Creating A Real Stem Engine Model

H

Ho Modeler

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Creating A Real Steam Engine Model

I have been in search for plans for an actual steam engine and info on how one works.

So far i cant find much.
Now I wanted to try something I didnt think anyone had done before.

My plan is to make a brass Steam engine that could theoretically run under steam power.
Anyone got any information on how one works?
Or any ideas what i could use to safely create a heat source.
Or ideas on parts to use?

I could also use actual plans for a steam engine.

Eric
 
F

Fred_M

You might want to checK out Live Steam Magazine for kits and build one before you set out on your own scratch build. Live steam models can be very dangerous and explode. FRED
 
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Freelancer

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When you say that you want to try something that you didnt think anyone had done before, are you meaning to make an HO scale live steam engine? I can't remember exactly, but I thought that I saw an advertisement in a recent issue of "Model Railroader" for a small scale live steam engine. Used the power from the track to heat the water or something like that. I am not sure, maybe someone else remembers seeing that. In the mean time I will thumb through a couple issues to see what I can find.

I too had the dream of doing live steam, but I am not mechanically inclined enough to manage, and I would most likely kill myself. I never did have any luck on finding free instructions on the Internet, you will most likely have to purchase an instruction book. My former boss has a live steam engine but cannot operate it because he doesn't have the correct licensing for the boiler or something.

Good Luck!

Freelancer
 
F

Fred_M

Actually guys, live steam model locos pre-date electrics by many decades. They were making "roughly" O scale ones way back in the latter part of the 19th century along with clockwork locos you would wind up. There is a link in my first post to the monthly magazine Live Steam Magazine. http://www.livesteam.net/ FRED
 
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cidchase

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Hi Eric,
Hornby is currently making a Mallard Live Steamer in OO (1:76).
I haven't seen one running but I'm sure someone on the board
has. The track power is used to create the steam.
I think someone on this forum was working on a similar project
some time back, don't remember exactly, they were having some draft
problems with the smoke flow.
 
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jon-monon

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OK Eric, you're gunna need a mini lathe! :D :D :D

First off, you have to get in line behind me; thay are on back order :D :D :D

Are you in our yahoo group? Sorry, I can't tell unless your yahoo ID is the same as your gauge name :~o I have some info I can share through the group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The-gauge/

In fact, why don't you join the pub group if you want, that way I don't have to delete stuff to make it fit:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the-gauge-pub/

Now for the lathe, http://www.mini-lathe.com/ tells you all you need to know.

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/ has even more information. They have a free users guide, directed towards the novice (mini-lathe users guide), umong other reference: http://www.littlemachineshop.com/Reference/reference.php and a buyers guide: http://www.littlemachineshop.com/Info/minilathe_compare.php

Now, the most important thing, after reading all that :D :D :D join the-gauge of mini-lathe users, the 7 X 10 mini-lathe group, with over 3500 lathe owners: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/7x10minilathe/ and optionally the mini-lathe projects groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mlprojects/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mlprojects2/ and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mlprojects3/ You will find steam projects and plans umong these groups (check files sections) (HINT HINT)

Trac-38.jpg
:eek:

There is also a 7 X 12 group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/7x12minilathe/

These groups are all newby friendly. Haven't seen one flame. Yup, I've been looking into a lathe :D :D :D
 
Ray Marinaccio

Ray Marinaccio

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I've posted this photo here before a long time ago. This was built without a lathe.
I have had it running on 20PSI. of air preasure.
I was planning on using solid fuel pellets but was having problems with draw through the flues. I am thinking of redesigning the boiler with one large flue and modifying a butane torch head for the burner with a preasure regulated burner control.
Do a web search on steam locomotive valve gear to find info on timing and valve gear design.
 

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chipmonk

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eric, if i were you i would attempt this project in a larger scale first, perhaps O, i seem to remember when i was about 6-7(10 years ago) my father got me a small live steam engine that was supposed to be a model of a stationary steam engine, used say for a saw mill or factory, it was not a "scale" model but the boiler was about the size of a descent sized 0 scale loco. did i mention it actually worked?! i of course being quite young thought it was great, but we only ran it a few times before the fuel ran out, (these little white bricks about 1" by 1/4" that we placed under the boiler and lit. there was some fairly simple tubing and one piston that drove a flywheel. the flywheel could be hooked up to a small stamped tin figure whose hand would move back and forth while holding a saw. it was pretty interesting i wish i still had it. it cam complete with whistle and everything, a fully functional steam engine that could theoretically by put on rails, with some fabrication of course. i would asume that someone still makes these as i think i saw one for sale....somewhere maybe a year or so ago. a search on google could turn up some results.
Be sure to post some pics when you get this project started!

Anyway i hope this helps, good luck
Chris :thumb:
 
Ray Marinaccio

Ray Marinaccio

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Eric,
I really haven't decided if I'm going to finish this one or start over now that I have a lathe and milling machine.
I am thinking of building a larger boilered 4-8-4.
 
Ray Marinaccio

Ray Marinaccio

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Yea , it is alot of fun to play with.
Opening the throtle (a small spool valve between the cylinders) and adjusting speed and direction by moving the reverse lever.
Once it fell off the blocks I had it set up on and it took off across the bench. It was stopped by the 3' aquarium air line that was attached. What a rush, I had visions of it bouncing off the floor.
 
Ray Marinaccio

Ray Marinaccio

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Jon,
I found a Sherline model 4400 lathe and a model 5400 milling machine at a pawn shop. Included with the deal was a home made wood base with drawers that had all kinds of accessories, micrometers and a dial indicator.
These are nice machines. Here's a link to the Sherline site.

http://www.sherline.com/
 

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krokodil

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jon-monon said:
OK Eric, you're gunna need a mini lathe! :D :D :D

First off, you have to get in line behind me; thay are on back order :D :D :D

Are you in our yahoo group? Sorry, I can't tell unless your yahoo ID is the same as your gauge name :~o I have some info I can share through the group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The-gauge/

In fact, why don't you join the pub group if you want, that way I don't have to delete stuff to make it fit:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the-gauge-pub/

Now for the lathe, http://www.mini-lathe.com/ tells you all you need to know.

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/ has even more information. They have a free users guide, directed towards the novice (mini-lathe users guide), umong other reference: http://www.littlemachineshop.com/Reference/reference.php and a buyers guide: http://www.littlemachineshop.com/Info/minilathe_compare.php

Now, the most important thing, after reading all that :D :D :D join the-gauge of mini-lathe users, the 7 X 10 mini-lathe group, with over 3500 lathe owners: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/7x10minilathe/ and optionally the mini-lathe projects groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mlprojects/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mlprojects2/ and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mlprojects3/ You will find steam projects and plans umong these groups (check files sections) (HINT HINT)

Trac-38.jpg
:eek:

There is also a 7 X 12 group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/7x12minilathe/

These groups are all newby friendly. Haven't seen one flame. Yup, I've been looking into a lathe :D :D :D
Click to expand...


Not only that, you need also lot of special materials and the skills to work with them (stainless steel etc.) is not that easy, and finally when your locomotive is ready (we have some in our 1 scale club) it is an absolute challenge to use them, as the reaction of the real steam is completely different from an electromotor driven mechanism - after lot of fingerburning and damages etc. :mad: I prefer the good old electric motors......... :eek:
 
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