What size steam plant?

Hi there!

Newbie to the forums, just starting to set up My workshop but enduring a forced layup due to health problems, so it has given Me time to think forward to a first ME Project.

Been model building for many years,more recently boats, and I have a Mountfleet Sir Lancelot started, shaft and rudder in, inwales smoothed and deck beams fitted ready for deck.

Was planning to fit a Bueler 12v motor but now My thoughts are leaning towards a live steam installation, I'm thinking maybe a Stuart D10, to give Me a relatively steady ease in and combine two projects.

Model is approx. 56" long beam 10" and displacement at about 45 lbs.

Has anybody done one or similar?

Any suggestions on the engine size and suitable boiler size would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Pete

Would be worth reading through this extensive build thread. Starts off with the similar size hull but then there is a fair bit about the modified D10 and the boiler and plant to power it.

Edited By JasonB on 09/06/2019 18:30:11

The D10 is a bit big for any sensible sized model so you end up running at a low pressure with wet steam. Look at the Reeves Borderer which I think has smaller bores and looks more like a marine plant too.

Hi there!

Thank You for the replies Gentleman!

Hmm..... food for thought there, in a direct comparison, the Borderer is a good fit,being more compact and not as high ( I've heard that the Sir Lancelot can be a little tender in the roll (Keep the weight low), but the D10 kit is a bit more complete, BUT, the reversing gear for the D10 adds considerably to it's cost!

Not sure about Reeves castings,read some mixed reviews,and Stuart have been around a while.......

Athestically, I like the look of both of them, but as Bazyle says,the Borderer has got a bit more of a marine look to it....

At a quick glance they would both fit in the available space,but being a complete water vapour tyro, I do not know about the power differences between engines, hence the shout for help!!

Thanks for the link to the D10 build Jason, I'll go and have a good read!

Once again, thank You Gentleman!

Cheers, Pete

PS. Just found the drawings and castings for Edgar Westbury's Warrior on Reeves site similar size to the Borderer ,been watching Keith Appleton's steamboat restoration on Youtube,He rates this engine but I don't know if reversing gear is feasible on it.

Edited By Morty on 09/06/2019 22:31:52

Edited By Morty on 09/06/2019 22:52:05

Edited By Morty on 09/06/2019 22:53:50

Hi Pete there is an alternative to reversing gear and that's a valve that ported to reverse the steam from inlet to exhuast that reverses the motor and can control speed all in one unit hope this helps I have a d10 and it will work like that