Steam Engines
Peter Van Houten (peterva@QM.WV.TEK.COM)
Wed, 30 Nov 1994 11:04:18 -0800
The other day I put out a fun tip for the Tiger Cub. Today I'm posting a =
new way to look at the raingutter regatta and teach boys some science =
facts at the same time.
In our Webelos den we just completed building balsa wood boats with steam =
engines and raced them in a regatta format.
materials:
Balsa wood squares: 1"x3"x6"
Cover Stock Paper: Blank 3x5 cards work well for this
Small core aluminum tubing (1/32" diameter) [Don't use copper it kinks to =
easily]
Dowel (1/4" to 1/2")
small plastic tube large enough to fit over the end of the aluminum tube =
aprx 2 ft in length.
small candle (voit candle)
Paint sealer, and enamel paint
Using a knife cut out the basic form of your boat (simplest design is =
best). Most boys did the basic V-hull bow with a block stern. Sand =
smooth, seal with pain sealer, and paint desired color.
Cut out windshield from 3x5 card. The best way to describe this is :
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Cut out as above.... The middle lines are fold lines.
Glue the windshield onto the front of the boat. (Hot Glue works very well =
here).
Take the dowel and the tubing. VERY slowly bend the tubing around the =
dowel, continue until your coil has three turns and both ends are pointing =
in the same direction.
Use a nail insert two small holes (top to bottom) toward the back of your =
boat, aprx. 1.5 inches apart. Insert each of the two tube ends through =
the holes.
Place candle underneath coil.
Attatch plastic tube to one end of aluminum tubing.
Place boat in raingutter.
Using the plastic tube suck water into the tube until you get some in your =
mouth.
Remove plastic tube without lifting boat from water.
Light candle and watch.
The boat will begin to move slowly (NOTE this is not a fast race) as the =
water in the coil heats up and steam escapes through the open tubes under =
the water. The boat will actually go in bursts, moving forward for a =
time, than backwards as the heat sucks more water into the tube, than =
shoots forward again.
The kids loved this. In fact, I had parents tell me days later that their =
boy is still talking about it.
Have fun!
Peter Van Houten
Peter Van Houten / E-Mail: =
peter_van_houten.techsupport@qm.wv.tek.com
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
