Not to worry Martin, easily done. Rick I hope your project works out.

Ian

I will be using a steam engine as I have the Graham TVA engine I built.I was just trying to cut costs down with different thoughts and these replies are very helpful thank you all.
Rick

I do apologise Ian, i should be more careful and read these threads properly.

Martin555.

Hi Martin,

It was Rick who wanted to do this, I only looked at it at one stage. I think the article that Tony has linked to would be very helpful. I wasn't sure if Rick wanted to use an actual steam engine and power it electrically or hide an electric motor in a casing such as might be used over a steam engine in an open launch. All of it would be possible. Given that most working steam boilers are vastly over scale it might be a good opportunity to get things more in proportion.

Rick, another way to go might be to just build an electric launch. Many of them were just as attractive as steam launches. I turned my Wild Rose from steam to electric and hid the gubbins with a mahogany box. It also means that a nice striped canopy won't get covered in oily gunge, and nor will the rest of the boat!

Tony, I noticed there was a model outboard in that MB special- looked very smart.

Have fun all,

Ian

Back in 2016, Model Boats magazine's Winter Special edition featured an item about building Vic Smeed's River Queen open steam launch design, using a dummy horizontal boiler and mock steam engine. Incorporated into the model was a smoke/steam generator. The clinker hull was GRP.

https://pocketmags.com/model-boats-magazine/winter-special-16

Hi Ian,
I don't know if this will be of any use.
Might help to make a dummy engine and boiler.

https://steamshed.com/free-plans-for-model-steam-engines/#boat

Martin555.

I had considered using a mist unit in one of my launches as a sort of ' faux' boiler as they work well. I could only find a horizontal boiler shaped unit from Model Boat Bits here in the UK. They cost around £50 which isn't cheap, but certainly cheaper than a boiler. I did find a vertical example but they don't seem to be produced anymore.

If you weren't bothered about steam coming out of it, it should be easy enough to mock up a boiler out of a tin or similar with mahogany lagging - or make up a cylinder from styrene sheet.

Many steam launches had the engine covered with a wooden casing, ie the Windermere launches, and that would also be a way of disguising fact that you didn't have a real steam engine, although reading your post again, it sounds as though you intend to use a steam engine turned by an electric motor.

Sounds fun.

Ian