Thank you for the reply. The boat is over 30 years old. The boiler walls are 0.100 inches thick with the end plate the same thickness. It was originally 5 tube boiler. The burner is a Optimus back pack stove that I modified. The burner and 5 tube boiler did not build up that much steam, not enough burner. Added 4 more tubes and that seemed to help. In running, I fill the boiler up to valve near the top or the sight glass to get the longest run, a little over 30 minutes. She the boat first goes into the water ther is some priming going on but it settles down once heated and the water level goes down a bit. I believe the gauge does work as if I leave the boat sit it will go up. I have another gauge and should swap it out or test the one I m using. With running low pressure you do get a longer run. Thank you for the reply.

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This is my first Video down load so be patient, might of posted it in the wrong forum section.
Length 36" beam 12" Boat is scratch built and the boiler is scratch built 9 fire tube. Burner is a modified Optimus back pack stove and uses Coleman lantern fuel (white gas). Boat has a kitchen rudder but this video really does not show it, unless you notice some fancy turns. Engine was made by Anthony Bahaboy (Late 40's) out of Rahway NJ USA. It has a 5/8 bore and a 5/8 stroke with a packing as piston rings. I get a little more than a 30 minute run.
More to come

GEDC4399

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Very nice model, great video!

This is my first Video down load so be patient.
Length 36" beam 12" Boat is scratch built and the boiler is scratch built 9 fire tube. Burner is a modified Optimus back pack stove and uses Coleman lantern fuel (white gas). Boat has a kitchen rudder but this video really does not show it. Engine was made by Anthony Bahaboy (Late 40's) out of Rahway NJ USA. It has a 5/8 bore and a 5/8 stroke with a packing as piston rings. I get a little more than a 30 minute run.
More to come

GEDC4399

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Mine works the same way. This looks commercial as I built mine with all metal.
I have the photos just need to find them and my book/notes on the kitchen rudder. Want to post all of my information with the pictures. I am also looking on posting videos on you tube as I am a novice, but do not want to pay the you tube price. I see that there are others alternatives for posting on-you tube. Have a video with a camera that was mounted on board and want to put this on you tube as "Taking A Ride On Steamboat Willie". just have to learn😊

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I am looking for some detailed photos that I have on the Rudder. It looks more complicated than it is. The idea is basically very simple and the way that I did it works almost like the original, One servo to operate both rudder clam shells and nother servo to turn the rudder for steering.

Kitchen rudder but on a Midwest boat you may have to use very small servos.Or you can look for a variable pitch propeller which are expensive. I have one of those boat that I made in the late 80's. The engine was made of white metal/zinc, had to make a new one, I used the sterno to fuel but what I did was to build up steam first put the fire out reload with sterno and I got between 25 to 30 minute runs, These are great boats!

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Thank you for your input Martin. the kitchen rudder was patented in 1914 by Admire Kitchen. You can always pull up the original patents if you wish.
My boat is 36" X 12" and uses a single cylinder Oscillator that was made in the late 40's by a fellow name Antony Bayoboy out of Rahway NJ. The Kitchen rudder works very well as when it is in reverse it is about 30 percent of what it would be going forward., but with the slower speed it is steerable. I will looks for some photos of the rudder dissembled and take some photos on what it looks like in the boat.

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The Kitchen Rudder:
Not to hard once you understand the basics.
For mine there are 4 shafts: The rudder stuffing box, the tube that is used to control the right rudder shell, the tube to control the left rudder shell then there is a floating shaft. all are telescoping. There are two servos used, one that is mounted on the floating shaft that pulls or pushed the two shells apart or together then the other servo is used in controlling the right to left motion as used on a typical rudder. It is hard to visualize, but it works very well. Question would the folks on this forum like me to open a kitchen rudder post? I can dig up some drawing, tke some photos and try to post a you-tube video?

Thank you.
That must of been fun. I m sure you used a acme type thread with a wheel to open and close the rudder. Did you ever close it completely going forward and what affect did it have? I will try to take some photos of it this week end and post them on Monday. There are two servos used, one to open and close the rudder and another to steer. It looks like the reverse is about 30% the speed as going forward and the steering in reverse is unbelievable wit a single screw.

To Learn more google South Orange Seaport Society, we also have a face book page😊
This is a scale model boat club that has been around for 30 plus years and I m one of the Charter Members!

Hello everyone in model boat land. Finally joined today and posted some pictures. I m into steam launches and posted some pictures. Kitchen rudder is my specialty. Glad to be aboard and I m from North New Jersey, USA.

Steamboat Willie is 36" long beam of 12". Boiler is scratched built and uses a Anthony Bowaboy Oscillating steam engine single cylinder. Since there is no reverse I use a kitchen rudder that I fabricated. Boat is almost done need coamming and interior details to complete. Burner is a optimus modified back pack stove and uses whit gas.
The Shwimmenwagan is a modified Ultimate Soldier toy and is scaled as 1/12.

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