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Review: Sunnytech® Hot Air Stirling Engine Model Educational Toy Sc02
Review of the Sunnytech® Hot Air Stirling Engine Sc02
The Sunnytech Single Flywheel Hot Air Stirling Engine is a well-crafted, fully working model which demonstrates the operational principles of Stirling engines.
What is a Stirling engine?
A Stirling engine is an external combustion engine. That is, it is an engine that gets its energy from an external heat source, in contrast to the internal combustion engine where the heat input is generated within the engine itself.
The Stirling engine was invented in 1816 by Robert Stirling, who wanted to create an alternative to existing steam engines, whose boilers could often explode because of the high steam pressures used and the strength limitations of the materials available to engineers at the time.
How does a Stirling engine work?
Like all heat engines, the Stirling turns heat energy into mechanical energy. The key feature of the Stirling engine is that it uses a fixed amount of gas – usually air – enclosed in a sealed container, with the heat consumed by the engine applied externally. This means that the engine can run on just about any heat source, including coal or gas, solar energy, chemical reaction and nuclear energy. It can also work with very low temperature differentials, which means a Stirling engine could be powered by body heat or even the steam from a cup of coffee. And because it uses heat from a constant source and does not, like an internal combustion engine, rely on a succession of explosive ignitions, the engine runs very quietly.
The heat source used in the Sunnytech Single Flywheel Hot Air Stirling Engine model is supplied by a small methylated spirit burner, which comes included, and the engine’s output is delivered – as the name suggests – by a single flywheel.
Model features
The Single Flywheel Hot Air Stirling Engine is robustly constructed from steel, copper and aluminium, and comes fully assembled, which means that you can have it up and running within minutes of taking it out of the box. Just fill the burner with meths, light the wick, let the working fluid (air) heat up for 30 seconds, give the flywheel a spin, and off it goes.
The model’s main features are:
Specification: Single Flywheel Hot Air Stirling Engine
Model No.: SC02
Speed: 1300-1500rpm
Size: 130mm X 80mm X 115mm
Materials: Aluminium, Copper and Steel
Weight: 500g
Colour: Silver
The Single Flywheel Hot Air Stirling Engine is an ideal collector’s item for engineering enthusiasts, as well as an engaging educational demonstration model. Most importantly, it is lots of fun. It should, however, only be used under adult supervision, and it is not suitable for children under 10 years old.
Customer reviews of the Sunnytech Hot Air Stirling Engine are consistently excellent. People who have bought it are particularly impressed by its quality and performance. In today’s world, where everything is made from plastic, the look and feel of a solid, tactile piece of high-quality workmanship is immensely satisfying. It has an elegant design, is well engineered and constructed, and runs like a dream.
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Review: Burrell Showman’s 8 NHP No.3938 ‘Quo Vadis’
Review of the Burrell Showman’s 8 NHP No.3938 ‘Quo Vadis’
This magnificent miniature replica of a Showman’s road locomotive revisits a golden age in travel, dating back almost 100 years.
These locomotives were mainly used to transport a fun fair or circus from town to town and, once the destination was arrived at, it would then serve as a power source for the entertainment.
A far cry from motor vehicles today which whizz past you in an instant, the arrival of this beautiful piece of machinery would have been easily visible on the horizon with the emission of vast plumes from its slender chimney.
The fact that Showman’s road locomotives had numerous uses – from vehicle to power supply source and beyond – was just one reason behind their immense popularity.
This beautiful miniature model is aimed at collectors who appreciate fine vintage craftsmanship. It will also interest those who collect models and artefacts relating to modes of transport dating back to the 1920s.
Introducing the iconic Quo Vadis model
All of these road locomotives were given names – much like car models of today – as well as an identifying serial number. This particular model is a direct miniature replica of the much-loved ‘Quo Vadis’, number 3938.
Purchased in 1922, the Quo Vadis travelled the roads of England for well over a decade before being sold on to amusement contractors in 1935.
By the time it was once again purchased, in 1965, it had been retired ten years earlier and was in a sad state of decay and disrepair. Quo Vadis was subsequently restored and is now a truly iconic symbol of the era to which it belongs.
This collectable piece is a representation of the restored locomotive which, by extension, also makes it identical to how the vehicle original appeared upon completion of design in 1922.
Showman’s road locomotives stood out for many reasons, not least their attention to aesthetic deal.
Three key aspects became signature characteristics of these stunning vehicles – the canopy which runs the length of the locomotive, the tall and slender chimney and the highly decorative, skilled paint work.
Attention to detail that will impress the discerning collector
The Quo Vadis boasted all three aforementioned characteristics, and they are superbly brought back to life in this eloquently designed model.
Only 1,500 of these miniatures have been commissioned, each of which comes with a certificate of authenticity.
The structure is made from diecast metal as well as plastic components. It is suitable for children of all ages but will probably be best appreciated by an enthusiast of vintage road locomotives.
Perfect for display at home, this model will appear particularly well in a cabinet that is accompanied by appropriate lighting to illustrate its delicate features.
Online reviews have praised the model for its historic accuracy, customised packaging and impressive attention to the smallest of details.
Key features
Outstanding collector’s item
Historically accurate
One of just 1,500 miniature replicas commissioned across the globe
Comes with certificate of authenticity
Eye-catching attention to detail
Appropriate for children and adults
Presented in customised packaging
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Review: Wilesco D21 Steam Engine
Review of the Wilesco D21 Steam Engine
Wilesco D21 is an operating model of steam engine whistle. This Wilesco D21 is used to operate the mechanical workshops like a drill press, table saw, and grinder because this steam engine provides the output as mechanical energy. This steam engine whistle uses steam and steam is transformed by boiling water through the heat in the boiler of Wilesco D21.
How it Works
First thing first, you have to add the water in the boiler. Fill the boiler 2/3 at least and then apply boiler fill cap. That cap inserted over the boiler is also the whistle. Start burning the boiler now. You can burn the boiler through gas burner or solid fuel tablets of Esbit. Now you have to oil the piston and other parts of the Steam Engine. In the meanwhile, water gets boiled. Release steam through the piston to operate the engine and the workshop attached to it.
Appropriate Age Group
The manufacturer group Wilesco recommends this model D21 for the children of 12 years and more. But if your child is 10 years old and you feel that your child is sharper than the other kids of the same age and he can handle a bit of technicality then you can think of buying one for him as well. Wilesco Group recommends that D21 Steam Engine Whistle must be used under the direct supervision of an adult so that any discrepancies may be avoided. This product is strictly prohibited for the children of less than 36 months.
Special Features
Wilesco D21 is a TUV (German Test Certificate) certified model of a Steam Engine Whistle. It has a metal body. No batteries are required to operate this steam engine model. You cannot operate Wilesco D21 by remote control. You can only run this steam engine model manually. This manual operation ability provides in-depth knowledge to a child operating this model.
Wilesco D21 has a firm body. Its body is made up of metal, and the presence of safety valve means this manufacturer does not compromise on quality. The pressure gauge can help you to be aware of the internal condition of the boiler. You can easily keep an eye on the readings to prevent any unpleasant incident. Wilesco D21 has a 500ml tank capacity which is more than enough for a child to operate its workshop using this steam engine model.
Steam Engine Model D21 by Wilesco is not very huge. It weighs only 2.7kgs, so the shipping costs are not massive. It is not very difficult for the children to handle it because the children of 10-12 years can easily handle this 3kg steam engine model by Wilesco.
There is no need to set up this Wilesco D21 because it is already assembled before delivery. When you receive this Steam Engine Model D21 by Wilesco, you may need to put on just a chimney and a couple of other things. So you have not to pay any setup cost if you purchase this Steam Engine Model.
In my opinion, the D21 Steam Engine Model is a fantastic design and a classy piece of product from Wilesco.
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Model Steam Engines: Explaining Scales
Model steam engines are manufactured according to a variety of scales and gauges. The choice of scale and gauge is crucial as they are the major differentiating factors between the model steam engines. What makes things more confusing is that many model steam engine enthusiasts, and even seasoned fans, often use the two words ‘scale’ and ‘gauge’ interchangeably. However, they are two distinct attributes.
For starters, scale establishes the size relationship between the model engine and the real one. It is often represented as a ratio, such as 2mm:ft or 1:148 scale. This means that every part of the model engine is one-one forty eighth the size of the original steam engine. On the other hand, gauge is an attribute of the railway track. It is the distance between the inner edges of the track rails. Gauge is a more important attribute to consider, when purchasing a model steam engine. Let us understand why by looking at the main gauge types.
O Gauge
O Gauge model engines were produced from the beginning of the 20th century, and were among the most popular models for a long time, until the 1960s. Since then, they have lost their popularity and are difficult to find. They were manufactured in multiple scales from 1:1.48 to 1:43.5. But, they eventually lost their fame to smaller scale models. O Gauge model steam engines are not known for their finer details and accuracy. In fact, they were designed for pre-adults and therefore, cost-effectiveness, and durability were given more importance. Although they are valued by some collectors because of their rarity, most of the collectors and enthusiasts, with an attention to detail, do not prefer these models.
OO Gauge
OO Gauge or Double-O Gauge model steam engines belong to a family of model railway systems, which follow the standard gauge model. The OO Gauge has a railway track that is 16.5mm wide, and is built at a scale of 1:76.2 or 4mm:ft. A highlight of OO Gauge models is that they rank very high in terms of realistic appearance and finer details. For this reason, they are of great value to serious collectors. Moreover, many of the manufacturers also place a lot of emphasis on durability and affordability. Naturally, they are among the most popular model steam engine categories today.
G Gauge
G Gauge models are big in size. They are manufactured on a scale range of 1:22.5. Because of their relatively huge size and highly durable construction, they make the best garden railway models. Their extensive use as garden models have led to modern train enthusiasts to believe that the G in G Gauge stands for Garden. The truth is that the G comes from groß, which means “big” in German. Oh yes, the G Gauge models were born in Germany, just like many others. A large scale means that the parts are not as intricate as the other models, say O Gauge for instance. Therefore, they are easy to produce and are readily available.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the choice of gauge will be quite obvious to you based on the purpose of your purchase of a model steam engine. If you want a garden mode, then G Gauge is what you need. If you are a collector who enjoys the finer details, then OO Gauge is what does the job for you. However, if you are buying a model engine for your kid, then O gauge is just the thing.
