Paddleducks
Old Yahoo Group => Yahoo Messages => Topic started by: Edward Matthews on June 19, 2005, 05:10:25 AM
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Hi Guys,
Bear with me here, but I've been considering building a working RC
model of a sternwheeler, and have a question...
Most of the sternwheelers I've looked at have VERY shallow hulls (ie,
a 40-48 inch long hull only has a depth of about 2 inches), so
It appears that to make it I will have to increase the depth of the
hull to help with stability and allow it to carry the necessary
weight of motors/batteries/radio gear etc etc...
If that is correct, I assume I'll also have to increase the diameter
of the paddlewheel to allow for the increase in hull depth?
Has anyone else built a working sternwheeler and can offer advice on
this area? Or am I completely off beam here?
Regards
Eddy
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Eddy,
The first sternwheeler I built "Phineous T." On One Side & "OL Fogbound" on
the other, (I was and/am a devotee of "POGO") was a Thing I built "by ear"
and looked as I (who had never seen even a good picture of a stern wheeler)
thought she should look. She was 36" plus the wheel, call it 42 inches long
about 16 inch beam, the power was the motor & battery out of one of those
cars the kids ride in. There was no problem with weight.
She drew so little water that she would blow down wind!
I put blind nuts in the bottom of the hull and put on removable skegs so I
could point her where I wanted her to go.
I Wish I still had her!
Dave
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The depth of the hull would depend on the building materials you use
and the weight it adds. my Verity model draws about 2", but since I
detailed the cabins inside and used a lot of brass, stacks and "fire
box" where the smoke generator is located, Handrailing, and entire
stern including the wheel are all brass. I had to add another 1 1/2"
to the bottom to get it to float at waterline. I'm getting it ready
to go into a museum and I'm making an offset display base so the
false bottom will be hidden, but you can see the outline of the scale
bottom. The Verity is 1:48 scale 39 1/2" x 9 5/8". That false bottom
gives her good stability from cross winds. The Lady Lois was 3/8"
scale and looked great in the pond. I don't remember her measurements
right off but the prototype is 100' x 22'. I had to add a little
ballast to the stern to get her to sit down a little. There's
pictures of both of them in the photos gallery and on my site. You
don't have to increase the size of the wheel if you add to the hull
depth. Your water line is still going to be the same. I'm working on
plans for three other sternwheelers now. One is the towboat OMAR, the
boat from the movie SHOWBOAT, and the American Queen. Noe there's a
big one 418' x 86'.
Let me know how things are going......
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Hi Joe,
It has just struck me. I'm glad we don't have members with the name
of Jack. It would be hijack. Anyway back to:
With the plans that you are doing what are you working from? As
usual I'm looking for interior detailing of the old paddle steamers.
Are you working from scatch with the OMAR, the
> boat from the movie SHOWBOAT, and the American Queen? Or do you
have some plans?
Regards
Leighton
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With the Verity there were no plans available so I spent a whole day
taking measurements of the real vessel and made my own working set of
plans. I also took video and pictures for detailing the boat.
I got plans for the OMAR from Alan Bates in louisville, KY and I'm
lucky enought to live in an area where she operated so I know a
couple of guys that worked on her who could give me some detailing
tips if I should need them.
The boat from the movie "Showboat" ( a 1954 film starring Joe E
Brown) was orginally owned by John Wayne and I couldn't find any info
for it. I captured scenes from the movie and searched for plans that
were a close resemblance. I found what I was looking in plans for the
Cape Girardeau. I made modifications to the plans for the "Cotton
Blossom". The biggest difference is the two spiral staircases and
ticket booth entrance. Of course on the real vessel this was all
stage props for the movie.
For the American Queen I was lucky enough to be put in contact with
an inspector who was inspecting the vessel for its Spring fit out and
he sent me what he had of the plans. I got the hold and first four
decks. I was able to use a couple diagrams from a brochure to finish
the 5th and 6th deck myself. This boat is so huge it not only lowers
the stacks, spot lights, and radars, but also the pilot house will
retrack into the deck to clear the bridges with 60' clearance to them.
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Hi Leighton:
I've just been through a couple of my books on American and Canadian
steamboats and I'm amazed at the incredible opulence of the
furnishings. One of the greatest examples of Steamboat Architecture
was apparently the "J M White" which for 8 years rivalled, or even
surpassed, the top hotels in catering to its clientelle of wealthy
plantation families.
Here is just a sampling of what you may have to consider if you 're
seeking to duplicate authentic decor and furnishings of the North
American ships. This is what they've done with the "American Queen"
(a modern sternwheeler) which is claimed to be the largest one ever
built.
http://www.rbldi.com/rbldi/AmericanQueen.htm
One of my favourite resource websites for North American paddle
steamer images is the Norman Collection of Steamboat Photographs
which can be found online at:
http://appl005.lsu.edu/STM.nsf/Web/STM
The collection was assembled over a period of more than fifty years
by the late E. B. Norman and his son, Dr. N. Philip Norman. E. B.
Norman of Alexandria, Louisiana, owned Norman's Landing on the Red
River, and Dr. Norman, a New York City internist and pioneer
nutritionist, is a nationally recognized authority on the history of
steamboating.
For interiors just go to the following search page and type
in "interiors" and you'll see dozens of useful images.
http://appl005.lsu.edu/STM.nsf/Search/$SearchForm?SearchView
I wonder if anybody has ever written a book on Paddle steamer
interiors and architecture...if not someone should!
Best regards
PJ
Victoria, BC. Canada
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Hi Eddy,
I have a mate who has started an RC model of a stern wheel paddle
steamer. From memory the height of the hull is 21/2 to 3" and rough
length is about 18" - 2'.
If you like I can ask him about it and take a couple of photos for
your inspection.
Regards
Leighton
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Thanks to everyone who replied to my message about a sternwheeler...
I didn't make it very clear in my last message, but the reason I was
wondering about increasing the size of the paddlewheel if I increase
the draft of the hull is when going astern.... Will the increased
hull depth create any problems then? Surely it will interfere with a
smooth flow of water, and tend to lift the stern of the boat?
Shoot me down in flames if you want, but I'd like to clarify this
before I spend a lot of time building. It's easier to sort this now
rather than find I need to make major changes to an almost completed
model!
Regards
Eddy
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Build the hull to scale and if you need to add more depth add that to
the bottom of the scale hull and put a long rake forward and aft.
Also instead of making the sides straight put an angle to them too,
approximately 3/8" tp 1/2" for an added depth of 1 1/2". Think of a
jon boat with the bow rake on both ends. I have done this to my
Verity and it doesn't have any effect on backing or turning. It also
gave better stability with cross winds. I built a display base that
the hull sits in and it looks like the scale hull just sits on the
base without seeing the added false hull
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Thanks Joe, now that you've explained it in detail It's all become
clear. Time to start building methinks.... Just have to select a
model that really appeals to me.
Regards
Eddy