Director class paddle tug

[Edward Matthews]

Hi all,

I'm just completing a model of a "Director" class paddle tug, and one
of the final things I need to add to the model are the fenders that
the ship used on it's bows and paddle boxes...

Does anyone know of a source for these (preferably in the UK)?

Or failing that, has anyone any advice on how to go about making some
myself?

My model is based on the Model Boats plans by David Metcalf and is
1/4in to 1ft scale.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Eddy

[Dallinson]

Edward.
I think that you can probably get what you want from Mobile Marine models.
E-mail MOBMARMODS@aol.com . Address is :- The Old Stables, Drinsey Nook,
Saxilby, Lincoln LN1 2JJ and Phone 01522 704485
They have quite a range of bow fenders and hanging fenders, they are hand
knitted in various sizes and look pretty good.
Hope that helps.
David

[Paulrjordan]

Eddyyyyyyyy!

You been holding out on us, bro!!!! "Director" Class Sidewheel
tugs...hmmm!! Only happens to be my very FAVOURITE paddlewheeler. In
fact that's the Class that got me interested in model paddlewheelers
originally..so please do give a few more details about your ship!!!

I hope you've visited our files section where I have placed a number
of "Director" images and would love to add a picture of yours if you
can get a photo of her.

One of the first members to join Paddleducks was Trevor Bodiam in the
UK < Trevor.Bodiam@tesco.net > who has also built a "Director" and
there MAY well be others in here I'm also not aware of. Trevor has
used the Metcalfe Mouldings GRP Hull as a foundation to his model.

Note to Paddleducks >>>> If you're currently building or own (or are
even remotely interested in) RMAS "Director" class sidewheel
tugs...let me know...please!

Eddy..when you get a moment, please share the mechanical details of
your vessel...motor(s), control systems etc...and details of your
construction. Have you performed "sea trials" yet?? How does she
handle? Oh and, by the way..which of the "Seven Sisters" have you
built?

Thank you for posting your RFI for the rather distinctive "pudding and
Paddlebox" fenders. I searched all over for these things, and finally
found a set in an unmarked bag at a flea market a month ago. David's
lead should prove interesting..I'm also going to contact them about
this paddlewheeler motor they have as I have spent ALL afternoon here
with a fellow Club member examining propulsion issues on a gorgeous
"Bristol" sidewheeler he built a year ago but which suffers from just
about every model sidepaddler design "no-no" you could imagine !

Look forward to hearing from you again.

PJ

[Edward Matthews]

Hi PJ,

I've just uploaded a few photos of my model.... It's based on the
Nexus plans drawn by David Metcalf, and uses the styrene hull (also
from Nexus), everything else is scratch built.

It's 39.5" long with a beam of about 16" across the paddle boxes. The
model is powered by 2 540 motors driving semi-homemade gearboxes made
up from some rotating display stands! :-)

The model has a single ESC, and two rudder operated micro-switches
which cut power to the inner wheel on tight turns.

Hope that answers the major questions?

Regards
Eddy

[Paulrjordan]

Congratulations Eddy..and thank you for uploading those great pics of
your "Director". It is the FIRST model I have seen painted in the
correct RMAS Buff topsides and correct green for the stern deck.!!!
Your "Forceful is a fine looking model and your workmanship excellent.
David drew the original plans for Model Boat Magazine in 1980 of RMAS
"Forceful" and it makes alot of sense to purchase his 1:48 hull.
Kingston Mouldings also do a GRP hull for "Faithful", but I suspect it
is identical to the Metcalf one.

> It's 39.5" long with a beam of about 16" across the paddle boxes.
> The model is powered by 2 540 motors driving semi-homemade gearboxes
> made up from some rotating display stands! :-)

What battery(ies) do you have in the boat, Eddy? And what run time are
you getting from the twin 540's? Do you use a BEC (Battery elimination
circuit) with separate batteries for the receiver and servo's? What
rotation (rpm) do you have on the paddlewheels at full stick?

> The model has a single ESC, and two rudder operated micro-switches
> which cut power to the inner wheel on tight turns.

Nice two-channel set-up. At what rudder position does each microswitch
kick in? What is your turning circle with the rudder hard over and
one engine stopped?

> Hope that answers the major questions?
>
Well...not quite...big topic of discussion here is always the
paddlewheels themselves. What construction did you use? I must say
the wheels on your the model look extremely nice (you didn't make em
feathering did you... DID YOU???...!!!

Once again, congratulations of a truly fine looking model. With your
permission, I'd like to send a picture of her to the RMAS (Royal
Maritime Auxilliary Service) Association in Devonport. Following my
request, they kindly put a whole photo spread of Navy Paddle tugs on
their website a couple of months ago and they are so helpful with
photos etc.

The RMAS Association Website is at:
http://www.sd-dev.demon.co.uk/

Stay in touch

PJ

[Edward Matthews]

Thanks for the very kind comments, makes all the work worthwhile! :-)
I did research the vessel as much as I could before I started to
build it, so I hope I've got most details correct.... There are still
bits to add yet, such as the bow and paddle box fenders and the
lifeboats etc.

> David drew the original plans for Model Boat Magazine in 1980 of
RMAS
> "Forceful" and it makes alot of sense to purchase his 1:48 hull.
> Kingston Mouldings also do a GRP hull for "Faithful", but I suspect
it
> is identical to the Metcalf one.

It certainly is.... I looked at both hulls and there is no difference
apart from the materials used. The styrene hull is only about £20
(about $30 US dollars), so I could see any reason to go for a
fibreglass one which was much more expensive.

> What battery(ies) do you have in the boat, Eddy? And what run time
are
> you getting from the twin 540's? Do you use a BEC (Battery
elimination
> circuit) with separate batteries for the receiver and servo's? What
> rotation (rpm) do you have on the paddlewheels at full stick?
>

The model uses a single 12v 7Ah jell cell, runtime isn't know at the
moment as the boat hasn't been on the water yet (I hope to make the
maiden voyage next week), but based on the current draw of the motors
I expect it to run for about 2 hours. I don't use a BEC - it's just
that I don't like them.... I've never actually measured the rotation,
but I think it's around 100rpm at full throttle.

> > The model has a single ESC, and two rudder operated micro-
switches
> > which cut power to the inner wheel on tight turns.
>
> Nice two-channel set-up. At what rudder position does each
microswitch
> kick in? What is your turning circle with the rudder hard over and
> one engine stopped?

The microswitch kicks in at about 3/4 rudder, but I'm seriously
thinking of changing to 2 ESC's (one on each stick).... I'll test the
current setup first before I commit myself fully. The turning circle
is unknown - As I said earlier, the model has yet to make it's maiden
voyage, but I'll report on it's performance as soon as I've run some
tests.

> > Hope that answers the major questions?
> >
> Well...not quite...big topic of discussion here is always the
> paddlewheels themselves. What construction did you use? I must say
> the wheels on your the model look extremely nice (you didn't make
em
> feathering did you... DID YOU???...!!!

I have to admit to being really lucky with the paddles.... Because my
soldering abilities leave a LOT to be desired - Okay I'm crap at
soldering! - I *was* going to use the Graupner plastic paddles. But
as luck would have it, I wandered into a model shop while I was on
holiday a month ago, and laid on the counter were some lovely brass
paddlewheels..... I said to the chap behind the counter "are they for
sale" (half joking really) and he said "make me an offer".... I
offered an insulting £20 ($30 US dollars) and he said "okay"! I
nearly fell on the floor in dis-belief! And YES they are
feathering! :-)

> Once again, congratulations of a truly fine looking model. With
your
> permission, I'd like to send a picture of her to the RMAS (Royal
> Maritime Auxilliary Service) Association in Devonport.

Please feel free to send them copies of my photos. It's nice to know
the full size guys appreciate the time us nuts spend on these
things! :-)

>
> Stay in touch

I will do.... Hopefully my next message will be a report on the way
the model behaves on it's maiden voyage.

BTW, since you're really into these "Director" class tugs, can you
please let me know if you spot anything I've done on the model which
is blatantly wrong?

Regards
Eddy

[Dallinson]

Gentlemen paddlers.
I have been reading the correspondence regarding suitable motors for
paddlers and have just noticed, while looking up fenders in the Mobile
Marine Model catalogue, that they offer various motors and I quote:-

" Buhler Geared. 44:1 Hi-power: very high torque: very low consumption:
Ideal for paddle boats, but not recc. for prop boats"
The cost is just Pds9-95 per unit.
All contact details as my e-mail about fenders for Edward Matthews.

They also offer a couple of interesting 12 pole, 12 volt car heater motors.
They cost only around Pds14 so not to desperate and should be very robust!!

Hope that the above may help someone looking for a drive system. Worth a
look anyway!!!!
All the best.
David