Love the improvements especially the chain drive.The rubber tires are the thing if you want to keep the toy without broken pieces.Great video and thanks for the info😊
Very much my philosophy. Mamods are ok for what they are, but you can make improvements if you are so minded. Avoiding low water level and overheating is always essential cos the boilers are soft soldered. I have altered a few Mamods over the years! Getting rid of the elasticated metal bands is always top of my priority list when it comes to making changes. LOL
@@edwinwhite933 I'm not defending either. I look at it technically. the wilesco has better torque and doesn't need any changes, works very well and is really high quality
Agreed. Wilesco are a cut above Mamod, but Mamod definitely have a place cos generally they are more economical to purchase. Mostly I have Mamods for a quick project rather than start a major model engineering project.
Always love your videos. I can just imagine your lovely wife popping her head in the door and saying " Isn't that the truck you just bought? !!" and then that whimsical shake of her head as she leaves you to it.
Great work! I just finished making a canopy for my 60's model SR1. Like you I also made a chain steering system and it really helps complete the look. I also used some of the chain to secure the hitch pin on a trailer hitch I ordered. Later today I will be finishing it when I attach the brass steering wheel to the shaft.. Time to run.
Amazing job! Really motivated me to put a chain drive on mine and change the steering to chain drive too! Runs alot more realistic now its geared down.
Extremely smart improvements but the most valuable one in my opinion is the rubber tires.Ive chipped so many wheels until I purchased tires from th UK and have been pleased ever since
The tyres certainly make a good difference. I have fitted them to most of my mamod engines although the models do spend most of their time on the shelf! Many thanks for commenting. Ed
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your knowledge. I’m picking the same engine up tomorrow, used. The owner has only used it as an ornament so it’s as new.
Many thanks Alistair and I'm pleased you like the video. I have both the lorry and the car. I don't mind the mudguards, the vehicles are not intended to be of any particular prototype just generic toys (in my view anyway). Have to admit though I don't look at them very often. Ed
Love your steam wagon. I’m fooling around with a used MAMOD Meccano steam engine. Trying to run different models with it. Are the spring bands worse than the chains for energy transfer? Or just appearance?
Hi, I confess I don't like the appearance of the spring bands. Also I think there is much less friction in the drive if you use chains or gears as the drive. Like you I bought a second hand and much travelled Meccano steam engine years ago and eventually played around with it, before at least temoporarily abandoning the project. One day I may get back to it and use it to power a wheeled vehicle. I did 3 vids on the engine 2 of which are ua-cam.com/video/OMY489PRevs/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/kTOQBDWNSkY/v-deo.html I never seem to get the hang of attaching links, but if you are interested hopefully the foregoing may help you find them. Ed
Thanks Eliot - no I did not steam the lorry before I altered it. I assure you there are no instructions on the back of the box my one came in. I kept the box and have just rechecked. I bought the lorry as a 'quick' project for something to do while I contemplated my next more serious model engineering foray (which I am now on with). I have a few Mamods and was not really bothered by the paucity of instruction, but I think a child new to the genre might have a bit of trouble with lack of instruction. If I had to summarise two important facts in running a mamod - 1. ONLY use distilled or de ionised water and 2. fill the boiler to the mark and however tempting let the engine cool and top up the water before a subsequent run - don't try more than one run on one boiler fill because the risk of a boiler failure is high. Over the years I have aquired a few second hand Mamods very cheaply cos the boilers have been melted. Good for me, but not so good for dissapointed owners I suspect. Goes without saying that oiling all round every run is a good idea. Nothing particularly against Mamods - they are what they are. If you check my U tube channel you will see a couple of examples of other Mamods I have messed about. Many thanks Ed
@@edwinwhite933 way did you put the steam whistle in the boiler and the safety valve in the fire box? i have got my own Mamod steam wagon which has the nice brown livery with white wheels and i have recently fitted tires to it. my dad got me it as a Christmas gift ten years ago now this Christmas and i have fitted a pressure gauge which has made it a lot better when i steam up the boiler. way did you repaint the cab roof?
@@eliotreader8220 Eliot at the time I thought the Whistle without its lever looked more like a prototype safety valve. Eventually I may change this as I have another use for the mamod steam whistle. At the first trial steaming the cab roof started to badly discolour. I wonder if Mamod have changed their paint formulation? In any event I have never seen a prototype wagon with a white coloured roof - black seemed more appropriate and I used a heat proof paint to avoid further over heating probs with the paint. thanks - Ed
Many thanks Don. you are absolutely correct. Sadly my enthusiasm to mess about with this toy has diminished at this time.I do have a number of butane fired models. Have to admit however I do like spirit burners - somehow they are nearer the 'real' thing for me. I guess I am just a bit perverse! LOL Ed
Thanks Matthew and I agree re Wilesco. I think Mamod build down to a price cos really they produce toys for children. That said I have wondered why they don't offer geared versions of their engines. Clearly would cost more, but people could make their own choice as to which variant they buy. At the end of the day I guess Mamod know their business model and as they are still in business it must be a successful business model. regards Ed
Had one but the waggon is to heavy for the piston it struggles to run most of the time I wouldn't recommend enyone to get one they are a poor runners OK just for a show cabinet
Thanks Harold and I tend to agree. However if you have some gears (meccano gears should work ok) and a drilling machine, converting to the geared drive does allow the lorry to run. If you find some of my earlier videos you can see that I made similar mods to the mamod roller and traction engine that improves their running no end. That said I don't really think Mamods are made for any serious work. Thanks.
Odd. I have a 50-60 year old Steam Roller with a trailer hitch. I hook a wagon behind it and sometimes my huge mm115 big bang cannon. It pulls with no issues
Thanks. In general I accept Wilesco are a small cut above Mamod, but as a child I only ever had Mamods and therefore I retain some affection for them. That said Mamods do what they do very well in my opinion.
Love the improvements especially the chain drive.The rubber tires are the thing if you want to keep the toy without broken pieces.Great video and thanks for the info😊
“It’s my money, I can do what I like”
just love it 👊
Very much my philosophy. Mamods are ok for what they are, but you can make improvements if you are so minded. Avoiding low water level and overheating is always essential cos the boilers are soft soldered. I have altered a few Mamods over the years! Getting rid of the elasticated metal bands is always top of my priority list when it comes to making changes. LOL
@@edwinwhite933 I'm not defending either. I look at it technically. the wilesco has better torque and doesn't need any changes, works very well and is really high quality
Agreed. Wilesco are a cut above Mamod, but Mamod definitely have a place cos generally they are more economical to purchase. Mostly I have Mamods for a quick project rather than start a major model engineering project.
Last WK aquired this same wagon. Given to me. A friend bought at a garage sale. Something special. ❤️
Aquired this same wagon from a friend last week. Bought from a garage sale. Something special ❤
Always love your videos. I can just imagine your lovely wife popping her head in the door and saying " Isn't that the truck you just bought? !!" and then that whimsical shake of her head as she leaves you to it.
Thanks Garry, Angela is polite generally refrains from any comment concerning how I mess things about. She knows me to well!
Great work! I just finished making a canopy for my 60's model SR1. Like you I also made a chain steering system and it really helps complete the look. I also used some of the chain to secure the hitch pin on a trailer hitch I ordered. Later today I will be finishing it when I attach the brass steering wheel to the shaft.. Time to run.
Congratulations. If it is anything like mine it should run quite well, although in my view Mamods are not made for serious work. Best wishes
Amazing job! Really motivated me to put a chain drive on mine and change the steering to chain drive too! Runs alot more realistic now its geared down.
Many thanks Will, pleased it was useful,
Ed
Extremely smart improvements but the most valuable one in my opinion is the rubber tires.Ive chipped so many wheels until I purchased tires from th UK and have been pleased ever since
The tyres certainly make a good difference. I have fitted them to most of my mamod engines although the models do spend most of their time on the shelf! Many thanks for commenting. Ed
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your knowledge. I’m picking the same engine up tomorrow, used. The owner has only used it as an ornament so it’s as new.
Glad to help
Good video . I haven't owned a lorry version . Just my very personal view is I can't seem to like the mudguards on them or the car.
Many thanks Alistair and I'm pleased you like the video. I have both the lorry and the car. I don't mind the mudguards, the vehicles are not intended to be of any particular prototype just generic toys (in my view anyway). Have to admit though I don't look at them very often.
Ed
It is a shame Mamod is not more. I liked their models.
Totally agree. They were simple 'toys' but very reliable and captured the essence of steam in an affordable way. A sad loss
Love your steam wagon. I’m fooling around with a used MAMOD Meccano steam engine. Trying to run different models with it. Are the spring bands worse than the chains for energy transfer? Or just appearance?
Hi, I confess I don't like the appearance of the spring bands. Also I think there is much less friction in the drive if you use chains or gears as the drive. Like you I bought a second hand and much travelled Meccano steam engine years ago and eventually played around with it, before at least temoporarily abandoning the project. One day I may get back to it and use it to power a wheeled vehicle. I did 3 vids on the engine 2 of which are ua-cam.com/video/OMY489PRevs/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/kTOQBDWNSkY/v-deo.html
I never seem to get the hang of attaching links, but if you are interested hopefully the foregoing may help you find them.
Ed
well done nice job
Thank you! Cheers!
Thanks for sharing..very nice conversion 👍
Thanks Martin. I have a couple of additional ideas for the lorry, but I am working on something else at present so watch this space (eventually)
Ed
I have the same steam wagon just like yours. I’ve bought it brand new in 1984. Cost me £42.
Nice one! Gone up a bit in price since then however.
Good job, looks well
Many thanks. It does run quite well (insofar as Mamods do).
so you never steamed it up before you converted the steam wagon from being belt drive to gear drive then? the instructions are on the back of the box.
Thanks Eliot - no I did not steam the lorry before I altered it. I assure you there are no instructions on the back of the box my one came in. I kept the box and have just rechecked. I bought the lorry as a 'quick' project for something to do while I contemplated my next more serious model engineering foray (which I am now on with). I have a few Mamods and was not really bothered by the paucity of instruction, but I think a child new to the genre might have a bit of trouble with lack of instruction. If I had to summarise two important facts in running a mamod - 1. ONLY use distilled or de ionised water and 2. fill the boiler to the mark and however tempting let the engine cool and top up the water before a subsequent run - don't try more than one run on one boiler fill because the risk of a boiler failure is high. Over the years I have aquired a few second hand Mamods very cheaply cos the boilers have been melted. Good for me, but not so good for dissapointed owners I suspect. Goes without saying that oiling all round every run is a good idea. Nothing particularly against Mamods - they are what they are. If you check my U tube channel you will see a couple of examples of other Mamods I have messed about.
Many thanks
Ed
@@edwinwhite933 way did you put the steam whistle in the boiler and the safety valve in the fire box? i have got my own Mamod steam wagon which has the nice brown livery with white wheels and i have recently fitted tires to it. my dad got me it as a Christmas gift ten years ago now this Christmas and i have fitted a pressure gauge which has made it a lot better when i steam up the boiler. way did you repaint the cab roof?
@@eliotreader8220 Eliot at the time I thought the Whistle without its lever looked more like a prototype safety valve. Eventually I may change this as I have another use for the mamod steam whistle. At the first trial steaming the cab roof started to badly discolour. I wonder if Mamod have changed their paint formulation? In any event I have never seen a prototype wagon with a white coloured roof - black seemed more appropriate and I used a heat proof paint to avoid further over heating probs with the paint. thanks - Ed
add butane burner ,you can ajust the steam pressure , and stop the burner easly.
Many thanks Don. you are absolutely correct. Sadly my enthusiasm to mess about with this toy has diminished at this time.I do have a number of butane fired models. Have to admit however I do like spirit burners - somehow they are nearer the 'real' thing for me. I guess I am just a bit perverse! LOL
Ed
Excellent videos thankyou 👍👍mamod should take note wilesco alittle more advanced just my opinion
Thanks Matthew and I agree re Wilesco. I think Mamod build down to a price cos really they produce toys for children. That said I have wondered why they don't offer geared versions of their engines. Clearly would cost more, but people could make their own choice as to which variant they buy. At the end of the day I guess Mamod know their business model and as they are still in business it must be a successful business model. regards Ed
Had one but the waggon is to heavy for the piston it struggles to run most of the time I wouldn't recommend enyone to get one they are a poor runners OK just for a show cabinet
Thanks Harold and I tend to agree. However if you have some gears (meccano gears should work ok) and a drilling machine, converting to the geared drive does allow the lorry to run. If you find some of my earlier videos you can see that I made similar mods to the mamod roller and traction engine that improves their running no end. That said I don't really think Mamods are made for any serious work. Thanks.
Odd. I have a 50-60 year old Steam Roller with a trailer hitch. I hook a wagon behind it and sometimes my huge mm115 big bang cannon. It pulls with no issues
good job!
Thank you! Cheers!
the wilesco car has a dual-function machine, i.e. much better.
Thanks. In general I accept Wilesco are a small cut above Mamod, but as a child I only ever had Mamods and therefore I retain some affection for them. That said Mamods do what they do very well in my opinion.
@@edwinwhite933 mamod in the original too long gearbox, when a single-sided machine. this gearbox is good, there is enough torque in the tail.
Sorry for delayed reply. we have builders in working on the house and it is somewhat chaotic. Thanks for your comment.