Another steam powered sternwheeler "Ville des Bruges"

[Hankwilliams]

Hi friends and neighbors,

some pictures of my "Ville des Bruges".
I draw the plan after the antique woodengraving. The boat is in the type of  african sternwheelers. On river Congo a "Ville des Bruges" exist, but I didn`t have had illustrations to make an authentic plan of her. So I named my sternwheeler in this way.
Dimensions are: Lenght 142 cm, breadth 30 cm, draft ca. 3 cm. Propulsion gives a modified Regner engine , bore 12 mm and stroke 36 mm.
The boat is quite handsome, only the engine doesn`t like very much to go backwarts, may be the adjustment of the slides must be improved.

Some more pictures of her in operation I`ll send a little later.

Thomas

[Hankwilliams]

Now some more pictures of "ville des Bruges" in service...

[derekwarner_decoy]

Very nice Hank  .....at 12 x 36...[~~15cc] that engine must be thirsty for steam  ......is that also a Regner gas tank & horizontal boiler?... do you have a boiler feed pump?

I suppose the engine low RPM would help......but what sort of running time do you get?.......

From the Regner catalogue, I cannot see engine components that could be modified for 36 stroke

More detail and images of the engine & boiler etc would be appreciated.......Derek 

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Derek,

the boiler and also the gas tank I made by brass tubes usual by trade, they are silver soldered. The dimensions of the boiler are slightly oversized (100 mm diameter, lenght 200 mm, with one non return flametube of 28 mm diameter) because  the model doesn`t have a feed pump. Running time is sufficient - between 40 to 50 minutes.
I have the 2013 Regner catalogue, the engine is named " die liegende 12/36". This piston geared engine normally has a Stephenson gear, I use a simple reverse valve. Steam consumption is not so much - RPM are normally 70 - 90 - this will get a good  and scale corresponding speed.
Tomorrow I will send with pleasure some detailed pictures of boiler and engine.

Thomas

[derekwarner_decoy]

Thanks Thomas......I was looking for a horizontal twin cylinder Regner engine.......however I now see the 40701 single horizontal

It will be very interesting to understand the modifications......does she self start?.......Derek

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Derek,

exactly it`s better to say, the wheel is driven by two 12/36 engines combined with an angle of 45 degrees, so it`s self starting.
Altered from the original Regner`s: The connecting rods (pitman) and slide rods are extended, the foundation - original made of cast iron - I made of alu.
As I wrote, the reversing gear by regner is stephenson (not very exactly) and I use a reversing valve which is more reliable - there are piston slides.
Nevertheless the backwarts run of my engine in load is improvible, the adjustment of the slides seems not optimal.

Thomas

[Hankwilliams]

Some further detailed pictures of engine with reverse valve, condensor, boiler and other parts of the boat.
The last pictures shows the serial 2-cylinder 40701 with Regner boiler, which I made several years before.

Thomas

[derekwarner_decoy]

Thankyou Thomas........those 40701 engines are a great example of what can be modified unto a beautiful twin 

I also see you earlier used a 40810 as a hand pump, but without the 40808 & 40822 bypass valve & accumulator

Did you not consider adapting the 40810 to be shaft driven?

Again, thanks for sharing the engine/boiler build images ..... Derek

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Derek,

the loss of power by a shaft drifen feedpump from my experience is rather high. For this stationary model - more a demonstation model - the handpump is sufficient.
In my boats until now I don`t use a boiler feed pump, the running times of all are between 25 minutes to one hour. May be in my next project (Irrawaddy steamer "China", 1 : 48) I will use the Regner RC pump 20220.

[apointofview]

Thomas,
That is a great looking boat you have.  Its fun to see other direct drive sternwheelers. I really like the details you have put into your model.  I really got a kick out of the little work bench in the engine room with what looks like tools and a tiny vise - fantastic !

I'll agree with you on the power loss from a shaft driven water pump.  Not only does it drag down the engine it does it in an uneven way.  Only part of the stroke has the load on it so the engine speeds up and slows down with every rotation.
Pete

[Hankwilliams]

Thank you, Pete.
Even your boat is exceptional and now after the lenghtening the proportions are very good. We hope to see soon some pictures of the boat in service!

Greetings
Thomas

[kiwimodeller]

Thomas, thanks very much for your postings, they are an inspiration for me to get off my backside and do some work on the sternwheeler  hull I have. My concerns have always been what engine to use and how to connect the drive and yours is the perfect solution as all the engines I have considered in the past have been too short in the stroke for direct drive. Could you please assist further by posting the web page address for the engine you used as I am having trouble when searching Regner. Thanks again, Ian.

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Ian,

it`s a joy to give some inspiration to our collegues and friends.
For direct drivung paddlewheels a long stroke of engine ist important. For example: Once I tried to drive a sidewheeler with 130 mm
paddlewheels by a oscillating engine of 10 mm bore and 14 mm stroke. The power was too less, after two minutes the engine stops.
With a gear rediction of 1 : 2,2 it was sufficient.

Thomas

[kiwimodeller]

Thanks for that, I will try and find the Regner 36mm stroke engine for it but if it is not possible I will use a chain drive from the engine to an idler shaft and then rod drive from the shaft to the wheel. Cheers, Ian.

[Hankwilliams]

Today, on a cloudy and rather cool summerday, I did a further trip with "Ville des Bruges". For nearly one hour she crossed the small lake - until water and gas were empty at the same time. This sternwheeler has a bow thruster, so she is much more handsome compared with the "Zambezi" es "Zulu". Hope again, you will enjoy the pictures!