Stuart Lighting Set

I only have water pumps for my engines to drive and fancied something different. I saw a Stuart R2Y lighting set on Ebay which didn't sell a few times so made contact and came to an "arrangement" with the seller. It has a car type radiator with an electric fan for cooling, not sure whether to leave it on as something different for showing or convert it to tank cooled like most others I've seen, what do you think?.




It has the optional deck wash pump fitted so I will still be able to pump some water to keep the yellow plastic ducks happy at shows





As the build records are currently unavailable I've guessed it's about 1954.

I like it as it is currently set up, with the radiator fitted. However I think it might look more convincing as a factory produced set, if the Dexion framework could be replaced with some rolled channelling section, more suited to the era and the quality of the rest of the build, including the very nice cast base plate.

All that said, it looks to be a very complete and honest set with great potential, whatever you decide to do. Especially if you keep the yellow plastic ducks happy!

P.S. Have you attempted to get it to run as yet?

Neil

IMHO I think the radiator looks gash.... One of them galvanised square tanks looks much better.

StuartTurnerSteve wrote:IMHO I think the radiator looks gash.... One of them galvanised square tanks looks much better.

I'm thinking the same, particularly the fan and it's controller look out of place on an old set/

OK you've convinced me. I hadn't seen the electric fan when I made my comment. However I do like the look of a properly installed radiator system, on an industrial unit, rather than an open water tank, which I associate more with agricultural use.

Of course you could always have an air cooled engine instead!

Neil.

neil (LE) wrote:OK you've convinced me. I hadn't seen the electric fan when I made my comment. However I do like the look of a properly installed radiator system, on an industrial unit, rather than an open water tank, which I associate more with agricultural use.

Of course you could always have an air cooled engine instead!

Neil.

This one would have sucked water from outside the boat for cooling, so time to get half a yacht hull to properly show it off . Was normally the P55 that was the Rad cooled version of the Stuart, but the P4, P5 and R range was available with a rad, though not as commonly as the P55. Stuart for home use mainly used cylindrical water tanks, I've got photos of the install process somewhere.

StuartTurnerSteve wrote:
This one would have sucked water from outside the boat for cooling, so time to get half a yacht hull to properly show it off  . Was normally the P55 that was the Rad cooled version of the Stuart, but the P4, P5 and R range was available with a rad, though not as commonly as the P55. Stuart for home use mainly used cylindrical water tanks, I've got photos of the install process somewhere.

Any suggestions as to tank capacity needed?, I'm thinking something like a 9 litre fire extinguisher with the top cut off or maybe something a bit bigger like a 25 litre oil drum.

I would be interested to see the install photo's.

Will have to find the hard drive, all packed up for moving.. we started moving 9 months ago....

I have a fire extinguisher on my R3, should be large enough for show. M'Uncle has this set up for his P4.