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

Builds, Repairs, Show Your Machines! => Restorations => Topic started by: SteamTech on February 18, 2024, 04:47:32 pm

Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: txlabman on February 29, 2024, 10:29:32 am
Guys I had to take a short pause to bury my oldest brother. I’ll be back before long.

Mark:

Sincere condolences. 

I am praying for you and your family.

Charlie
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: Nick on February 28, 2024, 04:02:06 pm
Very sorry for your loss
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: Stoker on February 28, 2024, 11:37:05 am
How very sad ... sincere condolences to you and all of his loved ones!
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: SteamTech on February 28, 2024, 11:31:40 am
Guys I had to take a short pause to bury my oldest brother. I’ll be back before long.
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: txlabman on February 24, 2024, 02:05:45 pm
Nice work!

I am really enjoying your thread.

I can’t wait to see it steamed up.  :)
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: Stoker on February 23, 2024, 08:50:41 pm
Looks like you are doing a VERY nice job with all this work!
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: SteamTech on February 23, 2024, 07:25:09 pm
Boiler cleaned up and ready for live steam test. Got a few more items to deal with on the engine. I used my fish cooker regulator on the LP burner and got the volume of heat that I was looking for. The burner control now react much better on Low, Medium, and High. Started tearing the other custom boiler down and found it constructed well! I’ll be starting another thread on it.[attachimg=3]
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: SteamTech on February 22, 2024, 09:03:48 pm
I ran the burner today. It’s a very nice shade of blue, but I think I need a higher pressure regulator. I can’t tell a difference between low, medium, and high. I’m dragging out my fish cooker regulator that variable and try it
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: SteamTech on February 19, 2024, 11:12:50 pm
Im tempted to clamp it to a bench and hook it up and try it. It’s a custom fit to the bottom. I think I’ll put it in the ultrasonic cleaner tomorrow with some strong cleaner and see what it looks like afterwards. Maybe a vinegar solution. Hydrostatic testing of the boiler will be done tomorrow also. If the burner doesn’t look any better, I’ll have to find a camp stove burner or make another one. Got to buy cap and plugs tomorrow also to plug the boiler up for testing
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: Stoker on February 19, 2024, 08:29:22 pm
Yep, I think that is in need of serious improvement!

Natural gas was a readily available source of flame heat back in the days when many houses were gas lit and even now with gas stoves.

Propane is pretty much the same thing, available in a variety of convenient forms.
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: SteamTech on February 19, 2024, 05:35:17 pm
I think I’ve figured the tank out. It’s a natural gas arrangement, thus the slip hose fitting. I’m not impressed with the condition of this boiler burner. It may have to go and be changed to propane or camping gas.

Your thoughts?
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: SteamTech on February 18, 2024, 06:40:49 pm
Im starting to think this guy was either very forgetful or lost little things. Started oe I g the valve chest and found this. Maybe I’m wrong about Hoskins and Rube Goldberg built it. Whomever, this will have to go and be replaced with uniformity!   :'(
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: Stoker on February 18, 2024, 05:42:21 pm
Good news!

Nice!!!
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: SteamTech on February 18, 2024, 05:22:23 pm
Steam engine was not stuck hard at all I took the caps off the cylinders and gave them a shot of Aerokroil and SS rated wiggling the shaft. Took hardly any pressure at applied and it moved freely (whew). Also engine was dry with no corrosion. One thing I found was NO gaskets between the cylinder  head and the caps. I’ll have to make some for those. But for now I’m going to oil it up, let it set overnight and reassemble it tomorrow and give it some air.
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: txlabman on February 18, 2024, 05:09:43 pm

Good Luck Mark.

Looking forward to seeing your progress.
Title: Re: Restoration of the Hoskins Team plant
Post by: Stoker on February 18, 2024, 04:51:16 pm
All I can say is .... be gentle with it and enjoy the process.

Certainly looking forward to anything you may choose to share with us here!!!
Title: Restoration of the Hoskins Steam Plant
Post by: SteamTech on February 18, 2024, 04:47:32 pm
Today I start the inspection, rebuild, and restoration of the Steam Plant that I acquired. Since no one know the builder, I am going to call it by the only name I found on it. I’ve sent Keith Appleton an email to see if he recognizes it. I will be updating it here in this sub-category of the forum. Chime in and offer any suggestions you have.