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

That sure is a smooth runner Bruce, enjoyed the show 

Been looking at these listed by "dougssale" quite a few times, as i find the engine/plant amazing looking, besides a couple of design-flaws...

Agree completely when it comes to the original flywheel.
Always thought they looked like something that fell off a Chinese stirling, and was completely out of place on such a classic looking engine.

...and now that i am spilling my guts already, i actually have one little "beef" more with the original setup here.

I donīt like that steamline much, being the KISS kinda guy i am.
Just because one has a drawer of fittings, thereīs no need to use them all at once.
I really am having a hard time seing what good it does, stretching the steampipe to the floor like that, neither visually nor in a steam engineering perspective.
IMHO there should just have been one downwards bend after the steamdome, like a Jensen...or at least just one knee taking it back to horisontal, in line with the oiler.
Besides a cleaner look, it would most likely also reduce the condensed water slurping, making the engine this hard to get going initially, if it didnīt have to drain that water trap on every startup.[/size]

However, this latter objection of mine, might easily turn out to be a well pondered business decision.
First off, it shows of a bit more of the PMR piping options, which is in stock with MiniSteam as well.
Secondarely it does take it a bit further away, from being in direct competion with the Jensen line, seing that it already has one of their boilers installed as well.

Jan , you read my mind exactly , its scary how much we think alike. I almost put a Jensen steam line on it for a very much more "Classic" look ,but didn't have a spare line laying around & forgot about it, that line does look very scabbed together & detracts from the elegance of an otherwise beautiful display (along with the metal engine base) probably why its not a great seller....he got most of the way there , but forgot to consult with his design department. I may have to look a little harder at replacing that steam line here in the future, I don't understand that catch basin trap design in the bottom of the "U" as well....& your right , that probably is where the "gurgling" is coming from.