The African Queen story was inspired by a real life incident when two Thornycroft motor launches called "mimi & "toutou" were hauled to Lake Tanganyika to defeat the German craft on the lake during the first world war.
Regards
Jack

Falcon's fan blows straight into the back of the ash pan, it is driven by a vee belt from the free end of the engine, I have no idea if there is any shut off arrangement when firing? I suspect not. I did suggest that the quad could be repaired/rebuilt even with a cracked casting, but they were not i...

As noted above, there are many other parameters to consider. Firstly is the steam pressure used? second is if you are condensing or exhausting to atmosphere? also important factors are the point of cut off of the cylinders particularly the H.P. Marine engines were usually designed to allow approxima...

I agree with TT, an economiser would be better than a superheater.
Regards
Jack

If you are designing an engine from scratch as I do, then 2.5:1 is a minimum, my current engine build has 2.67:1
Regards Jack

hers a bargain ??? on e-bay UK
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8-HP-marine- ... 1438.l2649

These are made in the UK by Pegler Yorkshire and are called Yorkshire GHD (general high duty). they have silver solder in and are expensive. I am not sure of a stockist but Pegler should tell you, please let us know!
regards Jack

The different laps are probably to arrange an earlier cut off on the H.P cylinder, as there are no eccentrics and assuming all the links are of the same size then this would make sense? Marine engines of more than one cylinder were always considered as separate engines. With Stephenson gear it was n...

I used to have a Carnot cycle but the wheels fell off!
Jack

You need to join the steam boat association!