this Steam engine in trade with a friend yeasterday ,never be under steam so brand new, m29 with feed pump m5,,
so did try it under steam,have to solder one corner on the exhaust,,ajust the feed pump gear wheel and bigger o ring in the pump.tighten a few screws,,
it look to be a very well made engine,,nice size,run fin,,on 20-30 psi,,so a short video of it running,,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQkWtm01iiw&feature=youtu.be

southsteyne2 · « **Reply #27 on:** April 17, 2019, 02:50:43 pm »

Runs nice but seems to have too much end play in the crankshaft 2.22 in the clip.Cheers
John

Bernhard · « **Reply #28 on:** April 17, 2019, 03:50:52 pm »

ok.Thanks. i will look in to it later.
Did 2 small handle,,and som cooper pipe
ready https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9asddYBMr8&feature=youtu.be

Mark T · « **Reply #29 on:** April 17, 2019, 03:55:54 pm »

What’s the build quality and usability of this motor compared to a TVR1A now you’ve had a chance to play with it?

Bernhard · « **Reply #30 on:** April 17, 2019, 05:47:54 pm »

Im a big fan of tvr1a...have be used them for years,,look so good,,and a nice size to,and eny problems,or parts Robert from Graham have be so help full,,,but this engine run and look just great..made of brass and stainless steel,,look to be real well made,,much better than i think it was,,hex bolt to,,all in all to now, im very happy for this,,so lets see in time to come..and the price is not easy to beat,,

carlfmiller · « **Reply #31 on:** April 30, 2019, 02:50:09 am »

The Microcosm-Engine M29 Steam Plant I received last month started right up out of the box, and as I reported, it is nicely made, and runs like a top. Now I have posted 3 YouTube videos and you can watch it in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEA3t3CWsVA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwkxCU-JyTI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdB1VIzt-Sk

I noticed some improvements to the M29 steam Plant since Roy Burton posted his M29 video in Sept 2017 (Posted in this thread by Bernhard). Mainly, there was no need to rebuild the engine! For instance The cylinder cap has 5 bolts now, not 4; the oiler has a see thru glass body; and importantly Jin has added the "P5" gas regulator which you can see working in these videos.

Later this week I start building the boat-- the planks are in the mail!! I will start a build log of the launch Cecilia.

Carl

KNO3 · « **Reply #32 on:** May 02, 2019, 08:13:39 pm »

Seems to run very well.

carlfmiller · « **Reply #33 on:** July 16, 2019, 06:42:40 am »

Well 2 1/2 months since I got started on the steam launch Cecilia. The M29 steam plant works great on the bench; the only thing I did with help from George in Scotland, was switch out the pressure gage for a miniature gage sold by Clevedon, and now it has a much shorter and non-shaky syphon tube. (photo) Now she is just about finished ready for the final RC hook-up and the first launch under power. Maybe in the next couple of days there will be a video to show!

For now, have a look at a few pictures of the boat's creation, starting with the hull planking over a "strongback" that was previously used to make a Tippecanoe T50 sailboat. Western red cedar planks (although very blond) laid up then costed inside and out with epoxy. The transom construction was modified to adapt a "draketail" transom which I think makes this launch unique. Deck ply was epoxied over carlins, then the cockpit cutout was made and the laminated coaming inserted. The 1/16" okoume plywood deck was over-planked with pine and mahogany. Final touches outside are the coaming caprail and the toerails at the gunwale. Looks pretty realistic!

The keel is 1/4" ply and has the stuffing tube embedded. The prop is 60mm and the rudder should have good command. Making a powerboat out of a sailboat hull is not an everyday thing, bit I think it will work. My one photo at this time of the side view is not a very good shot, sorry.

Inside. the M29 plant sits midships on two pine stringers. The removable butane tank is at the forward end. Floorboards are mahogany and satinwood veneer laid on balsawood. The seats are leather upholstered and will be completed with upholstery "tufting" next week. A little steering station aft adds detail; it will have wheel, compass and barometer. The RC servos for the steam control and the Rx are mounted to the underside of the rear seat (nearly invisible) and the battery pack in under the foredeck.

The hull is unpainted now (it is epoxy coated at present) until I see how she looks underway. The bootstripe is temporary white tape, but it is where the waterline lies at 1lb displacement-- a float test confirms this.

One day I'll make a build log with details. Meantime have a look at Cecilia (named for my Granddaughter in Maryland; the inspiration for the draketail)

carlfmiller · « **Reply #34 on:** July 16, 2019, 06:46:23 am »

Having a little trouble exporting these photos. These relate to my previous post

carlfmiller · « **Reply #35 on:** July 16, 2019, 07:03:00 am »

Here are the remainder photos (whew!)

-Carl

carlfmiller · « **Reply #36 on:** July 16, 2019, 07:14:35 am »

I couldn't resist.

BTW, this guy sets the scale of the model 1:8. He is 9" tall. This would make the LOA of a fullscale Cecilia at about 35'.

-Carl

rhavrane · « **Reply #37 on:** July 16, 2019, 07:44:44 am »

Bonjour Carl,
Beautiful launch indeed, and I am jaleous of your crew

With such a thin hull, you won't need more than 20-30 PSI to navigate gently and save autonomy. Which propeller did you choose ? For my one, a 2,75" 4 blades Propshop, operated very easily at the pressure mentioned

Bernhard · « **Reply #38 on:** July 16, 2019, 08:06:40 am »

top..

carlfmiller · « **Reply #39 on:** July 16, 2019, 08:14:16 am »

Thanks for compliment Raphael. The prop for this boat is 3-blade 60mm made by MSM for Caldercraft. I may one day upgrade to 4-blade from Propshop; I have a 70mm from them for my larger launch (has Mildura twin cylinder steam plant) but I have not installed it yet. Certainly is thing of beauty,

I was just in Paris, cruised Seine to Normandy- what a lovely time. I should have thought to give you a call! Sure had great food! I loved Giverny! Took one thot that does a little justice to Monet

Best,

Carl

carlfmiller · « **Reply #40 on:** July 22, 2019, 06:28:30 am »

Here's a teaser clip of Cecilia scooting on her maiden water trial steamed at 25psi on Microcosm M29. A few scale details to add, and bottom to be painted, but here is the proof that the LWL is Ok and the boat moves out! Fwd/reverse/speed control all perfect. Ran 15 minutes and stopped, still had fuel and water.Thank you Jin for the steam plant! And Tippecanoe Boats for help on the boat.

All up wet weight is about 11 lbs.

https://youtu.be/BsD9RT427rA

Carl

KNO3 · « **Reply #41 on:** July 23, 2019, 08:52:30 pm »

The hull looks beautiful! How does the steam plant perform? Is it capable of more speed? Are you happy with the quality?

rhavrane · « **Reply #42 on:** July 23, 2019, 09:13:15 pm »

Bonjour Carl,
Which propeller have you installed on your launch ? With which pressure do you operate ?
My tug "Vient de loin", more big-bellied, seems more efficient with the same plant at 2 bar with a 2.5" four blades Protean Design propeller.

carlfmiller · « **Reply #43 on:** July 23, 2019, 09:54:41 pm »

Cecilia's Microcosm steam plant which has a steam attenuator installed (which works beautifully) operates at 25psi in this video. It is turning a 60mm cast 3-blade bronze prop made by MSM (sold by Caldercraft) There doesn't seem to be much point in making the boat go faster. But I am changing the prop out to a 4 blade PropShop scale steam prop.

Since I posted the "teaser" clip, I made a 4 min movie of the boat on her trial launch and here you can see her performance and maneuverability. Not sure how she would go in a stiff crosswind. But it sure looks like a boat needing passengers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUr8T3N7SWE&feature=youtu.be

I think of this as a success for both the boat design and the steam plant. I did have a lot of help.

In line with the original subject of this thread, yes I am very happy with the quality and performance of the Microcosm steam plant. It worked "out of the box". Just don't be expecting detailed operating instructions. I think you can trust whatever you buy from them.

Carl

rhavrane · « **Reply #44 on:** July 24, 2019, 05:22:05 pm »

Bonjour Carl,
25 PSI

I like using the largest possibe propellers not for speed but for a gain of autonomy, I experienced it, this is why i mention it : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVl2NCWmyXA

carlfmiller · « **Reply #45 on:** February 20, 2020, 04:57:33 am »

Time for a Cecilia Update and a plea for a little help. I did indeed change out the prop to the PropShop 4-blade and yes it made a huge difference: the boat is now a rocket. Remember this engine is the stock M29 plant from Microcosm. I have completed the boat with her name graphics and canvas canopy, and got a few minutes of video and it's fun to see her go at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Ycsc_CzSY

The rudder is twitchy you can see, and the operator needs a little practice on using less tiller, and maybe not so fast all the time. I am enjoying this model even in the confines of this little pond. Te zig zag you see was a rool test and the boat handles ok.

Of course I could not see the steam gage while the boat is going, but my guess is the WP is about 30-40psi. I do not think the 5 gas attenuator was working correctly to throttle the flame down. Leads to me next question--

But now about a little help, please. I think in the down time of the engine, something got sticky in the P5 attenuator valve. When new, it shut on and off with the smallest change in boiler pressure. Now it doesn't seem to turn off at all. I changed the adj screw both ways and the pressure simply kept climbing. Seemed like the valve is stuck wide open. (Need to adjust the safety valve too!)

So I have two questions-- Jin cannot answer because China is all "on vacation" during the virus epidemic and I think maybe his shop is closed. This seems like a basic Q, but which way do I turn the adjustment thumb wheel to make the valve operate at a different
pressure?) You can see the thumb screw in the photo below--red arrow pointer. 2nd Question-- I can take it apart OK, but if it ain't broke don't fix it. So does anyone else have experience. or suggestions about the P5 valve? Any tricks to be learned?

Appreciate any help

-Carl

rhavrane · « **Reply #46 on:** February 20, 2020, 08:11:25 am »

Bonjour Carl,
I have several Microcosm attenuators (I call them gas regulators) and I have had litlle problems with them. At first, their membranes :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU37YAuOkKM

I also changed them with 0,5 mm nitrile ones : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JUTaTuS-N0

My procedure to adjust it :

- I close the little the idle adjustment screw ==> warning, it is VERY sensitive and a few degrees open change everything

- I unscrew the large spring which controls the pressure until it becomes almost loose, but not loose, the more it is unscrewed, the less pressure is needed to regulate

- I start the heat ==> in this configuration, I noticed that generally the gas stops at about 30 PSI ==> that shows the regulation operates (or not)

- I loose pressure with the whistle

and fire again to adjust the idle adjustment screw ==> VERY sensitive !

- I screw or not the large spring if I wish more pressure before regulation, but personnally, I like 30 PSI.

Example on a single membrane one : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iE1wBIhKUc

The result : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc8bITIar2U

I hope this will help you and do not let me know if it does not work for you.

carlfmiller · « **Reply #47 on:** February 20, 2020, 09:39:38 pm »

Raphael this is most helpful. Merci Bien! I'll try once more with steam up and see if I get some regulation of the gas flow. I see your video with one of the P5s taken apart and replacing the membrane; I just wish there were an English translation. But it is OK to watch and I think if I have to take it apart I know what to do. Adjusting the idle flow screw is the only question: I have made small adjustment there once, but are you saying as part of the P5 pressure adjustment that the idle screw should be fully closed? Then after the pressure is regulated (30psi is perfect), I open the idle screw to the low-flame position.

Maybe the idle screw is open too far already and that's why it seems like the gas adjustment is not occurring. I did not think about that.

In any case the several steps you describe in your post are very helpful and I really appreciate your writing all down. Knowing which way to turn the thumb screw is the most important! Jin's instructions are not very descriptive.

Thanks again

-Carl

rhavrane · « **Reply #48 on:** February 21, 2020, 07:47:59 am »

Bonjour Carl,
Thank you ! About the idle screw adjustment, as it is very sensitive on a few degrees, it is very easy to let it too open as you mention it.

This is why I start by closing it to be sure the regulator operates on this point because there are two parameters to manage, the idle and the pressure with the large spring and it is very difficult to manage these two parameters at the same time.

Sorry about the French langage in my videos

, but I confirm it is very easy to open and close the regulator to check the membranes, you jut have to be careful when you screw it because the screws are very thin, I hold my screwdriver with two fingers

RST · « **Reply #49 on:** February 21, 2020, 08:32:05 pm »

To be fair on Raphel, if you click "subtitles" on his "youtube" videos and then change convert to UK in settings -it's not perfect but most of the meaning is translated into English!

Se bon Missueur? in my worst french!

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Author Topic: Steam engine from China qb3 (Read 21283 times)

RST