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pauly

pop-pop boat anyone

Has anyone else on here got a pop-pop boat and if you do pictures please


I love mine even gone to the trouble of modding the candle burner and making my own candles for it
James

Who ever votes would like one, PM me and I can fix you up with a cheap one  
johnreid


A fine Pop Pop from a great Pop Pop Promoter.
IndianaRog

I hope others have seen and even copied the neat PopPop burner designed by Steve S.   Uses a simple copper pipe end cap as a tank for meths with a copper tube for the burner feed.  I cobbled one together last nite and it worked a treat...about 20 minutes of run time on maybe 4-5 ml of meths.  Nice constant flame and good operation of the boat.  My boat made dozens of laps of the kitchen sink to the glee of grandson and I.  Steve's design is a vast improvement on tiny candles or olive oil normally used.

I enjoyed it so much I cobbled together a working rudder for it as they come rudderless on the small cheap versions...when the epoxy holding it on has dried overnite I will give it a go and maybe a video.

Silly things but probably the most bang for the buck you will ever find in toy steam!

Rog
pauly

johnreid wrote:

A fine Pop Pop from a great Pop Pop Promoter.


I like that 1 was it an ebay purchase


I just love these things they really bring my imagination to life especially when the wick is to long and it smokes the smoke goes up the chimmney and looks great and if your using it in the bath tub and turn the tap on it struggles against the current and just looks great
johnreid

No, mine was from James.
It has a little plastic rudder too.
I think James has more. Get them while they last.
pauly

IndianaRog wrote:
I hope others have seen and even copied the neat PopPop burner designed by Steve S.   Uses a simple copper pipe end cap as a tank for meths with a copper tube for the burner feed.  I cobbled one together last nite and it worked a treat...about 20 minutes of run time on maybe 4-5 ml of meths.  Nice constant flame and good operation of the boat.  My boat made dozens of laps of the kitchen sink to the glee of grandson and I.  Steve's design is a vast improvement on tiny candles or olive oil normally used.

I enjoyed it so much I cobbled together a working rudder for it as they come rudderless on the small cheap versions...when the epoxy holding it on has dried overnite I will give it a go and maybe a video.

Silly things but probably the most bang for the buck you will ever find in toy steam!

Rog


I prefer candles as the pop-pop boats quickly get boring for me just going round so a couple of minutes with my candles is perfect for me.
Graham-Jilly

we have 2 thanks to James
pauly

got any pics of them.
Les Marsh

Here's my two.

Nick

Am I the only one that doesn't have one, but would like to?
Les Marsh

Nick wrote:
Am I the only one that doesn't have one, but would like to?


Possibly, gives James a PM.
pauly

Les Marsh wrote:
Here's my two.



nice

a bit of advise if you bend the burner like I have it will fit nice and snuggley between the steam pipes and be nice and stable

Les Marsh

I am going to make the new modified burners for them.
willsy

i also have a pop pop boat no pics but the same as johnreid has and there great fun
pauly

if anyone still uses the candle burner and would like to know how to make cheap candles for it if they ask I will post step by step instructions on the forum
Graham-Jilly

im at work so cant do any pics at moment sorry
pauly

lets hope the boss dont catch ya
mogogear

Les Marsh wrote:
Here's my two.


Ahh Les,  mine looks just like yours!! Pop pop boats are how I found this site....I was checking out the Miss England boat and after many searches stumbled upon the vast, historical world of steam engines!!
Brandt

Here are my 2 pop-pop boats.
The first I got as a present fomr my fatger inlaw, he got it at the markets at St Martins in the field when they were on holidays in the UK. It is still in the box unused.

The second was one they we made. it uses the same concept to propell it but with a different method. Is a lot easier to build a coil then a boiler pan.



tmuir

Here's mine

Sold as made in Australia but I'm not 100% sure as I've seen other very similar ones made else where.

xlchainsaw

we just bought three like les s and are waiting delivery. of interest on our french sister forum they detail how to make them. im going to make mine so i bought some cheapies 3 for $10 au just to double check design ect. perhaps a new forum board???? pop pops
tmuir

xlchainsaw wrote:
perhaps a new forum board???? pop pops


NAh they use steam and are boats just put them in
Steam Launches and Boats  
Nick

Where do must of you prefer to run your boats?

I was thinking about picking one up and making a "track" for it. I would make it slightly wider than
the boat, but thin enough to keep it going straight. I think that might be more fun than watching
it go around in circles in the sink or bath tub.

Another thing I thought of was taking it out on the lake on a calm day. I do a lot of fishing, so I thought
why not tie it to the end of my fishing line and let the thing head out on the water. It would be free to
go wherever it wants and then I could just reel it in when I was done.
xlchainsaw

Nick wrote:
Where do must of you prefer to run your boats?

I was thinking about picking one up and making a "track" for it. I would make it slightly wider than
the boat, but thin enough to keep it going straight. I think that might be more fun than watching
it go around in circles in the sink or bath tub.

Another thing I thought of was taking it out on the lake on a calm day. I do a lot of fishing, so I thought
why not tie it to the end of my fishing line and let the thing head out on the water. It would be free to
go wherever it wants and then I could just reel it in when I was done.
what a wonderful idea!!! fishing reel i mean.
duncandumpertruck

50 pop pops for sale on eBay France!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAP...sPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=011
xlchainsaw

a good buy but i would get done for importing a commercial quantity
pauly

Nick wrote:
Where do must of you prefer to run your boats?

I was thinking about picking one up and making a "track" for it. I would make it slightly wider than
the boat, but thin enough to keep it going straight. I think that might be more fun than watching
it go around in circles in the sink or bath tub.

Another thing I thought of was taking it out on the lake on a calm day. I do a lot of fishing, so I thought
why not tie it to the end of my fishing line and let the thing head out on the water. It would be free to
go wherever it wants and then I could just reel it in when I was done.



Iv had that idea before but there is 1 magor problem with it and that is that lake water has dirt in it and if dirt goes in 1 of the pipes it could block them and nacker the boat.
steamgranny

I've got a few but no good photos. (Must remember to do one )
I made a makeshift & quite large pond using bricks & thick sheet of plastic. I shall be filling it any day    I imagine one of those cheap inflatable kid's paddling pools might do for people with less room, plus being portable/storable.
Had been using olive oil to run mine but intend to make some little burners after Steve's recent ingenious design  
kusuchi

Nick wrote:
Where do must of you prefer to run your boats?

I was thinking about picking one up and making a "track" for it. I would make it slightly wider than
the boat, but thin enough to keep it going straight. I think that might be more fun than watching
it go around in circles in the sink or bath tub.

Another thing I thought of was taking it out on the lake on a calm day. I do a lot of fishing, so I thought
why not tie it to the end of my fishing line and let the thing head out on the water. It would be free to
go wherever it wants and then I could just reel it in when I was done.


Kind of like a tethered flash steam hydroplane.



   

Seriously though, I've been meaning to look at these since SteamGranny posted her video.

Incidentally, the hydroplane clocked 125 mph.  A little faster than a TE1A.
steamgranny

Nick wrote:


I was thinking about picking one up and making a "track" for it. I would make it slightly wider than
the boat, but thin enough to keep it going straight. I think that might be more fun than watching
it go around in circles in the sink or bath tub.



That is what they do when organizing the pop-pop speed championships. Lengths of cut plastic pipe, blanked off at ends. See here for a series of photos that show the principle. A member of French Blooo forum won this year with home made pop-pop that can be seen in last photo:
http://captainpoppop.com/joomla/i...ie_20-05-08/album/index_html.html
Nick

Thanks for the pictures.

That's a lot like I was thinking, only I think it could use some curves in it.
RocDoc

Here's my Pop Pop boat, bought at the Lincoln Christmas market last year and named after my daughter.

Titan

steamgranny wrote:
Nick wrote:


I was thinking about picking one up and making a "track" for it. I would make it slightly wider than
the boat, but thin enough to keep it going straight. I think that might be more fun than watching
it go around in circles in the sink or bath tub.



That is what they do when organizing the pop-pop speed championships. Lengths of cut plastic pipe, blanked off at ends. See here for a series of photos that show the principle. A member of French Blooo forum won this year with home made pop-pop that can be seen in last photo:
http://captainpoppop.com/joomla/i...ie_20-05-08/album/index_html.html



Hmm, so what we are really thinking about is a model canal perhaps?

Locks would be fun - You could even have a stationary steam engine pumping water back up to the top level - how cool would that be!!!!
Atticman

Thats a great idea, a curved track at STIA with a pair of locks.......

Cant see Fred being amused if it leaked though    

That French championship looked so cool, any excuse for a party  
steamgranny

Titan wrote:

Locks would be fun - You could even have a stationary steam engine pumping water back up to the top level - how cool would that be!!!!


I can see this idea going places    The possibilities are infinite.............

Finally took a shot of my little pop-pop fleet ready for some action. Pond filled & if a windless day may have a pop-pop extravaganza tomorrow  

pauly

I love your collection especially the large tug on the left where did you get it.
steamgranny

pauly wrote:
I love your collection especially the large tug on the left where did you get it.


It was a present but it's a Rattandeep limited edition & have seen it for sale new on ebay quite recently.
Here's a vid of its inaugural run last year, although seems to expend most of its energy making a very loud 'pop-pop' but not getting anywhere much  

pauly

That sounds great like its got a little 2 stroke engine or something

also just noticed that your titanic has a little fire or smoke damage
toxx

... it's a serious boat making a decent din, Alicia!  I love it!
made-in-england

LOL yeah pauly it does sound like that!!

Worse than a Norman that!
steamgranny

pauly wrote:

also just noticed that your titanic has a little fire or smoke damage

That was caused by running them on Esbit - works a treat & far more power but burns the paint  
mogogear

pauly wrote:
I love your collection especially the large tug on the left where did you get it.



Here you Pauly- it is in the US- but you get the idea

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pop-Pop-Putt-...PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
James

That's great! Sounds like the gravel (and formerly grain!) barges we get coming up the Trent.
johnreid

Wonder how much those Titanics cost, real cool Pop Pop, but I doubt my favorite Pop Pop Dealer has them
pauly

johnreid wrote:
Wonder how much those Titanics cost, real cool Pop Pop, but I doubt my favorite Pop Pop Dealer has them


mine cost £15
which is about $30
steamgranny

The pop-pops finally had their first outing of the season today  
I experimented with Sterno but it burns paintwork as much if not more so than Esbit & runs out very quickly. I therefore reverted to my trusty if somewhat messy olive oil
Best performer was Titanic, chugging around steadily for ages on one fill up. Big blue tug was cantankerous, not wanting to pop-pop but after squinting inside it seems boiler is not centered & slightly askew. Don't want to take it apart to cure & probably easier to bend burner to accommodate.



This is a second-hand Mexican one, acquired in a job lot this winter, on its first test run & appears to be a good'un:



This brand new 'No 6' was in the same lot & also goes quite well after some initial 'running in' but is rudderless, thus goes in dizzy circles :



And finally, my cheapest little Rattandeep Panda proving it's still the fastest

pauly

that big blue tug dosesnt sound to good sounds like flicking the tab on a can of coke.

nice titanic we should start up the titanic owners club.    
steamgranny

johnreid wrote:
Wonder how much those Titanics cost, real cool Pop Pop, but I doubt my favorite Pop Pop Dealer has them


Maybe not    But can always pop in to Buzz's boatyard

 http://www.buzzboats.com/poppop.htm

He has 2 Titanic versions but doesn't seem to have the Titanic kit at the moment but it's where I got mine plus some others & excellent service.
pauly

WOW    what a hug selection I really want 1 of those
jum-1s but cant buy from america.
James

Wow, great show SG!
Wallace

That's great SG    Thanks for posting those vids.

I have 3 pop pops and now with this thread have been inspired to get another one or 2
johnreid

I wonder what kind of variety my favorite Pop Pop dealer has in stock.
IndianaRog

pauly wrote:
WOW    what a hug selection I really want 1 of those
jum-1s but cant buy from america.


Pauly, you need to work on your folks re: that "can't buy from America" mandate.  IF you have access to PayPal it is very simple to pay in a different currency...PayPal does the work for you (they charge a fee to the person receiving the money, so if you are buying it costs you nothing).  

Dealing with bank money transfers CAN be a pain and I would not recommend it...costs YOU as well.  Hope you can gently work on the folks and bring them around.  We have a lot of nice stuff for sale on this side of the pond and by and large we are an honest bunch!!

Roger
kusuchi

steamgranny wrote:
johnreid wrote:
Wonder how much those Titanics cost, real cool Pop Pop, but I doubt my favorite Pop Pop Dealer has them


Maybe not    But can always pop in to Buzz's boatyard

 http://www.buzzboats.com/poppop.htm

He has 2 Titanic versions but doesn't seem to have the Titanic kit at the moment but it's where I got mine plus some others & excellent service.


Great videos, Steam Granny,

Every time this topic comes up I think of you and that wonderful pond.

We currently fall into the 9% 'would like to' category.

I don't know if you remember our Elliot Bay Steam Launch thread when we ran all our test trials in the Jacuzzi.  Would that be big enough to run pop pop boats?

Andrew is a huge Titanic fan. He has upwards of 12 books on the subject, a 3D puzzle and of course the DVD. He particularly liked the boiler room sequence which I have now learned was shot at Kempton Park.

Think it is time to get off the fence and buy him the Titanic models.

It'll probably be the best value for money steam purchase ever made as far as he is concerned.

Thanks for sharing.

(PS: All our olive oil is, of course, extra virgin. )
IndianaRog

Richard, I've run my little pop pop in the kitchen sink and the bathtub only...I think a hot tub would more than get the job done!!

IF you have the option, buy one with a rudder, it helps keep them from running in endless small circles.  I made one up from a bit of brass and soldered it on the stern of mine...works beautifully.

Yup, if you have a Titanic fan in the family it's a natural to add the Titanic to your fleet.  They weigh almost nothing so should not cost much for shipping.  Buzz's Boatyard seems to be a favorite of several folks including SteamGranny who might just have the largest fleet of these little jewels.
johnreid

Mine has a little plastic rudder that is easy to lose.
kusuchi

IndianaRog wrote:
Richard, I've run my little pop pop in the kitchen sink and the bathtub only...I think a hot tub would more than get the job done!!

IF you have the option, buy one with a rudder, it helps keep them from running in endless small circles.  I made one up from a bit of brass and soldered it on the stern of mine...works beautifully.

Yup, if you have a Titanic fan in the family it's a natural to add the Titanic to your fleet.  They weigh almost nothing so should not cost much for shipping.  Buzz's Boatyard seems to be a favorite of several folks including SteamGranny who might just have the largest fleet of these little jewels.


Thanks Rog,

I'll be buying tomorrow.
Nick

Does anyone have "The Classic Victoria"? I know it's no longer made, but commonly found on ebay.

I've always liked the looks of it and would like to know how it performs.

Roly Williams

I only have one.

Note the image on the bottom. I know it's traditional to have an eye painted on boat hulls to avert the "evil eye" but this is something else (Beware if you are of a nervous disposition )

http://uk.geocities.com/rolywilliams/rattandeep_pop-pop.html
pauly

IndianaRog wrote:
pauly wrote:
WOW    what a hug selection I really want 1 of those
jum-1s but cant buy from america.


Pauly, you need to work on your folks re: that "can't buy from America" mandate.  IF you have access to PayPal it is very simple to pay in a different currency...PayPal does the work for you (they charge a fee to the person receiving the money, so if you are buying it costs you nothing).  

Dealing with bank money transfers CAN be a pain and I would not recommend it...costs YOU as well.  Hope you can gently work on the folks and bring them around.  We have a lot of nice stuff for sale on this side of the pond and by and large we are an honest bunch!!

Roger


The problem is that the few times they have bought from america they have been swindled every time.
johnreid

Wow, that happened to me when I bought from the UK before. I think that is where PayPal and Credit Cards are a good thing. If you pay with PayPal and get swindled, you can get a refund.
One is just as apt to get cheated when buying from the UK as from the US. Americans are not a bunch of crooks, and neither are Brits.
pauly

I never said that all americans are a bunch of crooks all I said was that almost every time we have bought from america we have been cheated.
IndianaRog

Pauly, you can find cheats anywhere.  That is the beauty of using PayPal and/or a credit card to make purchase from unknown folks.

Example, I recently made an online purchase of a boat kit from what I thought was a reputable US hobby site...name www.quicktechhobbies.com

I fortunately used a credit card to pay...after two weeks of getting nothing...I was unsuccessful trying to email them and their phone was disconnected.  I filed a complaint with my credit card company and had the total amount restored within a week.  It's not always quite that fast to get your money back, but items bought via credit cards or PayPal have a built in guarantee against fraud or misrepresented goods.

I don't know how your folks made their purchases from the US...but sometimes folks will send cash and THAT is asking to be ripped off.   Even sending bank checks might be OK for the receiver, but the buyer has no recourse if the seller just cashes the bank check and never sends the goods.

In today's internet marketplace...It's credit or PayPal for me unless I know the seller personally.

Try to sort this with your folks, otherwise you are missing some incredible variety and with the current pound vs. dollar exchange rate, stuff from the US is the cheapest it has been for you folks in ages.

cheers,
Roger[/url]
pauly

IndianaRog wrote:
Pauly, you can find cheats anywhere.  That is the beauty of using PayPal and/or a credit card to make purchase from unknown folks.

Example, I recently made an online purchase of a boat kit from what I thought was a reputable US hobby site...name www.quicktechhobbies.com

I fortunately used a credit card to pay...after two weeks of getting nothing...I was unsuccessful trying to email them and their phone was disconnected.  I filed a complaint with my credit card company and had the total amount restored within a week.  It's not always quite that fast to get your money back, but items bought via credit cards or PayPal have a built in guarantee against fraud or misrepresented goods.

I don't know how your folks made their purchases from the US...but sometimes folks will send cash and THAT is asking to be ripped off.   Even sending bank checks might be OK for the receiver, but the buyer has no recourse if the seller just cashes the bank check and never sends the goods.

In today's internet marketplace...It's credit or PayPal for me unless I know the seller personally.

Try to sort this with your folks, otherwise you are missing some incredible variety and with the current pound vs. dollar exchange rate, stuff from the US is the cheapest it has been for you folks in ages.

cheers,
Roger[/url]



my parents dont send cash they run an ebay business and know how it works.

and can we please get back on topic now.
Wallace

Pauly I pretty much have no option but to buy from UK or US cos I am in OZ.

I've never had a problem using paypal overseas. Stick with that and it should be fine.

Just to add to Rogs post about sending cash, or Bank Cheques, also avoid Western Union and Moneygram.

Ebay doesn't allow their use, but people sellers still try it and buyers still use it
IndianaRog

Then they must not have used credit or PayPal...unfortunate.
IndianaRog

Right you are Pauly...back on topic it is
pauly

Wallace wrote:
Pauly I pretty much have no option but to buy from UK or US cos I am in OZ.

I've never had a problem using paypal overseas. Stick with that and it should be fine.

Just to add to Rogs post about sending cash, or Bank Cheques, also avoid Western Union and Moneygram.

Ebay doesn't allow their use, but people sellers still try it and buyers still use it


once again my parents run a ebay business and now how it works

now can we please get back on topic.
steamgranny

kusuchi wrote:
..... that wonderful pond.


Hardly    Only a few bricks & some nasty plastic. And will be a green slimy mess in a few weeks time, with dead bodies floating in it    Have to ease up up on water use in summer, too.

kusuchi wrote:
.......in the Jacuzzi.  Would that be big enough to run pop pop boats?


I'm sure it would but in case of conflict of usage what about my idea of a blow up children's paddling pool?

kusuchi wrote:
Think it is time to get off the fence and buy him the Titanic models.

It'll probably be the best value for money steam purchase ever made as far as he is concerned.


Agreed  

kusuchi wrote:
(PS: All our olive oil is, of course, extra virgin.  )


I have lots of extra virgins, too  
pauly

MAGOR POP POP BOAT NEWS MY CANDLE POWERED POP POP TUG HAS JUST RAN ON 1 CANDLE FOR AND IM NOT LYING ...............................................54 MINUTES.                      
Les Marsh

     
pauly

for the last 25 minutes it was running on an ember
and started to stall a couple of times only to come back to life.

all that power from such a small candle we dont need the north sea gas reserves anymore just bung a couple of them candles into britains power plants.
that tug is the terminator of pop pop boats you cant kill it.
igy569

Have not gotten a pop-pop yet... but would like to.  There is one guy on e-gay that always seems to have quite a few available for sale.  They are clearly modern reproductions.  I STILL need to get my hands on a Mamod, and maybe a Flieshmann that does not need a new boiler! (and now the firebox.... long story)
So many steam things to want, but so few bucks to pay for them!!!
Steve_S

igy569 wrote:
So many steam things to want, but so few bucks to pay for them!!!


We can all sympathise with that!
johnreid

igy, one thing about the pop pops, they are usually fairly inexpensive. Even the Bigger ones. I am getting a 15 in long one for $18
TRAPPERKEEPER

Nick wrote:
Does anyone have "The Classic Victoria"? I know it's no longer made, but commonly found on ebay.

I've always liked the looks of it and would like to know how it performs.



yes! I bought at the museum of Nat. science in downtown houston in 2001 for $10. It runs well, and does look nice   I could have sworn i posted this, but can't find the post....
Nick

I found it in a different thread.  

Thanks for posting though. If I see a cheap one, I'll go for it.
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