Abner Doble's last project

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1953-paxton-phoenix-convertible-coupe.htm

I came across this whilst researching the previous article. Apparently Robert Paxton McCulloch of chainsaw fame was a fan of steam powered automobiles and decided to design a postwar luxury marque using an engine designed by Abner Doble.

Unfortunately development costs of the steam engine were prohibitive and a more conventional gas engine from Porsche was mounted in the prototype.

The project was eventually abandoned as unprofitable.

Pity. 'Twas a nice looking motorcar.

Heavier than Air Steam Powered Flight?

During a somewhat recent discussion inworld on the subject of aircraft
history and design the possibility of steam powered (and thus Steampunk)
aeroplanes was raised. The conversation concluded with the commonly
held belief that while steam power was viable for lighter than air craft
the power to weight ratio and complexity of operation of steam power
plants precluded their use in powering fixed wing aircraft.

This is a commonly held view, yet as is often the case with commonly
held views it is wrong. In 1933 two brothers named Besler built and flew
a conventional production model Travel Air 2000 biplane fitted out with
a 150 HP steam aeroengine. The Gentlemen (and possibly ladies) of the
press were invited and they duly recorded the following film of the event.

Contemporary reports made much of the silence of the engines operation
with many reporting they could clearly hear and understand the pilot
shouting to them as he flew overhead.

The engine is a modification of the designs manufactured by the Doble
Brothers for their automobiles. For those unfamiliar with this
particular Marque (very few people have heard of the Doble) the Doble
Brothers, led by their eldest brother Abner Doble formed several
companies to produce automobiles using their condensing steam engines, a
first for steam cars. Their cars were also noted for their efficiency
(both fuel and feed water), their lack of visible exhaust, their
reliabilty and build quality (the engines were designed and built to run
a million miles before needing rebuilding), and ease of use due to the high
level of automation in the power system.

The key to the Doble power plant was a singularly effective pressure fed
steam generator that was electrically ignited and could generate enough
steam to start off in around 30 seconds (Albeit at less than full
speed). The brother's goal was to produce a steam system as easy to use
and maintain as an internal combustion engine. They also willingly took
on outside consulting projects to promote the superiority of steam
power. Thus their role in development of the Besler engine.

Alas to the best I have been able to determine this was the only such
aeroplane built and flown. The War Department of the United States did
take an interest in the concept of Steam Planes during WW II and a 3
cylinder rotary engine was produced, but there are no records of it ever
having been mounted in a plane and test flown. Only one survives to this
day and is on display in Atlanta Georgia. I could not find any pictures
of that engine but apparently it is popular among steam enthusiasts who
build operating scale models. Below is a clip of one such model being
demonstrated. I assume with a properly designed steam generator this
unit could be used to power a RC model plane but I have found no
aethereal record of such being done.

The Nazi war machine also took an interest in the potential of steam
planes, particularly for long range heavy bombers. But all the articles I
have read indicate that none of their research in this area got past the
conceptual stages.

If anyone knows of any further information about this subject please let
me know. I'll gladly share it in this forum.

Your humble servant, A. Tinlegs, Gnome.

I tried, but I couldn't resist.

Carrah Rossini's Steampunk Dreamship

One fine recent evening I got a call from my friend Eren Padar, Dwagon
Emeritus of Elf Clan and fellow tinkerer. He wished to show me a new
Steampunk themed vessel he had recently acquired. So I popped over to
the sandbox at ElvenMyst to take a look. I was mightily impressed by
what I saw.


The Vessel is the Steampunk Dreamship, one of three such airships made by Carrah Rossini. There is also a submarine in the collection which Iunderstand is capable of flight as well.

The fit, finish, and level of detail is evident in the pictures. This
same level of meticulous craftsmanship was readily apparent in the build
of Ms. Rossini's shop and at the sky platform above where the demo
models of her craft may be viewed.

The quality of the build and level of detail carries over into the interior.

The craft also comes with an astonishing array of extra features such as
an operable big screen television and radio with a remote feature that
allows the radio to be used in flight over shared lands.

What isn't readily apparent from the pictures and description of
features is how remarkably well it functions as an aircraft, something I
was very concerned about given its 91 prims.

I voiced my concerns to Mr. Padar who promptly offered myself and Mr.
Hod Runningbear a flight about ElvenMyst. Hod and I took our seats as
Eren took the controls and we were treated to one of the most drama free
and comfortable rides we had yet experienced in SL.

After we landed Eren gave me the honour of taking the controls for a
spin about ElvenMyst. I was even more amazed at the craft's flight as
pilot. The only issue encountered was a slight delay at SIM border
crossings, which is a common experience in vehicles this large. The only
nitpick I could find is that the default viewing perspective in flight
is too close to the AV's head for my taste, and isn't adjustable. I
found that using mouse view when in flight gave the best field of view
for me.

After my "test drive" in Eren's ship I immediately ran out and purchased
my own copy. Save for the inability to rez the vessel on my own land
(Must do some spring cleaning) my experience flying the beastie about
Caledon's skies has reinforced my first impression. I've noted that in
flight the Dreamship seems to be an attachment, as I have not
encountered the dreaded "Full Plot" failure whilst crossing the
inhabited regions of Caledon. It also seems to become a phantom as it
can pass through solid structures with ease. I have yet to test the
radio and TV in flight.

All in all an exceptional product by an exceptional builder. I am quite
satisfied and will happily do business with Ms. Rossini again in the
future. Those interested in acquiring one of their own may visit her
shop in Dreamfall. If interested drop me a line in world and I will
gladly forward you a copy of the landmark.

I have named mine "Voyageur", after the French trappers who explored
much of North America in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Steampnuk CD Player.

I'm supposed to be using this time to research steam aeroengines, but I'm easily distracted

A Real Live Tiny Steam Tank!!!

A bit small for practical use, but fun to watch!

Tiny Tanks, Part II

It seems I am not the only one who had the idea to make a Tiny Tank.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,348170,00.html

I was however content to make a virtual rather than a real model.

My virtual model will be on sale soon at a vendor near you. All proceeds
to benefit Relay For Life.

For my tiny friends.....

I'm proud to say I have many tiny friends. Therefore when it occurred
to me that I had not built any suitable vehicles for their use I
immediately set out to rectify that oversight.

So it is with great pleasure that I introduce the Tiny Terrapin. A fast,
agile, armoured sportabout suitable for even the tiniest of tinys. Some
shorter "standard" AV's might be able to fit within its cockpit as well.

A few advance prototype models have been distributed for evaluation and
testing. Refinement of the Tiny Terrapin's systems is ongoing but I
have high hopes that I will be able to bring it to market in a few
weeks, at a projected price of L$100. Proceeds of sales made during the
Relay For Life drive will be donated to that august and most noble
charity. I have other products in the development pipeline as well which
I will preview here, as my schedule allows.

I am having a small bit of trouble developing an automatic banana creme
pie loader and launching system for the cannon. If you or someone you
know may have ideas about the design of such a piece of equipment
please drop me a note in world.

Sincerely,
A. Tinlegs, Gnome

Very interesting...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Hotspur
1871 Ram, HMS Hotspur
WWII Destroyer, HMS Hotspur

I wonder if O'Toole knows about these?

From the gnome's workshop;

I've been rather busy in my workshop of late working on several vehicle designs I've had in the back of my head, but had no time to get to.

I've been of the opinion that one of those new fangled steam lorries I've heard tell of would be just the thing for acquiring supplies for my garden and keep in Eyre, and it might make delivering finished goods from my shop and garden a wee bit quicker as well. As I was unable to locate such a vehicle that met my needs (or stature) I decided to build one of my own.

I'm particularly proud of the fine red livery and brass boiler. The motive power is a two cylinder, double-acting steam engine acting one the rear wheels through a set of differential gearing. The power plant is also a regenerative condensing type such as is commonly found in marine power plants, but is not commonly found on road going vehicles. Two very advanced features for a machine of this type.

The advantage of a condensing steam system is that one does not constantly have to stop to replenish feed water. Nor does the operator have to plan his or her route around availability of water, thus allowing the most expedient path to be used. Hence making this a most efficient piece of equipment for businesses whose daily affairs include the making of deliveries.

For initial testing I loaded two rather large casks of elven wine aboard and took it out on a spin through Eyre and Regency. It performed the task given it nearly flawlessly, only having a few issues with some uneven pavements. To test its endurance I set out on a cross-Caledon trip to Penzance and back! Cognizant I might need some aid for a journey of such magnitude I called upon my friend Hotspur O'Toole to act as navigator and mechanic. Properly fueled, watered, and equipped with our supply of elven wine and spicy orc rinds we set out.

The test trip was a rousing success (save for a few SIM crossing glitches, such as hair loss)! We reached Penzance in good order and in seemingly no time at all. The return trip to Eyre was similarly uneventful. There was no need to stop for water at all. Indeed, the feed water reserves had barely been touched!

After returning to Eyre and parting ways with HS, I received a message over the aether from Miss Starlight Vandeverre. After telling her the tale of my journey she asked if she might have a ride on this new means of transport. I readily agreed and after she arrived we climbed aboard and set off for her estate in Tanglewood. Now up to this point all testing was done on paved roads and I was interested to see how the lorry would do on less modern pathways. By and large it handled them well, although there was occasional need for me to get out and push. Crossing the railway proved to be particularly troublesome, running through a gully as it does in those parts. But in time I was able to deliver the good Lady to her doorstep without her needing to dirty her feet.

Flush from my success with the steam lorry I decided to attempt another vehicle I had rattling around in my head. Based on the same chassis as the lorry I built an Omnibus. Since steam is a somewhat messy technology and this was to be a passenger vehicle, I decided on a cleaner, less sooty, power source. Electricity!

Being aware that electric vehicles have some limitations, primarily limited range due to battery discharge, I decided to try a more experimental system. The well known and revered inventor Nikola Tesla once demonstrated a system for transmission of electric power through the aether. I thought that that would be a dandy solution for an Omnibus and set to work researching how it might be accomplished.

After many sleepless nights poring over technical arcana I developed a design for a power system I thought might do. I installed it in the now finished chassis and with some trepidation (I do admit it!) climbed aboard for the maiden voyage. To my great delight it set off under its own power with nary a sound, save for a slight hum of the motors in the hubs of the wheels. I have test driven it in all parts of Caledon to verify that the power transmission system operates reliably and have yet to encounter a location where power is not available. But for redundancy I have fitted a reserve storage battery just in case.

I am puzzled by one thing. I designed this vehicle to draw it power from the coil operated by the Caledon Tesla Society down in the Southern end of the realm. However, when I traveled down that way in testing the coil was gone! I'm at a loss to explain where the power comes from but it is my conjecture that the coil has either been moved or someone has another such device in operation in Caledon. Or perhaps it is drawing power from the aetherial waves of the wireless stations of Caledon, such as Radio Riel.

If anyone does have such a coil and has noticed a recent drain in power please contact me to arrange payment for your electricity.

My last project was for the defense of our nation. An armoured, self propelled gun platform I call a Terrapin. I hear that some mainland states have similar weapons they refer to as “Tanks”, though what a container for fluids has to do with such machines eludes me.

The beast (for such it is, being over seven metres in length and over three metres breadth and a weight of some 40 tonnes) is steam powered, with two separate double-acting two stage engines acting independently on the wheels of each side so as to allow for differential steering. The wheels may be coupled together across sides by use of clutches to allow for the full torque of the engines to be utilized to overcome obstacles, or to provide a limp-home capability in the event of engine failure or battle damage.

The main armourment consists of one 4.5” gun, derived from the naval guns of our Middlesea Auxiliary gunboats. This has the advantage of giving the Terrapin substantial striking force while allowing us to only need to manufacture and stock one munitions type, thus saving on cost of operation. Initial tests have shown promise but this is still in the prototype stage of development. Refinements are ongoing and I hope to add its capability to our armed services in a timely manner.

Thank you dear readers for your time and I hope to see you all in Caledon soon,

A. Tinlegs, Gnome