flywheel61
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About time I bought one - Steamco Stationary Steam EngineA nuber of forum members inclusing, James, Rog & Tony own one of these, but though I'd put mine up as it was bought new, but was steamed twice the day I got it.
The engine cones in a fairly ordinary box but the rope handles lift the game a bit. Note the burner tray (set up for solid fuel tablets) has a lot of perferations in the base. I haven't tried it yet as I used the SE2/A vaporizing burner which fits nicely into the firebox. I have a feeling that the perferations allow for better alround burning and hopefully less gunk on the base.
The Steamco engine has a number of similarities to the Parke/Haussegger on the right, including the shape of the steam pipe from the boiler to the engine, the solid engine frame and the legs on the engine frame as well as the overall size of the boiler.
Unfortunately the decal is a stick on type, but I rather like it's brash symertary and the small hand rails
As above a Mamod SE2/A burner fits nicely into the fire box instead of the tablet burner. Being used to the mamod WLP's the one on the Steamco I find to be very oversized
You can see from this pic that it's already been fired,  . Ihave no compunction doing so with the aproriate engines. Not the polished steel firebox instead of the usual black painted one
One problem I have found with the exhaust pipe from the engine block into the chimney is that the condensate builds up and there is no where for it go and after a while it rises above the level of the exhaust pipe and starts spitting hot water into the air. Not sure how io fix it, apart from drilling a hole up through the base and into the chimney, it would then need some sort of drip tray underneath like the Wilesco ones.
One of the features I like about this engine is the drip tray under the piston/cylinder/engine block to catch excess water and oil, a lot less messy that a lot of other engines.
This is a sturdy engine with simple lines, although I have most of the Mamod SP series, I have to say this is constructed more like the engines of old and I like better than the SP range for that reason.
Cheers
Chris
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tmuir
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They are great engines Chris and I do feel that they are the best made toy steam engine on the market on a $ / value basis.
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oldstuff
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Chris, what a fine presentation! They sure look awfully well built.
I was wondering about the overflow plug. I may've misunderstood what
other's have said, but I thought sightglasses were mandatory now. 
The plug may be large-ish but I like an engine to have one not only for
filling to the proper level, but they also help make it easy to empty the boiler, too.
I also liked seeing the Parke next to it. The engine frames on the Steamco and
the Parke really appeal to me. I've been thinking about this type of frame since
the first time I saw it. Maybe Tony will do a homebuilt like this so I won't have to. 
Strange about the chimney exhaust condensate, though. I wonder why
they didn't just pipe it over to the cylinder tray?
Also liked the polished steel firebox, yet I hadn't noticed it until you pointed it out.
Maybe because its picking up the black base? Very cool.
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tmuir
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| oldstuff wrote: |
I was wondering about the overflow plug. I may've misunderstood what
other's have said, but I thought sightglasses were mandatory now.
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Chuck the sight glass came about as it was a requirement to sell steam toys on the German market so Mamod did it so they could sell there too.
It is possible it is now an EU law with everything getting standardised across the EU now.
Don't know what the regs are in the US though.
Kookaburra also another Australian company still produces engines with overflow plugs so it mustn't be a legal requirement in Australia.
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Wallace
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Nice looking engine Chris. Didn't realise they were setup for solid fuel though.
I just like the solidness of them. 
They are defintely on a "one day I'll get one" list.
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Les Marsh
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That is a very nice looking engine, definitely on the "must get " list.
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Stitch
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That's a nice looking engine Chris.  Interesting to see it beside the Parken and to note the similarities.
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Johnny E
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With regard to gauge glasses, they can't be law yet as Accucraft still sell loads of Edrigs and the like here and they just have a check valve.
Beautiful engine though and well worth an investment in some expensive brass polish to make it gleam. Does anyone in the UK have one of these engines?
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johnreid
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I saw one when I was so fortunate to visit Roger, I was so very impressed with the Steamco. Real nice engines.
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Mamodman123
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Really nice looking engine Chris!
You've run it too which is great looks a lot like a bigger version of a '46 SE1
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Nick
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Your engine has a polished steel firebox.
If I found a used or very dirty firebox one, would it polish back up like new?
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James
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Looks great mate
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flywheel61
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Thanks everyone, another OZ engien in the collection, I'd love to have the Steamco boat but it's now discontinued and the last one I saw on ebay had a starting/BIN price of AUD850,  .
Nick wrote
| Quote: | | If I found a used or very dirty firebox one, would it polish back up like new? |
Sorry mate, have been away, a long wekend over here (some people call ust the land of the longweekend,  )
Since it's only polished steel I don't see why you couldn't repolish it, or if that didn't work, repaint it with heat proof black paint. All the ones I've seen recently for sale on OZ ebay have been wrecks or have gone for too much money, meaning that a new one would be be better value.
Cheers
Chris
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Steve_S
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That's a very nice engine Chris. It's good to see such good build quality on a new engine! Regarding the problem of condensate in the chimney, I'd be very tempted to drill a small hole near the base of the chimney and solder in a very short length of brass or copper pipe at a shallow downward angle to act as a drain. You could put some suitable drip tray under it, and it could stick out at the back... there seems to be room. Of course, you may not want to drill holes in such a nice new engine!
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Manxman
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Chris, only just seen these pics. What a lovely new engine and I'm sure you have to be pleased with that one. It looks to be a real quality piece.
Another fine addition to a very impressive collection of models.
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flywheel61
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steve_s wrote
| Quote: | | That's a very nice engine Chris. It's good to see such good build quality on a new engine! Regarding the problem of condensate in the chimney, I'd be very tempted to drill a small hole near the base of the chimney and solder in a very short length of brass or copper pipe at a shallow downward angle to act as a drain. You could put some suitable drip tray under it, and it could stick out at the back... there seems to be room. Of course, you may not want to drill holes in such a nice new engine! |
Both yourself and Chuck have come up with an excellent solution. I think I might drill the hole a little higher so that the condensate dribbles back into the pan under the engine frame, 'kill two birds with the one stone', , thanks to both of you for the idea. Now all I have to find is the right size pipe.
Once I've got it right I will send the idea to the manufacturer as 'a necesasary improvement' for safety reasons.
Cheers
Chris
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