Paddleducks
Paddler Modelling => Construction => Topic started by: mjt60a on June 06, 2006, 04:15:27 AM
-
Decided to do something with the card/grp hull so made some non-feathering wheels and paddle drums to fit. Am now making a rudder and I have a couple of motors and an ancient (big, heavy) ESC. I've just finished the sub-deck - and this leads to an unforseen problem - but more on that later, probably in 'research'....
(http://www.btinternet.com/~mjt60a/ubb_link_images/alumchinehull01.jpg)
Here's a closeup of one of the paddle drums, I've no idea if the rivets are correct or if there would be an access hatch just there, I was just playing with some styrene sheet to see if it would look like metal
http://www.btinternet.com/~mjt60a/ubb_link_images/paddledrum_macro01.jpg (this is a link to my own server as the picture is HUGE - I used macro to show the detail)
-
I'm no expert on tugs Mick, but it looks pretty damned good to me! :-)
-
...made some more parts for this one...
(http://www.btinternet.com/~mjt60a/models/images/alumchineproject01.jpg)
Wheels are off for painting when I took this. I have two 12v motors and a speed control plus a steering servo, also an old trans and reciever somewhere.... :)
-
...it's all coming together pretty well...
(http://www.btinternet.com/~mjt60a/models/images/alumchineproject02.jpg)
-
Just one question Mick, how do you get a wife that allows you to put a model onto a leather sofa to photograph it??? ;-)
-
simple, I don't have a wife...
...alternatively, don't get caught!
*actually, photographing the model on the couch 'pales into insignificance' when compared to soft-soldering on the gas cooker!!!
-
simple, I don't have a wife...
...alternatively, don't get caught!
*actually, photographing the model on the couch 'pales into insignificance' when compared to soft-soldering on the gas cooker!!!
there ya go, I knew I'd done something wrong! :-)
Seriously I can't complain, I have models in every room of the house literally! There are 8 in the spare bedroom that I'm in now, one in the lounge, two in my daughters bedroom, three in the hallway, two in my bedroom, one in the kitchen...... Oh I tell lie, there isn't one in the bathroom! :-0
-
Now has a funnel, companionway, skylight, glazed portholes* and (led) navigation lights!
(http://www.btinternet.com/~mjt60a/models/images/alumchineproject03.jpg)
*four portholes in the hull can't be fitted until I paint it...
-
...the latest update;
-
well. I've finally attempted making some railings!
they'll do for this model but I'm pleased I didn't build them on Freshwater, as, having both those models side-by-side, they just wouldn't look right. So I'll have to try something else.....Anyway, here's the 'Alumchine' now;
-
Its looking very nice mick, keep up the good work. regards, Walter. PS I am down your way this weekend, sailing on Kingswear Castle on Sunday.
-
I painted the railings white over the weekend and they actually look quite good now :)
The stanchions are a bit thick (would have been OK for a 1/24th scale model) but otherwise don't look bad at all. I made them using copper tubing (about 3mm outer diameter - only because I already had some!) for the stanchions which have slots filed in them about 2/3 of the way through. 1mm brass wire is pushed in the slots and soldered in place, any excess solder can be filed away. Finally, I added 'blobs' of 5 minute epoxy resin (like araldite rapid but the stores own brand - wilko rapid epoxy) on the joins and dragged it around the stanchions. When painted, it represents the ball-like structures on the railings of full size vessels. This was an experimental process but with practice, it should be possible to make them a little thinner - maybe use 2mm brass rod instead of the copper tubing.....
...also made the ladders to access the wheelhouse, the plan of 'Menna' (and a single photo I saw online somewhere) seem to show steps up the front of the paddle drum leading to a walkway across to the wheelhouse (or steering position, depending on the year, I suppose...) but as 'Alumchine' the walkways and sponson houses seem to have been removed and, though it isn't very clear on the (other) two photos I've seen, an almost vertical ladder with hand rails is used instead. That is what I tried to replicate but used some guesswork as to the details... :?
-
You make such great models Mick!
-
Thanks :D Lets compare!..................Hmmmm, it's not 100percent accurate, those light fittings over the freight/car deck on the model are way over size and as I said before, the railings are a little 'heavy duty' I can't actually make out the way the ladders work from the photos....I think I'll add the mushroom vents (shown on the plan but apparently removed before the photos were taken) and use them to attach the rear deck over where the radio gear will be.....and there's a few more fittings to be made/bought (I have the six lifebelts though...)
But all in all, I'm happy with it.
I intended this to be a very quick build, more or less like the Tipstaff tug in Model Boats magazine but styled as a small ferry like Menna or Cleddau Queen............but I just got carried away with modifications :D
-
Time for another update...............
It's almost finished now :D
I'm about to try to fit the steering servo and speed controller inside. Spent the weekend (after returning from the 'Lord Mayor of London's show) constructing and fitting the mast. It has a working light and, as it's made from a length of car radio aerial, is also part of the Rx antenna. It is detachable from the superstructure for ease of transportation and electrical connection is by a modified computer processor fan connector. The mast stays are made using thin elastic wrapped with cotton thread purchased from a sewing shop and has hooks from bent brass wire which attach to loops (also brass wire) on the boiler/engineroom roof, and to a hole in the 'stem post'. Also need to 'plank' the area of the cargo deck which is still bare wood, and covers the battery (will be watertight) and a few final fittings (they won't affect its operation - not essential for a test sailing!) Anyhow here's the model now....
-
I like it Mick - I hope we get some video of it on the water?
-
We will :D
-
Good man Mick.... BTW, the forum and photo gallery will now handle a maximum file size of 4Mb (rather than the 2Mb limit we had on our old host), but I can still put larger files than that online to download if you send them to me via email to admin@paddleducks.co.uk that email account has a 20Mb inbox. For files even larger than that, email me first and I can increase my inbox size to suit - But email FIRST and wait for me to reply before sending files larger than 20Mb or they will be rejected!
-
Well, the weather hasn't looked good down here for 'sea trials' so I haven't got the boat ready to sail yet (probably after christmas now as the lake will be closed until then...) so here's some pics of my attempts to ballast it.....
-
Still looking good Mick.....
Just a word of warning - Don't do what I did when I first got into model boats and decided to ballast a model in the test tank (bath).... I filled it to the top, thinking that would be best to allow me to view the waterline clearly, only to sit there wondering why I'd flooded the bathroom when I added some weight to the model!! :(
-
...the grey lump on the cargo deck is the intended ballast, about 3 ft of lead flashing 3 inch wide and about 1/8th inch thick. I expected the weight of the battery to be almost enough and just need a bit of lead here and there at the stern, to balance it out but to my surprise (because the battery is forward of the paddleshaft), the bows were sticking high above the intended waterline while the rudder was about right. So just as an early experiment I put all the lead in one piece on the cargo deck, this brought the bows down - but not quite enough! Also it brought the stern UP a bit so the whole vessel is still about half-an-inch too high in the water. I still have to add the receiver and its batteries (could use four C or D cells instead of AAs, for extra weight I suppose) plus a few fittings and fixtures but it still needs more wieght - and there's me thinking I'd have some lead left over for other models!
It is of course highly unstable in the pictures (you can't tell that though) but once the lead is cut into plates and layed in the 'bilges' it should help instead of hinder, the stability. I'm pleased with how it's turning out even though it will be somewhat heavier than expected :?
-
....Don't do what I did.... I filled it to the top....I'd flooded the bathroom when I added some weight to the model!! :(
I filled the bath/drydock just enough for the model to float at its waterline and used a small mirror to look under the sponsons. Even so, the photos are helpful as I can examine them at will without having to repeat the test...
-
While waiting for an improvement in the weather, I've busied myself with making some of the fittings and stuff for the model, and wiring it all up...
-
I can hardly beleive a year and a half has passed since the last update (and since I did anything to this model!) since my job changed - more work to get done in the day - I just don't seem to find the time to do as much as I'd like, still I haven't given up on it and here's the latest bits to be completed...
...I finally got around to making and fitting the bench seat that runs all round the 'passenger' deck and added the lifebelts on the railings. I have no idea how they're supposed to be held there (tied with ropes?) so made some cradles from thin brass sheet and soldered them on the railings. The lifebelts are then held in with 'araldite' or similar...
...the seat is just cut from 1/16th ply, lines drawn to represent the separate planks (with black ballpoint pen, if you push down hard enough it creates a groove as well...) then stained and varnished. the 'legs' are pieces of 1mm brass wire glued into holes in the deck and in a small strip of ply across the top on which the seat is then glued....it'll do...
-
Considering how "simple" the basic methods of construction are, I'm amazed at how well the model is turning out Mick. It really does look the business!
You are to be congratulated for producing a lovely little model, well done. :trophy
Eddy
-
...some passengers and die-cast cars on the decks. the cars are too heavy to use on this model and they and the people are a bit too modern for what I had in mind, they were bought with the idea of using on the 1/32 Tattershall Castle which would be modelled as in the 1960s - if I ever finish it!
-
What a superb effort, Mick! Sixteen years since I discovered this little ferry and was delighted when you started your build which turned out so well. Not been to PD's for a long time but it's giving me much pleasure to see how it still thrives. Thanks to all who have continued this great and rare resource. All the best to my old PD mates!
PJ
(Lake Cowichan, BC Canada.)
-
Well...
Good morning , or Good evening PJ...........I had no idea you were still following this wonderful website you created?
regards
Derek