After watching your video I bought one of these engines. I removed the side rods and adjusted the burner with the screw adjust on the filler valve. She runs like a Swiss watch! It runs so well that I bought a second one and am converting my HO layout to all live steam. Really a great locomotive when you look at it closely.
You removed the side rods? I also found the side rods sometimes interfere with the smooth operation. I also had a very strange thing happen: water spouting everywhere. It's a hobby that requires patience and lots of trial and error.
That’s pretty funny that they embedded this video on the item page of their shop when you literally say by the end that it’s not in usable shape and you can’t recommend it. Thank you for the honest review though! It looks really cool. I was just waiting for the cars to fling off that track as it gained speed, lol.
@RetroSteamTech it just needs a regulator. I wonder if turning down the heat would help at all, you'd have to be on a REALLY specific heat for this to work properly
@@christopherbernhardt Larger scales have regulators and backward, forward and neutral valves... But at this scale, I'm glad they got authentic-looking wheels.
Thanks Nobby. I did say to them that I would only do it if I was allowed to be honest, which they agreed to. I was quite surprised when they let me publish the video. Cheers, Alan.
I think the regulator is not necessarily essential. The burner is not reliable enough, but if it were, you could run the loco reliably by adjusting the burner. My Hielscher runs fine without a regulator.
Great review and honesty is the best policy, the company have learnt from your knowledge and you have a nice model that you can work on and improve. Great video thankyou for sharing.
Thank you very much. I did tell the company when they approached me to do the review that I would only do it on the condition that I could give my honest opinion.
According to what I‘ve seen and heard in your video, you are absolutely right - more detailed instructions are necessary … and the speed has to be controllable, otherwise it is rather frustrating watching a steam train dashing around lile that. Thanks for this great review of yours!
good honest review Alan👍👍 For that money $750 i think they need better instructions. Question, How do you know when the water in the boiler is expired from the boiler enjoyed it Alan but won't be spending that much atb Kev
Thanks Kev. I did tell the company when they approached me to do the review that I would only do it on the condition that I could give my honest opinion. Your question is a good one, and illustrates another problem with it, you can't tell when the boiler runs dry. So I never let it run for long for that exact reason. As one of the other commenters said, it needs a sight glass. Cheers, Alan.
Excellent video and review Alan. The little loco looks awesome when it runs. How many people can say they ran a real steam train on a track in their house ? I hope EngineDIY shop correct the issues, so it's more user friendly. Nothing else quite like it that I've seen. Cheers Rob
Thanks Rob. It is an amazing little engine, just a shame about the short comings. I also hope that the manufacturers can sort out the problems. Cheers, Alan.
I might get the set and add a custom cover for the tender. I'll also use heat-resistant paint and turn it into my own locomotive styled after the Atlantic Coast Line.
I believe this snd similar companies are just resellers so don't know how the products work so cannot provide support. I reviewed a petrol engine fir them dome years ago and the timing was way off but I was unable to convince them there was an issue.
Hi retrosteamtech I’m new to the miniature steam engines having bought a Mamod TE1a. I’ve seen on the web that boilers need certificates and testing. Does this apply for Mamod steam boilers?
This was a first for me and as you can tell from the video I was quite surprised to be asked to do the review. I think that part of the problem is, with such a small boiler (14 ml capacity) the transition from no steam pressure to lots of steam pressure is very fast. A regulator would definitely help.
They need a way to easily control the speed. Hornby’s electrically heated locomotive set Is safer due to no open fire. Maybe. An electric heater could allow safer control of speed and water heating or at least can provide throttle control.
I think that a simple steam regulator would help control the speed. An electric heater would certainly make it safer but then you would need electrified track to run it on.
Is there any advice for trains that don't work? Mine heats up for about a minute and a half, then spews water out of the fire box. In other words, the boiler shoots out water instead of sending steam to the cylinders. Enginediy has offered a few theories, but still waiting for solutions.
Could be a blockage in the steam line. You could try removing the small piece of plastic pipe which links the steam pipe from the boiler to the steam pipe which goes to the cylinders. See if you get any water or steam out of the boiler pipe. If you do, reconnect it and remove the cylinders, see if you get any steam or water from the port blocks.
What would you recommend as good kit to get so one into the hobby? And what prices would say you would be expecting to spend? Any help is much appreciated!
That's a difficult question. If you were looking for a kit which doesn't require any machining then probably one of the Enjomor kits would be best. Although they are not particularly cheap. My friend Rob on the Xynudu TH-cam channel did a review of one th-cam.com/video/-faO4Q5wcu8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=tflRHLmrR0iSwl4V.
Hi, it's me again. How about constricting the main steam pipe a bit with some tound pliers to reduce the pressure to the engines. Maybe 40% in reduction will be like a fixed valve.
YOu would probably get engine stall. Keep in mind- this engine runs OK only with higher RPM. on lower RPM it seems to not have enough power and will go into stall. It would be best for such engine to have an RPM reduction through gear drive or rubber band from small wheel to large wheel.
@@RetroSteamTech Yeah, because it's really more of a plantation loco than a standard railway loco: (the tall smoke stack, the open cab, the front buffer). I cut the smoke stack, made my own cab, installed a front plate with buffers and painted the whole thing with flat black engine paint. Now if I can get it to run.... ha, ha, ha..
It does have too much power. I'm not sure disabling one of the cylinders would work. I think that would reduce the power too much. What it needs is a regulator.
Nice looking engine, however overpriced me thinks. Highly dangerous to run in a house with no means of adjusting the speed. Your lucky your lino survived with no scorch marks 😂 👍👍
Yeah. Needs a regulator really to control the speed abit but the main thing it really need in my books a is a sight glass. Should see the 009 gauge live steam locos. And someone done a incredible small live steam traction engine.
After watching your video I bought one of these engines. I removed the side rods and adjusted the burner with the screw adjust on the filler valve. She runs like a Swiss watch! It runs so well that I bought a second one and am converting my HO layout to all live steam. Really a great locomotive when you look at it closely.
Well I'm very glad that it worked for you 👍👍
You removed the side rods? I also found the side rods sometimes interfere with the smooth operation. I also had a very strange thing happen: water spouting everywhere. It's a hobby that requires patience and lots of trial and error.
That’s pretty funny that they embedded this video on the item page of their shop when you literally say by the end that it’s not in usable shape and you can’t recommend it. Thank you for the honest review though! It looks really cool. I was just waiting for the cars to fling off that track as it gained speed, lol.
Yes I was surprised that they agreed to let me publish it. Trust me, more of the runs ended with cars flying off the track than not!
@RetroSteamTech it just needs a regulator. I wonder if turning down the heat would help at all, you'd have to be on a REALLY specific heat for this to work properly
@@christopherbernhardt Larger scales have regulators and backward, forward and neutral valves... But at this scale, I'm glad they got authentic-looking wheels.
There are burners that are more reliable...
thanks!
Super little steam train Alan. You video will help future customers who buy one. Worth their while asking you to do a review. Cheers Nobby
Thanks Nobby. I did say to them that I would only do it if I was allowed to be honest, which they agreed to. I was quite surprised when they let me publish the video. Cheers, Alan.
Yes definitely needs a regulator and more instructions for the user, you did a good review. Boys and their toys 😊
Thanks David. I tried to be honest about the engine and it's short comings. Boys and their toys indeed 🙂Cheers, Alan.
I think the regulator is not necessarily essential. The burner is not reliable enough, but if it were, you could run the loco reliably by adjusting the burner. My Hielscher runs fine without a regulator.
Great review and honesty is the best policy, the company have learnt from your knowledge and you have a nice model that you can work on and improve. Great video thankyou for sharing.
Thank you very much. I did tell the company when they approached me to do the review that I would only do it on the condition that I could give my honest opinion.
According to what I‘ve seen and heard in your video, you are absolutely right - more detailed instructions are necessary … and the speed has to be controllable, otherwise it is rather frustrating watching a steam train dashing around lile that. Thanks for this great review of yours!
Thank you. Yes it definitely needs some improvement.
good honest review Alan👍👍
For that money $750 i think they need better instructions.
Question, How do you know when the water in the boiler is expired from the boiler
enjoyed it Alan but won't be spending that much
atb
Kev
Thanks Kev. I did tell the company when they approached me to do the review that I would only do it on the condition that I could give my honest opinion. Your question is a good one, and illustrates another problem with it, you can't tell when the boiler runs dry. So I never let it run for long for that exact reason. As one of the other commenters said, it needs a sight glass. Cheers, Alan.
@@RetroSteamTech to be fair, though, their instructions are better than most instructions coming out of China. I am really greatful for your video.
They have not worked out all the bugs on this machine.
Excellent video and review Alan. The little loco looks awesome when it runs. How many people can say they ran a real steam train on a track in their house ? I hope EngineDIY shop correct the issues, so it's more user friendly. Nothing else quite like it that I've seen. Cheers Rob
Thanks Rob. It is an amazing little engine, just a shame about the short comings. I also hope that the manufacturers can sort out the problems. Cheers, Alan.
I might get the set and add a custom cover for the tender. I'll also use heat-resistant paint and turn it into my own locomotive styled after the Atlantic Coast Line.
I'm sure Enginediyshop will be pleased to hear that.
@@RetroSteamTech Indeed.
I believe this snd similar companies are just resellers so don't know how the products work so cannot provide support. I reviewed a petrol engine fir them dome years ago and the timing was way off but I was unable to convince them there was an issue.
You could be right although they have been pretty good so far. Sent me some spares when I asked and were ok about publishing this video.
Love it I’d like to run that on my layout 😮
It is a bit different 🙂 If it was a little bit more controllable I think it would be a great addition to any HO scale layout.
Looks like you're gonna need fourth radius on any kind of layout because that is fast little loco
Hi retrosteamtech
I’m new to the miniature steam engines having bought a Mamod TE1a. I’ve seen on the web that boilers need certificates and testing. Does this apply for Mamod steam boilers?
Hi. No, Mamod boilers operate at very low pressures and do not require a boiler certificate.
thank you
Hornby made OO scale live steam locomotives in 2003 and they looked good!
I've not seen those but if Hornby made them then I'm sure they did.
@@RetroSteamTech but they got steam by electric heaters... not the same thing. What impressed me about those was they have real miniature valves.
Wish they would send me stuff like this😎, maybe it would be good to run it in on a rolling road as it may improve the running.
This was a first for me and as you can tell from the video I was quite surprised to be asked to do the review. I think that part of the problem is, with such a small boiler (14 ml capacity) the transition from no steam pressure to lots of steam pressure is very fast. A regulator would definitely help.
They need a way to easily control the speed. Hornby’s electrically heated locomotive set
Is safer due to no open fire. Maybe. An electric heater could allow safer control of speed and water heating or at least can provide throttle control.
I think that a simple steam regulator would help control the speed. An electric heater would certainly make it safer but then you would need electrified track to run it on.
Is there any advice for trains that don't work? Mine heats up for about a minute and a half, then spews water out of the fire box. In other words, the boiler shoots out water instead of sending steam to the cylinders. Enginediy has offered a few theories, but still waiting for solutions.
Could be a blockage in the steam line. You could try removing the small piece of plastic pipe which links the steam pipe from the boiler to the steam pipe which goes to the cylinders. See if you get any water or steam out of the boiler pipe. If you do, reconnect it and remove the cylinders, see if you get any steam or water from the port blocks.
What would you recommend as good kit to get so one into the hobby?
And what prices would say you would be expecting to spend?
Any help is much appreciated!
That's a difficult question. If you were looking for a kit which doesn't require any machining then probably one of the Enjomor kits would be best. Although they are not particularly cheap. My friend Rob on the Xynudu TH-cam channel did a review of one th-cam.com/video/-faO4Q5wcu8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=tflRHLmrR0iSwl4V.
Oh my, it seems to me like it’s more a prototype than the finished product. Grossly overpriced for what it is. Great review. Thank you. 👍😀
Thanks Andrew. Yes, it certainly needs some work! Cheers, Alan.
Hi, it's me again. How about constricting the main steam pipe a bit with some tound pliers to reduce the pressure to the engines. Maybe 40% in reduction will be like a fixed valve.
Hi. Yes you could do that but the pressure really needs fine adjustment so a variable valve would be better.
Ok. This little train looks great. Thanks again !!!
YOu would probably get engine stall.
Keep in mind- this engine runs OK only with higher RPM. on lower RPM it seems to not have enough power and will go into stall.
It would be best for such engine to have an RPM reduction through gear drive or rubber band from small wheel to large wheel.
@@digimaks A gear reduction drive would be a good idea. Although it would make the locomotive more complicated and would probably increase the price.
thats not a h0 train its a pocket rocket wow what speed😄 love the vid
Thanks.
I'd say that's closer too an ON30 scale...
You maybe right but HO is how the manufacturer describes it.
@@RetroSteamTech Yeah, because it's really more of a plantation loco than a standard railway loco: (the tall smoke stack, the open cab, the front buffer). I cut the smoke stack, made my own cab, installed a front plate with buffers and painted the whole thing with flat black engine paint. Now if I can get it to run.... ha, ha, ha..
What if you block the outlet of one of the engines, it looks like it has too much power and too much consumption.
It does have too much power. I'm not sure disabling one of the cylinders would work. I think that would reduce the power too much. What it needs is a regulator.
Right. Looking forward to seeing it!
What about reducing the fuel use by turning the flame down a bit.
@@bichela It's very difficult to get the flame just right. There is a very fine line between too much and not enough.
@@RetroSteamTechthat does bring up a good point. The manual should give adjustments for this.
Nice looking engine, however overpriced me thinks. Highly dangerous to run in a house with no means of adjusting the speed. Your lucky your lino survived with no scorch marks 😂 👍👍
Fortunately the floor is ceramic tiles so pretty impervious to heat 🙂
Yeah. Needs a regulator really to control the speed abit but the main thing it really need in my books a is a sight glass. Should see the 009 gauge live steam locos. And someone done a incredible small live steam traction engine.
Yes, a sight glass would be really useful as it only holds a tiny amount of water.