Sources For Saito Steam Plants

[ir3]

Does anyone know if Saito is actually distributing Steam Engines. I have exhaustively searched the Internet, emailed several hobby shops that indicate that they carry Saito Steam Engines and I am coming up blanks. Most shops indicate an 8 - 10 week delivery. Is Saito building to order and thus the lead time or what??? If anyone has any info shedding light on the subject please post or contact me offline. I am specifically interested in the Y2DR engine and the B2F boiler for the Saito Delta Queen. If anyone can suggest a substitute horizontal engine that would fit or anyone that has installed a vertical engine in the same model please let me know.

Thanks in advance,

Iran Ausley

[Eddy Matthews]

Iran,

As far as I know, Saito has only ever built engines to order - So you order, and they make it.....  I've never heard of any hobby shop actually having them in stock.

I may be wrong, but as far as I know that's correct...

Regards
Eddy

[derekwarner_decoy]

Oh dear PD's.....sorry for the long & disjointed following story..........Derek
_______________________________________________

From: Derek Warner-Contract Facilitator
Sent: Tuesday, 24 August 2010 7:38 PM
To: Tetsuya Mizutani
Subject: Saito T-Y2DR Japanese Model Steam Engine

Dear Tetsuya...I do appreciate your efforts in trying to resolve this issue....but looks like we must purchase via the long & very expensive supply chain
 
Again my best regards....thankyou..........Derek
________________________________________
From: Tetsuya Mizutani [t.mizutani@rasaco.co.jp]
Sent: Tuesday, 24 August 2010 6:57 PM
To: Derek Warner-Contract Facilitator
Subject: Re: Saito T-Y2DR Japanese Model Steam Engine
Dear Derek,
 
My simple question to you.
What is the purpose for you to purchase "Saito" steam engine ?
 
I contacted Saito again, and they insisted that they sell their products directly to Hobby Headquarters. Saito clearly refused to sell the engine directly to us, and seggested to contact an distributor in Japan. I contacted the distributor and they told me that I should purchase the engine from their internet shopping site !!
For your information, the distributor doesn't have any stock of the steam engine, either.
 
I am now concerning about unexpected trouble in export customs clearing becuase I don't believe that Saito or the distributor in Japan will give any help to me.
 
Sorry, but I would like to recommend you to place an order with Hobby Headquartes or their sales outlet.
 
With my best regards
 
Tetsuya Mizutani
Rasa Corporation, Tokyo


 
2010/8/24 Derek Warner-Contract Facilitator <DWarner@berendsen.com.au>
Dear Tetsuya – I spoke with the principal of Hobby Headquarters & he advised/implied that they purchase from a Japanese distributor & not from Saito – regards Derek
 
________________________________________
From: Tetsuya Mizutani [mailto:t.mizutani@rasaco.co.jp]
Sent: Tuesday, 24 August 2010 12:39 PM

To: Derek Warner-Contract Facilitator
Subject: Re: Saito T-Y2DR Japanese Model Steam Engine
 
Dear Derek,
 
Before I try to contact Saito again, please let me reconfirm the following point.
 
Saito products are being sold to the Australian agent, Hobby Headquarters by an agent in Japan, and not directly by Saito ?
 
With my best regards
 
Tetsuya Mizutani
Rasa Corporation, Tokyo


 
2010/8/24 Derek Warner-Contract Facilitator <DWarner@berendsen.com.au>
Thank you very much Tetsuya……the marketing by Saito is crazy
 
Saito only sell to Japanese distributors who don’t carry stock
The Japanese distributor only sells to an Australian importer who doesn’t carry stock & will not sell to me & will sell only to a sales outlet
I must purchase from a sales outlet that also doesn’t carry stock
 
Is there any way you could re ask directly on Saito if they would sell one piece Saito T-Y2DR engine?.....& then Berendsen could purchase directly from Rasa Co
 
I understand about the two months manufacturing time
 
Best regards
Derek
________________________________________
From: Tetsuya Mizutani [mailto:t.mizutani@rasaco.co.jp]
Sent: Tuesday, 24 August 2010 11:21 AM
To: Derek Warner-Contract Facilitator
Subject: Re: Japanese Model Steam Engine - Saito T-Y2DR
 
Dear Mr. Derek Warner,
 
Sorry for my late reply !!
I was away from the office last week because of summer holiday.
 
I contacted Saito Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
Website of Saito is http://www.saito-mfg.com , but only Japanese version is available.
 
According to Saito, they have an exclusive agent / distributor in Australia.
Contact details of the agent are:-
 
Hobby Headquarters Pty. Ltd.
32/398 The Boulevarde,
Kirrawee 2232, NSW
TEL: 02-9545-1944
FAX: 02-9545-1340
 
Please try to contact the agent in Australia once.
 
However, Saito tell me that the agent perhaps doesn't have any stock of steam engine T-Y2DR.
Normally the steam engine is manufactured by Saito only after getting a firm order.
Saito advise me that delivery will be 2 months after receipt of order.
 
I don't know the reason, but Saito cannot sell their products directly to us.
Saito suggest me to try to contact their 2 distributors in Japan if necessary.
 
Anyway, I do hope that the information could be help for you.
 
With my best regards
 
Tetsuya Mizutani
Rasa Corporation, Tokyo


 
2010/8/17 Derek Warner-Contract Facilitator <DWarner@berendsen.com.au>
Hi Tetsuya – as you can read, I am having great difficultly in obtaining price & delivery in Australia for a Japanese built model steam engine by Saito model is T-Y2DR
 
I previously communicated directly with a French manufacturer & purchased directly a French steam engine, but cannot find any WEB connection to Saito in Japan
 
I would greatly appreciate if you could help me with a contact in Japan….regards Derek
__________________________________________________________________________
 From: Derek Warner-Contract Facilitator [mailto:DWarner@berendsen.com.au]
Sent: Friday, 13 August 2010 11:09 AM
To: sales@hobbyparts.com.au
Cc: Derek L Warner Pty Ltd
Subject: Saito T-Y2DR
Hi - could I please ask a few questions
1. Cost & availability for a Saito T-Y2DR horizontal steam engine delivered FIS in Wollongong 2500 [NSW]
2. I cannot see a fly wheel fitted to the T-Y2DR in any of the WEB photographs’…..but all other Saito steam engines have them installed
3. What is the diameter of the output crank shaft?
I currently have a French JMC 3H [3cc] horizontal steam engine awaiting installation however this is too small, hence the need for the 9cc Saito
Regards Derek
 Derek Warner
Contract Facilitator
Berendsen Fluid Power Pty Ltd
4-6 Brady Street,
Berkeley NSW 2506
P +61 02 4229 7333
M 0419409683
E dwarner@berendsen.com.au
W www.berendsen.com.au
 

[steamboatmodel]

LHD has them listed on there site,
http://www.loyalhannadockyard.com/
Considering the prices of most commercial units, I would invest in Mills and Lathes and build my own.
Regards,
Gerald.

[ir3]

Phew. My experience so far matches Derek's frustration. What a way to do business. My reason for that particular steam engine is that the Delta Queen is basically set up for that engine. I am not a machinist so building my own is not in the cards. Hobby People, Europe, seems to indicate that they can get the engine with the usual 2 month delay and the price is very competitive compared to most of the others. I will just order it from them and wait out the delivery time.

Thanks for the responses. I am just getting into steam and find it absolutely fascinating.

Iran Ausley

[Red_Hamish]

Hi Iran, good to see the tenaciousness shine through. The wait will be worth it once you get the hull and the boiler & engine fitted. Obviously we all would love to see some photos as you progress no matter how slowly.

cheers

Jim

p.s.  I've got a Paddle Tug in the workshop which is seriously neglected but will be completed one day 

[ir3]

There will definitely be a build thread. I am working on the Dusseldorf Fireboat and as soon as that is finished the Delta Queen is next. I think the first thing I will do is build a paddle wheel that is worthy of the model. Hopefully a more to scale wheel will work just as well as the one in the kit. The one in the kit really distracts from looks of this boat. I have no experience to fall back on so when I do make a new wheel the thread will be in the Paddle wheel forum. I will need all the help I can get.

Until then.

Iran

[kiwimodeller]

I am sure you will find it worth the wait when you do get the engine. I have had a Saito V4 for several years and it still runs beautifully on just a small amount of steam. The boilers and in particular the burners do not however have as good a reputation. I had a T2D (non reversing) but sold it to a friend without ever trying it. He has used it and the engine goes very well but he changed from the Saito brass boiler and pressurized burner to a copper boiler and ceramic burner and found these much less finicky to operate. Perhaps you could order the engine but get a boiler and burner from someone like Maccsteam in the UK. Cheers, Ian.