Brunel From Mamod!!

stevelewis

stevelewis

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:wondering::wondering:I am in the precess of changing drection from G45 (LGB) electric digital to 16mm SM32 unpowered track, I sector I pursued some years ago, as I also model in 2 other scales indoors I felt that i wanted something in the garden a little less involved for occasional use when it is not raining torrentially which it seems toi do around here.

Anyway to get to my point of the thread, I have no intention of using live steam , I have owned several LS locos in the past, but feel I just want to use motive power use more simply, I have already been able to acquire somke Roudhouse Diesels ( Criccieth, HarlechCastles & Little John).

However whilst browsing 16mm on You Tube I came across mamods Brunel oscillator and I find myself quite intigued by it!
My very first LS loco was a Mamod when the first sets came out years ago I impulse bought one, It hardly turned a wheel and was quickly sold on!

So my reason for this post is to ask does any one have any opinions on Brunel is it as reasonably running as it appears to be, are there any hidden snags or issues etc
And should I simply forget it!!:wondering::wondering::wondering::mm:
 
From recollection, the historical problem with Mamod was that they were marketed as toys, and the boiler pressure is regulated at a very low level.

They needed a bit of serous tweaking to perform, but there are people who have run modified ones happily for years.

You might need to talk to the 16mm' ers
 
Reading a lot of reports the toy concept does not seem to apply to the loco in question, as mentio9ned in the OP I actually bought a Mamod in the 70s which proved to be useless ( there were no enhancements available during the short period I owned it) I soon progressed to proper live steam locos I owned around 12 eventually, some proving to be brilliant performers, some requiring a lot of work to bring them up to reasonable

The Brunel is featured in a few you tube clips and appears to function reasonably, my new project is not really intended for live steam but I am intrugued by this loco.

The main features as listed seem to place it above the early mamod concept.

I dont really want to splash out another £420 without a bit of concrete feed back nor do I wish to amass a collection of 16mm locos greater than my planned 3! ( although I could alsways sell one of the Roundhouse battery ones!!)
 
The Brunel and Regner's easy line of geared engines, The Willi being similar to the Brunel, do well because of the gearing. I think the Regner has a bit better build quality but might be a bit more expensive. Those are around $780 USA dollers right now. The older Mamod engines were hit and miss. I have one that runs really nice with no upgrades, but it will get a few anyways. But I had one that was total rubbish as well. I also have battery powered engines when I do not want to mess with steam power. One of those RH diesels is on my list of future wants. For now I have a little IP Engineering Lister diesel to pull my Mamod wagons around. And like you, I am going from 45mm LGB in the garden, to 32mm with Mamod track. My line is small enough and I have a stash of that track already. Mike
 
I've recently picked up one of these loco's. Not run it a lot yet with the current UK weather issues (cold/wet), but from what I've seen, I'm actually quite impressed! Its not actually an oscillating cylinder, but a proper cylinder with a separate valve, with slip eccentric reversing and a fly wheel. The boiler pressure is 40psi rather than the toy 14psi locos. Its also dual gauge but not as easy as a grub screw like we find on Accu/RH loco's...
Being single cylinder, it won't self start every time, but a quick flick of the fly wheel and off she goes. Nice features include a quiet ceramic gas burner, water gauge with a proper blow down, a blanking plug on boiler for fitting a water top up.
I'd say its more of a set it off on a circle rather than running it on an end to end layout, but once running, makes a nice exhaust trail with a couple of trucks behind. No idea how much it'll pull, so far only had 5 Accu L&B 4wheelers behind.
Don't expect Accu/RH running qualities, but if you think original Mamod, then you'll be impressed!
 
Steve, you are heading down a slippery slope. Before long you will be looking for something better, Regners then Roundhouse. Before you know eher you are you will be back to the past again. Good luck and have fun.
JonD
 
stevelewis said:
does any one have any opinions on Brunel
And should I simply forget it!!:wondering::wondering::wondering::mm:
Click to expand...

Steve,
One of our local Mersey 16mm guys has a Brunel. It's a single cylinder slip eccentric type, manual starting, and reversing.
The steam exhausts from a long pipe down to frame level, not from the chimney. I've only seen it pull one wagon, and it's had a couple of problems with bits coming loose. To be honest, we don't see much of it at steam-ups.
As already said, best on a round 'n round track.
I wouldn't be so cruel as to say "forget it", but I don't think it's really serious.
That said, some determined souls can do a lot with them.
 
Sorry for a late update on this thread, as I mentioned in the OT I had no real intention of using live steam on my new 16mm project, having been through a live steam stage several times before I have owned around a dozen LS locos over the years Most excellent a couple not so!

Anyway I watched a few videos of the Mamod Brunel ( Mamod name did not inspire a lot of confidence)

But I ordered one anyway, it was here for 2 days and then returned!,

Whilst it is quite a well made loco for the £400+ price and they do appear to work OK in the videos, this one had a problem with the gas supply system, which I was not prepared to accept after a few attempts to correct the problem following advice from Mamod I returned it

I am not saying that the loco is not good probably most of them do what is expected of them.

So if anyone is wondering if that is the end of my foray into 16mm LS and I am keeping to me original intention please see phots!!!
 
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QUOTE="dunnyrail, post: 440646, member: 251"]Steve, you are heading down a slippery slope. Before long you will be looking for something better, Regners then Roundhouse. Before you know eher you are you will be back to the past again. Good luck and have fun.
JonD[/QUOTE]
Jon...
I have done it all before!!!!!!!! One thing I perhaps regret is selling my RH Lady Anne and Roundhouse Fowler! and Accucraft LAWLEY!!... mind you the RH Garratt looks quite attractive!!
 
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Hi

Rob nice to see it again!!!!

Funny thing about live steam it never really goes away!

Ah well too cold up here , back to the 00-9!!
 
stevelewis said:
But I ordered one anyway, it was here for 2 days and then returned!,

Whilst it is quite a well made loco for the £400+ price and they do appear to work OK in the videos, this one had a problem with the gas supply system, which I was not prepared to accept after a few attempts to correct the problem following advice from Mamod I returned it
Click to expand...

Useful to know. I've been looking at these too, but I was hesitant because of their largely toylike reputation. By the time you've bought one and factored in all of the decent upgrades, as far as I could see you weren't far short of the cost of a half decent used Roundhouse loco.

Whatever I buy will be my first foray into LS in this scale, so I'd rather spend the extra and get something that won't frustrate the hell out of me.
 
Quite agree always worth buying a bit up market if it is affordable,

As a matter of interest I currently have a live steam loco on eBay (user name Stevesoller)
 
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