Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Steam => Topic started by: Willit on October 25, 2017, 06:32:15 pm

Title: who makes the best engines?
Post by: Willit on October 25, 2017, 06:32:15 pm: so who would you go for if you were building a 36" steam tug? The choice doesn't seem to be as wide as ten years ago. I've even been looking at the Chinese engines from Microcosm (I've got one of their turbines and the quality of it is good, I have a couple of their fittings on my 7 1/4 loco so I have no qualms about them).
Title: Re: who makes the best engines?
Post by: rhavrane on October 25, 2017, 08:47:42 pm: Bonjour Willit,
I would suggest you to look at these sites (alphabetical orders) :
http://www.anton-vapeur.fr
http://www.jmc-vapeur.fr
http://www.typhoon-motors.com
I have several of them. Much more expensive than Microcosm (I have also one) but much higher quality.
For a less than 1 meter tug, I would suggest 3 cm3, able to be coupled with a 60 mm 4 blades propeller and not too much steam consumer.
Examples :
2 cm3 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs1c7Xqjo9g
3 cm3 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46kYI-yJyB0
And 5 cm3 for a 1,30 m river tug : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRfg9KpRaPU
Title: Re: who makes the best engines?
Post by: Willit on October 27, 2017, 10:03:34 pm: many thanks I'll have a look at them :-))
Title: Re: who makes the best engines?
Post by: steamboatmodel on October 28, 2017, 04:59:43 pm: For the price of a couple of engines you could buy some shop equipment and make your own.
Plans steam engines
One of the Best by Bogatandard
http://www.machinistblog.com/bogstandards-paddleduck-engine-plans/
Paddleducks has plans you do have to join and be active to download
You can find MB22 steam engine designed by Malcolm Beak there.
http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2064.0 (http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2064.0)
These ones are in French, but really great
http://jpduval.free.fr/Plans_moteurs_vapeur_p1.htm
John-Tom
http://www.john-tom.com/html/SteamPlans.html (http://www.john-tom.com/html/SteamPlans.html)
Plans for Everything
http://plans-for-everything.com/hen_steam_engine_plans.html (http://plans-for-everything.com/hen_steam_engine_plans.html)
Hobby Downloads
http://www.hobbydownloads.com/steamgeneral.html (http://www.hobbydownloads.com/steamgeneral.html)
Library Steam Engine Plans PDF Menu
http://www.packratworkshop.com/lib15.htm (http://www.packratworkshop.com/lib15.htm)
Live Steam Plans & Drawings for Small-Scale Live Steamers
http://www.nmia.com/~vrbass/steam/drawings.htm (http://www.nmia.com/~vrbass/steam/drawings.htm)
Regards,
Gerald.
Title: Re: who makes the best engines?
Post by: rhavrane on October 28, 2017, 05:07:20 pm: Bonjour,
A treasure for steam passionates : http://www.vapeuretmodelesavapeur.com/introduction/index.html
Title: Re: who makes the best engines?
Post by: Willit on October 28, 2017, 11:48:06 pm: Quote from: steamboatmodel on October 28, 2017, 04:59:43 pm
For the price of a couple of engines you could buy some shop equipment and make your own.
Plans steam engines
One of the Best by Bogatandard
http://www.machinistblog.com/bogstandards-paddleduck-engine-plans/ (http://www.machinistblog.com/bogstandards-paddleduck-engine-plans/)
Paddleducks has plans you do have to join and be active to download
You can find MB22 steam engine designed by Malcolm Beak there.
http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2064.0 (http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2064.0)
These ones are in French, but really great
http://jpduval.free.fr/Plans_moteurs_vapeur_p1.htm (http://jpduval.free.fr/Plans_moteurs_vapeur_p1.htm)
John-Tom
http://www.john-tom.com/html/SteamPlans.html (http://www.john-tom.com/html/SteamPlans.html)
Plans for Everything
http://plans-for-everything.com/hen_steam_engine_plans.html (http://plans-for-everything.com/hen_steam_engine_plans.html)
Hobby Downloads
http://www.hobbydownloads.com/steamgeneral.html (http://www.hobbydownloads.com/steamgeneral.html)
Library Steam Engine Plans PDF Menu
http://www.packratworkshop.com/lib15.htm (http://www.packratworkshop.com/lib15.htm)
Live Steam Plans & Drawings for Small-Scale Live Steamers
http://www.nmia.com/~vrbass/steam/drawings.htm (http://www.nmia.com/~vrbass/steam/drawings.htm)
Regards,
Gerald.

I have access to a full machine shop so no need to do that, however I am pushed for time, life is busy and I'd sooner just buy an engine. I'd probably make the boiler though. Thanks for the links though useful stuff!
Title: Re: who makes the best engines?
Post by: xrad on October 29, 2017, 01:27:09 am: PM research V twin. Cheap, works great, easy to RC, plenty of power, small footprint. perfect for 30-45" boat.

https://www.pmmodelengines.com/shop/steam/steam-engine-8/
Title: Re: who makes the best engines?
Post by: rhavrane on October 29, 2017, 06:32:54 am: Bonjour,
The PM Research is a 8 cm3 steam machine : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsRs65FekEM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsRs65FekEM)
To be taken in account for the boiler.
Title: Re: who makes the best engines?
Post by: IanJ on October 29, 2017, 01:25:13 pm: Hi, you could also consider; www.clevedonsteam.co.uk
Title: Re: who makes the best engines?
Post by: KBIO on October 30, 2017, 03:20:18 pm: Hello!
Asking who makes the best engine is like asking what is the best restaurant! :-)
It depends what you want to eat! :} ok2
Just to help, with some sens of humor (if I can) : there is no bad engine, just bad mechanics! LOL!
Good luck!
Regards!