It seems that this very interesting forum coming along pretty slow   . Thou I'm not a paddleduck at all I guess some of my experience can be a sort of interest for enthusiast of smoke'n'steam.
Here is a couple of pictures of my steam engine (recent status).

Hi PD’s & Engineman, may I ask a few questions  
   
1)       it she really a compound HP & LP? â€" beautiful anyway  
2)       Are you the builder? â€" if so congratulations, if not still congratulations as you must be the owner  
3)       What is the bore & stroke?  
4)       Is that a gas tank with the dished ends just behind the engine?  
   
The reason I ask this last question is I have just taken delivery of my ACS [Scottish built] gas tank & am happy with it but the filling nozzle is designed for one of those expensive EN416 disposable gas canisters â€" naturally I asked Sandy from ACS if any thing could be modified, but the answer was a little clouded & accept this from a point of a manufacturers legality with Laws etc  
   
However from a modelers point I note in many links from the JMC site via our PD links, many French model steamers appear to have standard Primus/PortaGas tanks in their snaps which I can only assume are for refilling their model boiler tanks  
   
So my real question is, are you able to shed any light on the refilling issue? â€" regards Derek  
   
BTW, from the JMC links [as above] there is a spectacular WEB site to a Daniel Bouard â€" builder of model marine steam engines beyond comprehension â€" spend 10 minutes & you will stay for an hour  
   
    
         
 
From: Engineman [mailto:livesteam@paddleducks.co.uk]
Sent: Wednesday, 22 March 2006 4:16 PM
To: livesteam@paddleducks.co.uk
Subject: Full Steam Ahead!  
 
   
It seems that this very interesting forum coming alone pretty slow . Thou I'm not a paddleduck at all I guess some of my experience can be a sort of interest for enthusiast of smoke'n'steam.
Here is a couple of pictures of my steam engine (recent status).



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Quote from: EnginemanIt seems that this very interesting forum coming along pretty slow   . Thou I'm not a paddleduck at all I guess some of my experience can be a sort of interest for enthusiast of smoke'n'steam.
Here is a couple of pictures of my steam engine (recent status).

A lot of the Paddleducks members are interested in steam plant Engineman, after all, virtually every type of steam engine has been used in a paddler at some time in the past!

Yours looks like a real work of art - I just wish I had the machinery and the ability to produce something like that myself, but sadly I just don't seem to get on with metalwork - Give me wood anyday, then I'm a happy bunny. Unfortunately I haven't found any satisfactory way of making a steam engine from wood :-(

Hi Derek,

my answers:

1) Nope, my engine is not a really compound, only the dummy cylinder covers;
2) Yes, I'm the builder, the engineer and the owner;
3) The bore is 12mm, the stroke is 16mm. That's the true marine engine ;
4) Yep, it is the gas tank.

What about your next question - I guess you need a so-called fuel adaptor. I have two of them - one 'Cheddar standard', one from REGNER. To be honest - never met this prob at all.

Quote from: Eddy Matthews
A lot of the Paddleducks members are interested in steam plant Engineman, after all, virtually every type of steam engine has been used in a paddler at some time in the past!

Yours looks like a real work of art - I just wish I had the machinery and the ability to produce something like that myself, but sadly I just don't seem to get on with metalwork - Give me wood anyday, then I'm a happy bunny. Unfortunately I haven't found any satisfactory way of making a steam engine from wood :-(

Thank you for your kind words Eddy. I guess it's time to promote me from Deckhand to Mechanic   .

Quote from: EnginemanThank you for your kind words Eddy. I guess it's time to promote me from Deckhand to Mechanic   .

Mechanic? You deserve to be a Chief Engineer at least, and now you ARE :-)

Quote from: Eddy Matthews

Quote from: EnginemanThank you for your kind words Eddy. I guess it's time to promote me from Deckhand to Mechanic   .

Mechanic? You deserve to be a Chief Engineer at least, and now you ARE :-)

Thanks again Eddy. You're too good for me   . But I'm proud to be simply a mechanic (a commander of the engine room   ) as it was during my service in the NAVY.
BTW my engine was designed especially for a model of an early Thorneycroft turtleback TB if there is any interest  :wink: .

Quote from: EnginemanBTW my engine was designed especially for a model of an early Thorneycroft turtleback TB if there is any interest  :wink: .

Yes, yes, YES!! I love the early torpedo boats, so please tell us more about it!

Quote from: Eddy Matthews

Quote from: EnginemanBTW my engine was designed especially for a model of an early Thorneycroft turtleback TB if there is any interest  :wink: .

Yes, yes, YES!! I love the early torpedo boats, so please tell us more about it!

Well, in general the real prototype is (was) a standard 65 tons 1st class torpedo boat (with side mounted funnels   ) that was built by John Thorneycroft for the Royal Navy as well as for Swedish, Russian  etc. NAVies. My model is a big one - somewhat 60 in in length. But it is too early to show something at the moment   . Let me finish with the propulsion system first   . Anyways here is a couple of photos of the prototype   .

Thanks Engineman - & hi PD's, but I am still not sure about the gas filler you note - the Chedder site is gone & I cannot negotiate the Regner site

Do you use PORTAGAS decanted from a conventional refillable bottle into a model refillable gas tank? - regards Derek

Hey, whats all this promotion buisiness? At 65, I am still Cabin Boy, when is it my turn? Anyway, everyone knows you cannot be a chief engineer  unless you know every verse of Kiplings McAndrews hymn by heart and speak with a strong Scottish accent (and type messages with the same accent). Seriously though, A very nice engine. Och aye the noo, de ye ken ,  and lang may yer wee puffers lum reek.! cheers for now Walter MacSporran wee Toddy Mc Snowdon. PS I have my own oily rag and oil can.

Sorry, forgot what I was really on about. If you cant find a filler nozzle from the usual steam or model boat suppliers, try looking in Garden Rail magazine, most live steam model  railways are now gas fired and there a
re a lot of steam accessory manufacturers advertising in tha magazine. Regards, Walter.

Hi Pd’s – so we have ENGINEMAN in Zengrab & SANDY in Scotland & I think they are both full of steam??!!!!! – one consideration could be for all PD’s to contribute $1.00 each & get these members together to post MORE cross related steam MESSAGES  in our WEB site ------------- or possibly fine them if they don’t------- Derek  
         
 
 
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Hi PD’s â€" couldn’t resist the fun â€" I think ‘bits & pieces’ was by the dave clarke 5, but I am sure they didn’t have a double bass - Derek  
………………………………………………………………………………  
   
   
From: Derek Warner [mailto:dlwarner@bigpond.net.au]
Sent: Sunday, 2 April 2006 11:27 AM
To: Forest Classic (info@forest-classic.co.uk)
Cc: ACSengineering
Subject: Special Gas Tank  
   
Morning BIXHEAD Engineering from Derek Warner in Australia â€" as you can see from the .jpg, I am the proud owner of quite a collection of steam ‘Bits & Pieces’’ from Sandy Campbell of ACS Engineering including the BIX Engines refillable Gas Tank No 473 [& also a French JMC 3H engine]  
   
Question â€" do you manufacture specials? â€" could you quote for a similar twin tank assembly as shown in the ‘GasTankTwin.bmp’ attachment? â€" essentially using two of your standard tanks as above & the additional tapping’s & banjo’s for cross connection on top & bottom etc…..& a double base mounting [please do not quote for a double bass as it would be very difficult to fit in the FWD hold with the proposed twin tanks even @ 1/25 scale]……  
   
   
I use PAYPAL, however would be happy to purchase through ACS…. if necessary…..  
   
   
Sandy â€" I know you have attempted to steer me away from gauges in ‘a-GAZ-a-tank’ re volatility due to temperature change, but this French Daniel Bourard seems to use a 7 Bar gauge with out incident…. & yes I also remember your warning about the …..French safety code…………… - oh BTW - how is Kate & the bathroom renovations?  
   
   
best regards to those @ [Bixhead] & you both â€" Derek  
   
PS â€" sorry about the distortion in the .jpg â€" the Melbourne F1 is on today so must be earth vibrations from 560 miles away………………  
   
   
   
   
         
 
 


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Hi Derek, hi PD's

It is nice to hear from you Derek . What about myself - my 'project' is movin' ahead too but a bit slow. I hope the next week there will be some updates on it somehow.
Please, explain (as a chief engineer  :wink: ) what is the reason to use this twin gas tank?
Also it will be very interesting to know about the ACS progress with their new slide valve engines. I guess they promised to show us something even in January  :roll: ...