Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Hey folks!

Earlier this week me and Charlie got together and decided that he’d like me to build a steam plant for him.

He supplied all the parts, and even funded the parts I ordered from PM research and Stuart parts from the UK.  I’ve since ordered those and awaiting for them to arrive.

I am going to use this thread to post updates over the coming weeks.  Tomorrow, the walnut plinth arrives and it’s 16”x20”. I will be staining it and applying a coating of Polyurethane to seal it and keep it oil proof.  I’ll also be getting the boiler mounted using L brackets and getting the burner in place. From there I can design the plumbing and take it from there.

I have envisioned exactly how the plant will look & operate.  It will also feature a feed pump & water cup, perhaps a water tower.

The most I’ve done for now while awaiting for shipments is strip the old paint from the Stuart No. 8, and repaint it black and red as seen in the photos.  The old paint was rugged and dirty.

Everything you see in the photos below will be included in the plant along with a few other parts. 

I can’t wait to share this journey as it comes along but this is step 1:  sharing it from the beginning.

Thanks Charlie for providing the parts to build this, this is going to be quite a fun undertaking and the finished product I expect to be brilliant.

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First step of the process, stained the wood and applied polyurethane.  Looks great. Must dry.  Also before and after photos of the engine

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A great start Travis!

Now that’s a good way to get a project done @txlabman, send it to someone else is this an engine from Mike Cooke? I’ve bought several engines over the years with that blue background…

It’s more or less because I enjoy building.  As you know he’s been extraordinarily generous with me, I am enjoying building this, and he only lives 2 miles away, I am sure we will share it. 

Installed the metal trim plate with stainless steel screws.  Was a bit of a headache but got er’ done.

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Travis stopped by today to get a few other bits for the build.

Those bits included things from two former (deceased) members.

A transmission built by Oz Steam Demon.

And a Stuart manometer that came from a box of parts I was gifted from Staci (Scott Rouze's widow).

Kinda cool that two Steam Legends contributed to this build.

Sneak preview of how the transmission will function:

It will power a governor early on and down low on the steam pipe, from the big wheel, and the dynamo will run on a smaller pulley.

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97% complete

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