Newbie

[Dallinson]

Gary.
The “Lady Elgin” seems to be quite a famous wreck if a quick search on
Google is anything to go by!! Try http://www.baillod.com/elgin/ for
starters. It lists loads of other references. What are the odd looking
“hoops” that seem to run over the top for ?
Good luck with your interesting search.
Regards
David

-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Litzkow [mailto:glitzkow@extremezone.com]
Sent: 12 March 2003 07:21
To: Paddleducks@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Paddleducks] Newbie here!

Ahoy mates!

I'm new to serious boat modelling, and I seem to have "Gone off the
deep end" a bit at my first choice of what ship I wish to model.

I come from the Great Lakes region of Indiana, Wisconsin, and
Michigan. I have a peculiar fascination with a particular mid-19th
century steamer that was lost on Lake Michigan.
Her name is the famous "Lady Elgin" that was rammed and sank just off
the coast of Winnetka Illinois in september of 1860.

I have not been able to find anyone with a set of blueprints for the
ship. I have consulted several print suppliers that have many other
ships from the same era, and even similar steamers from the great
lakes, but no one knows of the prints for the Lady Elgin!

Can any of you help me out???

If not, I may have to settle for another elegant looking Victorian
era steamer instead, and put off a model of the Lady Elgin until I
can do more complete research. I would like to make a model that is
fairly large, possibly on the order of 1:48 or 1:36 scale.

Happy steaming!

Gary.

[glitzkow]

Actually, I have done quite an exhaustive search including all
topics....mostly on Yahoo, and I have turned up quite a few pages of
historical interest, but none that include detailed drawings of the
overall layout of the vessel. I would be satisfied with external
drawings that include dimensions, but what I really wanted to do in
building a fairly large model is include the interior details so that
the decks can be lifted to view the interior fitted out in miniature.
More or less a museum quality model exhibit......Eventually it will
probably end up in a museum somewhere.

Although it would be fun to have a detailed external model that
is "Pondworthy" and remote controlled.

Those elegant looking "Hoops" as you call them are actually huge
timbers that are laminated. They exist where they do for the same
reason the Romans built all their arches....Their immense strength!

Those are in that position because the larger timber ships had a
tendency to bow in the belly, and attempt to spread wider at the
gunwales, therefore those arches are placed at the weakest points to
take the stresses that concentrate around the paddlewheel area.

Not only are they functional, but they also add to the Victorian
elegance of the ship! She wouldn't be as graceful without them!

Thanx for the link!

Gary.

[ffrankmcneill]

Hi, Gary,

You probably found this already, but there are photo clips on Google images
that look like they were made of a fairly well detailed model of Lady Elgin.
You might want to check this out. <http://www.leihs.org/modboats/modboats.html
>

Best wishes, Frank

[Randal R Largent]

HI Gary and welcome to the group.

If the following site doesn't have what you want I would be very
surprised.

Go to
<www.bgsu.edu/colleges/library/hcgl.html>

When this page comes up click on "Great Lakes Vessels Online Database"

When that comes up click on "Searching the database"

When that comes up click on "Search"

When that comes up you should have a form in front of you.

Top left in the VESSEL box enter Lady Elgin and you will get a photo
and the specifics of her history and an "Item number"

After you have checked this much out send an email with the name and
Item# to Mr. Robert Graham at <rgraham@bgnet.bgsu.edu> and ask him if
he will check their records for plans for the Lady.
You should get an answer from him quite soon and he has been very!!!
helpful to me in my search for MCRR carferries.
In fact he supplied me with a microfilm tape that included the
original builders plans for my PS Transfer. This cost me $35.00 and
was well worth it even though there wer no lines and offsets included.
If they have the Lady's plans you will also end up with a number of
other boats included on the film which makes for interesting reading
even if you are not specifically interested in them.

Looking at the photo it would appear that you have your work cut out
for you in making a model of her.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Randy Largent
Auburn Hills, Mich.
'Transfer' 1888-1912

[Bryant Owen]

Your discussion re the Lady Elgin encouraged me to take another look
at the Trillium (Toronto, Ontario - and still afloat!) when I ran
across this link.

http://www.steamboats.com/links.html

I'm sure you all know about it but just in case ....

Bryant

[Dallinson]

Gary.
Seems like a visit to the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society would be an
interesting trip. The model shown in the reference from Frank looks a fine
model. Those arch trusses are indeed a very distinctive and attractive
feature.
Do please let us know how you get on with finding some plans and then making
the model. Post some files and/or photos, as it looks a really interesting
project.
All the best
David

[glitzkow]

Well.....

I visited the Bowling Green State University website like you
suggested, and I did find an "Item" listed. It is number 000021

I guess I did not realise what it is that they have there, because
the last time I visited their site, I assumed that all they had was
that single picture that is shown. I did not realise that they had
original builders plans in their collection! It would be awesome if I
can locate a full set of blueprints with all frame numbers and the
like! If I had complete plans, i might be able to build a clone of
her and make her my steam yacht!! Powered by real steam too!!!
And all you paddled-wheelers would be invited for a cruise!!

Maybe I could even start a nautical re-enactment club like the
Revolutionary War re-enactors groups, or the War Between the States
re-enactment groups. Ships from the mid to late 19th century would
fit in quite well with that crowd!

It would be nice if there was more worldwide interest in building
ships with elegance like the days gone by!

Oh well, I guess we can all build nice models and dream of what it
was like back then.

I'll keep you all posted on what I "Raise from the depths" on this
project.

Be well.

Gary.

[Randal R Largent]

Let me clarify what I tried to say in my last.

IF...........BGU has plans for the Lady Elgin those plans may not have
all the things you mention in your post.
Most likely you will not get a 'full set' with every detail you want.
Many things are not included in the plans for my Transfer and I have had
to guess on a number of them to make a fair representation of her.

Randy Largent