I did my first attempt at running my newly completed Aster P8 day before yesterday. Unfortunately, I had not charged my fan (inflator & T-tube) enough. Foolishly, I resorted to a scrapped design fan, that of course did not provide enough suction. The track caught on fire 3 times, and as I started seeing the paint coming off some brakeshoes, when flames crept on the outside of the firebox, I decided to extinguish the experiment, adding a weird blue-snow look to the engine.. ;-) The evening was spent cleaning, showering and touching up the paint. Don't use this kind of fire extinguisher!!! (It might even be slightly corrosive :-(
Today I had charged my fan, and within less than 3 minutes, the locomotive started very unexpectadly to run. Aparently I had left the regulator valve slightly open I had only just opened the blower, pressure was something like only 1,5-2 kg/m2 (bar).
The engine met all my expectations on beeing easily moved - the entire following run was done at 2-2,5 bar pressure, with the blower quite open. (During the airtest part of construction, it worked fine with only 0,5-1 bar pressure.)
Also, the boiler aparently produces fantastic amounts of steam. Strong chuffs and a steam plume rising 2 yards in the air was impressive! (Only +7C degrees outside)
My problem is, this locomotive just races away! ;-) It's a question of taming the thing... In fact, my mobile telephone camera was too slow to catch the locomotive in action. That gave me quite a laugh, and a collection of blurred track pictures with steam, but no locomotive
Previously I've only run butane fired locomotives. What I miss is a way of controling the fire. Turning the blower off, only make the flames roast the outside of the locomotive.
After 10-15 minutes, I wanted to hault tyhe show, because I was uncertain that the axle pump worked allright, refurbishing water. I ended up squirting up water, from under, into the firebox, to put out the fire. Since my next run is planned for saturday, the wicks will have dried by then.
I have a feeling this engine could do with like almost 50% less fire. I use a three cup burner, with 3 ceramic felt wicks 15x25mm in each cup. Even the boiler casing became quite hot - valve handles gave burns!
If I only use 1-2 wicks in every cup, I should get a less intense / large flames, right? Maybee so I can regulate the intensity with the blower? Of course steam-up time will prolong.
What is your advice?
Today I had charged my fan, and within less than 3 minutes, the locomotive started very unexpectadly to run. Aparently I had left the regulator valve slightly open I had only just opened the blower, pressure was something like only 1,5-2 kg/m2 (bar).
The engine met all my expectations on beeing easily moved - the entire following run was done at 2-2,5 bar pressure, with the blower quite open. (During the airtest part of construction, it worked fine with only 0,5-1 bar pressure.)
Also, the boiler aparently produces fantastic amounts of steam. Strong chuffs and a steam plume rising 2 yards in the air was impressive! (Only +7C degrees outside)
My problem is, this locomotive just races away! ;-) It's a question of taming the thing... In fact, my mobile telephone camera was too slow to catch the locomotive in action. That gave me quite a laugh, and a collection of blurred track pictures with steam, but no locomotive
Previously I've only run butane fired locomotives. What I miss is a way of controling the fire. Turning the blower off, only make the flames roast the outside of the locomotive.
After 10-15 minutes, I wanted to hault tyhe show, because I was uncertain that the axle pump worked allright, refurbishing water. I ended up squirting up water, from under, into the firebox, to put out the fire. Since my next run is planned for saturday, the wicks will have dried by then.
I have a feeling this engine could do with like almost 50% less fire. I use a three cup burner, with 3 ceramic felt wicks 15x25mm in each cup. Even the boiler casing became quite hot - valve handles gave burns!
If I only use 1-2 wicks in every cup, I should get a less intense / large flames, right? Maybee so I can regulate the intensity with the blower? Of course steam-up time will prolong.
What is your advice?