Hmmmm .... that's a useful insight. I'd seen live steam locos but, other than Mamod, felt they were well outside my budget. Budget has always been a significant factor and so, when I wanted a new loco, I'd have to make it myself and, like Peter, my skills only extended as far as plastics and wood (with a bit of kitchen table metal working). As Peter says, this medium does not lend itself to gas, meths or coal as a power source.Big Jim wrote: ↑Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:39 pmAhhh, now that is something I have been thinking about. I think it may have something to do with a perceived idea that if it is in the garden and it looks like a steam engine then it should be a steam engine. Now I used to think this way until I saw some of the models built by people like your self and Mr. Butler. For me this may stem from the fact that it is easier to get a i/c model to look like the real thing in 16mm scale than it is a steam engine. Many small i/c engines are boxes on wheels and it is a more straightforward thing to build as you don't have to worry about valve gear and other moving parts.What I've still not been able to pin down is why many 16 millers would not contemplate running a battery powered steam outline loco.
I do wonder if the attraction for many people who build a garden line is the fact that they can have live steam. This was what got me into it, when I saw my first Live steam NG loco years ago that was the attraction, if I wanted electrically powered locos I could stay indoors.
There is also the possibility that the market is geared more towards battery i/c rather than battery powered steam. Until PDF models started bringing out their range there were very few suppliers who produced kits that were steam outline. However, there were lots of companies, large and small who would sell you bits to built an i/c loco.
Rik