(BJ001) - Mini Hot Live Steam Engine Brass Model Education Toy Kits DIY Bj001

This tiny wobble box steam engine works perfectly. When it runs out of water, it stops suddenly and then you simply blow out the flame. The bottom of the boiler was a little tight sliding through the holder ring but easily fixed with a bit of fine sandpaper. Rubbing alcohol, 95% ethanol anhydrous leaves the least soot and gives good heat. Polishing with ajax or comet or any similar scouring powder keeps it shiny. Don't forget it does get hot and stays hot for awhile after it stops. Great fun and educational. Before the diesel took over this was the engine that gave us the power we needed to revolutionize the world. I worked most of my life driving trains but they were electric, so this was great fun for me.

Looking at the reviews, there will probably those who dislike it or love it. I think I know why. Patience. This is an excellently machined product to what looks to be a high level of quality due to tight and smooth machine tolerances. As such, this requires a break-in period like any quality mechanism. I found it to be a bit tight to run freely at first, but after a few runs, it really runs smoothly with no appreciable slop in fit. After carefully adjusting the wick shorter and shorter, I can get it to run amazingly slow and smooth for an extended run time and little spitting of water.So, if your impatient, you may be a bit disappointed at first, but after a little time and liberal use of olive oil for a lubricant, you will find it can run very well for such a small engine. Careful examination of the workmanship proves that a good deal of quality went into its construction. It appears very well balanced as well. Treat it more like a fine piece of work and not just a toy to be revved out to max RPM's and you may just be pleasantly surprised. Experiment with it. Try using different fuels sources and such. Keep it lubricated!I have other engines, including a D2, and rate this up with the best. I guess I am just a model engine nerd. So be it.

Great educational toy. The design is robust and likely to be trouble free for years to come. Basically you fill the chamber with water, and the burner with alcohol, lite it, and let it run. I never cease to be amazed with the steam engine. The only obvious engineering flaw is there is no flat surface to grab on to when unscrewing the water cylinder so you have to be gentle yet unscrew it forcefully if you tightened it at all hard. Overall, this is great for virtually any age person with curiosity.

Purchased this kit for a Steam Engine project for my grandson. It was easy to assemble and works perfectly. I used 91% isopropyl alcohol and it burned plenty hot.I recommend a youtube video that explains this kit in detail from how to build it to how it works.Mini Single Cylinder Steam Engine Kit by Ronald Waters

Very cheap, simply does not work. To start out it arrived nearly completely disassembled. every nut was loose, not even hand tight. Once everything was tightened up, it never once rotated under its own power. The steam just leaks from everywhere. I adjusted everything i could. Didnt work. I even soldered the mating surface between the block and pot because it was so out of wack the steam just eased right out. The flywheel is too light. Stay away. I never write bad reviews but this one deserves it. So now its just a paperweight and truthfully its not even good for that because its so top heavy.