Fantail steam launches

I sure sound like a first-class nag, don't I? I don't mean to, I apologize for that.

One more thing: If you start buying stuff, you should keep an eye toward what you intend to do with it. You mentioned a huge engine earlier. Not only would you not know what to do with it, but it would simply clutter your garage until everyone was sick of it. Buying stuff in order to have it is neat for a while, but then you're tripping all over this junk.

Think of the project before you buy the part. If you have very little idea of how to finish the project, then ignore the part until later. A lawn mower or similar is a good project and will probably be very challenging for you right now. Some other things would probably work out too, but I brought up the lawn mower as a source of income and I'll chew on that until there's no more flavor in it.

 

BTW kroberts, I am 13, not 12. my 13th b-day was in February.

 

No Mike not ok!
I could not make a Boiler out of a 50 gallon drum, and welding steam piping is a sort of science, the average skills and knowledge of a good welder are not sufficient.

But if you are going for a RC boat, and use your engine, we´ll find a way.

And let kroberts chew on the lawnmower idea, I like that. As I like the advice and statements given so far.

Regards
Richard

 

Mike,

My mistake on the age. I seem to recall that a year makes a big difference to folks of your age. To me, I have to stop and think when somebody asks how old I am. Since I'm thinking about it now, I'm 43.

 

how come it says you a junior member?

 

Number of postings

 

I only joined this forum a few days ago. I've only made 19 posts counting this one.

 

here is the answer to the engine problem: http://www.greensteamengine.com/

 

Actually a 10 HP Green engine will weight a fair bit over that, depending on what materials you use. Though it'll still be light for it's output. You have to count the boiler too, as part of the weight for the engine.

You can't make a steam powered aircraft and provide enough fuel to go more then a few hundred yards at a shot.

 

ok. but how much hp do I need for my steam launch? and since a 10 horse is too big, how about a 4 or 5 horse? and the boiler problem... that is the ONLY thing keeping me from building my steam launch. (well that and I have to wait until I move).

 

Mike, forget it..........................
you are too much focussed on the engine part.
In steam technology, the engine is the smaller part of the game, the boiler is the issue. To propel a aircraft you would need a very complicated and expensive installation. The boiler for a classical steam launch setup is in the 10.000$ ballpark already, a boiler for the plane would be 4 times that, I reckon.

I thought we would be fine to start with a RC boat at first?

Regards
Richard

 

I still am going to build the rc, I was just saying, "Hell, I could build a steam airplane if I wanted!," I am not going to, it is kind of pointless. And I can still use a green steam engine on the model boat. And I know you are from Germany, but when you are saying 10.000, it is 10(,)000. just a lil' advice from me.
thanks,

 

10,000 is ten and zero, zero, zero - but 10.000 is ten thousand in the metric world of business. And the world of business IS metric.
But I know you meant it good, thanks.

 

I have started to make a boiler out of 4x4 inch cans. I already have 1 can. This is how I'm going to make it: collect 3 4 inch x 4 inch cans, cut a hole in the center of all of the cans except for one, put a pipe (for the exhaust) in the hole in both cans (it has to be the same diameter as the hole) and weld or solder it into place. after cutting a door in the bottom can, weld or solder it onto the other two cans. then, cut all the other misc. holes in the boiler (like for the whistle and water intake). also, cut a hole for the steam outlet in the boiler.

 

Mike a boiler has to cope with pressure at first, that means anything with a thin skin is useless.
The 50 gal. barrel for example will collapse at a pressure of maybe 0,3 to 0,5 bar (7 psi). So, nearly nothing that is "laying around" will meet your needs. That is our Problem.
But before we are going to solve a problem, which is not existing now, we should make clear what you definetily are going to build! Then we handle problems appearing besides our way.
Regards
Richard