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

Mini steam website claims "you can Not run Any accessories" with a D5....yet Bruce has a video running no less than 6 accessories with his D3! I know the SPS effect is Strong and his D3 is not stock...but does a stock D3 have any advantage over a stock D5?

I missed a deal on used Jensen 60 today...had poopy signal and my phone locked up just as I was trying to snipe it

I kinda figured it's all about gearing....or if that doesn't work than maybe fix that pesky leaky safety valve. Lol

I just read D5 bore is 7mm or roughly 0.27559

I have not seen a bore size on the D3 yet...

D3/D4(New)    6mm x 12mm

D4(Old)/D5/D6 7mm x 16mm

I knew Jan would know!

I would like to modify a new D4 but most are sold out here and the rare ones you find are over priced

Quote from: ShadetreeMotorcycle on April 28, 2021, 01:15:54 pm

Quote from: classixs on April 28, 2021, 12:25:25 pm

D3/D4(New)    6mm x 12mm

D4(Old)/D5/D6 7mm x 16mm

I knew Jan would know!

I would like to modify a new D4 but most are sold out here and there rare ones you find are over priced

I knew Jan would know also 😊👍, I had in my mind to modify one of the new D4's as well Ben , but got sidetracked with a time consuming D32.
I believe Mini steam still has some left , but honestly, unless you just "must" modify a D4 , anything else would be time better spent on modifying imho.

I believe you are correct Bruce about mods to a D4.....and yet....much of what we do in the hobby is because we "can" not because we should... Lol!
   I do not wish to mod a D4 thinking to get a bunch more power out of it, more to re configure to get a very different look.
   I checked ministeam and they say D4 are on sale but out of stock.
   The price point is my issue, A "kit" D5 is certainly a much better value.
I can afford a D4 but IMHO a "D4" should cost less or at least not more than a "D3"
   One is horizontal boiler, one is vertical boiler...if anything the D3 has 2 glass site windows should cost more...I think the issue is the wood base....a pressed tin base cost more up front for form die tooling but the die is long life and once built the tin base can be pressed for a few cents vs the wood must be sawn then router cut than finish applied...more labor.
  The "candle power" is Marketing IMHO...many a would be budding Steamer newbie probably thinks...."I can get a 50 pack of tea light candles at Wal-Mart for a couple bucks" and that is true but tea lite candles make even less heat than bees wax and All candles take a LONG time to build steam and make a soot Mess...we can whip up a meth burner to solve this issue but a newbie may be disappointed.
  In summary a "bunch" more engine can be had off ebay for the D4 asking price of $140.... Yet the D4 would have some appeal if they where to show up low dollar on the used market. They must not sell a lot of them or folks that have them are holding on tight, I have never seen a used D4 come up!

Save the money for your Jensen 20 

Well, I have been in contact with Susann at Ministeam...she confirmed D4 is sold out...I am in line for the last D5 "kit" showing 1 in stock but if it's not really "there" she is going to hook me up with a D100e!