thinking of buying first steam boat

pauly · thinking of buying first steam boat

I am thinking of buying the wilesco african queen and was wondering if any body on here had it and if so what are its good and bad points any responses much appreciated.

IndianaRog

Pauly, I can't say about the African Queen, but I encourage you to visit Mooseman's website...he now has 7 boats at last count and two were kit type he built up himself...one and Arrow like kit by Hobbies and the other a Midwestern Heritage kit I believe (fantail).

Moose can give you a few pointers as can other boat owners on here.

cheers and it's good to have you join our forum and post...great collection pics!

Roger

pauly

thanks indianarog Im a big fan of your website and moosemans which why I want to get a boat I personally think yours and moosemans websites are some of the most informative on the web.

I dont want anything to expensive as I am only 16 and dont have much cash.

CCairns

Here is a video of the Wilesco Afican Queen in action - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=632463562265242200

4 minutes is not very long, and the engine dropped its revs very quickly. I assume that it is still being run in.

I'm sure other members will post their thoughts here, but I think £300+ for this kit is too expensive, particularly as they only offer some very crude instructions to make it Radio Control (rudder only), and despite having one in the publicity photos, there is no option to get the sailor figure.

For an entry level boat have a look at the Midwest launches, the Fantail & Elliot Bay. We have members on here that have these launches, and see Richard's excellent posting on the building of an Elliot Bay - http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/about9239.html & http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/about9615.html & http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/about9720.html

tmuir

I don't own any steam boats but unless you can find a wilesco secondhand for a good price I would stay away from it as its pretty expensive for what you can get.

As has already been mentioned above if you don't mind doing a bit of building yourself a Midwest fantail is a good place to start.

Kits and engines are readily available.

Here is a kit on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/MID958-Fantai...Z1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

or a reproduction arrow from Hobbies that Moose built and is on his website.

http://www.alwayshobbies.com/Stor...bies-Arrow$6-Steam-Powered-Launch

MooseMan

Always happy to help mate, just say the word.

pauly

thanks for your responses I have decided not to get a boat at the moment as building my garden railway is seriously draining my funds

thanks anyway

CCairns

steamyjim