Hello and request for info

[peter holloway]

Hello Paddleducks,
I joined the group just before Christmas and have spent the last
month or so looking through past postings and being astonished at the
pool of knowledge that exists in the group. I'm from Hampshire in the
UK and have been involved with modeling Narrow Gauge Industrial
Railways (Scratch built, 16mm/ft scale, unfortunatly not live steam)
and some Military modeling. I've also built a couple of screw driven
boats but have thought about paddle driven for some time.
I have been trying to find info on "Chieftain" a side paddle tug
108.4ft built 1899 by J.T.Elteringham at South Shields. P.N.Thomas
has done a set of plans for her but I am looking for further info,
preferably a photo or two, there is no reference to her in his book
British Steam Tugs and I have trawled through quite a few web sites
(did find a model in a US Museum).
So come on all you expert paddleducks, anyone remember seeing a
reference to Chieftain or know a good place to look?

Good Modeling, Peter Holloway

[Paulrjordan]

Hello Peter..and a very warm welcome to PD's.

"Chieftain", a classic Tyne Paddle tug, makes a lovely model for
either electric or live steam power...I have seen both. As you've
discovered, information on her is rather sketchy but, according to
Walter's message #3221 in Paddleducks on Jan 6, 2004, she was the
subject of an article in the July 1973 issue of "Model Boats"
Magazine. If I'm not mistaken Nexus Plans service still lists a set
of "Chieftain" plans which are probably taken from this article.

Two years ago I was presented with a 1:48 scale live-steam powered
model of "Chieftain" by a very accomplished model builder in the UK.
I live on the Pacific Coast of Western Canada and the model is still
awaiting pick up in England which I am hoping to do this year. I
have some pictures of it which I can send you if you want.

A little closer to my home, John Tarvin of Vancouver, Canada, has
built a fine 1:48 scale model of "Chieftain" which is currently on
display at the Model Ships Museum at Granville Island, Vancouver,
Canada.

The third model I know of was built by Reg Crompton of the North West
Scale Model Boat Club which operates just west of Bolton in
Lancashire, UK. Again, this looks like a 1:48 scale model which like
the previous two models, was probably inspired by the 1973 "Model
Boats" magazine article and plans.

I have looked through my library and cannot find any reference
to "Chieftain" and, although I have a number of photos of 19th
Century South Shields paddle tugs, she is not among them. I'm
wondering if Walter (Redgauntlet) can find any reference to this tug
in his extensive library.

If contemporary photos of the tug exist, then they're most likely to
be found in one of the Tyne Museums and/or archives. This is
where "sleuthing" becomes fun!! Do let us know where you are in your
project reasearch and if you have managed to successfully enlarge the
Thomas plans.

Best regards

PJ
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

[Dallinson]

Peter.
I thought that I would find something in a book I have, called "150 years of
the Maltese Cross" Subtitled "The story of the Tyne, Blyth and Wear Tug
Companies". By John H. Proud
Strangely I can find no reference to the Champion. There are literally
hundreds of others!! Want try another name??
Sorry.
Good luck with your search.
David

[Edward Matthews]

Peter is looking for info on the "Chieftain" David, not the
Champion...

Regards
Eddy

[Dallinson]

Eddy.
It is just old age and probably too much good Spanish wine!!!!! The list of
names in the book beginning with Ch... has three ships called Champion and a
Charles Dickens, but no Chieftains. I have no idea why I wrote Champion!!
Sorry about that. Must try harder!!
All the best
David