RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
03-02-2008, 03:46 PM
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RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
Hello!
Here's my first model building project: a pretty much scratch built live steam wooden tugboat. I'm going to show the progress with a few pictures. I'm building slowly, partly because I don't have much time and partly because, working without a plan, I had to modify things when proportions seemed to be wrong.
The hull shape comes from the st. Canute kit from Billing Boats. I have built it using abachi wood strips. Here are some pictures of the hull building. Shaping and bending the strips around the curved parts of the hull wasn't really easy, so I devised to a planking method which allowed me tho position the strips in such a way that there would be the least amount of shaping to do.
Looking forward to talk to other live steam enthusiasts.
Here's my first model building project: a pretty much scratch built live steam wooden tugboat. I'm going to show the progress with a few pictures. I'm building slowly, partly because I don't have much time and partly because, working without a plan, I had to modify things when proportions seemed to be wrong.
The hull shape comes from the st. Canute kit from Billing Boats. I have built it using abachi wood strips. Here are some pictures of the hull building. Shaping and bending the strips around the curved parts of the hull wasn't really easy, so I devised to a planking method which allowed me tho position the strips in such a way that there would be the least amount of shaping to do.
Looking forward to talk to other live steam enthusiasts.
03-02-2008, 04:09 PM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
Am i seeing that correctly there's two part's to the hull? That's kind of silly on there part. I would of went with just one. But nicely done.
03-02-2008, 04:12 PM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
Yes you're seeing correctly. Apperently they think it is easier to build this way. On the other hand you have the problem that the halves can get curved and it is difficult to glue them together in the end.
03-02-2008, 06:59 PM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
Very well done. Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing your work and photos.
I look forward to the addition of the steam engine.
I look forward to the addition of the steam engine.
03-04-2008, 01:15 PM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
Hello!
I have coated the hull in epoxi, but didn't use fiberglass because I want the wood to show.
Here is the vertical center flue boiler, a Wilesco D49. I have customized it by adding a steam superheater in the fire tube. It is a length of brass pipe doing a loop in the fire tube and exiting through the bottom.
I have also insulated the boiler with fiberglass and covered with walnut strips. Oiled it in the end.
The burner is scratch built. It is supposed to vaporise alcohol and to feed itself from the plastic tank. It has a sliding lid to regulate the intensity of the flame.
Also, a scratch-built condenser. It's a bit small, so I might change it with a bigger one.
I have coated the hull in epoxi, but didn't use fiberglass because I want the wood to show.
Here is the vertical center flue boiler, a Wilesco D49. I have customized it by adding a steam superheater in the fire tube. It is a length of brass pipe doing a loop in the fire tube and exiting through the bottom.
I have also insulated the boiler with fiberglass and covered with walnut strips. Oiled it in the end.
The burner is scratch built. It is supposed to vaporise alcohol and to feed itself from the plastic tank. It has a sliding lid to regulate the intensity of the flame.
Also, a scratch-built condenser. It's a bit small, so I might change it with a bigger one.
03-04-2008, 01:20 PM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
The engine is a double acting V-twin with piston valves (Wilesco d49). I have insulated the cylinders with the same walnut strips and the steam pipes with cotton thread.
03-04-2008, 01:27 PM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
Installed an adjustable displacement oiler and a manometer, both bought from Modellbau Niggel. Made a frame for the servos and a pulley system to move the steam valve for speed and direction control.
03-05-2008, 06:27 AM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
Thanks. There are some videos of test runs here (tug in various stages of completion):
http://www.youtube.com/user/wat3randfir3
http://www.youtube.com/user/wat3randfir3
03-06-2008, 03:20 PM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
I also have a Wilesco D49, and have been doing a few experiments, with kerosene and alcohol. Biggest problem with kerosene has been that the flame is too hot for ordinary solders, and for some silver solders, so the brass firebox comes apart.
I'm interested in the internals of your alcohol burner. Could you describe the fittings in detail, and tell us what each bit is intended to do. Are you using methanol (wood alcohol) or ethanol?
You've done a beautiful job with all the fittings for the boiler and engine.
I'm interested in the internals of your alcohol burner. Could you describe the fittings in detail, and tell us what each bit is intended to do. Are you using methanol (wood alcohol) or ethanol?
You've done a beautiful job with all the fittings for the boiler and engine.
03-06-2008, 04:04 PM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
Please look at the attached drawing. It shows a section through my burner and tank.
It is basically a mixed wick/vaporising burner. I use it with ethanol. It has 3 small wicks which are lit to start the burner. at first they burn with a small flame. But the flame heats the brass plates inside the burner box which cause the alcohol to boil and vaporise. This produces a rather large flame, sufficient for the needs of the D49 boiler.
The lid used to regulate the flame is not shown in the drawing.
I find alcohol burners very practical. Fuel is cheap and available, they are easy to refill.
Depending on where you want your Wilesco D49 installed, you could also make a simpler wick burner. Just a brass box with enough wicks (I'd say 4 to 6 of them). And you can make it stick out from the boiler firebox is your boat allows it.
What do you plan to do with your D49?
It is basically a mixed wick/vaporising burner. I use it with ethanol. It has 3 small wicks which are lit to start the burner. at first they burn with a small flame. But the flame heats the brass plates inside the burner box which cause the alcohol to boil and vaporise. This produces a rather large flame, sufficient for the needs of the D49 boiler.
The lid used to regulate the flame is not shown in the drawing.
I find alcohol burners very practical. Fuel is cheap and available, they are easy to refill.
Depending on where you want your Wilesco D49 installed, you could also make a simpler wick burner. Just a brass box with enough wicks (I'd say 4 to 6 of them). And you can make it stick out from the boiler firebox is your boat allows it.
What do you plan to do with your D49?
03-07-2008, 09:12 AM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
I have a Billing "African Queen", which is still under construction. I've modified the Esbit fuel holder, replacing it with a square box that holds 6 fuel tablets. That aspect is satisfactory. I may try your superheating scheme. What pressure do you get on the boiler?
03-07-2008, 11:24 AM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
New episode.
Building a lid for the opening in front of the cabin and covering the boiler and engine. Also starting the planking on the rear deck.
Building a lid for the opening in front of the cabin and covering the boiler and engine. Also starting the planking on the rear deck.
03-07-2008, 04:07 PM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
My boiler does 1 bar or a little more before the safety valve opens. This is how Wilesco valves are set. One would need to change or modigy the safety valve to get more pressure, but I don't know what the maximum possible pressure is with these boilers. It could be written somewhere on their website.
Have pictures of your own boat and engine? It would be interesting if you'd start a new topic to show it.
Have pictures of your own boat and engine? It would be interesting if you'd start a new topic to show it.
03-07-2008, 08:35 PM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
The manufacturer's test pressure is 5 bar, and I would not want to go over about 2. The maker suggests a maximum operating pressure of about 1.5, which would be a safety factor of 3+. This is from the description that came with the engine. Pressure vessels are usually rated with a safety factor of 3 or more. The safety valve on mine doesn't open at 1.3 bar (assuming that the pressure gauge is accurate). And I wouldn't risk going much higher. Also, modifying safety valves could be tricky. How does one know how much to change one?
No, I don't have any photos. And I'm not far enough along to want to publish anything. I have the boiler and engine pretty well sorted out, but haven't done much on the appearance, because I wanted to be sure of the operation before I installed any of the surroundings. It's just as well - the hull is ABS, and there are a couple of places where I've had to repair small areas damaged in the process!
No, I don't have any photos. And I'm not far enough along to want to publish anything. I have the boiler and engine pretty well sorted out, but haven't done much on the appearance, because I wanted to be sure of the operation before I installed any of the surroundings. It's just as well - the hull is ABS, and there are a couple of places where I've had to repair small areas damaged in the process!
03-09-2008, 06:06 AM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
ORIGINAL: dhenrypat
The manufacturer's test pressure is 5 bar, and I would not want to go over about 2. The maker suggests a maximum operating pressure of about 1.5, which would be a safety factor of 3+. This is from the description that came with the engine. Pressure vessels are usually rated with a safety factor of 3 or more. The safety valve on mine doesn't open at 1.3 bar (assuming that the pressure gauge is accurate). And I wouldn't risk going much higher. Also, modifying safety valves could be tricky. How does one know how much to change one?
No, I don't have any photos. And I'm not far enough along to want to publish anything. I have the boiler and engine pretty well sorted out, but haven't done much on the appearance, because I wanted to be sure of the operation before I installed any of the surroundings. It's just as well - the hull is ABS, and there are a couple of places where I've had to repair small areas damaged in the process!
The manufacturer's test pressure is 5 bar, and I would not want to go over about 2. The maker suggests a maximum operating pressure of about 1.5, which would be a safety factor of 3+. This is from the description that came with the engine. Pressure vessels are usually rated with a safety factor of 3 or more. The safety valve on mine doesn't open at 1.3 bar (assuming that the pressure gauge is accurate). And I wouldn't risk going much higher. Also, modifying safety valves could be tricky. How does one know how much to change one?
No, I don't have any photos. And I'm not far enough along to want to publish anything. I have the boiler and engine pretty well sorted out, but haven't done much on the appearance, because I wanted to be sure of the operation before I installed any of the surroundings. It's just as well - the hull is ABS, and there are a couple of places where I've had to repair small areas damaged in the process!
Come on show us what you're working on, even if it's in the early stages.
03-09-2008, 08:51 AM
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RE: RC live steam tugboat / icebreaker
Be Very Careful: yes, you have to remain under the test pressure! For safety, I would NEVER go above half the test pressure, and normal practice is to stay below one-third. This practice gives a reasonable margin for error in the gauge, and also allows for the possibility of the safety valve jamming for some reason such as mechanical damage, or encrustation with water borne salts. The last thing you want is a boiler explosion in your (or someone else's) face.