Geoff, Went to Radio Shack and bought some heat shrink today. Didn't work! It was too stiff to follow the curves of the tube. I'll try pulling the wires out of some three conductor electrical feed and see if it is more pliable. The SWAMP RR never has failures, just opportunities that need more exploration!!!! Keep your steam up! Mr. Lunkenheimer & Associate>
> > Your idea of the heat shrink tubing is excellent and I have some the > right size. Let me know what you hear from Aristocraft on the gas > feed and what do you think of my idea of feeding the steam into the > warmer tank in the tender? Even though the tank geets quite cool, I've net had the gas get too low a pressure until it runs out. Mayde your climate is cooler than balmy South Florida. This morning it was in the 60's and almost a Tule Fog. Ran the Mike till the sun burned off the fog at about 8:00 AM. The steam trail lasted almost till the loco got back to the start - that's 280 feet of steaming. I'll admit that it was a little difficult to see the loco at the far corner just at sunrise, but it was a real "kick". Walt > > It would be great to see that video you made - I thought it looked > just great watching it steam on the track and the excellent RC > control with the regulator makes it a pleasure to drive. > > Incidentally, I'd like to know if it uses D valves or piston valves > - I am sure I heard that they had D valves when I was in Diamondhead > last year but some discussion on the Aristocraft LS forum indicated > they used piston valves. > > The safety blows at 38psi-- shouldn't it be a bit higher-- around 55 to 60 > psi? So far I've pulled nine Aristo 1:29 beer cars and Caboose with no trouble at operating pressure. Even runs good at under 30#. > > > > Cheers, > > Geoff.. > > > > > >>Jeff, >>Lewis was able to have mine delivered on my birthday, so I've had a few >>weeks to play with it. I'm very impressed with the quality and the really >>low price. The gas fill seems to be a common problem, but I've not >>considered trying to remove it - waiting for some work from Aristo staff >>to >>see if they have a cure. >>The tote/suitcase it was packed in really impressed me. what a great way >>to >>make a loco portable. >>I'm thinking about trying to make a remote controlled coupler to do some >>switching. The loco reverses very easy with the radio controls and has >>never stalled in the process. >>My biggest complaint is the white tubing for the gas connection to the >>loco - it just seems to distract from the overall appearance. I'm going to >>get some black heat shrink electrical tube to slip over the gas tube and >>try >>to disguise it a bit. >>I bought a battery operated, wireless TV camera and a small receiver to >>give >>me a picture of what happens behind the shed at the SE corner of the >>track. >>If anything is going to go wrong, it happens there where I can't see it. >>Today I tried putting the camera in a car four cars back from the tender >>to >>see what the picture would be like. What a blast! It reminded me of the >>view >>I had from the cupola of the caboose of the local freight train I rode in >>as >>a kid to go visit relatives who lived at the next coal mine south of us. >>I'm sure I've run this Mikado more in the last two weeks than I have run >>any >>of my other steamers in the last YEAR. >>I'm impressed! >>Keep your steam up! >>Mr. Lunkenheimer's assoociate. >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Geoff Spenceley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>To: "Small-scale live steam discussions" <[email protected]> >>Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 7:50 PM >>Subject: Re: [SSLiveSteam] Arisrocraft Mikado >> >> >>> I have just received the Aristocraft Mikado and I am pretty >>> impressed with the loco overall, especially with the boiler >>> fittings, design and mechanism, The "power" reverse is very good >>> with the steel worm and brass gear. I love the electronic ignition >>> too. The safety valve piping the steam to beneath the boiler is >>> unique and good eye protection, especially since I love to peer down >>> at safety valves! >>> >>> I am having problems with the butane burner design, it's a job to >>> keep it lighted and the filler valve does not bleed when the tank is >>> full. ( I'd like a new filler valve). I understand some owners have >>> disassembled the tender and adjusted the metering valve for a proper >>> gas flow, I don't want to do that, I'd never get the electronics >>> back together properly!! Any way, I think it is just the matter of >>> keeping the butane tank warm. Accordingly I am considering installing >>> a valve and a heat resistant neoprene tube from the bleed down valve >>> located under the cab to the warming tank in the tender. This would >>> have little pressure in it and could heat the water in the warming >>> tank and bleed off the excess boiler water at the same time ( I >>> believe the existing valve is to remove excess water from the boiler >> > thus lessening priming.) This would kill two birds with one stone (me >>> too, if I don't do it right!) >>> >>> Anyone out there with the Mikado who understands what I am trying >>> to explain and may have some suggestions? >>> >>> Help! >>> >>> Geoff. >>> _______________________________________________ >>> SSLiveSteam mailing list >>> Send messages: [email protected] >>> Cancel subscription: >>> http://postfix.45mm.com/mailman/listinfo/sslivesteam >>> Rules: http://www.45mm.com/sslivesteam_guide.html >>> >>> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>SSLiveSteam mailing list >>Send messages: [email protected] >>Cancel subscription: http://postfix.45mm.com/mailman/listinfo/sslivesteam >>Rules: http://www.45mm.com/sslivesteam_guide.html > > _______________________________________________ > SSLiveSteam mailing list > Send messages: [email protected] > Cancel subscription: http://postfix.45mm.com/mailman/listinfo/sslivesteam > Rules: http://www.45mm.com/sslivesteam_guide.html > > _______________________________________________ SSLiveSteam mailing list Send messages: [email protected] Cancel subscription: http://postfix.45mm.com/mailman/listinfo/sslivesteam Rules: http://www.45mm.com/sslivesteam_guide.html
