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[MONAHAN STEAM MODELS]

Hello Everyone,    


 We are proud to announce the release of our new steam engine, the "Heron" Twin.

The "Heron", is a double acting, slide valve, twin cylinder 3/8" bore, 3/8" stroke steam engine. We have chosen to use a Stephenson linkage for reversing due to the smooth ease of motion, which is great for servos. Not to mention they just look great. All steam intake and exhaust outlet thread sizes are 1/4"-40 and use 5/32" copper tubing for plumbing.

The Heron features dual displacement lubricators for even oil distrobution and longer run times. A built in throttle valve which can be operated by a servo, controls engine speed.

The crankshaft is supported with precision grade, sealed ball bearings to ensure a smooth long lasting hassle free work life. The Heron's output shaft size is 5/32" or 3.98mm. This gives you the flexability to either use metric or inch type universal joint for shaft connections.

The Heron is constructed from varying grades of Brass, Bronze and Stainless Steel. We do not use any materials that would rust in a marine environment. A great deal of research went in to choosing materials that would be compatible with one another as well as withstand premature wearing. Machining finishes were also a great concern while constructing the parts for the Heron. Not only for cosmetic reasons but more importantly wear mating and sealing issues. All of our parts are made either inhouse or from local machine shops in the United States so we have complete control over their quality from start to finish.

A shaft driven water pump was built into the design for modelers who wish to increase their run times. The water pumps bore is 3/16" and the stroke is 1/8". The water pump intake/oulet thread sizes are 1/4"-40 and use 5/32" copper tube for plumbing. We wanted the water pump to compliment the design of the engine and not look like an after thought. If the modeler wishes, he/she can remove the water pump easily if it is not needed, or re-install it if their future needs suit.

Every measure has been taken to reduce weight as well. The Heron only weights 15 ounces including the water pump. The Heron was designed to run on varying pressures from 10 psi. to 100psi.

Each engine is hand assembled per order.

The Heron is also available as a right and left hand mirrored pair. "Special Order" with short lead times.

Best Regards,

Monahan Steam Models Inc.

www.monahansteammodels.com

[bigH]

   OH! "xxxxx",  why can't my engines turn out like that????  I do my best, honest lord.

[BarryM]

Nice looker but $1,568!! 

[bogstandard]

And that won't include import duties of I think about another 20%

[MONAHAN STEAM MODELS]

Bit concerned about the import fee's mentioned.

I have never had the unfortunate experience of paying an import fee for goods traveling from the UK to the US. 

I am curious if this may be one of those one way streets. Can anyone over there on your side of the pond please inform me if they have had to customarily pay import fee's for goods traveling into your country from the US? Thank you in advance for anyone's input with this matter.

We must be doing something right because all of the engines we have sent over your way were not charged these fee's. javascript:void(0);OK

Also given the current exchange rate between our countries most of our UK customers have been very pleased.

For anyone interested, I would like to mention our automatic boiler management system should be available shortly.

Best Regards

Nick Monahan

Monahan Steam Models Inc.

[bogstandard]

I personally won't import anything from the US any more, because of the uncertainties of import duties.
It all depends if the customs officers had a 'lucky' night the previous day and what sort of mood they are in.
If the value is below about £20 they don't usually charge.
The postal charges from the US are also exorbitant. I purchased some bits from 'Small Parts', total cost $47. Eventual cost delivered to my door incl. taxes, just over $100. The problem was that the bits were not available in the UK.
At least Dick Turpin wore a mask, so you knew what you were dealing with.

[MONAHAN STEAM MODELS]

I know what you mean by if the customs officers.

I've heard horror stories from friends of mine regarding "their " unlucky nights or days when they really want to stick it to a guy. :'(

I guess we've just been lucky.

One trick I've found though is to ship items express. It costs a bit more but usually circumvents customs or at the least passes right through.

I've found that any international shipment is going to cost more than a domestic shipment no matter what country its going to or from.

I hear the same issues raised whether its from our customers wanting to bring similar items into the States or customers wanting to bring items into their country.

I guess if you have to have it. you have to have it. Right?

Small parts is a great resource. They usually have items that are hard to find else where, however their prices are a bit on the high side.

Great Craftsmanship on your latest steam engine project by the way.

[HS93 (RIP)]

Hi the Pictures on your web site for compleat Plants look computer generated ? have you got any other, as far as duties , people have used that method for some years, but authorities are very aware of it and can decide to put very large charges on. not Worth the risk.

HS93

[Bunkerbarge]

I'm very interested in your comment about a boiler management system.  I am looking for something similar to the old Cheddar Electronic Gas valve which was an excellent device, works reliably and simply and saves a lot of gas.

Could you give me details.

As for customs, you are always taking a chance.  You should always pay duty so if you get away with it you have been lucky.  Labelling things as presents/gifts etc does nothing to guarrantee you will get away with it and people who have managed to avoid paying duties by such methods have only got away with it by chance.  They will get you one day!!

I am lucky, working in the states I can get things shipped to me here but technically I should declare the items and pay duties when I go home.

[MONAHAN STEAM MODELS]

Hi Hs93 & Bunkerbarge,

You are correct. The current pictures of the steam plants are snap shots of 3d computer models. We were getting a lot of requests for pictures of what the steam plants were going to look like so we decided to post these temporarily. They are an extremely accurate representation of what our finished steam plants look like. Since these are cad models pictures we have made the steam plants currently restricted for purchase from our website. The actual steam plants are much more impressive looking in person.  We plan on posting the real pictures in about a week or so. The hold up on their release has been due to the fact we are working on the last few bits and pieces needed in order to make them complete.

We do have our own import/export agent which handles our international shipping needs or customs issues. There are fee's we have to pay our customs broker, but for the most part we have been lucky so far. With that said I should probably knock on wood or something now. I should also add, that we have not been doing anything "special or misleading' such as declaring a lower value or mislabeling our shipments so if we were dinged so-to-speak it would be random luck I guess.

   

The boiler management system along with a couple other neat electronic devices will be released in about a few months or so. I can't stress to all of you enough how many products our company has developed over the years for live steam model boat enthusiasts. This has been an extremely expensive endeavor so please continue be patient with us.     

I have never personally owned one of the Cheddar Electronic Gas valves but the members in our local model boat club have and they have had nothing but good things to say about them.

One of the units we will be offering would function/serve the same purpose as the mentioned Cheddar unit. The unit I am speaking of, is a simpler version of our complete management system.

The complete management system, monitors water level at varying points in the boilers, steam pressure, burner control, and reserve water tank levels.

This system can be added at any point to our boilers which already have the provisions to accommodate the sensors and such. Some modelers will be able to adapt these to other manufacturers boilers.

We went one step further to develop a stand alone gizmo that can also plug into the complete management system that offers some neat features for added burner management. Sorry but I can't divulge more than that about this item at this time.


 

 

   

[dmb]

I am currently living the Czech Republic and in regards to shipment costs and duty I can see similar and dissimilar issues.

Anything bought from the US and shipped over here (if the value is more than 30 USD) is normally only subject to VAT (over here it is 19%), I think you will find it should be similar in the UK (you would be charge 17.5%) as it is suppose to be pretty similar rules for all EU countries.

In regards to shipping I find shipping rates from the UK to be outrageous, I have on a few occasions bought items with similar measurement and weight shipped for the US and the UK and found that the US postal rates to be half of what it is in the UK, you would think it should be cheaper from the UK as it travels less distance which means less fuel cost etc… 

[Bunkerbarge]

That sounds perfect and just what I have been looking for ever since Cheddar stopped making them.  I have one of thier units in a steamer I am making and it works so well and conserves gas perfectly I can't umagine why no-one else hasn't marketed something. 

They are also far more reliable and less prone to failures and leaks than the pressure regulating valve type of arrangement that you can buy from some manufacturers.  As soon as you start production please put one on one side for me.

[walrus]

I too have been very satisfied with the ECGV i purchased from Cheddar just before they closed and have been asking around for ages, without success, to get something similar for an open steam launch I am currently building.
I would be very interested to hear from you when you have the product available and will join the queue behind Bunkerbarge who sails at the same club as myself when he is in the UK

[Bunkerbarge]

Walrus, when they become available I'll bring you one home.

[MONAHAN STEAM MODELS]

If I knew you guys were needing these gizmo's that bad I would have worked much quicker to get them to you.

Let me see if I can speed things up a bit.

I don't want to promise anything, but I might be able to release them earlier than the quoted two months.

Given all the stars, moons and planets are perfectly aligned of course!

Best Regards,

Nick Monahan

Monahan Steam Models

[tigertiger]

Hi Monahan

Nice to see you on the forum

I have a suggestion, that may or may not be relevant.

As you are working in imperial measurements (inches), and most of the rest of us are using metric.

Would it be helpful for you to enclose small lengths of copper/brass pipe (imperial). As this may be easier for people to 'marry' to metric diameter pipes, than trying to fit directly to the engines and boilers, or even to provide tube/piping as an extra item.

Like I say, I don't know what I am talking about, it is just a thought.

[Bunkerbarge]

All the pipework i have been involved with on my steam plant as well as engine and boiler fittings have all been imperial.

I don't think there is much in the way of metric pipes and fittings in the model steam world.

Nick,

I think we are probably going to miss the next window of opportinuty as I will be going home again at the beginning of December and the next time will be at the end of April next year.  I would rather take them home myself rather than run the gauntlet of customs and the postal service.  Walrus may need one before me though as he has a steam plant coming together at the moment.

I appreciate your efforts though and look forward to getting my hands on one.

[MONAHAN STEAM MODELS]

Greetings Everyone,

Just a friendly heads up for anyone looking for a complete ready to run steam plant.

If you are currently in the process of building or thinking about starting a new winter project such as a steam launch or tug boat and you are in need of a complete steam power plant, we will be releasing our "turn key" ready to run steam plants in a few weeks or so.

The current production process for these steam plants for the most part is now finished. However they are just receiving the last bits of their icing so-to-speak.

As I am sure you all realize these are not mass produced items and each one requires a lot of time and love before they arrive at their new homes. We have had to start a pre-release waiting list to ensure modelers they will receive their steam plants of choice for this production run. If you would like to be penciled in or penned in for one of these just drop us an email. No deposits or commitments required.   

Feel free to contact us anytime. Even if you just wish to talk shop about model boats. We love hearing from all of you and love to hear what you are currently working on. 

Best Regards,

Nick Monahan

Monahan Steam Models Inc.

[MONAHAN STEAM MODELS]

Hello Everyone,

The "Belmont Vertical boilers" are now available for purchase and are available from our website: http://www.monahansteammodels.com. 

The current delivery schedule is hovering around three weeks from purchase date. These boilers are compatible with most steam engines both currently on the market and steam engines from days gone by.

Best Regards,

Monahan Steam Models Inc.

[Bunkerbarge]

Thanks for the latest heads up Nick.

What is the latest news regarding the electronic gas regulating valve?

[MONAHAN STEAM MODELS]

Hey Bunkerbarge,

Great to hear from you!

The electronic gas valve is moving along.

We have encountered a few delays with some of our other products which have had a ripple effect on the rest - the electronic gas valve included. :'(
Rest assured it is still moving along.

On a more positive note, we do have a really neat compact fast acting mechanical gas attenuator we will be releasing ahead of the electronic version. :)

The mechanical gas attenuator is designed to manage two different types of burners: one main burner and one micro burner. This gas attenuator can also be set up to manage only one burner if that is what the modeler needs. Both our Horizontal and Vertical boilers have provisions already in place for accepting the optional micro burner add on. The micro burner has two purposes. The first is to provide a much more stable flame to re-ignite the main burner in case it should be extinguished from strong winds, as some modelers have experienced. When the attenuator is set up to manage the two burners, the main burner will shut down completely and the micro burner will stay lit and re-ignite the main burner when needed. The second purpose and advantage of this design is that the micro burner, which is pointed directly at the super heater inside the boiler, continually super heats the steam before it enters your engine. This is not true for any other boiler on the market. We have a quite a few more gizmo's up our sleeve that will be add-ons for these boilers, with the provisions for them already included, should the modeler decide to add them at a later date. I wish I could divulge all of them now but that would be like knowing what you're going to get for Christmas before you open your presents. 


Best Regards,

Nick

Monahan Steam Models Inc.

[Bunkerbarge]

Thanks for the update Nick, the mechanical gas control valve certainly sounds interesting but the use of two burners is possibly getting a bit complicated.  It does mean though that the micro burner can be set up to burn more efficiently rather than simply be a turned down main burner.

Your's is basically operating like a pilot flame and the idea of continuing the steam superheating is also a usefull improvement.  I think a lot of people initially will be looking for a unit to fit to an existing boiler though so the valve will have to operate a single burner.

I take it the valve is operated by steam pressure from the boiler so is this converted to mechanical movement via a piston or a diaphragm?  Is the burner control linear or does the valve operate in a stepped manner between full and pilot flame?

[bogstandard]

If you are talking about superheaters on these small engines, you might find you will run into problems lubricating the engines.
Superheaters expand the wet steam by raising the temperature, thus reducing the saturated steam. As you know, a displacement luber works on saturated steam. The temperature of the engine will be much higher because of the superheating, and as such will require more lube, but not being supplied because of less saturated steam. A vicious circle, and really the only way around it is to fit a mechanical luber, as they do on model locos for the reasons I have stated.
Superheating is really only a gimmick on engines this small, and as such the net gain is minimal, but I suppose it is another 'look what I've got on mine' boast factor. But it should be 'look what I have got on mine, and it is wearing out my engine twice as fast, so I will have to buy another one much sooner'

Pessimistic John

[ROSYTH]

Hello Nick, Cliff here in good ol' blighty.

It sounds as though you really have made inroads into developing exactly the products us mad steamers are looking for and still waiting for I might add.
The electronic control valve is a godsend and a must for most steam plant participants so hurry up and get it over here, if you want me to be your agent
let me know and I will clear a room ready for their arrival .
Forgive me for asking this, but just exactly what is the 'icing' you are waiting for on your plants?

TOPIC MODERATED PLEASE DONT COME OUT WITH THAT KIND OF STATEMENT DONT USE THE FORUM TO SAY SUCH THINGS CONTACT MANUFACTERER DIRECT FIRST STAVROSYour new boiler could too almost be compared like for like with the same manufacturer. The first item I saw was the water gauge and well knock me for six
but are you buying his parts and putting them together in a different manner or what?
They do look the business, which is why I bought a boiler called the RICHMOND, and well it has a remarkable likeness don't you think?
I wonder if anyone else has possibly noticed the likeness?
It almost makes me wonder why I would want to buy overseas and import with the added cost of Shipping and Vat etc etc along with possible problems one
might incur and who will sort them out for me, when I can give a chap a ring
locally and really get what you are producing at a lower cost and possible quicker too, but that depends on how far, one is on, in the build process I suppose.

Keep up the good work and oh yeah put me down for one of those electronic thingy's ma-jiggz gadgets for my Lady Jane and Formidable kits. I have them
both but due to time and other commitments haven't started them yet, one day though they will touch the water of Yorkshire I am sure.

Keep us posted OK
Cheers

[Bernhard]

hi.......yes..first time i did see the boiler...i whas thinking it whas made by .J.Hemmen same sice .same look......
ok
Bernhard