😁 This Tiny Steam Engine Is Amazing! Build, Test, Explanation

Have you ever been wondering how a steam engine works? I assemble and test this beautiful brass miniature steam engine model kit and provide you with a detailed explanation how this innovative simple design of a rotation valve on a double acting steam cylinder works. If you ever wondered how the direction of the flywheel can be controlled, I will give you a detailed explanation by looking at the CAD model. And finally, we will run a test, if this tiny machine actually runs.
We will take a closer look at the steam engine kinematics of this steam engine model which is similar in design to a James Watts type or Stuart type steam engine. I will explain, how to change the rotation direction of the flywheel. And finally, we will test all this with the real model.
This steam engine was originally designed and produced by Lutz Hielscher. Unfortunately, he does not design or produce these miniature kits anymore, but you can still find his models occasionally on eBay, by searching for “Lutz Hielscher” and “miniature steam”. This is his home page: www.th-weismantel.de/Hielscher...
This is the website of the "Chiemsee" steam train build in 1887 which in shown in the intro.
www.chiemsee-schifffahrt.de/e...
If you want to play around with my CAD model of this steam engine yourself: github.com/KenFilms/Miniature...
Thanks for watching.
00:00 - Intro
00:43 - Size Comparison
00:57 - Parts
01:17 - Assembly
12:09 - Finished Machine
12:48 - Firing up the boiler
13:46 - Does it run?
15:10 - Why does it work?
18:52 - How to change direction in theory?
19:10 - Changing direction for real!
19:37 - Outro

[@jtveg]

Thanks for sharing. 😉👋🏻

[@tproc]

Thank you very much @jtveg. Glad you like it.

[@hillbill3502]

I had a chance to do a couple of days of "workexperience" at Lutz Hielschers workshop in Wuppertal when he was still alive. Still have multiple of his models at home. He was a realy awesome person.

[@tproc]

Wow, that‘s great @hillbill3502. I can imagine. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to meet him in person. But he lives on, among other things, his awesome models.

[@paulhorn2665]

@@tproc He was a nice relaxed guy. I was there and bought a steam engine from him. But first another customer came in, and Mr. Hielscher cooked coffe for us and we chatted about steam engines and smoked cigarettes and cigars.

[@tproc]

Dear @paulhorn2665. Thank you for the anecdote about Hielscher. Sounds like a good time you had.

[@MrHichammohsen1]

Usually videos like this are too fast and you lose something from the build. Not this video! Thank you so much for the amazing work.

[@tproc]

@MrHichamMohsen1, thank you very much for your comment. I‘m glad you like the video and the pace.

[@mdrashadalhasanrony8694]

Clear and concise explanations!! Great video

[@tproc]

Thank you @mdrashadalhasanrony8694 . Glad you like it.,

[@HighlanderNorth1]

I'm thinking it would be preferable to slow down its operation speed by about half. I wonder if it would start shaking itself apart after running for long periods at that high speed?

[@jeremiahembs5343]

A beautiful and brilliant little kit. Thank you so much for the explanation of this wonderful machine!

[@tproc]

Thank you very much @jeremiahembs5343. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@garrattfan]

First: a well recorded and explained assembly process. And of course the star of the show is a thing of beauty. The title is not entirely correct though, its should read: how a stationary steam engine works. The Chiemsee loco works you showed works differently. Your stationary engine does not not have adjustable cylinder filling and it has slide valves instead of rotating valves. A design issue with this particular engine is that the cylinder is attached directly to the rocking beam. The end of the beam describes an arch which should be compensated for or it will cause the piston to rock inside the cylinder and wear out. Of course this is a simple model but real beam engines have mechanism that compensate that. No criticism intended, your video is great.

[@tproc]

Thank you very much for the review @garrattfan. This info is very helpful. The piston is actually attached through a sliding mechanism for this model. It‘s hard to see, since the sliding cavity is covered. You can actually see it in the CAD model, if you download it. And yes, you are right, the Chiemsee loco works differently. And the tiny one is stationary. The storyline intended was more like: the Chiemsee loco is closer to what people have in mind associating with steam engines in general, but to explain we will look at a stationary model.

[@blc6464]

Very nice fun to watch Thank You

[@tproc]

Thank you very much @bl_c

[@diegoantilles6394]

I really appreciate these kind of precision engineering videos, btw nice camera handling!

[@tproc]

Thank you very much @diegoantilles6394. Glad you appreciate it.

[@carsten4594]

Great video, thanks. I guess the flexible hose acts like a safety valve since there isn't any.

[@tproc]

Thank you very much @carsten4594. Great observation about the flexible hose. You are right. And additionally, the rotational valve is suspended by a spring which can as well act as safety.

[@donevans1884]

Brilliant video .

[@tproc]

Thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed it @donevans1884.

[@daytimerat]

fantastic video! does it not need any steam oil or lubrication?

[@tproc]

Thank you very much @midnightmouse. Good point about the steam oil. I did not use additional oil added to the steam for this demonstration. But it‘s a good idea to investigate. Do you have any suggestions which oil to use for these dimensions?

[@timd8776]

Hi there where is the steam tram located in the introduction? I would love to visit this railway thanks

[@tproc]

Hi @timd8776. The steam tram in the beginning is this one: www.chiemsee-schifffahrt.de/en/chiemsee-bahn/die-chiemsee-bahn You need to check on which day it runs. And I believe only in the months from May to September.

[@Gilespargiter]

A lovely little engine. I like that you can see into the boiler. You explained its operation very well. However it has a major design flaw which makes it VERY dangerous. There is no pressure relief/safety valve to prevent it blowing up in your face. In the UK where ALL steam boilers have to have these fitted it would be illegal to sell or use. I'am dissapointed that you did not explain the lack of this feature, and how dangerous this makes it.

[@tproc]

Thank you very much for your comment @Gilespargiter. You are right, I did not explain it in the video. However, the rubber tube, which is quite loosely connected the boiler outlet hose to the cylinder inlet, acts as a safety valve. @donevans1884 also pointed that out. One thing which is hard to see in the video, the rotary valve of the cylinder is also acting as a pressure release because it's suspended by a spring to the cylinder.

[@Gilespargiter]

@@tproc Thankyou for your response. I did notice that the rotary valve might act as a pressure relief valve. It is not directly on the boiler though, therefore any blockage in the system between it and the boiler would prevent it operating. So that is inadequate. It is good to know that the rubber tube would uncouple and a warning to ensure only the precisely correct tube is used. This also is not directly on the boiler and could be susceptible to blockage as well as having an unquantified pressure resistance. So this also, although definitely helpfull, is not adequate. Even a tiny boiler like that can have a relatively enormous amount of latent energy, which if released suddenly could have devastating consequences. It would easily be possible to install such a valve on the coupling at the top of the boiler.

[@tproc]

That's a great idea to put a safety valve on top of the boiler. Do you know, where I can find those tiny valves?

[@Gilespargiter]

@@tproc Yes it is normal practice to mount one directly to the boiler (0n any steam boiler). I couldn't tell you directly where to get one - I play with rather larger toys in my workshop. Also I think you are likely in Canada, whearas I'm in the UK. From watching similar videos I would suggest googling "Mamod" steam engines as I have noted that others seem to be able to obtain parts for these, including the safety valve to fit on engines with a similar problem. Most likely not the only suppliers. It does you a great deal of credit that you have taken note of this concern. It really is a major design fault. Just a sort of "ps" if you look at a pressure cooker relief valve you could see how to make one, which you could test the lift off pressure using compressed air. A bicycle pump would be easily sufficient source of compressed air. Compressed air won't suddenly boil like high temp.water. 100deg. plus about one degree for each 1llb pressure increase.

[@tproc]

Great to hear that you have a workshop and are working on these machines. It's so fascinating. Thank you very much for the detailed information and the idea with the pressure cooker/bicycle valve. I will ask Google about availabilities of the Mamod parts.

[@davidshaw380]

Poor design causes the lower portion of the piston to fill with water. This cylinder should be mounted horizontally.

[@tproc]

Interesting thought. I did not have this issue so far. Even after running it for around 20 mins. Also the steam heats up the cylinder very quickly. I have seen though on bigger models that there is an outlet on the lower condenser.

[@johannesburing2417]

@@tproc Mr. Hielscher did a ministeam mill engine too but they are no longer available because he left the construction office due to age . His son in Law Andreas still offers gauge 1 live steam locomotive engines on demand ! I got one and be pleased with the outcome

[@tproc]

Dear @@johannesburing2417 . Thank you for sharing this info.