>Mister Swampy Lunkenheimer & Associate .
I haven't done much on the Mikado except look at it! Our power has been out for a couple of very windy stormy days and it has been cold in the hobby room! The wet weather continues and continues and continues!! I did find some heat shrink tubing, but like you, I found it to be too inflexible. I suspect there is a black tubing that is just as good -- Aster used black tubing (neoprene??) for the C&S Mogul. >I could put some black dye in the butane tank?! Or wear very dark glasses. Geoff >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 _______________________________________________ SSLiveSteam mailing list Send messages: [email protected] Cancel subscription: http://postfix.45mm.com/mailman/listinfo/sslivesteam Rules: http://www.45mm.com/sslivesteam_guide.html
