New project: Steamdriven speedboat

[Hankwilliams]

The KACIO engine arrives - a very fine engin in the art of Stuart double ten, but smaller. Bore and stroke are 14 x 15 mm. This should be sufficient for the boat with a deplacement below 10 kg.

Thomas

[derekwarner_decoy]

Yes, these KACIO engines [not necessarily the Saito look-a-like range] are certainly superb looking pieces of engineering

One wonders why the original purchaser did not want to keep it?...

Derek

[Hankwilliams]

Connection with the screw shaft with cardan and flexible coupling now is ready. The old Regner boiler was beyond repair, I tried to tighten with silver soldering, but without success. Only the boiler shell will be used again. You see the removed flame- and smoketubes. This time I made two flametubes in one direction, no return and even no smoketubes.
But the last days before "Faszination Modellbau" I must be busy to prepare my four ships "HOPE", COLONEL LAMB, OCEAN and SIR WALTER SCOTT - even the FULTON`S FOLLY will be transported on trailer the 120 km to Friedrichshafen at Lake Constance.

Thomas

[DamienG]

Looking really good well done.

[Hankwilliams]

Thanks, Damian, Derek and Spanbucket. It`s vehement passion for me to build that boat and it is a real joy.

In the ancient greek myth of the Argonauts they had a very fast ship, the ARGO. King Jason and his companions conquered with her the legendary golden fleece. So I think, ARGO will be the right name also for this boat.

I`making the new boiler now. At thursday I will drive with four models in the car and the FULTON`S FOLLY on the trailer to Friedrichshafen.

Thomas

[Spankbucket]

A superb choice of name for her!

You'll need a little model figure of Jason to go with it!

[Hankwilliams]

So it is!

[Hankwilliams]

At the pressure test some leaks are shown. Several work with silver solder was necessary.

[Hankwilliams]

Boiler is finished now. Next job will be the R/C servos and the installation of steam tubes. Optical impression of the boat - from my side of view - is quite good.

Thomas

[derekwarner_decoy]

Yes, quite good indeed Thomas

Is the water gauge from Winfried Niggle?

Derek

[Hankwilliams]

Yes, it is, dear Derek!

[Hankwilliams]

Dear frieds and neighbors,

only some minor works must be done. Engine, boiler, gas - steam regulation and RC are installed, but not yet tested. This boat is less a reconstruction of the original Escher - Wyss speedboat from 1909, it is more an attempt of coexistence of elegance, beauty and speed. We will see, whether last attribute will come true - more or less.
I made this boat without plan, only with sketches. Weight with empty boiler now is 7790 gramms, with water it will be approximate 9 kg - clear below the projected 10 kg. Some pictures should illustrate my imagination.

Thomas

[Hankwilliams]

First steam up in the test tank!

Yesterday I made a steam up. Good presentation, only minor alterings shold be done: Some more ballast at the bow section, a little more at the stern. Gas/steam regulation from Chinese Microcosm nearly without function. Perhaps someone made some experience with this regulation?

At the other side: Steam production very sufficient - with two burners pressure with full ahead goes not below 2,8 bar while a longer time. There is no feed pump, after 35 minutes I stopped, water level at minimum. Weather is rather bad in the moment, but I hope to make a trip with "ARGO" in the next days.

Thomas

[derekwarner_decoy]

Interesting , a waterproof camera? Thomas....

However  are or is these little threads?.....they appear rigid as not being drawn into the water being drawn into the propeller?

Derek

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Derek,

at the first moment I didn`t realize, what you are meaning...But in the second I recognize the mirror picture in the plexiglass of the testtank. It`s a blurred part of my shoulder, but I don`t recognize the branch similar phenomenon. Probably real branches in the garden? In every case: You are are a fine observer!