Paddleducks
Old Yahoo Group => Yahoo Messages => Topic started by: Dallinson on June 14, 2005, 03:58:43 AM
-
Hi there fellow paddlers
Paul has already given you many details about me, but I would just like to
fill in a couple of blanks.
In my early days I rose up the ranks to sail as second engineer aboard
refrigerated cargo ships, mainly on the New Zealand to UK frozen meat route.
I came ashore and spent sometime constructing man- made fibre factories for
Courtaulds. For the last 30 years or so I have been roaming the world
designing and constructing oilfield production facilities.
I have been a modeler since childhood. I obtained a highly commended award
at the Model Engineering Exhibition, in London exactly fifty years ago, this
year!!! It was a model of the Kon-Tiki.
Now I am working my way through the tug "Yorkshireman" from a Model Slipway
kit. I've had a few problems and found a number of inconsistencies. When I
contacted them, they replied that it was kitted 12 years ago!!! Why that
should be an excuse, I cannot imagine!! Anyway, I am sure I will get it
finished in due course.
On to the next project, which is why I am in this group.
I really want to make a model of the type of wooden clinker planked paddle
tug that was around in the 1850s. They are very pretty vessels. Living as I
do in a small fishing village in Spain has many advantages, but it does mean
that I don't have a fully stocked model shop at the end of my road!!
I would therefore ask advice about any good mail order shops that understand
our needs and will supply good quality materials at a reasonable price.
I have all the 3 Nexus plans for paddle driven tugs, including the
associated feathering paddle wheels. They look pretty good. The hull
drawings do not have any model construction details. They are really just
outline plans, which leave all the detail construction methods to the
builder. The feathering paddle drawings are working drawings with all
dimensions etc and look very complete. However one cannot tell how good the
plans really are, until you try to build from them!!!
Does anyone know of any plans for a clinker built tug (say about 40inches
long)?? Or better still a fibre glass hull that could be used as a starting
point?? I am quite prepared to build the hull, if that is what is required.
Incidentally for anyone interested in the history of tugs, or specifically
paddle tugs, then the book by P.N.Thomas is a really good read. It is quite
expensive, but it can probably be bought second hand somewhere. ISBN is 0
905184 07 6. It was first published in 1983. Title "British Steam Tugs".
Just to finish with an historical comment. When I was at sea, there were
still many steam tugs in service, particularly in some of the foreign ports.
Getting alongside used to be a rather sweaty business for us engineers down
below, when assisted by steam tugs. Many of them had natural draught boilers
with quite tall funnels, which came just about level with our fresh air
intakes. They used to put out so much smoke, as they stoked up to do some
serious work, that we had to close off all the ventilation to the engine
room to avoid ingesting their smoke in large quantities, straight from the
top of their funnels!!
Well that is all from me for now.
If anyone can help me towards my objective, then I would be delighted to
hear from them.
Best regards
David Allinson