Paddleducks
Old Yahoo Group => Yahoo Messages => Topic started by: Mike Mayhew on June 19, 2005, 05:06:14 AM
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to PJ. and the gang, Like so many things that are to product of a committee or group, The Paddle tug AID was the result of a design from the "Board of Trade". Needless to say they could not agree on who was going to design the stern so they built two bows! someone realised that it had to be steered somehow so Two rudders were fitted at each end. along with two wheels, quite large at 5ft diameter, Two smoke stacks, two sets of lamps, each set lit according to which way it was going. Bit like British politics, cant make its mide up so a Dr Doolittle" pushmepullyou "was created. As you so say Paul, it was unique and a brilliant worker for many years and was a favourite with so many. If anyone has the time to explore further and come up with any photos I would dearly love to do a full set of drawings. With a pair of SVS ocillating engines geared to the paddles and a good pump not a screen washer what a sight it would be. So, for any information whatsoever, written ,E-Mail me, but photos or drawings, my address is. Mike Mayhew, Waverley Models.20B Moor Lane, Clevedon.North Somerset. BS21 6ES ENGLAND. Any out of pocket expenses will be refunded. I will dedicate the drawings to Paddleducks. The more infro I have the more detailed the hull will be.
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Hi Mike I don't know if this is the type of thing you are looking
for but try this site.
http://www.worldshiptrust.org/save.html#toroa
I have heard from another source that the society has a set of plans
of the two ships: "Toroa" and her sister "Kestral" both identical.
Double enders, they don't turn around it's only the Captain that
moves.
Regards
Leighton
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Hi Mike..fantastic stuff.. Your enthusiasm is contagious! The more I
read about "PS Aid" the more I'm falling for this "grand ol' Lady of
Ramsgate Harbour" and totally agree with you that she'd make a
wonderful model. Was this BOT design only used on "PT AID" as a one-
off, or were there any other sister ships built?
> If anyone has the time to explore further and come up with any
> photos I would dearly love to do a full set of drawings. With a
> pair of SVS ocillating engines geared to the paddles and a good
> pump not a screen washer what a sight it would be.
Yup...a set of accurate drawings is essential. Have you seen the
drawings in P.N. Thomas and Hambleton?
As I mentioned earlier, I suspect these may have been taken from the
same source, suggesting they had access to original plans. Even so,
we have deck plan and side elevation which is enough to "fake" a
reasonable hull, but without hull lines and/or cross sections,
there's always that niggling doubt it's not 100% accurate. P. N.
Thomas is still alive and Stu Badger ("PT Reliant") told me he had
spoken to him by phone last year. I don't think Mr. Hambleton is
still alive.
I believe the NMM would have plans of the ship, but we already know
the usurious and unreasonable costs associated with obtaining plans
from them. Alternatively, I have always had excellent assistance
from local Maritime Museums and Historical Societies, especially if
they know you want to build a model of one of "their ships".
There is a Ramsgate Maritime Museum operated by East Kent Maritime
Trust. Quoting from their publicity material:
" The Museum, opened in 1984, is housed in the early 19th Century
Grade II Clock House at the Royal Harbour, Ramsgate. There are four
galleries depicting various aspects of maritime heritage and the sea-
faring life of Thanet and East Kent which is represented by displays
on the history of the harbour and related industries, the heroics of
the local lifeboat service, the development of navigation, ship
models, artefacts recovered from Goodwin Sands shipwrecks principally
the 3rd Rate man of War 'Stirling Castle' lost in the Great Storm of
1703, and the Ramsgate solar Meridian Line. The Museum also hosts
temporary exhibitions.
Adjacent to the Museum is the restored Smeaton's 1791 Dry Dock and
historic ship collection which includes the Steam Tug 'Cervia'
(1946), two Dunkirk Little Ships - Motor Yacht 'Sundowner' (1912) and
Pleasure Launch 'New Britannic' (1936)."
Although it doesn't say too much, they do have a Webpage at:
http://www.ekmt.fsnet.co.uk/
Would definitely be worth contacting them at:
Ramsgate Maritime Museum
Ramsgate
Kent
CT11 8LS
Tel: +44 (0)1843 587 765
Fax: +44 (0)1843 582 359
It will be important to define the correct "AID" as I believe there
were three by the same name which operated at various times out of
Ramsgate and all apparently owned by the BOT.
1) Sidewheel steam tug in service 1855 - 1889 and sold in 1890.
2) Our ship, in service 1890 - July 1914 and aquired by the
Admiralty.
3) Screw steam tug in service: Oct 1914 - 1938 (Sold to Risdon
Beazley Ltd). Requisitioned at outbreak of WW.II and sunk by November
1940.
> So, for any information whatsoever, written ,E-Mail me, but photos
> or drawings, my address is. Mike Mayhew, Waverley Models.20B Moor
> Lane, Clevedon.North Somerset. BS21 6ES ENGLAND.
Other than a tiny photo I have, so far, been unable to find any
substantial photos or reference to "PT AID" on the internet, but it's
amazing what will turn up once we start beating the jungle drums !
> I will dedicate the drawings to Paddleducks. The more infro I have
> the more detailed the hull will be.
What a nice idea! An accurate GRP Hull (plating an' all) would be a
great start to this model and quite possibly into an advanced
builder's kit with option for live steam power. In any case it would
make for a great 4-channel paddler so let's keep on with this project
and see what transpires.
I'd like to ask all Paddleducks to search through their libraries and
see if they have any visual or textual mention of "AID" in any of
their books. Other than PN Tnomas and Hambleton, I cannot find any
other reference.
Mike, I cc'd you the email I sent to Mike Halford, the G-G-Grandson
of "Aid's" Skipper. So far no reply but that might prove to be an
interesting lead.
Looking forward to learning much more about this wonderful old paddle
tug.
PJ
Victoria, BC Canada