Topic: Stuart Turner enthusiasts in Canada and the US

[Tilt]

Hello,

I was just given a Cowells lather by my father-in-law and a box of parts he purchased at an estate sale. I am hooked now. Inside the parts box was the majority of the Stuart 10v. I have no instrutions or have no Idea of what few parts are missing. I would love to get this running. Thanks..
Yes, Tennessee, USA

...Tilt

[JKAG]

New to the ME forums and my 1st post

I've built a 10V, 10h and Beam.  I have 80% of the castings and materials for the Triple Expansion, but it will be years before my skills are at that level. 

I also have a 504 boiler and will be machining and then fitting a ST 9 boiler feed pump to a PM drilling engine (I've also built 3 PMs and a Tiny Power V).  ST seem to have the best castings of the three.  I built the Beam and the 10h from old castings (70's & 80's off ebay) which are reported to be superior to the current ones.  However, the 10v castings seemed to me to be of the same quality

My current projects are turning the 504 and 10h into a steam powered cel phone charger and a 3.5" Raritan loco

Jon

[russ]

It is a small world we share and we model engineers are a small part of its population so everyone is welcome here.  The idea is to share our work, provide advice when asked ofr, etc. ... and even motivate each other!!!

Russ

[railbuff]

Of course not. Anyone from anywhere in the world is welcome. I built the Victoria about 30 years ago and it is one of my favorite Stuarts. Shortly after I built it, Stuarts came out with the twin cylinder version. I have never seen one, but think that it would be most impressive. I still have the governor kit for the Victoria and one of these days, I will complete it and add it to the engine.
It used to be that Stuarts were located in Henley-on-Thames. Before emigrating to the 'Land of Opportunities' (I have been laid off three times), I lived in Wargrave which is next to Henley and used to go to their store and sometimes get a tour through their plant. Now they have moved to the Channel Islands, all that has gone.

Still, good luck with your Victoria and keep us posted.

[Steve_Withnell]

Hi Sandy

Of course, you are most welcome, as is anyone elsewhere in the world. I only named the post 'Stuart Turner enthusiasts in Canada and the US', thinking that there would be a better chance of getting fellow enthusiasts together, if they were geographically close to each other.

Keep your steam up

Railbuff

Hi RailBuff - I'm in the UK,  but building a Victoria - lots to share on that particular engine - no probs with a Limey joining?

[karl]

Greetings, I would like to add myself to the list. The Stuart line of products impressive. The vertical model might be the best for my first effort.

[railbuff]

Just checked on E-bay, and there is one for sale at

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-STUART-MENDIP-COPPER-BOILER-BLACKSTAFF-TYPE-TOP_W0QQitemZ110411624823QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Trains_Railway_Models?hash=item19b50bb177&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177&_trkparms=%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

or just plug in ' Stuart mendip '.

[mirored]

Nice to see interest in ST products.  I haven't done much with ST over the years, but have a long history with live steam in model boats.  My current project is a 1"-12" scratch built scale model of the Mystic Seaport steamship Sabino.  What I have been lacking, and have been trying to locate for several years, is the Stuart Mendip boiler, currently out of production.  The size and appearance are very close to what would be in the scale model I'm making.  If there is anyone out there that has a line on one, I am interested in obtaining it.  Please let me know.

Thanks for your time.

Andy

[sandy]

Just as matter of interest, there was in London, in the mid eighties a wonderful shop called Steam Age. It was managed by a lady and the showcases were full of ST engines and boilers. Apparently, she had a number of model engineers who made the finished products from ST castings and she provided a sales outlet for their efforts. I bought a Compound Twin Launch engine and a Mendip boiler and to this day, regularly kick myself for not purchasing a magificent Triple Compound which was for sale and at a reasonable price at that.

Does anyone recall this shop?

[gbritnell]

I don't post much here but saw the Stuart Turner topic and thought I would add my 2 cents worth. I have been building models for years and some of my first 'kits' were ST's. I first purchased the Stuart oscillator from a local pattern shop that offered their kits. This was around 1961. I have since built a 10V, 2 double 10's, a marine style 10v made from the cylinder and flywheel castings alone. I have also completed a Twin Launch, a Compound Launch, a #4, a steam feed pump, and an S50. I haven't built any in quite awhile as I mostly scratch build these days.
gbritnell

[railbuff]

Hi Sandy

Of course, you are most welcome, as is anyone elsewhere in the world. I only named the post 'Stuart Turner enthusiasts in Canada and the US', thinking that there would be a better chance of getting fellow enthusiasts together, if they were geographically close to each other.

Keep your steam up

Railbuff

[sandy]

Can an Aussie join in. I have a ST horizontal boiler in a 6 foot long model of an 1873 Romanian Navy gunboat (!) which provides steam for a John Godfrey Miniature Steam twin; plus a ST Mendip boiler which provides steam for a ST Compound Twin launch engine in a 6 foot open Steam Launch. The Mendip boiler is either gas or coal fired and I have lost the firebox grate. ST can't supply a new one - does anyone know of who can?

[thorny]

I went to the Stuart Models web site and answered some of my own questions. I found more than I remember seeing last time I was there. I have not done business with the company.

Their site:
http://www.stuartmodels.com/

Material lists:
http://www.stuartmodels.com/downloads.cfm/the_grp/4

Spare  parts with prices (in pounds sterling, from Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK)
http://www.stuartmodels.com/parts.cfm

There is other things of interest on the Stuart Models site as well.

Coles' Power Models is another source for Stuart Models.
http://www.colespowermodels.com/index.html

Searching for "stuart models" shows a number of other sources.

[thorny]

I am a guy that seems to have eyes bigger than his time. I have been assembling a collection of machine tools so I can bring what I have up to snuff and possibly build some from casting kits. I have owned one for more than 45 years and was assembled from a machined set of parts from Stuart. It has spend quite a bit of time under steam. The balance of them were purchased over the years from a number of sources. They represent a fair range of quality. Some seemed to be more shelf models than operating models, while others were never finished.

I have a couple of 10Vs, a James Coombes, a #5A, #4 and #9 vertical singles in various stages of completion (and parts). There is also a Beam, two Compounds - one complete and the other missing parts. There is a Triple Expansion and a couple of Stuart horizontal boilers, boiler feed pump (steam) and a couple of hand pumps. There is even an engine of unknown origin and a couple of PM Research items.

The biggest issue is getting drawings and parts lists for what I have, and finding sources for parts and replacement castings.

Either because of time or bad handling, several bind up and don’t turn properly. It could be just bad assembly or it could be errors in part construction, like crank shaft. Also, of course, is just getting some of them run a bit. The big issue is determining if they are rough because of problems or the need of a little running in.

So, my biggest issues are finding sources for drawings and material lists, replacement castings, and to find the time to get started and accumulate the experience to do the kind of job they deserve!

[locodan]

That seams to be a slight overstatement. I have several Sturat Turner casting sets and I have finished the steam hammer and started the 5A. My other model work and learning to make bronze castings has taken up all my time but I really want to build the 6A that has been kicking around in the back of the shop.

I believe that I posted info about Stuart engines some time back when a fellow was looking for information on an engine missing a part.
Cheers Dan