Paddleducks
Paddler Modelling => Construction => Topic started by: Martyn on February 06, 2012, 06:21:27 AM
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Hello everyone,
I thought you would be interested in seeing the project I have been working on for over the last ten years. I have been building a 1:48 scale working model of the Clyde paddle steamer Juno, built in 1898.
I have built this model from scratch using the original drawings (from Glasgow University Archives) and was originally going to be steam powered using a Cheddar Plover steam plant, but unfortunately I have found that it is just too heavy and so I will have to change it to electric drive, to keep the weight down so that she floats on her correct water line. I would welcome any suggestion as to what type of motor, gearbox and battery I could use. At present there is a 3:1 gear drive on the paddle shaft which I don’t want to remove as it would mean dismantling so much of the model.
I have spent a lot of time researching this model to get various details correct; for example many hours have been spent looking though books and photos with a magnifying glass to produce such details as panelling on the deck houses, paddle box decorations and colours etc…The feathering paddle wheels were particularly challenging and were beautifully made in brass by an engineer friend of mine, although they are a bit over-engineered, the quality of detail is astonishing, they individually bolt together just like the real thing!
I used a lot of photo etched parts to help produce the very fine detail such as the paddle boxes decorations, window frames and panelled deck houses. The hull was constructed using the traditional plank on frame method; I added an additional coating of epoxy (with fine glass-tissue) once the hull was made to add strength.
I hope you find this project as interesting as I have. I estimate about another year to finish her. I only wish this wonderful website had been available when I first started as there were so many questions I needed answered at the time. Never-the- less, I hope this model may inspire others to purchase the new kit of Juno from Clyde Model Boats and build one themselves!
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More photos
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Juno photos
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Last photo
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Welcome Martyn,
and thanks for sharing your Juno with us. Love the detail on the paddleboxes and the deckhouse. Please keep us up to date with your progress and any more pics.
The GSWR livery looks fantastic, the Clyde must have been a very colourful place in those days.
regards
Clark
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Hi Martyn and welcome
you have some lovely detail on your Juno, it must have been a labour of love.
On the motor front I have used the ones from Clyde models that you mention in your post, so far i have been very happy with these. htey perform well at the correct rpm.
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Hi Martyn. Wow just look at the detail, Fabulous.
Prentice.
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Absolutely beautiful build. Well done. It shows you've taken great care with the details. Smashing.
Perhaps the Mods will connect all the pictures into the same blog so that we can see them in one go.
Well done
ken
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Many thanks everyone for all your interest and kind comments,sorry about the photos being posted on seperate blogs i wasnt sure how to put them all onto one.Perhaps the moderators could explain how its done!
Many thanks
Martyn.
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Hi Martyn.
Quite simple really. Just click on 'More attachments' below. this will add a second (or third) picture to your posting.
Still, great photos though. :)
cheers
ken
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Wow, outstanding work!
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Hi all,
topics merged, hope all are happy now pictures are all together.
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Many thanks for changing the photos.
M.artyn
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Martyn,
At last!.....I can let this tension go and openly say thank you! .. and well done on a terrific model...
To let others in ... I have been aware of this model for a long time and i have been itching to make mention of it...
Martyn has also been very good to me in supplying some of his drawings for the Etched detail around the paddle boxes ... pretty simple ? ... No!... No he has researched for a long time right down to the BS numbers for the paint work... Fantastic! for me and for anybody interested in following suit.
Martyn, a big thanks from me and i look forward to her taking shape ...
Regards,
Kim
P.s. I recently had a display case made for mine ..... damned expensive ,,, but if your interested ...you can let me know.
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Hello Kim,
Many thanks for your enthusiastic reply, I'm amazed at the response from fellow members kind comments from everyone.I hope the wait wasn't too painful for you!It is always hard to know how much information members want to hear on Juno's details,research,construction etc,so please let me know if you all want to hear more,as I'm more than happy to pass it on.
Here are a few more photo's to be going on with.
Martyn
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Hi PD's......& welcome Martyn from the other 1/2 of the world...... :whistle
The level of detail presented with your Juno is superb.......many members would be interested to see some internal build images......
An assumption here... :shhh....but is that rudder oversized?.....we hope so .....as scale rudders on paddlers are enough to :41 when turning.........Derek :coffee
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Hi Derek,
No, the rudder has not been built over size.Juno's rudder on the original drawings is quite large anyway,so I kept it that size. All will be revealed when the model takes to the water wheather it works!I will take some internal photos shortly.
Martyn
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What is intriguing me is the deck house paneling, how did you achieve such precise moulding?
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The deckhouses were produced by photo etching.This is quite an involved process as you may well know but the results speakes for it's self.After the etched parts were soldered together I then airbrushed on a golden teak base colour and let it dry for several days.Now for the difficult bit.To achieve the teak grain finish I then applied a very diluted Roseal waterbased varnish(Walnut) to produce the woodgrain effect with various artists flat bristle brushes.I could go on and explain it all in more detail, but I hope that will give you the rough idea.I'm sure this process is not for everyone, but the rewards are defiantly worth the agony!
Martyn
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The model is absolutely gorgeous Martyn, and a real tribute to your workmanship. I'm really looking forward to seeing her on the water...
Regards
Eddy
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Stunning model. Absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to see how she looks in the water!
Don