Hi Gary yes 1946 Nov. but young at heart.
Rick

Good Morning Rick, well it is here in the U/K. out of curiosity, I had a look at your profile as I imagined you were young and just starting off with steam, at least I got the second bit right and discovered you were of 1947 vintage, easy to figure out as I am from 1946. That was a bit of a shock to the system, anyway I thought I would share with you the fact the TVR steam engines are manufactured in the US of A, across the border by Graham industries, almost on your door-step so to speak. Regards, Gary.

Thanks Gary will look at it in the morning .
Rick

Hi Rick, I am afraid it is me yet again, who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Despite the odds, I have managed to upload my steam engine video on to YouTube and on here, check out videos on this website and you will find it, it's a bit on the long side at twenty-five minutes, but you have to admit it runs like a Swiss watch and is very efficient in not wasting any steam. Regards, Gary.

Thanks Gary I will look at the steam engine.
Rick

Hi Rick, if you google TVR 1ABB steam engine, you will find a really neat and very good value for money steam engine. I'm afraid this is not cheap and around the £250 mark, mind it does have ball race bearings on the crankshaft. This comes as a kit of parts and you have to build it from scratch. when you have completed this task you will have a really good knowledge of exactly how a double acting slide valve engine works while putting this together, you can save up for a boiler to go with it, the instructions for building are very good almost idiot proof they must be as I have built several. Beautiful engine and powerful it will easily power a hull of one-meter length. Something to think about and Christmas is coming.

Thanks Gary for the picture I only hope when I get the steam plant I understand enough to have a plumbers nightmare.
Rick

Hi Rick, I thought you might be interested in this, it looks a bit like a plumbers nightmare, but despite that, a beautiful engine a twin cylinder TVR / USA slide valve 1/2" bore, and incredibly efficient runs on only 30 PSI steam pressure. The boiler is 3 1/2" x 6" and will run for almost 30 minutes with no water pump, carrying water adds a lot more weight.

I like that idea thanks Gary

You don't need to buy a water tank, simply build one into your hull using plywood and fibre-glass, the favourite is the sharp end simply fit a wooden bulk-head and cover it in fibre-glass.

sent you a photo of a mechanical boiler feed pump connected to an oscillating V4 engine. get on eBay and type in Microcosm steam engines. if you use a decent size boiler for your steam engine you should get 20 to 30 minutes run-time. Let me know how you get on. Regards.

Thanks Gary I have looked at their site and yes they have a pump I'm looking at I e-mailed them to find out if they do boiler water tank .
Rick

I would suggest you go on to eBay, and then type in Microcosm Steam engines in the search window,this will take you to a Chinese Company who make numerous steam engines, at very reasonable prices plus lubricators and mechanical water pumps for various engines. Let me know how you get on. I willpost youa photo of an engine with a pump fitted, one of Microcosm's engines, they do boilers as well.