Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Steam => Topic started by: Tug Man on March 13, 2007, 01:09:13 pm
-
I have a large 48 inch puffer model that I would like to install a steam engine/ boiler unit in. Is this possible to do? I am not sure how everything would work if I had to install it all under the decking.
Don
-
Hi Don,
I have built one of these using electric, but I am also into steam.
There is more than enough room to get the engine in if you want to.
I looked at this in building and was going to put a horizontal boiler extending from under the engine room to the area under the cargo hatch, and maybe putting a cranked funnel from the boiler up the original funnel.
The reason I didn't do it was because of the ballast required to get the boat down low enough to be stable.
I ended up putting in two integral ballast tanks (about 3 1/2 gallons) plus two 18ah batteries and it still doesn't sail anywhere near the loaded waterline, so I don't think the problem will be with getting the steam unit in, but getting enough weight into it with the steam engine in position.
John
-
Have a look at this on the forum It may help. I've seen plenty of puffers steam powered (I also play with steam) and there should be no problems , Most of the boats I have seen have had a vertical boiler in them ,As did the full size boat .Ill have a look around and ill see if I can find a few Pictures or info for you ,I've got loads of pictures from the old cheddar club meets so ill see what I can find
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1951.0
http://fabrice.bretagne.club.fr/Index.htm
-
Thanks for the reply Bogstandard,
What I use for a battery and ballast is as follows. I use a 12 volt 25 ah gel cell. I made some forms to contour to the side radius of the hull and framed them up. I then used buck shot and epoxy to fill in thoise forms. I added some handles as the epoxy was being poured. Each form is about 10 pounds of weight. That brings mine down to the waterline The ballast forms sit nicely on each side of the battery.
I was going to sell my puffer as I can no longer haul it to the pond and back. The interested buyer wanted to install a steam unit if he purchased it. I had no idea if one could be used or not.
-
Thank you for the links.
Don
Have a look at this on the forum It may help. I've seen plenty of puffers steam powered (I also play with steam) and there should be no problems , Most of the boats I have seen have had a vertical boiler in them ,As did the full size boat .Ill have a look around and ill see if I can find a few Pictures or info for you ,I've got loads of pictures from the old cheddar club meets so ill see what I can find
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1951.0
http://fabrice.bretagne.club.fr/Index.htm
-
The original query reminds me of a line from the film 'Crocodile Dundee', the scene where Hogan is accosted by a knife wielding New York mugger. "You call that a knife?" (pulls his own huge weapon from sheath). "Now that's a knife". By a strange coincidence, I received a query from a US customer only this morning on the very same subject, large Puffers, but 'large' clearly means something a bit different in South Carolina. The guy had sent pics & details of his latest model, a 65" x 21" Maine lake tug, it has a twin cylinder 0.75" bore by 0.9" stroke steam engine and swings a 5" four bladed prop. I'll quote a few lines from the e-mail on what he's planning to build next.
.......What I am contemplating is building a model of your Puffer scaled up three times to 1½" scale, that would make her about 96" LOA x 27" beam just about the correct size for my 2 cylinder steam engine 1.5" bore x 2" stroke to be fired on oil, I hope. Love steam and like to be different ( don't want to go to the dance and have the same dress as some one else as they say!!). Would it be possible to sell me a set of plans and any pictures you have of your model Puffer how much would you charge for the plans/pictures & postage? Love the Puffer, short and squat, with the stack in front of the pilot house etc. Thank you in advance!
Yes that's what he wrote, an eight foot long Puffer with a 27" beam, and a 1.5" bore x 2" stroke oil fired twin cylinder steam engine to power it, just imagine what it will weigh. "Now that's a Puffer!".
-
Kayem you gotta like a guy with more energy and enthusiasm than the rest of us. God bless him. I would sure like to see pictures of his build. Where does he find the time?
Don
-
I have a large 48 inch puffer model that I would like to install a steam engine/ boiler unit in. Is this possible to do? I am not sure how everything would work if I had to install it all under the decking.
Don
I am building an Irish Sea Steamer at just over 48" long and it is fitted with a steam plant. Have a look at the build so far at this link to get an idea of what has gone into it:
http://www.scale-models.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1711
-
Thank you for this link. It is just what I needed to see. I never realized how tight a fit was possible for a steam unit until I saw these photos.
Don
http://www.scale-models.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1711
-
Bunkerbarge
What paint have you used on the inside of your hull ?
Thanks peter
-
Here are some pics from Mayhem...
(http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/Builds/Puffer_Jan/Puffer_pictures/images/P1010357.JPG)
(http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/Builds/Puffer_Jan/Puffer_pictures/images/P1010353.JPG)
-
Bunkerbarge
What paint have you used on the inside of your hull ?
Thanks peter
It's three coats of cream International Radiator Paint. I wanted something to show up the dirt easily and be easy to wipe clean. It seems to be reasonably durable so far.
-
On the other end of the scale......
(http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q168/MBmayhem/Puffer2.jpg)
(http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q168/MBmayhem/Puffer3.jpg)
(http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q168/MBmayhem/Puffer4.jpg)
(http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q168/MBmayhem/Puffer1.jpg)
-
Where can I find out more about this Minivap that Martin has in his Puffer?
Don
-
A 4 foot tramp steamer thread:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=717385#post7853743
-
By a strange coincidence, I received a query from a US customer only this morning on the very same subject, large Puffers, but 'large' clearly means something a bit different in South Carolina...
...Yes that's what he wrote, an eight foot long Puffer with a 27" beam, and a 1.5" bore x 2" stroke oil fired twin cylinder steam engine to power it, just imagine what it will weigh. "Now that's a Puffer!".
Hi Kayem
I hope you pointed him in the direction of this forum as I am sure I would not be alone in wanting to see more. A build thread perhaps. And I am sure others would love to see his steam plant.
-
:)My Richmond engine and Ribbersdale boiler steams my 'Formidable' Driffer which is 48 long.
You can see a picture of the plant in my web site, www.steamengines.co.uk
My phone number is 01757289664 or 'Email' [email protected]
Regards,
O0 john hemmens
-
Worth a look for the pictures of the installation.
Peter
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260185667776&indexURL=3&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting
-
I'd like to know how that boiler is supposed to come out!
-
It was the pump and the fact he had lifted everything up to run the shaft UNDER the boiler and engine and it was no where near the waterline and had not fallen over. (yet)
Peter