Live steam at a bargain price...?

[TonyW]

A working live steam loco for under £50 ... could this be what many have always wanted?
https://www.hxhing.com/products/steam-p ... -and-track


To be clear, I have no connection with and I make no comment about this company or this product and I created this post purely for discussion purposes.

[ge_rik]

I like the product description

Product Details

Steam locomotives are called steam locomotives, which use coal as the power and steam engine as the core.
Old train.
The first steam locomotive "Blatze" was built by the British George Stephenson.
The first generation of trains in the world used coal to boil water to turn the water into steam, thereby pushing the piston and making the fire.
The car is running.
In 1825, Stephenson collaborated with others to design and manufacture the "Traveler" steam locomotive.
The trial run on the newly laid railway was successful. The application of the steam engine in the transportation industry has brought mankind into
"Train Age"

Did you know Stephenson's first loco was Blatze? News to me ....

Rik

[Jimmyb]

Well it is nice looking and a good start for an onward project, just not enough details, or i might just be tempted.

[Andrew]

£50?!!! Wow! Surely those with suitable engineering skills will be able to do something with that?

I reckon it's got a vaguely Andrew Barclay look?

[-steves-]

there is a video of it running, i was tempted myself i must admit
If it wasn't for import duty and no money, who knows what might have happened, lol

[SimonWood]

I'm don't quite have curiosity enough to gamble £50 on satisfying it, but I am intrigued by how this thing is put together and - assuming it is not a scam - how it can be for the money! From the video it appears smallish (maybe 10cm high) it could be 32mm gauge? You appear to light the burner through the side hatch in the smokebox...

[-steves-]

I must admit, I thought it was most likely a scam too

[SimonWood]

I must admit, I thought it was most likely a scam too

It may be fine, but what makes me suspicious is there are identical listing for it on literally dozens of very similar looking shops with very similar designs all on different domains, and also because the video I found (which is on Facebook on a profile with 36 followers) links to a shopify shop that is "no longer available"...

[Jimmyb]

there is a video of it running, i was tempted myself i must admit
If it wasn't for import duty and no money, who knows what might have happened, lol

It does say there are UK outlets, so shouldn't any duty

[TonyW]

If it wasn't for import duty and no money, who knows what might have happened, lol

There is no import duty that I could see. Total price including delivery for a UK buyer is £50.01 for delivery in 10-20 days, or £50.76 for 5-10 days.

... assuming it is not a scam ...

Payment via PayPal suggests to me that there is at least some protection if that is the case.

You appear to light the burner through the side hatch in the smokebox...

The hatch appears to have a removable cover in the main photo. Lighting it there does make sense though as the heavier-than-air gas gets there first. The alternative top-of-the-chimney method relies on the gas defying gravity and can result in the loco standing in an invisible puddle of gas, causing the Woomph! that most of us have seen.

I have to say I was seriously tempted by this (and the bulldozer too), and only decided not to go ahead as I just don't have the time to take on another project.

[Jimmyb]

I am still intrigued and interested, so have emailed them asking for Gauge, Dimensions, and Boiler Certificate, a response should be interesting

[-steves-]

I am still intrigued and interested, so have emailed them asking for Gauge, Dimensions, and Boiler Certificate, a response should be interesting

Please do post up the response, also very curious.

[philipy]

Somewhat off topic, but if you look further into their website they have some amazing RC bulldozers, diggers and trucks plus a flying Chinook helicopter all at around the same price. They CLAIM that they are made in the US and also claim to have a UK warehouse.

[TonyW]

... they have some amazing RC bulldozers, diggers and trucks ...

I have to say I was seriously tempted by the 'dozer.

Postage yesterday was £5 for 10-20 days, or £6 for 5-10 days.

[steamgeorge]

The price has just gone up from yesterday - only by about £4 though I think. I'm tempted too..........

[-steves-]

I have to say though if you look at some of the things they are selling and the prices, they are like 1/10th of what they should be. Sometimes if something is too good to be true, then it probably isn't true, though the PayPal but does give you a fighting chance of getting your money back.

[TonyW]

..

[Jimmyb]

The price has just gone up from yesterday - only by about £4 though I think. I'm tempted too..........

I think that is because the price is in dollars, so varies according to the exchange rate

[BorisSpencer]

Since following the link, my Facebook feed has been inundated with adverts for this.

I too am quite curious, but a word of caution, if it is a scam then they will probably ship you something (not necessarily what you asked for) this gets around the Paypal buyer protection, because they can show a proof of delivery.

The prices are very carefully set, low enough to be attractive but not high enough that you will invest a lot of additional expense/time making a fuss if it proves to be a scam.

[SimonWood]

Nice bit of detective work by someone over on the 16mm Assoc. Facebook page found this Youtube video. The poster states the loco was handbuilt by a friend and it took 2 years...