4ft Model Steam Boat Project *need help*

Hi Guys,

I have acquired a model steam boat which looks like it used to work. I would like to restore it and try to see if I can get the engine working again. I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me by giving me information on what I need to do and how to get the engine running again.

any help would be greatly appreciated thanks

Aaron

Aaron Some photos and your location would help

Roy

How can I upload photos With this Microsoft software when I have a Mac and iPhone?

Works with my iPad, just got to albums at the top of the page, click new and away you go.

Paul.

Champion thanks for the help. I’m just learning the ropes. Pictures are up. 👍🏾

Looks like a beauty in the pics. But there is no easy answer to your question. Many factors will need looking at. The boiler probably the biggest one. Corrosion can cause problems over the years. And if you want to run it at public events etc boiler may need to be inspected and certified for insurance purposes etc.

Your best bet would be to contact your nearest model engineer's club and seek experienced advice there. If you look up Society of Model and Experimental Engineers you may find a list of regional clubs.

Or someone on here may be in your neck of the woods?

Before you start to strip the boiler, BEWARE. It could be lagged with Asbestos. The design looks old enough. Best to work with it in a large polythene bag, the boiler, not you. Soaking the various engine parts and tubes in a citric acid solution is a safe way to clean the Copper/Brass parts.

Regards Ian.

I know nothing about them, but I bet it will be stunning when finished.

Thanks very much guys for the feed back. Hopefully I can find someone around Gloucestershire that’s interest in restoring something like this. The boiler I will take out and be very careful. Very good advice as I didn’t know asbestos could be in there. Would it be modelled to a certain boat or just made up from nothing? Would be nice to find what the original design would of been if there was one.

Hi Aaron, where in the 'shire are you? If near to Gloucester there is a model boat club, Gloucester and District Model Boat Club which I'm in, and there are members who run live steam in the club. If close to the Herefordshire border then there is the Herefordshire Society of Model Engineers who have a wealth of steam engineering experience some of them live towards the Gloucestershire border and beyond including me.

Roger

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Thanks guys for the response. i don't to start stripping it before knowing what to do for sure. Thanks Roger for the details of those clubs. I am based in the Stroud, Dursley area. I tried looking for one local around here but i think Gloucester would be the most local club

I would think so but be don't expect them to be able to check and issue boiler certification, you really need a model engineer society to join to be able to get that boiler inspected and probably advice as to the way forward.

You have a local club SSME, it's a small club with a track but I don't think it has a workshop but there must be other local hobbyists that may be able to support/ assist you, otherwise Hereford has excellent facilities including a boating lake and they do boiler testing for their members.

I live at Ross and your welcome to come over if you would like to

Roger