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[rhavrane]

Bonjour,I have had the opportunity to purchase a branda new Stuart SIRIUS and the information I know is that bore = stroke = 1"    https://youtu.be/aHEDbBF5zwA

 I have noticed a crankcase and an oil level, which type of oil shouls I use ?

Which is is working pressure ?
I know that I will have to couple it with a large boiler...Which generator was associated to this machine ?

[rhavrane]

Bonjour,I have had the opportunity to purchase a branda new Stuart SIRIUS and the information I know is that bore = stroke = 1" 

https://youtu.be/aHEDbBF5zwA

I have noticed a crankcase and an oil level, which type of oil shouls I use ?Which is is working pressure ?I know that I will have to couple it with a large boiler...Which generator was associated to this machine ?

[SteamboatPhil]

Ca Va
None of my very old Stuart catalogs gives the bore or stroke, I do know that they used to advertise the engine as a racing hydroplane steam plant.....ha it's too heavy..but in the 30's it sort of worked (ish) it is the big version of the sun engine (also a racing engine)
With regards to oil, in the sump case I used car gear box oil, and steam oil in the normal way.
One point is these engines do not really have a drain point on the crankcase, I bored mine out to 3/8  32 (sorry cannot do that in metric) but large drain point after use very important.
Sorry not much help but I will keep going through my files.
On the boiler front, no longer than 8 inches x 4 inches (sorry may live here but my workshop is old school. )are you going to gas fire ?
You may need a mechanical pump, tic can be done on the back of the engine,
Any more help...ish let me know
I even have a boiler that maybe work for you...
Let me know

[rhavrane]

Bonjour Phil,Many thanks fo your reply  I was aware that this machine was for hydroplanes but is is so heavy, and the boiler has to be powerful to feed it at high speed, so...
I would be interested by more information on your boiler as I would have liked to see the one used with it during WW2.

[DocMartin]

I found this info online.  It may provide some useful specifications and historical adverts.  There is a picture of the ALCO generator (WWII), as well.
http://www.stuartturnersteam.com/Marine/Sirius/Sirius.html

I hope this is useful.
DocM

[rhavrane]

Bonjour Doc,
Many thanks for this very useful link which gives us a lot of information 
I imagine the soldier having to make a fire to heat the boiler... And about the noises... Hopefully, I am just a passionate collector 

[DocMartin]

I found this short video of the nearly complete set (YouTube)

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

These sets were dropped via parachute behind enemy lines in WWII as a means of charging and powering wireless comms.  Quite the airborne package!!

The full set can be seen here:
https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28656/lot/174/an-alco-firefly-model-steam-generator-set-british-mid-20th-century/

[rhavrane]

Bonjour,
Really instructive video indeed !

How could a spy use such a noisy set ? And before preparing a fire with wood ?

We owe a lot to these courageous men who braved a thousand dangers to transmit the most precise information possible with such means.

[DocMartin]

Just for fun I've attached a link and pic of the B2 spy radio that the ALCO "Firefly" generator powered/charged

https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29884/lot/70/a-type-3-mkii-b2-spy-radio-british-1942-43/

[rhavrane]

Bonjour Doc,I would have liked to acquire one of these radios but its price is crippling for me

[DocMartin]

I agree that ~ €6,0000 is prohibitive, BUT the auction ends in six days!!!!  It could be yours.   
More interesting to me is that the "Firefly" complete kit sold for £960 back in September.  That seems to have been a bargain find for some lucky bidder.