Bonjour Bruce,
Good question.
As steamboat passionate since I was a young boy, my first steam plant and boat should have been this "Côte d'Emeraude" tug, Diesel in real life but designed for a Syuart D10 plant as model : https://youtu.be/tSOSj89BY_M
Quite too expensive for me at that time, I waited for more than 40 years to have mine.
My first steam plant and boat came for my 50th anniversary, a 1,20 m launch with a 3 è 7,5 cm3 JMC steam plant and already... a whistle 
: https://youtu.be/ElYtqlvtB-4
And now I am 66... And a too large fleet for my beloved wife !
Raphael, that Liva 1 is a magnificent first steam engine package!
Gil
I did chuckle a little bit at that 1st video Raphael , you tug is only "slightly" smaller than the bathtub it's sitting in. 😄
I have to agree with the others, Raphael, that is some fantastic work!
My beginning was much more humble. I could not afford a steam engine so I resolved to build one! I found one in a library book at school:
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I built the thing, but with my lack of skills and equipment, it never ran. I'm not quite sure where it ended up.
Eventually, I received a Jensen #75 as a Christmas present. Mom purchased it from the Montgomery Ward Christmas catalog. Curiously, it had no Jensen tag, or even a Ward's tag. I used to run it indoors with an electric motor: By running it backwards, I could fill the boiler with air pressure, then "run" the engine on the compressed air! I was so happy with that engine! That is, until after the first couple of firings. It acquired that "charming" burnt look, and I never quite felt the same about it. Shallow, I know.
When I moved out of my parents' house, I think it stayed behind. All of the Jensens I own now are electric fired.
A very nice (full size) engine, only a dream for many of us 😊
Weeden 702. My wife bought it for me in 2006 as a Christmas present.
She has regretted it ever since.
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Nice beginning Charlie, & as they say "the rest is history ", do you still have your 1st engine ?
My first steam engine was a poor DOLL 348/4 of the late 1930s.
After some cleaning it finally worked but over the time I found other steam engines and sold it two years ago.
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Rainer I'm sure it was replaced with much finer machines, I have seen glimpses of your very nice collection. (Especially accessories)
Hi,
In the early 1960's when in my mid teens I was bought a set of castings for a Stuart double ten, I still have it somewhere, and I have no idea of how many engines that have been built in the following 60 years.
Its raining heavily today and we are supposed to be hosting the last garden rail meet of the year, in our garden!
Take care Tony.
Hi,
In the early 1960's when in my mid teens I was bought a set of castings for a Stuart double ten, I still have it somewhere, and I have no idea of how many engines that have been built in the following 60 years.
Its raining heavily today and we are supposed to be hosting the last garden rail meet of the year, in our garden!
Take care Tony.
So, did you actually build the dbl 10 Tony ?
Sorry to hear about the rain interfering with your Garden rail meet, just curios...what is the alternative when that happens ?
Bonjour Tony,
To my opinion, as it seems that we are of the same generation, The Stuart D10 is "THE MUST" in terms of steam machine as I told it in my messsage, this is why I am as curious as Bruce on the future of these castings