This is a fun boat!
With a steam engine that really runs, it is quite a crowd pleaser.
The tank and parts are brass, and silver soldered together. The heat source is sterno, placed in the tray and Ignited. This boils distilled water in the boiler, which is vented to the piston. The hole in the freeboard is the "exaust".
I'll have to post a video of it operating.
Howdy,
It runs pretty good. The 3 blade screw pushes it right along.
Have you had your engine running since you put it together? I've been experimenting with different types of fuel, one that would be more controlable with temperature to try and limit output. Right now its all or nothing.
I'll post a video soon.
Yes I did run it with the solid fuel but that is what has put me off. I have thought about building a small gas fired boiler- I built a 3''dia vertical boiler for another boat- just wondered if it was worth it. I have a two foot hull which might suit it- or it might be too heavy -what sort ofweight is your fantail all up? I know that was designed for the plant.
What other fuels have you tried? it would be nice to see a video when you get round to it- always interesting
I've at last done something with my mystery Orange hull, featured earlier, whilst in St Lucia last year I saw a launch used as diving support with almost identical shape called 'KIKA' so that's what it had to be!
Power from an old 600 Johnson type motor with 7.5v battery and 20A ESC, with prop & running gear from my oddments box. Tried her at Mangerton Mill last week, she goes well but needs a more powerful ESC as 15A fuses blow at 3/4 power, also veneer deck has started to bubble - so work in progress really!
HI All,
Thought you might like to see some pics of my RTTL. 35" long and built from the Vic Smeed plan. She is powered by 2 belt driven 480 motors with 2 speed controllers and 2 7.2 NiMH batteries. Based on the boat stationed in the Maldives in the 1960's.
Dave.
My model of Soclaine (MGS) Built in 1985. Trawler kit originally called le Zenith 1/24 Scale. My name change is in memory of our beautifull daughter who went to heaven just over four years ago. Anyhow model is beautifull on the water powered by Como MFA 919 Series Electric Motor.
All power is from a lead acid 12 volt battery,lights, running gear . Using a simple set up of two channel Planet T5 Radio.
I sail the boat at Rutherglen Boat Club Glasgow. The weight of this boat is really awesome and I kept adding lead untill it was nearly Impossible to lift,must be getting soft in me old age.. 👍 lol Deck crane is made from odds n ends and an addition..IAN
Dear friend Dennis
Your kind words mean so very much to us and we thank you most sincerely for such a kind thought..Yes our wee lass was truly the gentlest kindest human being you could Imagine..See her here http://cheryl.hamilton.muchloved.com
My fist at attempt not that great I know built from scratch using old wood from the garage cutting it into 1mm thick planks and double planking it and spliting 6mm ply to get 2mm, found some old veneer to do the deck,Powerd by two 480 electric motors 7.2.
Only had the bath test at the moment but hoping get on the water soon at Fariford leys Aylesbury
HI John, for a first attempt at scratch building that looks very good. The plan I built from had no info at all just line drawing of the out line three view, placement of the bulkheads and of course the actual bulkheads. You can see from my blog how I built the basic hull. But I have built and flown planes since 1968 and would shudder to think what I put into the air in the early days let alone the dodgy radio gear (reeds!) So keep trying it is all a big learning curve, Thanks for your input Brian
I used to live in West Bromwich and regularly made the trip to Walsall to SH Graingers to lust over the 36" Black Cigarette they had in the window. I remember the Surfury being available to scratch build on MAP plans and I was put off as it was a planked hull so never made one. Nice models, especially like the Irvine powered boat, nothing like the smell and noise of a 10cc glowplug engine at full tilt.
Built out of house guttering to a scale equivalent to model railways HO the layout is approx. 4 x 3 ft. Mounted in a wooden frame and provided with a protective see through cover it fits into the car and can go anywhere. it has been an on-going project to build RC boats to suit. Those used at present are commercial products (loa 5" (125mm)) with simple two channel two prop drives - not proportional but with forward and reverse and by operating one or both props plus reverse steering is OK. Battery life limited to 6-8 minutes with similar recharge time. Built largely from scrap and odds and ends the project cost well under £80. The idea is/was to have several units and link them together to make a large layout!
RTR minI electric speed boat with proportional 2CH RC. 280mm loa (11")
Good boat and fast. Watercooled brushed motor. Normal problem with commercial mini-boats is lack of proportional RC but this is fine. Battery life about ten minutes - low freeboard and takes on water but electrics/RC have proven resistant to regular swamping!
I liked your boat. I also have an 11 inch boat with an extended exterior rudder that brings the length to 13 inches. Mabe the exterior ruder helps to keep water out of the boat this sort of rudder is seen on gas boats in usa.
Just to tell you that I really like your minI Schooner and it seem to sail well also- I have often toyed with the idea of building a footie but so far hav'nt got around to it - keep up the good work
Hi, Thanks. Go for the footy! While this was fun to build there aren't that many days when I get a good sail out of this one. The wind close to the water is very awkward and models need to be tall (in proportion to the length) which makes 'scale' models indifferent sailors. Still worth building but a footy (in all its forms) provides a greater range of good sailing conditions.
I have a scale footy Thames Sailing Barge (scratch built to my own design) and while good it to can't compete with Footy Class boats for the variety of conditions that are good for sailing.
It runs pretty good. The 3 blade screw pushes it right along.
Have you had your engine running since you put it together? I've been experimenting with different types of fuel, one that would be more controlable with temperature to try and limit output. Right now its all or nothing.
I'll post a video soon.
Larry
Yes I did run it with the solid fuel but that is what has put me off. I have thought about building a small gas fired boiler- I built a 3''dia vertical boiler for another boat- just wondered if it was worth it. I have a two foot hull which might suit it- or it might be too heavy -what sort ofweight is your fantail all up? I know that was designed for the plant.
What other fuels have you tried? it would be nice to see a video when you get round to it- always interesting