I just found - well, not found - it was thrust on me by Google on me phone, some bloke going on about a smoke equipped diesel on a YouTube show. I haven't provided a link as I got rid of it in disgust.

Some bloke was going on that smoke units had been around a long time, since the seventies. Well he got that wrong to start with. I had a a Triang Britannia in 1963 which was equipped with a Seuthe smoke unit, and a Jinty in 1966 with "Synchrosmoke."

So much for this "expert."

He was going on about how the vapourising oil turned everything yellow, and the new units work by water vapour. Well, none of my models turned yellow nor has the smoking factory chimney on my layout.

Anyway, isn't everything gonna get covered in water from the new thing?

I'm out of Seuthe smoke oil. Can't order it from overseas because of flammability issues. Anyone know of a source in Oz?

Oh, I had better own up to my addiction... I love the smell of the stuff

I went to a model boat show and there were quite a few smoke generators fitted to boats. They used the water variety and I must admit I was impressed.

Yeah, I guess we're all very conscious of fossil fuel warnings these days, and my post was slightly tongue-in-cheek, but I still wonder about the water spray effects on plaster-based scenery.

And I still love the smell of the stuff

George

Unsure if these people can help ?


https://www.australianmodeller.com.au/collections/seuthe?srsltid=AfmBOoq_M0D1qvMIpSKapnwkDmWpD-Fe0bCUAenyCfCP8q4rsJL0YukE

NSw

These guys are in Melbourne

https://www.hearnshobbies.com/products/seuthe-lube-oil-for-trains?srsltid=AfmBOor_uYCD8OdraQq6lZacsFCvFNFIu6VnApmCfTsILhmctjIBVwHa


Could you see whether they can help?

Could the Sydney firm courier?
Good luck. Love the smell of it myself
@Bealman

You could look for SR24 oil.
This is the only supplier I could find though...
https://au.toyscentral.com/products/hans-weiss-sr24-1l-steam-oil-cleaning-oil-1000-ccm-white

Jan

I assume this discussion was sparked by smoke units in 00 gauge or HO?

To my knowledge smoke units are not available pre-fitted in N gauge? If they are in continental or USA outline models then I am happy to stand corrected.

But all that aside I have always had an issue with "smoke" not scaling very well in model railways. As good as some of the modern units are I am yet to be fully convinced.

However, development and innovation is a good thing so if it became viable in N gauge British locos I would be keen to investigate.

Skyline2uk

Quote from: Skyline2uk on November 03, 2024, 06:27:51 PMTo my knowledge smoke units are not available pre-fitted in N gauge? If they are in continental or USA outline models then I am happy to stand corrected.

But all that aside I have always had an issue with "smoke" not scaling very well in model railways. As good as some of the modern units are I am yet to be fully convinced.

Smoke units have been available in Arnold's BR 41 and BR 18.4–5 since the 1970s.
Most currently Minitrix has released a BR 18.6 with smoke, and Broadway Limited Imports' Big Boy (and Minitrix's as their Big Boy is a rebadged BLI) also comes with smoke.


BLI recommends Märklin 02421 light smoke fluid for their N scale Big Boy. Maybe that can be ordered from Australia? Are there Märklin dealers who stock this?

Quote from: Skyline2uk on November 03, 2024, 06:27:51 PMTo my knowledge smoke units are not available pre-fitted in N gauge? If they are in continental or USA outline models then I am happy to stand corrected.

I have Arnold and Ibertren locos with factory fitted smoke units   AS I run DC they tend to need the loco moving at a fair rate to get decent smoke.  As @Hiawatha says the Arnold locos go back to the 70s.

See the second half of this video (from about 2:20)

Skyline: I use smoke units in buildings. I have a smoking chimney stack and a burning house is planned. Therefore the size of the heater is not really an issue.

Quote from: ntpntpntp on November 03, 2024, 10:02:43 PMI have Arnold and Ibertren locos with factory fitted smoke units   AS I run DC they tend to need the loco moving at a fair rate to get decent smoke.  As @Hiawatha says the Arnold locos go back to the 70s.

See the second half of this video (from about 2:20)

That is impressive looking smoke. The best I've seen.

Webbo

I was also not a fan of smoke in N scale. It always looked more like a candle in the chimney to me.
But the BLI Big Boy has impressive smoke, and it helps having dual stacks (smoke demo starts at about 10 min in):

Quote from: Webbo on November 04, 2024, 04:02:35 AMThat is impressive looking smoke. The best I've seen.
Webbo

Whilst I agree with the above sentiment, to me it's like sound in N and just not good enough for me

I agree @Newportnobby   it's a gimmick that kids at a show like to see for a minute or so but generally I don't bother running the smoke locos.  I didn't set out to buy smoking locos they just came that way for a good price (just like my small number of sound locos). 

What happens to a smoke unit if you don't put smoke oil in .
Will it burn out or can you turn it off in the loco ?
Bob

Arnold locos have a switch. I don't recall the Ibertren having one.