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

Thank you @Paula , I have ran her 3 more times since that video and the heater seems to be holding.  This last time I ran her about five 5 minutes after filling her tank, then I removed the power.  She kept running for another 50 seconds before coming to a full stop - fabulous!

So it seems all my previous "leak" repairs are holding - even the sight glass using Teflon tape, not one drop is weeping out.

I hope the details I provided helps others, with a little care and the right materials you can make a heater for these little engines.  I'd image the bigger B Series are easier, since you don't have to make two strips!  I don't remember what what the ohms were on the old heater before it blew, I just recall checking I got a reading.  With a little Ohms Law, she is running at 456 watts / 3.68 amps with a supplied 124v A/C.  I think that is a bit high for the wattage, as I seen a similar Empires (not the copper tank) listed a 350 watts under them.  The bottom of this engine has no stamping / branding marks to give me a guide.  Though perhaps it was originally calculated at 110v - if so that would be 359 watts / 3.26 amps.


Yes, many thanks to all that have helped - some in other threads they started or replied too that have haven't visited this thread.  This is a superb forum and the admins really give you some rope to whine about stuff LOL

Thought I'd do another video, this is showing her building steam and making enough power to keep the wheel moving.  Even with the original heater before it blew I had to give the wheel a good flick to get things going good.  Now, I just need to give her a nudge and off she goes!