Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Steam => Topic started by: Steamedup on November 07, 2018, 08:26:40 pm
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Hi to you all.
I am new to this site but have be loitering for some time, lots of good info on here so thank you all
I have started building a steam launch 1900’s open top 30” hull and a VR1A engine so I may be calling out for some help in the future.
All the best
From Mike
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Welcome Mike
You will certainly be able to get help here, good luck with your project, photos please as you progress
Phil
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Thank you Phil, will do :-))
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I have started the build of my steam launch, and gone for a Victoria 30” hull and a Graham VR1A engine as it is a double acting cylinder so will be self starting plus having the Stephenson reversing gear making it RC fully controllable. I have styled it on the African Queen, so I will use a Vertical Boiler from Mamod with should provide plenty of steam
This project starts from way back when I was a child in 1959 my father made a steam boat for me using a single cylinder Stuart Turner [/color]engine, and we sailed it on Whitestone Pond in Hampstead Heath always loved steam from then on.
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Hello Mike, I used to sail my boats in Whitestone Pond. I traveled up from Golders Green on the 210 bus or, occasionally in my Dad's car. We had an original Bassett-Lowke Streamliner and I remember that on one occasion it caught fire, soon put out by pushing it under the water. I also had toy yachts and a "Jetex" powered jet boat. Ah, memories. John.
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(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb60/BikesatMikes/front%20side.jpg)
Hi John
Well what a small world we may have met way back then and yes I had Jetex not very good I have had problems uploading photos so hope this will work all the best Mike.
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here we go (http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb60/BikesatMikes/top%20back.jpg)
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I have started the build of my steam launch, and gone for a Victoria 30” hull and a Graham VR1A engine as it is a double acting cylinder so will be self starting plus having the Stephenson reversing gear making it RC fully controllable. I have styled it on the African Queen, so I will use a Vertical Boiler from Mamod with should provide plenty of steam
This project starts from way back when I was a child in 1959 my father made a steam boat for me using a single cylinder Stuart Turnerengine, and we sailed it on Whitestone Pond in Hampstead Heath always loved steam from then on.
Hi Mike,
I hate to dampen your enthusiasm but the VR1A is not self starting, if while out on the water for any reason the engine is stopped, if it stops with the piston at either T.D.C or B.D.C. you will not be able to start it without something to kick it over T.D.C. or B.D.C. what happens is that the slide valve covers the inlet port and the engine is then dead.
With the Stevenson reverse linkage you may be able to crash the engine over while still running but that is not for sure.
I do like your hull so best of luck with the build.
George.
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Bonjour;
Here is a mechanical solution to avoid the famous probem of the dead points on mono cylinder or compound machines:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AasvhDdzG0
Possible concern, this system takes some room and is perhaps not available for smaller machines.
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Hi George, Bonjour Raphael
I have looked at most videos on the VR1A plus boats fitted with this engine and all seem to start but I do take your point that it has a dead spot, and Raphael you have found a way to get over this.
My take on this problem is to fit a servo with an arm that will engage with the flywheel to give it a nudge so the engine will pass this dead spot and start but I will have to get the engine built first and tested
Many thanks for your feed back on this.
Mike
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Hi Mike & Welcome,
Looking forward to following your build of the Victoria. As others have said, lots of photos please.
I find my iPhone works very well. The photos automatically stream to my laptop & I then copy them to a dedicated folder & it's from there that I upload them to the site after resizing them. i.e making them smaller.
Not posted for a while due to other distraction. However getting back into the "Marcher" build, so will post progress.
Cheers
Ian
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Hullo Mike.......there are a number of Victoria builds in the MBM archives......may well be worth reading
Whilst I fully understand that camera angle can distort, however I have followed as best the parallel shaft line and bought it up into the machinery space and the shaft location between the coupling position and the engine appears a little high
I am not sure what your plans suggest here?
Derek
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Basil Harleys Victoria is a nice wee build
I built my version plank on frame as I didnt like the vac moulding and made and fitted a scaled down JP Duval twin oscillator using Basils boiler
Good luck with the build for a self starting single cylinder Im sure Typhoon made such a beast at one time
cheers
frazer
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Hi George, Bonjour Raphael
I have looked at most videos on the VR1A plus boats fitted with this engine and all seem to start but I do take your point that it has a dead spot, and Raphael you have found a way to get over this.
My take on this problem is to fit a servo with an arm that will engage with the flywheel to give it a nudge so the engine will pass this dead spot and start but I will have to get the engine built first and tested
Many thanks for your feed back on this.
Mike
Just pointing this out to you but BLUE is reserved only for the moderators
Dave
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Hi Dave
My apologies for using the blue, and thanks for the feedback from Frazer and Derek you are right on I made the tube to steep an angle it was so I could fit a bigger prop also so the engine was not to low in the hull and hidden but looks like I may have the C/G to high and it might not be to stable.
I will not know till the engine and boiler come, they are on order should be here next year?
Many thanks to all
Mike
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Merry Xmas :-) my engine is on its way in ALBUQUERQUE NM
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Hi Chaps :-))
I will be fitting a inline type lubricator to my VR1A engine and I wondered what steam oil to use as I believe there are several grades of oil 450 -800
so what would be best for my engine?
[/size]Many thanks
Mike
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Bonjour Mike,
Grade 1000 oil is good for scale 1 steam plants, too thick for our small models. Personnally I only use 480 grade oil in and on the machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyGEAozABZQ
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Bonjour Raphaël
Thank you for getting back to me; it helps give me peace of mind about the oil
Mike
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:-))
The hull is all most done now, have installed the electrics and battery and have a working rudder, when the engine and boiler are fitted I will fit servos for the Thro / For / Rev and Whistle.
Mike
(https://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb60/BikesatMikes/starboard%20side.jpg) (https://s206.photobucket.com/user/BikesatMikes/media/starboard%20side.jpg.html)(http://https://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb60/BikesatMikes/starboard%20side.jpg)
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Now started build on VR1A and all going well :-))
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/images/2019/01/04/start-of-build-VR1A.jpg)
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Here are some more pic.s of build :-)) (https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/images/2019/01/04/Start-on-VR1A.jpg)
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/images/2019/01/04/into-build-VR1A-4.jpg)
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/image/JOvD9)
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/images/2019/01/04/VR1A-build-2.jpg)
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/images/2019/01/04/VR1A-running.jpg)
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Plus a small video :-))
https://youtu.be/taxtPorHGjc (https://youtu.be/taxtPorHGjc)
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/images/2019/01/04/VR1A-in-boat-2.jpg)
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It is worth considering the brass hex screw set available from the manufacturer as well as giving the engine a paint job before you go much further, especially as it is going to be very much on show in an open launch. Both these make a big difference to the overall appearance.
By the way I can confirm the VR1A is considered as a non self starting engine despite the fact that it might in fact do so. The determining criteria is that it might not.
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Hi Willie
[/size]That is a very nice paint job but I like the raw look, thanks for your feedback all the best.
[/size]Mike
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/images/2019/01/05/Boat-and-engine.jpg)
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Bonjour Mike,
Thats's looks great, but a little question, which boiler do you plan to install ? The VR1A is about 4 cm3 and needs steam, I do not see so much room for it in front of the machine...
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Hi Raphaël
[/size]
[/size]I will be using a Mamod Vertical Boiler it will fit just in front of the engine[/size] [/color] :-))
https://www.mamod.co.uk/shop-categories/vertical-boiler
Regards
Mike
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Bonjour Mike,
Sorry to say that, but, to my opinion this boiler will be too small for your machine, in terms of automomy. Its volume is only 200 ml, and you can not fill it completely to let steam appear. I would strongly suggest you to test globally your steam plant. And the steam capacity delivery will also depend on the ceramic burner you plan to use with it.
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Hi Raphael
Well you have me thinking now :((
Mike
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Bonjour Mike;
To have facts, make a steam test on a table at 30 PSI max and moderate speed, that will give you an objective possibility of your plant.
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Slowly getting there :-))
https://youtu.be/_oI3S7CWmQY (https://youtu.be/_oI3S7CWmQY)
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Bonjour Mike,
Sorry, but to my opinion, you do not have the appropriate propeller, this one goes too fast. A steam machine has a lot of torque and would run nicely, saving autonomy, at about 300 RPM in the water. I would kindly suggest you to test different propellers, especially when you have the boiler. And you have a great manufacturer with Simon (ex Propshop) to get a beautiful one when you know the best one for your plant :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGRDus7uIJQ
Personally, for my 3 cm3 bi Stephenson machines, I use steam thread 68 mm 4 blades propellers : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVl2NCWmyXA
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Hi Raphael
Yes I think you are right the prop is a 40mm 2 blade. I will try a 50mm 3 blade prop and see what performance I get from it,so it will be a starting point.
All the best
Mike
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Hi Raphael
[/size]
[/size]On a small boiler no good >:-o
https://youtu.be/UqrKqZwCiHc
https://youtu.be/UqrKqZwCiHc (https://youtu.be/UqrKqZwCiHc)
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Hi Raphael
[/size]
[/size]Now on a small engine O0 no power so go [/size]Electric[/color]
[/size][/color]
[/size]https://youtu.be/-T7KINwY4Jo
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And here we are steaming on Electric
[/size][/color]
[/size]https://youtu.be/r2uhvN4CdDUwill be going for a Cheddar steam plant in a bigger boat {-)
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Bonjour Mike,
Which pressure did you use for the test of the small engine on your table (My favorite pressure is 2 bar/30 PSI) ? Did you test her in your bath tub ? Your lauch is thin an does not need a big machine to navigate gently, the propeller is OK to my opinion :-))
This is one of my 2 cm3 boats, wider than yours, she has an autonomy of 15" but she has a whistle ok2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxAgzS4-BjQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxAgzS4-BjQ)
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Like your video, and yes tested in the bath
will show you new boat soon
All the best
Mike
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Look Forward to seeing the new boat.
Cheers
Mike
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Hi :-))
Here we have my old steam boat with I have refurbished, it now has working lights and uses a cheddar puffin twin steam engine and boiler making it a nice model Tug.
Not been in the water yet but soon
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/image/J5TDR)
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/image/J5m6G)
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(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/image/J5m6G)
https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/image/J5TDR
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/image/J5TDR)
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/image/J5F9Z)https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/image/J5F9Z
https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/image/J5m6G
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Bonjour,
Nice boat indeed, a video of her navigation would be appreciated :-))
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Coming soon I hope :}
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Well here she is first time in the water from refurb :-))
https://youtu.be/4wiy64vrZgw (https://youtu.be/4wiy64vrZgw)