The Suter sternwheeler build continues....

[Eddy Matthews]

It's been a while since I posted anything about the progress on my sternwheeler, so here it is in all it's glory - Well okay it isn't really as it's currently in three different colours of primer! Hey, I just used up what I had lying around! :-)

The windows and doors are done on the upper decks, but I still have them to do on the lower decks - I got bored with all the fiddly little bits, so I did some work on the drive system for a while (you can read about that in another post in the Drive Systems forum).

Next week is fairly hectic with hospital appointments and my daughters 21st birthday, so there won't be much happening on the modelling front, but hopefully the week after will see some REAL progress if all goes to plan!

[mjt60a]

Now that's looking really good! (...and quite big! )

[Eddy Matthews]

Thanks Mick - The model is 55" long with a beam of 10" But it's still not that heavy, so it's fairly easy to carry. Just as well really, after three lots of spinal surgery I don't do heavy!

[Khephre]

Eddy I wonder if you might do us a favour.

I've enjoyed seeing the various photos of the Suter - she's really starting to take shape now, and so quickly too.

But there are a couple of areas where I'm hoping you might be able to show us more.

Would it be possible for you to post a couple of photos of the aft deck and paddlewheel, from underneath - everything seen so far is from the top down, and I'm curious to have a gander at your boat's nether regions!

I'm also interested in how you've arranged your access to the inner workings - what parts of the superstructure are fixed and what is removeable - and a photo or two of this would also be great.

Many thanks in advance
Tony

[Eddy Matthews]

There's nothing much to see under the aft deck yet Tony - I still have to make and fit the rudders, and I plan on making a new paddlewheel as I'm not happy with the first one I made. As soon as I start work on that area I'll post some photos so you can see what everything looks like. I'm just waiting for some 5mm steel for the shafts and a few other odds and ends to arrive before I make a start on it.

My wife has some hospital appointments today, so we'll be out for most of the day - I'll try to remember to post some photos to show how everything comes apart for access later tonight.

[Eddy Matthews]

As promised, here's a few photos to show how I gain access to the model. You can clearly see the huge hole in the deck, this gives access to the motor and drive mechanism and the rudders, It will have a semi permanent plate fitted which will be screwed in place as I shouldn't need to get in there too often.

The top part of the superstructure also detaches so I can get to the radio gear and batteries etc. I have yet to figure out how I'm going to sort this part of the boat, as there are a load of supports which go from the upper deck to the smokestacks - I'll do what I normally do and figure it out as I go along! :-)

I hope that clarifies things Tony?

[Khephre]

Many thanks Eddy,

no shortage of easy access there!

But you say you're not happy with the first paddlewheel and plan to build another? Do tell all!

Tony

[Eddy Matthews]

Many thanks Eddy,

no shortage of easy access there!

But you say you're not happy with the first paddlewheel and plan to build another? Do tell all!

Tony

The first paddlewheel I built was just thrown together to get something made quickly - Because of that it's not very accurate and one side of it runs out by about 1/8" (sorry I still use old imperial measurements!), so it tends to oscillate as it rotates.

The bearings that support the paddlewheel shaft were just solid brass, and the friction is too high.

So I'm changing to proper ballraced bearings - That means a change in the shaft diameter from 1/4" to 5mm (they were the only bearings I could get!). That should eliminate the friction problem, and a new wheel should get the run out sorted.

This presents three more problems - First is finding 5mm bar for the paddlewheel shafts (axles) which isn't easy to locate in the UK, in fact I'm still not sure that I've found any 5mm rod :-( Second is the toothed pulleys and belts from the motor - They were drilled for 1/4" axles which are now going to be 5mm diameter - I've found a UK supplier for those, but the parts have been on order for almost a month now and still no sign of them! And finally, the cranks that take the pitman arms are now the wrong size too, so I need to modify those to suit the new 5mm shafts.

So, what at first glance appeared to be a simple change, is proving to be a real pain!!

[gbritnell]

Eddy,
My machine shop is at your disposal. If there's anything that you need machined just let me know. I don't know what the time and postage would be but if you could handle that aspect I would take care of any machining or fabrication that you might need.
George

[Eric West]

Hi Eddy.
See George  beet me to it while I was writing this.
Can I help at all with the metalwork, :?:  is it 5mm sq  bar you need I can mill it from ¼ for you and I am sure we can find 5 mm rod from  model engineer supply people.
The toothed pulleys I could set true on the lathe drill oversize then bush to 5mm.If you decide to make new paddlewheels we could do the rims on the lathe fasten the blanks together and cut them as one job. Let me know if I can help see you Wednesday.

Regards Eric

[Eddy Matthews]

Thanks George and Eric, your offers of help are greatly appreciated!

I think everyone will know by now that metalwork just isn't my thing! :-) Anyway, it's almost 6am here and I'm off out to the Model Expo show at Birmingham for the day. I'll make contact via email if I need anything that I can't handle myself.

Oh, it's 5mm diameter rod that I'm stuck for Eric - I need two lengths about 8-9 inches long, and it seems it would be easier to get hold of hens teeth than 5mm rod! :-(

[David Allinson]

Eddy.  
Sounds like you are having fun with your stern wheeler!!  
Material such as your 5mm rod in brass or stainless can be obtained from the likes of  
Metal-trader sales@metal-trader.co.uk (sales@metal-trader.co.uk)  telephone 01285 760818  
or another is  
 Mallard Metal Packs Ltd  sales@mallardmetals.co.uk (sales@mallardmetals.co.uk) tel 0121 624 0302  
Living Spain, no-one here offers small quantities. They always want to sell you a 6 metre length, so I get all my material mail-order from UK.  
Small (5mm) stainless steel bearings can be obtained from Arc Euro Trade Tel 0116 269 5693  
e-mail arceurotrade@btopenworld.com (arceurotrade@btopenworld.com)  They also do a small pillow block mountings for the bearings including in some cases self aligning ones which I think would be perfect for supporting the paddle shaft. Give them a try. They are very helpful people.  
All the best  
David  
In sunny Spain.  
<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]>  
-----Original Message-----
 From: Paddleducks [mailto:construction@paddleducks.co.uk]
 Sent: 16 July 2005 07:02
 To: construction@paddleducks.co.uk
 Subject: The Suter sternwheeler build continues....  
<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]>  
The following message was posted on Paddleducks, by Eddy Matthews  
Thanks George and Eric, your offers of help are greatly appreciated!
 
 I think everyone will know by now that metalwork just isn't my thing! Anyway, it's almost 6am here and I'm off out to the Model Expo show at Birmingham for the day. I'll make contact via email if I need anything that I can't handle myself.
 
 Oh, it's 5mm diameter rod that I'm stuck for Eric - I need two lengths about 8-9 inches long, and it seems it would be easier to get hold of hens teeth than 5mm rod! <![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]> <![endif]>      
   

 Regards
 Eddy
 
 
 Exported by Paddleducks Mail System.

[David Allinson]

Eddy.  
Sorry I forgot about the fastenings in my last e-mail.  
A very good place for nuts and bolts in a variety of materials is EKP Supplies. They also stock quite a wide range of materials.  
www.ekp.supplies.btinternet.co.uk  Tel 01598 710892  
 For those of you into steam EKP also do a wide range of steam fittings in various sizes.  
Get a catalogue.  
All the best  
David  
<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]>

[Eddy Matthews]

Some superb links there David, many thanks...

[Eddy Matthews]

Well at long last I've managed to get back to the Suter :-)

Spent the last couple of hours cutting out some brass sheet for the rudders - Why do sternwheelers have such complicated shaped rudders which are a pain to cut out (and there's three of them!).

The rudder tubes are installed in the hull and the rudder shafts are made ready to accept the rudders.  Once they are all soldered up I can install them and the servo linkage to them.

The rudders sit under a platform that the drive system will mount onto, so they need to be completed first before I can get back to the drive. Once the drive system is done it will be time for some on the water testing to see how well things work and get an ideal of how much ballast I'll need.