Bowman Swallow question

Tony Bird · Bowman Swallow question

Hi,

I have built a couple of Swallow hulls from templates that I took off Odilon's Swallow. Odilon was also kind enough to lend me an engine to copy, the question is were lubricators fitted to Swallows? I haven't seen any on the models that I have seen. Interestingly the motor stand with port block and its hull fittings are the same as the Eagle I copied, the piston and cylinder are different 3/8" bore rather than 1/2" but the stroke at 1/2" is the same. The propeller shaft except for its length is also the same and the propeller and rudder are exactly the same.

Regards Tony.

H2o vapour

Hi Tony,

I have a unrestored boxed Swallow, the steam pipe exits the boiler on the boiler end plats at approx 7:00 O'Clock and drops down and then sweeps up to the rear of the engine plate.

There is a Union fitted verticlly in this steam pipe, that's all, no lubrication facility at all.

The swallow may be small but its a great boat, mine goes like the clappers, it's very pleasing

Hope this helps

H2o

OldPeculiar

There is no oiler on my Swallow

Les

RocDoc

Hi Tony,

I've had a look through the 'Bowman Book' and it looks like the Swallow boat didn't have an oiler.

Cheers

Pete

MooseMan

Tony, to the best of my knowledge there wasn't.

Tony Bird

Hi,

Thank you all for responding. It will save work not having to make a lubricator.

Thanks again.

Tony.

Paul H

My Swallow (now under restoration) does not have a lubricator either and shows no evidence of one in a past life.

H20 describes the steam line layout quite well. Mine was botched together with all manner of horrid materials. Mostly it was blobbed with solder with very thin wire poorly substituting for a nipple in the union. This was all swaddled in some unidentifiable tape like substance wrapped in more wire.

I acquired a new union nut and nipple courtesey of a local friend and Bowman enthusiast. The only catch was that they had been silver soldered together at some point in the last 80 years, so a bit of judicious heating was required to free the nipple. It all worked out in the end, and now the Swallow has steam tight plumbing again.

Cheers,
Paul

Atticman

Same with mine, and the exhaust goes out to the right side (Starboard) and not out of the stern like the others.

I agree with H2O, its a nippy one, I think Fred Crammond did some speed trials but cant remember what the outcome was

I can confirm thay can nip into opposite canal banks and lodge there too