Yup :'D (I've worked on one as part of a volunteer team, lots of heavy metal and you need the funds to keep something at that scale running.)
Sounds like it'd be a fun project though, you should do it! :'D the great thing about steam-powered vehicles is that they are mechanically simple (in a relative sense, i mean you don't have electronics and crap to worry about. The boiler and anything pressurized would be more sensitive parts but it's also not a rocket science project!
)
Sounds like it'd be a fun project though, you should do it! :'D the great thing about steam-powered vehicles is that they are mechanically simple (in a relative sense, i mean you don't have electronics and crap to worry about. The boiler and anything pressurized would be more sensitive parts but it's also not a rocket science project!
) 
Yeah I would imagine. Sadly money is a problem for me at this point in my life, I can't even afford to eat every day xD
But I am hoping that won't be always the case, that internship I will start this March is paid, $16.50 an hour, which is significantly better than I make now.
Another problem I may face is the road-legalness of such a thing. It would weigh quite a lot, and have a poor turning radius. Visibility is sketchy and I'm not sure what the law would say about a huge metal behemoth lumbering down the road belching thick clouds of black smoke xD
But I am hoping that won't be always the case, that internship I will start this March is paid, $16.50 an hour, which is significantly better than I make now.
Another problem I may face is the road-legalness of such a thing. It would weigh quite a lot, and have a poor turning radius. Visibility is sketchy and I'm not sure what the law would say about a huge metal behemoth lumbering down the road belching thick clouds of black smoke xD
Ohno! But at least your internship is going to be paid better, that's at least good!
YEs that's very true LOL! Well depends on a few things, you CAN get personally owned tanks street legal with special permission and if they're under a certain tonnage (and things like having rubber padding on the treads.) Depending on how big your construct is and if you can make it so it won't harm roads, that could be wiggled.
YEs that's very true LOL! Well depends on a few things, you CAN get personally owned tanks street legal with special permission and if they're under a certain tonnage (and things like having rubber padding on the treads.) Depending on how big your construct is and if you can make it so it won't harm roads, that could be wiggled.
Yeah perhaps, I supposed something like a traction engine (like you had said), with some sort of thick rubber band wrapped around the circumference of the enormous steel drive wheels. I don't want to use a conventional wheel (like something from some construction equipment) because those huge steel spoke wheels are so iconic and cool. As for the boiler, it would have to burn a liquid fuel, such as oil or natural gas, otherwise I think shoveling coal into your boiler counts as a form of distracted driving. It could be electronically (or preferably, mechanically) regulated as to automatically control the temp of the boiler. The steam regulator lever would be mounted near the drivers seat, and the steam valve would be controlled by the drivers right foot (like a throttle). Steam driven brakes would also be a must. As far as steering, a hydraulic steering system (controlled by a steering wheel) would probably work best, so you don't have to mechanically link the front wheels all the way back to the cab. The front wheels could be conventional heavy truck wheels.
Of course it would need all the proper turn signals, brakelights, headlights, etc.
Of course it would need all the proper turn signals, brakelights, headlights, etc.
For the coal thing you can always have an auger but yes having an oil-fired system will give you fuel flexibility as well.
Steam-driven EVERYTHING! Sounds like fun :'D
And yup!
Steam-driven EVERYTHING! Sounds like fun :'D
And yup!