The Ship Model Forum

Hi, Gav!
Let me to play with digits a little bit.
For example, you have a ballon (a fire extinguisher) with 1 litre capacity. If ( even if !!!) you put 10 bars in the ballon, and if we take 2 bars as a working pressure, it means 4,5 liter of "fuel" (after a reduction, of course). Let us take the working space of your motor 1 cub. sm. It means 4500 cycles only! With 1000 rpm of the propeller (it is normal) you have as a maximum 5 minuts for floating!
Is it correct or there is a something wrong?

With best wishes-
Anatoly.

G'day Anatoly,
Don't know how much run time I will get, all part of the experimentation. Would likely be only wanting a max rotation of 600rpm anyway, otherwise scale hull speed may be a bit high. I am looking to do this to try to do something different. I will bench run it first, make sure everything runs smooth, time it, tinker, if it doesn't work, I can still install an electric. Both the electric and compressed air scenarios have a negligible weight loss while running and so trim isn't an issue. As for a decent run time and the pressure required, if I can get up to a 10 minute run time, I will be happy. I believe that is where the fun really starts in this hobby. We never stop learning and at some point someone will come up with something that will really rock the minds of all of us.
I really enjoy this sort of discussion, I value you opinions and weigh up the options as you pose them. Please don't consider I am ignoring your warning, I appreciate it and consider my next move accordingly. Besides, if the steam engine doesn't work, I can sell it on ebay and at least get my money back, seem to be a few people out there like little steam engines (me included). Thanks for reading, and I look forward to more. On Monday I hope to start building the motor. If anyone wants me to post pics of the engine build, just ask and I will add this, else, I will just continue once I have completed building the motor.
Regards,
Gav

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One thing you never want to hear from the Ammo tech - "Oops"

Hi, Gav!
Yes, it is wery interesting to see your work with the motor- especially the "table probes"! And how you want to solve problems with the "dead start" (You will use only two cylinders if I don't mistaked) and with a direction of the rotation- may be, combination with a electrical motor?
Keep us updating!
With best regards-
Anatoly

G'day guys,
Well, Since the last post just could not get the time I needed to build the steam plant, so bought another electric motor and put it in, made a 5mm to 10mm coupler with a rubber universal joint.

I made this from a piece of bronze rod and made the grub screws from a couple of small bolts and filed in the screw driver slot. All simple stuff there. The motor is mounted on a plate of aluminium that was bent and drilled to fit the motor and this was glued to the bulkheads with epoxy glue. I then bought a large battery, placed it in the hull and used Styrofoam to lock it into position and with the radio gear fitted, put it into a half full bath and started the ballasting process. I needed just over a kilogram of lead sinkers and these were also glued in with epoxy glue.

Here she is floating at the right depth and ready to go.

Here is a link to the youtube video of her going around a mates pool:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMq_zAXo ... e=youtu.be

After her first dip, checked the interior and to my great relief, no water. Looks like the "o" ring and the bronze bushes did there job well.
Boss is now happy, her tug is ready to ply the waters of the lakes just down the road from us. If there is any interest, I will take some footage of the event and post the link to the youtube video.
I thank everyone for their interest. The plans for the next addition to the Flotilla haven't arrived yet, however, it will have the hull entirely built of steel.
Final note, after adding up all the receipts I could find for bits and pieces, including the radio gear, motor, batteries and plans $486 AUS. Radio gear, motor and ESC came from Hobbyking, the rest came from Loyalhanna. (this was not meant to be a plug, just info)

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One thing you never want to hear from the Ammo tech - "Oops"

Looks like a relatively large turning radius. (just an observation, no pun intended). Great boat though!!! Did you run her full speed already?
Of course we are interested to see her in more open waters.
Love the detailing of those plates on the bulwark, it really gives the extra touch. Are you planning to keep the motor or do you intend to make a steam plant in the end? And are you going to add a smoke generator if you don't make the steamplant?

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The merchant shipyard

Hey Neptune,
It is a large radius of turn, but I was only running it on 1/4 speed. Wasn't game to open her up flat out until on the lake. For a vessel without Bilge keels she has surprisingly little roll. I am planning on keeping her electric and not doing anything further to her at this time. As a future upgrade, I may re-do the Wheelhouse and make all the lights work, put in a smoke generator and a horn simulator. For now, just happy to have finished it to the point where the wife can use it (play with it )
The plates on the sides are stainless steel, hard to work with. The stuff is hard and doesn't drill or file anywhere near as easily as mild steel or other soft metals. If I get a chance over the weekend, or early next week, will see what I can do about some lake footage
Thanks for the post.
Regards to all

_________________
One thing you never want to hear from the Ammo tech - "Oops"

Hey guys, here is a link to the tug on the water. Just copy and paste into your browser
http://youtu.be/zSGnJ1oPkzE
New prop on her from Raboesch works a treat.

_________________
One thing you never want to hear from the Ammo tech - "Oops"