Steam Tank

[lancer]

This got me to wondering...since I want to build a large scale ironclad, and was going to put a electric engine in it...how much cooler would it be if it was STEAM powered??

WAY COOL.....

[crabfu]

This got me to wondering...since I want to build a large scale ironclad, and was going to put a electric engine in it...how much cooler would it be if it was STEAM powered??

THAT would be awesome.... be warned though, steam is a pain to get it working right, and weighs a ton so it would be tricky to get it working for a boat.... I've put my steam rowboat on hold because I had a hard time finding a hull that would support it.

This is my latest steam project, the engines finally came

http://www.crabfu.com/steamtoys/rc_steam_c...er/DSCN5651.JPG
http://www.crabfu.com/steamtoys/rc_steam_c...er/DSCN5654.JPG
http://www.crabfu.com/steamtoys/rc_steam_c...er/DSCN5650.JPG

Still LOTS of issues, and it is painfully slow. I'll post up more once I get it working a bit better

-Crabfu

[crabfu]

Update about the steam crab. Good news and bad news....

Bad news: The legs were not made to hold such weight, as a result,
both cranks slipped on me - I tried to solder it, but ended up epoxy
both and they are now fine. But the really bad news is that one of the
boilers blew. It's the threaded part between the boiler and the safety
valve. It was not running too high of pressure, in fact, the safety
valve didn't even kick it yet - safety valve is working, I checked
before and after. The solder seal just wasn't done well enough,
manufacturing defect. Anyone know what wilesco warranty is? I'm going
to have to check with the dealer and with wilesco I guess.... in
either case, it'll be a heck of a lot of waiting again.

Good news: I managed to get some good movies before it blew. The legs
are now moving much faster, and less slip. I've also improved it
structurally, it is now working much better. Still no RC control or steam exaust yet.

new pics:

http://www.crabfu.com/steamtoys/rc_steam_c.../steamcrab2.jpg
http://www.crabfu.com/steamtoys/rc_steam_c.../steamcrab3.jpg
http://www.crabfu.com/steamtoys/rc_steam_c.../steamcrab4.jpg

new movies:
http://www.crabfu.com/steamtoys/rc_steam_c...econd_walk1.mov
http://www.crabfu.com/steamtoys/rc_steam_c...econd_walk2.mov

At the very last 3 frames of the second movie, is when it blew.... you
can see 3 frames of a quick flash at the top of the frame.... well
sort of.

-Crabfu
p.s. F*&@&%^*@(*##^$&!

[cthulhu77]

neat stuff...bummer about the boiler !!!
    Doing the research for the steam engine...I about had a meltdown over the $$$$$  ...jeez!  I think I may have to build a second hull, and just ship it up to you!

          greg

[crabfu]

Doing the research for the steam engine...I about had a meltdown over the $$$$$  ...jeez!

Yeah steam stuff is not cheap. Your best bet is Midwest, they have 2 models of marine steam engines that are less $$$.

I just made a page for the crab:
http://www.crabfu.com/steamtoys/rc_steam_crab/

same pics and movies that I posted here already, just all in one place

-Crabfu

[John Howling Mouse]

Wow, modeling plastic what-ifs suddenly seems so...common...ordinary, by comparison!

Man, this is one intense "hobby" you've got going there.

When I saw the flames shooting out I really started to wonder what kind of risks are involved.

How much does that first tank weigh?

[dexter059]

Nice thing, that could be a really Da Vinci kind of what if.....
best regards

[crabfu]

the tank weighs.....well like a tank. I don't have a scale to measure, but it really weighs a lot, with all of the metal, and especially the metal treads and engine, not to mention water. It climbs well in part because of the weight.... don't have to worry about grip and traction, just power.

It is a high risk hobby... well not really, you have to watch the fire during windy conditions - the movies were taken on a bad day when it was fairy breezy out. But the steam pressure isn't that high. It has a safety valve that releases steam at 1.5 bar (which I believe is about 20 psi or something, very low) to prevent steam from building too high and blowing it up. Aside from that, it's safe as long as you follow manufacturer's specs for the engine, and don't temper with the safety valve.

-Crabfu

[Joe C-P]

I think you can pick up such engines from American Science & Surplus. A fun catalog, full of stuff you never knew you needed until you saw it in there.

I had a great time with a remote-controlled blimp when I lived in an apartment building with a big, big atrium. I've many times thought about picking up a steam engine, and you've just brought that idea back to the fore.  B)