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| STEAMPROPULSION |
HOBBIES ARROW. VARIATIONS OF A THEME.This is not the first steam launch that I have built so far.As a matter of fact it is the last finished one, but still untested. This is its story. Mesmerized by Mooseman Hobbies Arrow construction story, and feeling sick of reading his full reports over and over, I ordered a kit of the boat. The seller advised me not to buy the wood part of the kit as this would have saved shipping weight and related costs. I memorized the seller's advise and ordered the full complete kit. I wanted to build it exactly like Mooseman did. As I received the kit, I studied the drawings and decided to save some weight. So I just kept the bottom of the boat and the frames as they were conceived, but the sides were made, instead of solid wood as provided by the kit, from 5 mm. plywood with a mahoganny lamination on the exterior side. Having disliked from the beginning the two lower "horns" I decided to do without them, as the old Bowman launches were made. I had also disliked, as construction was progressing, the radio gear original project, with the battery pack in the front. The boat was lengthened in the rear by less than half an inch, keeping all elements of the radio gear in one place, i.e. in the rear part of the launch. I like to disobey to drawings. As an architect I can. So I kept disobeying. The cantilevered rear lid was also eliminated in favour of a less exotic rear cover. The rest is pretty much standard as the original design. You would say: Not much, and you are quite right. The outside is spray painted with transparent polyurethane varnish. The bottom is brick red. The original steam plant was a U.S.E Plant. But not much has remained "original". The original 2 esbit round trays have been removed, with a drill blow on the welding spots, to fit a ceramic burner. The ceramic burner was interfering too much with the boiler superheater, so the burner was lowered milling its brass support. An opening had been created on the boiler casing wall opposite to the engine to insert the ceramic burner. I also had to make two metal wings screwed on the ceramic burner body to hold it in place inside the boiler fireplace. So, fitting a ceramic burner into a U.S.E. boiler was not exactly a bolt on job. The complete steam plant is tilted to meet the prop shaft angle, this has, of course, elevated the gravity centre of the model. With the intention oF beating the the speed of Mooseman's S.E.L. powered Arrow, I changed the horse at the last moment, and I managed to fit in a fatter double acting oscillating engine, complete with a home made displacement lubricator. The resulting silicone pipe-work in a confined space is rather messy. Sooner or later I will test this launch in the pond. Static tests showed the usual chilling of the gas tank. I have wrapped a 1 mm. o.d. copper wire coil around the gas tank; the other end of the coil resting on top of the ceramic burner, so that some heat is transfered to the gas tank. It works better but it could work even better because the gas tank ia still a little cold. Now we are in summer, and maybe this defect could disappear, this test having taken place in winter. I will let you know how it goes. 
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| tmuir |
Nice.
I bought the plans to build the boat but it is atleast one or two years off before I plan to build it. I'll look forward to the videos of it running. |
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| duncandumpertruck |
Very nice build! The varnish looks as deep as that on a RIVA! | ||
| Bugsy |
Looks very good! 
So soon we'll have a racing team? Can't wait for the video. What does the kit cost? And who sells it? Edit: I found the info via Mooseman's site. http://www.alwayshobbies.com/Stor...bies-Arrow$6-Steam-Powered-Launch |
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| MooseMan |
Well, I'm flattered! I think your Arrow looks fantastic! | ||
| Sandman |
What a great job.
Moose has been an inspiration to many members, including myself. You got a red face yet mate??? 
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| MooseMan |
I do - and this time not because of a gas burner accident!
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| Steve_S |
That's a very nice boat. Wondeful job! 
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| RocDoc |
Fantastic build. Well done, you must be really pleased on how well she turned out. It's great to see variations upon the Arrow theme. Having the battery pack in rear compartment makes really good sense. I'd love to see a video of her in full steam.
Pete |
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| Atticman |
That is so lovely, The whole thing has been so well thought out, with some great touches.
Wonder what sort of run time the gas will give you? |
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| johnreid |
I agree, the varnish finish gives it the look of a Vintage Mahogany Chris Craft, real nice. | ||
| kusuchi |
Couldn't have said it better myself. You really are quite an Artisan. 
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| flywheel61 |
What a wonderful job, it looks brilliant, I'll be very pleased if my Mabel turns out anywhere near as good as this boat. I really take my hat off to nayonw who has a go at making a boat from scratch, it's not as easy as it seems.
Cheers
Chris |
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| Les |
That looks very stylish indeed, well done.
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| mogogear |
Thinking outside the hull in a most "admiral-able"  way!!
well done |