Steam Powered V8 Engine

[Steve Cole 1Participant @stevecole1]

Please Help

[Steve Cole 1Participant @stevecole1]

Hello all, this is my first real post and its a big one. What i would like to do is build a model V8 engine…. now I'm not an engineer and I'm only a novice so to make an engine with glow or spark injection is way out of my league so i though i would start of my very first project ambitious however somewhat realistic.

What i would like to do is build a V8 that's powered by steam. Now i have never built a model engine before but i would say I'm a fairly competent learner. I would just like pointing in the right direction, plans, advise, what materials i should be using and if possible a build thread?

My goal if i manage to successfully build a working V8 is to put it on a chassis and turn it into a radio controlled mustang! Now again i know this sounds like i want to sprint before i can even crawl but this is going to be a long term project. Iv got an extensive knowledge of RC as i have been racing for well over 10 years and have experience with planes, cars, trucks etc, and have used both IC engines, and electric motors. So hopefully turning it into a radio controlled model shouldn't be to over whelming.

Any and all help is going to be incredibly appreciated and when i get the wheels in motion i will definitely be creating a build thread so hopefully it goes well

Many thanks

Steve

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

There are several "air powered" V8 models about and it would not be too hard to adapt these for steam. Chuck Fellows one would be a good starting point, have a read of his build thread here

 

Managing the steam will be as big a job as making the engine, you will need water pumps to feed the boiler, a way to regulate the flame which will most likely be gas, regulate steam flow etc. Could even be easier to use a small rechargable bottle of compressed air.

 

Edited By JasonB on 15/03/2015 09:12:27

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

From this newbie's viewpoint it depends which part of the journey you're really after. Whether it's the engine build, the whole build or the chassis, gearing and functional model.

I'd have though that in many way the issues Jason highlights re steam boilers and control men that ic is potentially simpler.. especially if wanting to avoid the concerns of lapping cylinders and design of ports by plaigerising existng cheap nitro engines or even using a bunch of their cylinders and pistons and 'just' creating the main lump and crank and carburettion.

For a taste of what you're into if doing the whole thing this thread is cool: **LINK**

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

This is quite a good video that shows all the ancillaries that are needed on an RC steam car, don't go expecting V8 performance as you will have a job generating enough steam to keep all eight cylinders fed with enough.

J

 

PS should have said plans for Chucks engine are on the same forum in the drawings & plans section

 

Edited By JasonB on 15/03/2015 10:18:00

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

If I were to attempt a steam powered device as a first effort, a V8 would not be my choice. The smaller you go, the more problems you get from blow-by, friction, and surface-to-volume ratio – and all these work against you as the number of cylinders goes up, too. My suggestion would be to start with a single cylinder (or a V twin, perhaps) and use that as a test-bed – first for the design and the machining of the engine, and second for the steam generation plant. Once you have worked out all this, and understood the balance between steam output and engine demands, you can go on to try for a multi.

But then, I have never made a steam engine, so what do I know?

Cheers, Tim

[Author]

Posts