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

The Regular Stuff: Chat, Buy, Sell, Off Topic, etc. => General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals => Topic started by: meddyliol on June 03, 2019, 02:15:17 am

Title: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: meddyliol on June 03, 2019, 02:15:17 am
What engines are better, Wilesco or Mamod. I quite like the range of Wilesco accessories. They look a bit tinny but that's probably part of the charm.

Thanks

Brian
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: Scorpion2nz on June 03, 2019, 03:24:37 am
Wilesco all the way .
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: meddyliol on June 03, 2019, 04:30:29 am
Thanks but any reason why?
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: Pete the steam on June 03, 2019, 05:29:39 am
I say Wilesco but the early Mamod SE series are good.
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: meddyliol on June 03, 2019, 06:17:07 am
You obviously don't like the later Mamod's! Because of build quality or what?

Thanks for your relies.
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: RedRyder on June 03, 2019, 06:17:19 am
Hi Brian and WELCOME ABOARD...!


Given the two choices, I suspect the quality is not that all that different which leads me to suggest going with your personal preference.
Mamod is a stalwart of the UK and the remaining manufacturer in the UK.
Wilesco, while a newer player in the steam toys (1950's) has more of the realistic details typically associated with German engines.


Both will bring you joy for many years to come.


Gil
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: Pete the steam on June 03, 2019, 06:23:11 am
Quote from: meddyliol on June 03, 2019, 06:17:07 am
You obviously don't like the later Mamod's! Because of build quality or what?

Thanks for your relies.

The early Mamods are easier on the eye and a better build IMHO.
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: Nick on June 03, 2019, 06:26:42 am
I would rank them:
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: meddyliol on June 03, 2019, 08:48:14 am
Thanks a lot everyone. As I am getting (I hope) a Mamod SP4 for my birthday, which manufacturer doesn't really come in to question (at the moment). However, I might well get some of the Wilesco Drive Models to go with it.  Fairly expensive for what they are but I don't quite see the point in having a stationary steam engine without having something to run it with. Another question about Sterno Gel, is it worth a try?

Cheers

Brian
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: CBWho on June 03, 2019, 08:52:02 am
They both have charm. For TEs, Wilesco is more realistic but Mamod TEs allow Mamodification. Mamod steam wagon lorry and TE is great fun to drive with the steering rod. For stationary engines, Wilesco has a good amount of grunt.

 Honestly, the quality of the later Mamods are better than the earlier ones. (Sight glass, better cylinder and piston designs, etc.)

I strongly dislike Esbit (gives headache and sore throat) so the Wilesco burners are annoying. I remove them to allow spirit or gel burners. Older Mamod spirit burners are fantastic. The great news is that all Mamod engines work with their spirit burners.
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: CBWho on June 03, 2019, 09:05:15 am
Gel will work in new Mamod trays but make sure it's thick Sterno gel. Hand sanitizer will be too runny.

The Mamod workshop (integrated on red base) is pretty cool and runs better than the Wilesco workshop. Wilesco has more accessories. The Wilesco hack saw can actually cut balsa wood well if you put in a sharper blade and add a little more weight.
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: CBWho on June 03, 2019, 09:16:09 am
Here is the Mamod workshop:

https://youtu.be/RG4yaA8M7VE

The second half of this video shows Wilesco saw cutting balsa wood.

https://youtu.be/JRZMUPAFFTQ
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: Pete the steam on June 03, 2019, 09:30:25 am
Quote from: CBWho on June 03, 2019, 08:52:02 am
They both have charm. For TEs, Wilesco is more realistic but Mamod TEs allow Mamodification. Mamod steam wagon lorry and TE is great fun to drive with the steering rod. For stationary engines, Wilesco has a good amount of grunt.

Honestly, the quality of the later Mamods are better than the earlier ones. (Sight glass, better cylinder and piston designs, etc.)

I strongly dislike Esbit (gives headache and sore throat) so the Wilesco burners are annoying. I remove them to allow spirit or gel burners. Older Mamod spirit burners are fantastic. The great news is that all Mamod engines work with their spirit burners.
Each to their own but cant agree.
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: meddyliol on June 03, 2019, 01:07:56 pm
Quote from: CBWho on June 03, 2019, 09:05:15 am
Gel will work in new Mamod trays but make sure it's thick Sterno gel. Hand sanitizer will be too runny.

The Mamod workshop (integrated on red base) is pretty cool and runs better than the Wilesco workshop. Wilesco has more accessories. The Wilesco hack saw can actually cut balsa wood well if you put in a sharper blade and add a little more weight.

I didn't realise you can actually 'use' the machines.I thought they were just something that moved. Just goes to show how much I know. (Not a lot LOL).
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: CBWho on June 03, 2019, 02:25:20 pm
It isn't easy to coax them to do real work. The gearing must be just right and it's a lot of trials and tuning.

Every steam leak must be fixed and you really have to dial it in.

I guess my hobby has evolved, as a kid with the D10, the goal was just running the engine by itself...
Title: Re: Wilesco or Mamod?
Post by: KD02 on June 04, 2019, 11:36:50 am
Quote from: Pete the steam on June 03, 2019, 09:30:25 am
Each to their own but cant agree.


I have to agree with you Pete, I think the quality of the SE range was better, a lot of the pistons on the SP range are the same as SE.
If you look at the SP 5 mk2, the engine frames are the the same, ie, they both face the same way,  and no exhaust to the chimney. Very cheaply made ( I still bought one though).