Mamod Brunel Pot Boiler

Hi

Does anyone have experience of the Mamod Brunel?

I've previously shied away from Mamod as being very basic, however this new product has Silver soldered boiler, gas heating, water and pressure gauges and a geared drive all for £385

To spec up a Regner to the same degree is almost twice that!

Any views? I'm thinking of getting one as a "pot boiler" is missing from my live steam entourage!

GWhizz wrote:

Hi

Does anyone have experience of the Mamod Brunel?

I've previously shied away from Mamod as being very basic, however this new product has Silver soldered boiler, gas heating, water and pressure gauges and a geared drive all for £385

To spec up a Regner to the same degree is almost twice that!

Any views?  I'm thinking of getting one as a "pot boiler" is missing from my live steam entourage!

Yes, I looked at buying one before the summer, because I like the upright boiler, and the spec seemed plausible and the price was right. I was put off by mixed comments on various forums. My guess is that performance and price probably match on this one.

Between the pricepoints of the various Regners, there is a Mamod-derivation made by Rob Wood who trades under the name of RWM Steam, and has a wood-clad De Winton priced below the Regner you describe, but above the Brunel. I bought one, had a little problem with a cylinder, but got that fixed. Fast too it is .....

If you like the more scale speeds of the Regner geared locos, then I would actually go for a superized Regner De Winton-style loco, offered by Martin´s Models, which also has wood-clad boiler and a whistle. Costs a bit more though ....

And then there are the slightly more exotic ones. There is an 0 scale Grasshopper "made in USA" (Hielscher in Germany seem to be an agent) out there somewhere, but I´ve never seen it in action, and then a small German one-at-a-time manufacturer HDC Dampf, from whom I got a slightly ideosyncratic Grasshopper which has been rebuilt and now works .... fast but an eyecatcher.

Let us know if you get a Brunel! 

In the meantime, I´ve got my eye on Regner´s Easyline "Otto" tram, which features an upright boiler.

Thanks for the advice Andrew, I'll give it some more consideration. The various youtube videos tend to show them going at speed, as the  gearing is still high.

I've seen Carl's Regners at various shows and they are way more realistic on speed and of course German build quality!

Also for the same money one could get an Accucraft Dora:lol:

Situation resolved, I find that I can buy a Regner Max (admittedly in Kit form) complete with gas burner and reversing valve for less money than the Mamod from the UK.

So one is on its way from IETB in Marseille IETB Regner Max ( I can never get my head round the German Regner site and ordering process direct from the manufacturer and I don't think there's much of a price difference?)

see:
http://www.atelier-vaporiste.com/WWW2/av_home.php

tram47 wrote:

see:
http://www.atelier-vaporiste.com/WWW2/av_home.php

Merci Daniel

Mais les prix Atelier Vaporiste sont un peu plus cher !

But the prices at Atelier Vaporiste are a little more expensive !

yes, but the after sales service and advice not compare. 

certes, mais le service après vente et les conseils ne supportent pas la comparaison .

I haven´t yet seen a gas-fired Max in action; it used to be fired by a form of alcoholic paste (brandy butter, but less tasty). And I didn´t know that they will let you have it as a kit. And lastly, the Regner website is an outstanding example of obacity, and I mean that in the nicest possible way. That´s why I´ve always let someone else deal with the company, and I speak fluent German. That being said, I´m still slightly nervous about the No. 7 Rigi rack railway loco, which is supposed to be delivered by the end pf the year. It could prove to be an interesting jigsaw puzzle if it arrives.