A Cardboard Steam Engine - is that really possible? Oh yes!!!
See for yourself: this model not only looks great, it also works, happily chuff-chuffing away. The boiler, made from an aluminium tin, has a magnetic safety valve. The aluminium fire box underneath holds five tea lights. These are enclosed in a safety cage made from galvanised wire mesh. The steam is conducted through a closed system of tubes before being emitted through the chimney.
This clever construction keeps cardboard and steam separated with the piston being moved by a bellows made from the finger of a plastic glove.
An Engine with a History!
The invention of the steam engine is usually attributed to the Scotsman James Watt (1736-1819), as he was granted a patent for it in 1769. In fact he invented a lot of improvements that started off the industrial revolution with the steam engine at its heart. The actual inventor though was the Englishman Thomas Newcomen in 1712. But even he had precursors, even if their constructions were not successful.
Cardboard + Water = Steam Engine?
Of course the question is: How can a steam engine made from cardboard actually work? Paper, water, and Fire... isn't that a perfect recipe for disaster? This kit has the answer: Yes, it is possible and the engine works following the same principles as all other steam engines. The secret is a few heat and water resistant components that are fitted at the critical points. They ensure that fire and water never come in contact with the cardboard.
This is how it works:
The boiler is made from corrosion resistant aluminium and is fitted with a magnetic safety valve. The firebox underneath, containing five tea lights, is made from galvanised wire mesh. The steam is conducted through a sealed system of tubes and is released through a chimney lined with kitchen foil. The mechanical power of the engine is rather modest, ensuring a safe boiler pressure.
Turbo Power:
If you want to ignite the turbo in your Steam Engine, you can use our Steam Yacht Fuel to power the Steam Engine. Just pour some fuel into an empty and cleaned tea light bowl and place it into the middle of the firebox. Ignite the fuel and push the firebox into the boiler house. The fuel will only burn a few minutes but it burns much hotter than the five tea lights. The water in the boiler will boil much quicker and the steam pressure will be much higher, making the engine run much faster than with the tea lights.
Please remember:
The minimum temperature of steam is 100°C. Therefore children should always be supervised by an adult when operating this steam engine!
This kit contains:
- 6 pre-cut and printed sheets of construction cardboard, DIN A4
- 2 printed sheets of construction cardboard, DIN A4
- Accessories:
1 sheet of aluminium sheet, 0.18 mm, A4
1 wire mesh, galvanised, spot-welded, 220 x 330 mm (boiler house)
1 chipboard, 6 x 210 x 297 mm (base plate)
1 aluminium box with screw lid, Ø 100 x 30 mm (steam boiler)
1 foil glove
1 crankshaft with 2 offsets, spring steel wire Ø 1.5 mm , 140 x 7 x 1.5 mm
1 valve bracket made of spring steel wire, Ø 1.5 mm , 50 x 28 x 3.5 m
1 axle made of spring steel wire, Ø 1, 5 mm x 40 mm
2 axles made of spring steel wire, Ø 1.5 mm x 27 mm15 perforated discs made of hard PVC, 15 mm (OD) x 1.5 mm (ID) x 1 mm
1 silicone tube, 2.8 mm (OD) x 0.8 mm (ID) x 110 mm
1 silicone tube, 7 mm (OD) x 5 mm (ID) x 275 mm
1 ring magnet (SrFe), 15 mm (OD) x 6 mm (ID) x 10 mm
1 washer, galvanised, 16 mm (OD) x 8.4 mm (ID) x 1.5 mm
4 rubber O-rings, Ø 6.5 - 8.5 mm, cross-section Ø 1.5 mm
1 foam seal (‘Tesamoll’) approx. 25 x 9 x 6 mm3 cotton buds, 75 x 5 mm
2 disposable syringes, 2 ml and 10 ml
8 one-EURO-cent coins - Cutting templates
- Detailed construction manual
Not included: 5 tea lights, , aluminium foil
Dimensions of the built model: approx. 29.7 x 21.2 x 22 cm
Construction time: approx. 20 - 30 hours
Producer: AstroMedia GmbH, Im Wirrigen 30, 45731 Waltrop, Germany, astromedia.de
Below you can download the instructions for this kit.
The templates for cutting the aluminium sheets can be downloaded here.
Things you need for assembly:
- a firm, flat work surface
- a good all-purpose adhesive
- a heat-resistant two-component adhesive
- strong scissors for the aluminium sheet
- a ruler
- standard household aluminium foil
- some twine or thin wire
- 5 tea lights
- an empty aluminium pot from a tea light
- a lighter
Helpful things:
- a cutting mat
- some adhesive film
- a sharp craft knife or a scalpel
- an old biro or a screwdriver
- a pair of tweezers with narrow tips
- a blunt knife, a folding bone, or a small spoon
- a nail with a diameter of 2-3 mm
- a round piece of wood such as a broomstick
- some fine sandpaper
Optional:
Adult supervision:
Children under the age of 14 should use the kit under adult supervision to avoid risks due to improper handling.
Take care with small parts:
Choking hazard! Keep small parts out of the reach of small children.
Risk of injury:
Take particular care when handling pointed and sharp parts! Use sharp tools with care and take suitable safety measures to avoid injury.
Do not touch the steam boiler (aluminium can) during and after operation until it has cooled down completely. Keep children and unauthorised people away from it during operation.
Fire hazard:
Handle open sources of fire and heat with care. Product contains highly flammable materials. Never leave unattended when in operation.
Use of tea lights:
When using tea lights, follow the manufacturer's safety instructions. Never leave burning tea lights unattended.
Use of adhesives:
Follow the manufacturer's safety instructions when using adhesives. Work in well-ventilated areas and avoid skin or eye contact.
Intended use:
The kit should be used in accordance with the enclosed instructions. Independent modifications may impair the functionality and safety of the model built.
Safety instructions for magnets
- Ingestion hazard:
Magnets can be swallowed and cause serious injury to the body. Keep out of the reach of children under the age of 12! - Health risk:
People with pacemakers or other medical devices should keep their distance from magnets! - Risk to electronic devices:
Strong magnetic fields can damage electronic devices, data carriers (e.g. credit cards) and mechanical components or render them unusable. Store magnets at a safe distance. - Risk of crushing:
The strong attraction of magnets can pinch skin or fingers and cause bruising or haematoma. - Risk of breakage and splintering:
Magnets are brittle and can break into sharp-edged fragments when dropped or otherwise impacted, posing a risk of injury to skin and eyes. - Danger due to dust formation:
Grinding, drilling or cutting magnets generates dust that can be flammable and harmful to health if it comes into contact with oxygen. Mechanical processing must be avoided!
Disposal:
Dispose of magnets in accordance with local disposal regulations.
