This guide is an edited extract from MAINSTEAM MODELS "The Complete Guide to Miniature Steam" It is now available on CD or by Internet download. The guide contains a wealth of very useful information about miniature steam engines & boilers.

Newcomers to the world of radio controlled model steam boating always seem to come up against similar problems. It is important to remember that a miniature steam powered boat works nothing at all like an electric one.

With electric model boats, you can put the boat in the water, open the throttle on your transmitter, and sail around at full speed ahead until the boat's battery goes flat. Steam boats work in a very different way. If you apply electric motor rules to steam engines, you will soon become frustrated.

The main problems with model steam boats using small steam engines, apart from they are messy, smelly, hopelessly inefficient are:

1) As your engine runs, it uses up the water in the boiler. If you have a steam whistle fitted, every time that you blow it, you use even more water from the boiler.

2) If you open the regulator (throttle) fully for a period of time, the steam pressure in the boiler will drop, as it does, the temperature of the steam will drop also. The engine then runs slower & uses more water; the condenser will also fill up more quickly.

3) Gas tank chilling: As the gas evaporates inside the gas tank, there is a drop in temperature of the liquid gas & also a drop in gas pressure, and then a drop in the amount of heat produced. It is also worth remembering that if you are using the 70/30 Butane/Propane gas as a fuel, it is the Propane that evaporates first, so if you have a chilled gas tank below half full, it is likely to be mainly Butane that is left in the tank, at an even lower pressure as it is near freezing by this time.

Whilst teaching people to fly RC aircraft & also teaching others how to sail model yachts. A normal articulate person suddenly becomes one of the clumsiest people on the planet - "Gently does it" - "Don't panic!" just a bit of finesse is required. If you want to just sail around the lake all day without messing about with your boat , then I suggest that you buy a model yacht!

This subject is very difficult to convey to the novice, as there are quite a few variables, but I hope this helps some beginners to live steam.

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Thankyou