Model Boat Mayhem

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length.
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Msm Mildura steam plant info needed !  (Read 1737 times)

red_noir

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 5
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: canada
Msm Mildura steam plant info needed !
« on: November 19, 2020, 10:37:27 pm »

Hello everyone!


I’m looking at purchasing a MSM Mildura steam plant from msm.
Does anyone have any experience with this  plant? Good or bad.....
I originally wanted a Stuart d10 but the msm engines look so nice!!


I’m hoping to put it inside an Orion mouldings holmsider tug.  hull length 46” beam of 13”


Logged

DBS88

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 492
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: Surrey
Re: Msm Mildura steam plant info needed !
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2020, 11:17:36 pm »

That’s a big heavy engine with no reverse, it weighs nearly 2kg, is 3/4 inch bore and stroke, so will need to be matched to a powerful boiler. Have you considered smaller engines that will give you a lot longer running time from the available steam?
Logged

red_noir

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 5
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: canada
Logged

rhavrane

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 883
  • Steam passionate collector
  • Location: Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, France
Re: Msm Mildura steam plant info needed !
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2020, 07:50:45 am »

Bonjour,
Technically, it is possible to install a D10 in a "small" (1,20 m/ 20 kilos) tug hull, I did it in my Jan : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utYZJDJPBVg that gives a powerful boat : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqrJScYCvXA or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmxepI3cwOc  :-))

But this means you can install only a small boiler, so if you wish autonomy, you would appreciate a coupled pump:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKRDUUG4dxI

Dave, the "D10 like" Mildura has a Stephenson reverse version, to ba coupled with a marine wheel, mandatory to my opinion on a boat I agree with you, it is just a little bit more expensive  ok2
Logged
Raphaël
Raphaëlopoulos Steam Lines UnLimited
Membre du Modele Yacht Club de Paris http://mycparis.fr/
Membre de l'Offshore Club de Paris : http://site-ocparis.wifeo.com/
My YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/rhavrane

red_noir

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 5
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: canada
Re: Msm Mildura steam plant info needed !
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2020, 06:26:06 pm »

Bonjour,
Technically, it is possible to install a D10 in a "small" (1,20 m/ 20 kilos) tug hull, I did it in my Jan : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utYZJDJPBVg that gives a powerful boat : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqrJScYCvXA or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmxepI3cwOc  :-))

But this means you can install only a small boiler, so if you wish autonomy, you would appreciate a coupled pump:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKRDUUG4dxI

Dave, the "D10 like" Mildura has a Stephenson reverse version, to ba coupled with a marine wheel, mandatory to my opinion on a boat I agree with you, it is just a little bit more expensive  ok2


What is the dimensions of your hull length and beam? Great videos btw !!!
Logged

rhavrane

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 883
  • Steam passionate collector
  • Location: Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, France
Re: Msm Mildura steam plant info needed !
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2020, 07:53:37 pm »

Bonjour,
Length : 1,20 m = 47", Beam = 30 cm = 12" for >= 20 kilos
Pushing a heavy load is never a problem    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPPux5exRNE  but turn too fast when pulling a boat weighing more than 400 kilos is less funny https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-R29YkaoWI&t=10s
Logged
Raphaël
Raphaëlopoulos Steam Lines UnLimited
Membre du Modele Yacht Club de Paris http://mycparis.fr/
Membre de l'Offshore Club de Paris : http://site-ocparis.wifeo.com/
My YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/rhavrane

carlfmiller

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 115
  • Model Boats + Model Trains + Model Planes!!
Re: Msm Mildura steam plant info needed !
« Reply #6 on: January 16, 2021, 09:07:25 pm »

I have a Mildura and some experience with it. Not all good, but I think it is a great steam plant and should work for you since my problem may have been "one off". I couldn't hold steam pressure for more than a few minutes, and tried many different fixes with the help of MSM. These involved adjusting the flame and warming the fuel tank to prevent it chilling, but nothing seemed to work, so I sent it back to Australia.  I did not attempt disassembly. They said they did nothing to fix or change anything, but in a Skype conference they showed me the Mildura would operate and maintain 20psi WP-- but they fueled the burner from a large fuel tank, not the small refillable tank.  The only theory that explained anything was that perhaps a slide valve had not seated on the valve face until it was subjected to transportation handling. Unlikely, but plausible and as I say, the only theory, since I had been doing exactly what they told me to do including my own innovation of making a heat transfer copper block to warm the gas tank.  During the time it was back to the factory, I installed an electric motor and smoker in my 72" launch Jax. Then I got busy building other steam launches and I have not gotten back to prove that Mildura will work in Jax.


I do think, based on what I saw in my Skype conference with MSM, that the burner uses gas so fast it chills the little tank. I replaced the refillable tank with a 3" Pendle tank in the hope that will solve that problem. Prior to that I used a copper heat transfer block between the boiler and the gas tank and that stopped the chilling. I also stopped using the 4 cylinder relief valves as they seem to be unnecessary.


MSM provided me a movie showing the Mildura at work with its Stephenson reverser. The MSM steam plant is beautifully made and I can only say that my problem was a mystery and I would not expect on every Mildura. In spite of the long time this problem took, I was glad for the excellent customer service provided by Mr Stuart Rowe at MSM. I look forward to seeing Jax on the pond under steam.  Under electric power the launch looks terrific: 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNwwlWkZSE4

Here are a couple of photos of the Mildura and my Windemere launch Jax (together with my Grandson Jax.  I'd be happy to provide additional detail if you like.




-Carl


Logged

carlfmiller

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 115
  • Model Boats + Model Trains + Model Planes!!
Re: Msm Mildura steam plant info needed !
« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2021, 10:18:44 pm »

One last note:  this video would not post in this forum, so I put it up on You tube. Although I got it from MSM, it was made quite some time ago and I am not sure they would still agree with the narrative.  For instance they say the see WP normally at 50-60 psi and as I mentioned in the previous post, this is more likely to be 20psi.  Also the safety valve they say is set to 75 psi but they really want it set to 60psi, and they instruct the owner to set it for himself; it is not pre-set.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E89Bn_tcD7Y&feature=youtu.be




If you search Mildura on YouTube there are other videos.


Good luck and I hope you make the purchase if you want this big engine.  A slightly smaller steam plant, similar in nature, is Microcosm's M29 which comes equipped with a gas attenuation valve. I had this running right out of the box, the gas valve really does a great job. Videos on that are on YouTube as well.


Your tug sounds like a beamy boat with plenty of displacement and I am sure the Mildura would cut the mustard.


-Carl
Logged

rhavrane

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 883
  • Steam passionate collector
  • Location: Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, France
Re: Msm Mildura steam plant info needed !
« Reply #8 on: January 16, 2021, 10:54:35 pm »

Bonjour Carl,
I have several D10 and based on what I see on MSM video, to my opinion, the burner and the gas tank are quite too small to feed correctly a 20 cm3.
For these big machines, all my burners are torch for horizontal burners and consumes between 250 and 350 grams of gas per hour, that freezes my tanks, this is why I always install large ones (about 80 mm x 100 mm).

Furthermore, the boiler we see is also quite small, it is easier to heat but you can't have a good autonomy (once again, it is just my opinion).

As an example, here is the D10 I tested today, you will see the size of the tank and the burner, the boiler is small but very effective, so it heats quite easily and I have again a coupled pump : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqgnnKakl_o

Counter-examplehttps, even with a relatively large boiler and 2 x 140 g/h torches, my tug Côte d'Emeraude has just 20 minutes of autonomy :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSOSj89BY_M
Logged
Raphaël
Raphaëlopoulos Steam Lines UnLimited
Membre du Modele Yacht Club de Paris http://mycparis.fr/
Membre de l'Offshore Club de Paris : http://site-ocparis.wifeo.com/
My YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/rhavrane

xrad

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 602
  • Keeper of the Sun Dried Tomato
  • Location: Ohio USA
Re: Msm Mildura steam plant info needed !
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2021, 02:10:19 am »

red-noir:
I have two mildura engines. They do require a good amount of steam pressure and volume compared to smaller oscillating engine like the MSM clyde or PM research #8.  I have one mildura in a 50 inch very heavy launch. It has more power than needed.  That launch has a ~500ml boiler which heats up quickly, but has an auto fill shuttle valve feed pump.


The second mildura or a similar volume stuart twin marine is going into a 52-53" tug with a ~900ml boiler, steams quickly, and will also have a duplex feed pump.


both of these engines are overpowered for the models and easily turn 3" to 5" props, but they look great...so it's a tough decision...


I would say that less than 50"...go with a smaller engine.
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
 

Page created in 0.091 seconds with 21 queries.