I've been waiting for years to get a live steam model train and although it was time consuming to build I had fun and was able to work out all of the problems
how hard is it to build these kits? I really want a red ruby but I am rather afraid of putting her together cause I probably lack the skill for it. cheers and hope ya have fun with her. also nearly 1k views
Putting it together is easy just take your time don't force the screws it took me about two hours to get it together with minimal problems nothing that couldn't be fixed by adjusting the other sections I'd suggest getting the new Mable they have instead of the ruby a little larger locomotive but actually has a sight glass and the ability to refill it pre installed as for setting the valve timing it's not a hard process but It does take some messing around with a rubber hose and low pressure air I got it running first try but It wouldn't pull anything after five different adjustment /steaming sessions it now pulls like a dream just now need to get the upgrade steam valve from the aftermarket supplier and mount my rc radio and fpv camera I personally don't see why anyone couldn't get one of these put together in an afternoon it's alot easier than working on a john deere 5400 tractor or a john deere 8875 skid steer it probably as easy as adjusting my turner hay press from 1920s
I'd say get a prebuilt over the kit. It's only 50$ more (depending on where you got it) and you're probably gonna be using that money on tools such as screwdrivers and hammers to actually build it. Since it says that Ruby is a "New Edition", I wouldn't be surprised if it only came in a kit up until recently (as late as September 2023), but, to the average mortal amateur wanting a novelty iten to their garden railway, I'd say getting it prebuilt is a safer option.
Yeah ,but to those of us who are really interested in steam equipment it's a great starting step. and yep,,, the new 2023 version is very much different with a solid piece cab/saddle tanks& with hinged roof , magnetic smoke box door, and details on the base of the smokestack,as well as screwed down sand dome instead of spring retainer ,the old ruby had a prebuilt version and the kit version. the kit version even came with a good double sided socket wrench and two allen keys one for the piston cross head and one for the essentrics Putting the model together was very basic I did it in way less than an afternoon but setting the eccentrics is what was not just set and go it actually took several steamings and adjustments to get it first to run, then get full power from the machine even then it's not fully set ,it does have to be re adjusted from time to time for one reason or another. I personally bought the kit version because at the time I wanted to scratch build one of kozo hiroka's miniature steam logging locomotives the 1920 designed shay (I still do) but I'm probably going to try to find a steam traction engine for the 1888 pat date frick cast iron frame sawmill I've recently acquired it would be kind of cool to have a zero waste operation to run the mill off the wood all the modern local mills just pile up to rot or burn without any useful extraction of the lost energy kind of dumb to run the mill off fossil fuels when it's proving itself with a supply of waste so yeah you do have a point the kit version is not for everyone ,it was for people like me who were trying to find out if they actually like building miniature steam engines (at a reasonable price) considering that the other options out there are anywhere between 1-15k on average (edit the reason I said it took five hours to put together is because i polished the brass to a mirror finish and didn't feel like elaborating when I recorded the video and according to the model engineering forms it usually takes the average person about 7 hours
@@wesbrackmanthercenthusiast4695 I guess there's some truth in that 40+ row argument of yours. Sometimes, cheaper really is better. Edit: Thanks for the history lesson, btw
Yes they do the ruby comes in red and black however now that accucraft has a better entry level locomotive called the Mable I'd recommend getting it because the ruby is very basic after the assembly or opening from the box for the non kit version all that needs done is lubricate the eccentrics all the linkages wheel bearings fill the displacement lubricator with steam cylinder oil fill the boiler with around 90 ml of distilled water keep in mind that water with lime scale will inhibit performance of the boiler with calcium and magnesium build up and water that is too pure like de ionised water is corrosive and will strip zinc out of the brass and destroy the model slowly . It's this simplicity of this model that makes me want more for instance the new Mable has a sight glass and water top off valve the ruby doesn't meaning that if someone wants to actually run the model for longer than 15-20 minutes one has to let the model cool ,my goal and reason for wanting more is I want to increase the size and complexity of my model steam engines until I'm comfortable building a traction engine and geared logging locomotive both in half scale for actual use around my farm running on tree prunings dried cow manure bamboo and straw aka biomass which technically includes wood pellets but I don't want to use that ,if I use wood it will be the bark and bad cuts from the sawmill dad ordered but I intend on using that for the house stove
This is a beautiful train model!
Thanks it's live steam and solid brass, copper, and steel
how hard is it to build these kits? I really want a red ruby but I am rather afraid of putting her together cause I probably lack the skill for it.
cheers and hope ya have fun with her. also nearly 1k views
Putting it together is easy just take your time don't force the screws it took me about two hours to get it together with minimal problems nothing that couldn't be fixed by adjusting the other sections I'd suggest getting the new Mable they have instead of the ruby a little larger locomotive but actually has a sight glass and the ability to refill it pre installed as for setting the valve timing it's not a hard process but It does take some messing around with a rubber hose and low pressure air I got it running first try but It wouldn't pull anything after five different adjustment /steaming sessions it now pulls like a dream just now need to get the upgrade steam valve from the aftermarket supplier and mount my rc radio and fpv camera I personally don't see why anyone couldn't get one of these put together in an afternoon it's alot easier than working on a john deere 5400 tractor or a john deere 8875 skid steer it probably as easy as adjusting my turner hay press from 1920s
I'd say get a prebuilt over the kit. It's only 50$ more (depending on where you got it) and you're probably gonna be using that money on tools such as screwdrivers and hammers to actually build it. Since it says that Ruby is a "New Edition", I wouldn't be surprised if it only came in a kit up until recently (as late as September 2023), but, to the average mortal amateur wanting a novelty iten to their garden railway, I'd say getting it prebuilt is a safer option.
Yeah ,but to those of us who are really interested in steam equipment it's a great starting step. and yep,,, the new 2023 version is very much different with a solid piece cab/saddle tanks& with hinged roof , magnetic smoke box door, and details on the base of the smokestack,as well as screwed down sand dome instead of spring retainer ,the old ruby had a prebuilt version and the kit version. the kit version even came with a good double sided socket wrench and two allen keys one for the piston cross head and one for the essentrics Putting the model together was very basic I did it in way less than an afternoon but setting the eccentrics is what was not just set and go it actually took several steamings and adjustments to get it first to run, then get full power from the machine even then it's not fully set ,it does have to be re adjusted from time to time for one reason or another. I personally bought the kit version because at the time I wanted to scratch build one of kozo hiroka's miniature steam logging locomotives the 1920 designed shay (I still do) but I'm probably going to try to find a steam traction engine for the 1888 pat date frick cast iron frame sawmill I've recently acquired it would be kind of cool to have a zero waste operation to run the mill off the wood all the modern local mills just pile up to rot or burn without any useful extraction of the lost energy kind of dumb to run the mill off fossil fuels when it's proving itself with a supply of waste so yeah you do have a point the kit version is not for everyone ,it was for people like me who were trying to find out if they actually like building miniature steam engines (at a reasonable price) considering that the other options out there are anywhere between 1-15k on average (edit the reason I said it took five hours to put together is because i polished the brass to a mirror finish and didn't feel like elaborating when I recorded the video and according to the model engineering forms it usually takes the average person about 7 hours
@@wesbrackmanthercenthusiast4695 I guess there's some truth in that 40+ row argument of yours. Sometimes, cheaper really is better.
Edit: Thanks for the history lesson, btw
Do these kits come painted?
Yes they do the ruby comes in red and black however now that accucraft has a better entry level locomotive called the Mable I'd recommend getting it because the ruby is very basic after the assembly or opening from the box for the non kit version all that needs done is lubricate the eccentrics all the linkages wheel bearings fill the displacement lubricator with steam cylinder oil fill the boiler with around 90 ml of distilled water keep in mind that water with lime scale will inhibit performance of the boiler with calcium and magnesium build up and water that is too pure like de ionised water is corrosive and will strip zinc out of the brass and destroy the model slowly . It's this simplicity of this model that makes me want more for instance the new Mable has a sight glass and water top off valve the ruby doesn't meaning that if someone wants to actually run the model for longer than 15-20 minutes one has to let the model cool ,my goal and reason for wanting more is I want to increase the size and complexity of my model steam engines until I'm comfortable building a traction engine and geared logging locomotive both in half scale for actual use around my farm running on tree prunings dried cow manure bamboo and straw aka biomass which technically includes wood pellets but I don't want to use that ,if I use wood it will be the bark and bad cuts from the sawmill dad ordered but I intend on using that for the house stove