Paddleducks
Paddler Modelling => Construction => Topic started by: Forrest Scott Wood on July 28, 2005, 12:31:30 PM
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Hey Y'all;
Have an idea for a small radio control paddlewheeler of the "pool toy" flavor starting to take shape.
Was building a rubber band powered 24 inch long balsa wood submarine from plans in a book on Ships my parents bought for me and my brother way back in the elementary school days and one day the illustration of Robert Fulton's "Clermont" caught my eye.
Hmmm . . . why not do a 24inch balsa model based, more or less, on Clermont?
Something like what the aircraft modelers might call "sport" or "stand off" scale.
And, strip the 2 channel radio control gear out of some relatively inexpensive toy?
And, use one of the ten dollar single motor or twin motor educational project kit gearboxes from the plastic model and r/c car manufacturer Tamiya for power?
Could do that two ways:
1.) one channel speed control and one channel rudder
2.) one channel speed control for each sidewheel - differential thrust offering steering
Have now decided my boat will be considered to be inspired by "Clermont" and named "Carolina Piedmont" and look like something a less refined copycat might have built.
Also, I want a bowsprit.
"Clermont" and most other sidewheel coastal and inland boats of 1850 to 1860 vintage for which there are illustrations seem not to have had bowsprits; but, I like bowsprits and I want a figurehead too.
So far the balsa slabs to form her hull bottom and about 1/3 of the side sheets are glued together.
Beam is going to come out about 4 and 1/2 inches with length at waterline of around 24 inches.
About 27 ft by 144 ft in the 1/72 scale I'm claiming my model to be.
A bit shorted and chunkier than I think "Clermont" was.
Now, remember, this is not a museum model of Fulton's "Clermont" - it is a for fun pool toy inspired by her.
later,
F.S. Wood
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If you want a paddler with a bowsprit, take a look at the Comet, built in 1812, not only a bowsprit, but FOUR paddlewheels! - You can find some drawings of her in the plans section. http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=173
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I remember those plans, did the extra two paddle wheels actually assist the boat in any way as an alternative to say a larger paddlewheel with more floats...or buckets or paddles or what ever we are calling them now.
I like your idea though and it may come in handy for me making my own first RC model.
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COMET was the first commercially operated paddle steamer in Europe, so I imagine Henry Bell built her with two paddles each side as an experiment. I think she was later converted to a single paddle each side, but the replica, which is on display at Port Glasgow, has the two paddles each side, The replica steamed on the Clyde for a brief period in the 150th anniversary year of 1962
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Alistair
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I remember those plans, did the extra two paddle wheels actually assist the boat in any way as an alternative to say a larger paddlewheel with more floats...or buckets or paddles or what ever we are calling them now.
I like your idea though and it may come in handy for me making my own first RC model.
Exported by Paddleducks Mail System.
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Hello again;
Comet is an interesting thing all right: using the funnel as the mast!
Or, is that, using the mast as the funnel?
Thanks for letting me know about her.
As it happens, the deck plan for my little sidewheeler turned out to be pretty much the same shape as Comet, just a bit longer and a bit narrower; and, representing a larger vessel as well.
Back to my boat's appearance -
I like the canvas canopies illustrated on Clermont but I want some deckhouses too.
Ok, do a low deckhouse for illumination of the space below deck and put the canopy on top of it for a sort of raised sightseeing platform.
That'll work.
Hmm, what should this boat be?
It isn't a riverboat, the hull is too deep and too round.
An excursion vessel?
A ferry?
A coastal waters tramp steamer?
ok, about time to get ready for work tonight.
see y'all,
F. S. Wood
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There is a book currently available called COMET TO CALEDONIA (sorry, I dont have more details, my copy is out on loan, but it is still available, published in Scotland). The book has plans of comet, covering all the changes in its life, including four and two wheels, plus all its various changes in length and fittings. The book itslf is all plans, covering (Clyde) paddlers showing all the reconstructions during their services. Well worth looking at as a plans source. Regards to all, Walter.
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Yes Walter.. the book is "From Comet To Caledonia" by Donald Watson and sells new and used for around £20.00 or US$30-35.
I finally managed to contact the author and received an email from him a few weeks ago regarding my research of "Jeanie Deans" (1884) and other Barclay Curle ships of that era.
PJ
Victoria, BC Canada
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AHA!
Just may have to find a copy sometime here in the near future.
Thanks for the info Walter and PJ.
F.S.Wood
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There are a lot of RC toys that could be used to provide control and propulsion for rudimentary models of side wheelers. The Plantraco Rover at: http://tinyurl.com/bj4zk might be the best, because it could be used as a drop in addition without the need for taking it apart. These little rovers are just four inches long, but can be controlled from distances greater than most other toys of this kind. They have two reversible gearmotors for steering and are equipped for laser battles, sound effects, hit counters and all. If anyone decided to produce them commercially, they wouldn't even have to buy the rovers, because Plantraco has an affiliates program that pays ten-percent commissions on sales to people who reach Plantraco's web site by clicking the Plantraco link on an affiliate's web site. Anyone who did this commercially would want to use toys that are not dropped, or radically changed after a season or two, and the rovers fit that requirement to a "T". They are also sold online and by hobby shops in countries far away from Canada, where the Plantraco company is located. This might give someone the impression that I own stock in the company. I don't, but rather wish that I did because the company has flourished and acquired a reputation for quality merchandise over the past several years.
Best wishes, Frank
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Well, I had several paragraphs typed and AOL screwed me over and my hands are really hurting, so forget it now.
Forrest
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Well, let's try this again and see if I can complete a post without AOL so rudely appropriating the window for other use before I'm done.
My hands are hurting, so this will not be as full as last night.
After not modeling anything, trains or boats, since Christmas on account of health, Clermont project is back on.
A bit less cheap - using proper RC radio.
A bit less Clermont - going for rather more modern look - 1870s to 1880s to 1890s - versus Clermont's 1850s.
Now has bulwark and extra deck at bow.
stern has bulwark and railing.
Has deckhouse and pilot house.
Still calling model 1/72 scale at 24in long hull.
Figured out how to construct paddlewheels.
Will tell more later.
I Really Need to Quit gluing stuff to Top of hull and to go on and get the bottom shaped!
Still going to fiberglass the ull.
Colors are mostly decided:
hull bottom - turquoise-ish green
waterline - white
hull sides - black
paddlewheels - red
deck - teak colored paint
deckhouses - white sides
deckhouse roofs - ?
masts - natural wood
modeling style to be somehwrer between a scale model and looking like a 1920s tinplate toy.
later,
Forrest
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It's good to hear your getting back to your paddler Forrest.... Have you got any photos of your progress so far? It would be interesting and help us all to follow the build.
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Forrest, Don't want to steal this thread. check chat and OT forum.