My first motor powered paddler!

[thewharfonline]

Ok here's a brief background of my paddler model building!

A few years ago I built my self and static paddler made from bit's of wood from around the yard (I'll add a photo, but it'sbeen outside so I don't know it's condition!)

Recently I built my first moving paddler PS Reginald (photos in the gallery) and that made me quiet proud of myself!

But today I began work on my first powered model, it doesn't have a name yet, in fact it's really just a plastic box to house the motoring for the moment! But here's the low down!

I have obtained through my grandpa's camera repair business two police speed camera motors (see they're useful for something) these turn quiet nicely when they are attached to two AA batteries using electric cables I recently obtained for Star Wars props! (Ah more than one use...gotta love it!

Attached to these motors are paddle pop stick 'wheels' they're not very wheely though, but much heavier and I doubt the motors will turn!

For the rest of the day I spent my time cutting the plastic box to fit the motors as well as attaching lots of tape to the motors, wires and batteries to try and get them in palce...and guess what I haven't even finished that stage!

My next step is to add a cardboard box hull (one with a nice plastic outside so that it will last trhough testing!) and then on top of the box and a nice wooden frame that I was working on last night for some obsurd reason! (my hands are still supergluey!)

So I think these holidays are turning out to be very paddler productive!

photos soon...when I can find the cable for the camera!

If anyone is interested in the motors I'm sure I can look in to getting more...you'd have to pay for postage though but optherwise they're pretty cheap and clearly a great beginners way to make a quick engine!

[thewharfonline]

I began construction of the hull of my boat last night, very basic. it's made from two pieces of fence pailing which I cut a 45 degree angle into using a mitre box...gotta love em! then I got a sheet of some ply board (it's not marine but the hull isn't going ot be made to last) this I then tacked onto the two hull sides! I now had to find something to use for ends, without having to cut more marine ply (the garage is stuffed full of stuff, not much room to hack soemthing to bits in!) I remembered that i had a spare ruler so I got it and chopped it up and had an ides (more on the idea later though)

I then tacked these on the front and end of the hull! so eventually it should look something like this! The box on top is the box where the motor is housed
                    ________
     ________|________|________
     \________________________/

The I have to make better paddle wheels and maybe try and work out a radio controller...maybe...don't get too excited! And i have to still finish the hull!

back to the idea though!

I thought last night maybe you could make a paddler from rulers, they are a cheap inexpensive material not to mention if you still go to school you probably get a new one each year! So i was thinking that if soemone made me plans...such as mjt60a who's great at easy paddler designs such as the newspaper boat...I could try to construct the paddler (because I'm the expert beginner!) So if maybe someone could work out some plans...a sidewheeler preferably I'm not a sternwheeler fan really!

[PJ]

Here's an idea for an easy to build sidewheeler which actually existed.  They were called "Alligators" and built in Canada by West & Peachey for the logging industry.  Exported all over North America, they were actually shallow draft scows built from planks.  What made them rather unique was that they were amphibious! They could winch themselves across land using their own steam engine and were also known as "warping tugs".  Here's a drawing of one which was kindly sent to me by Chris Anderson of Toronto, Canada.  I have quite a few photos of various Ontario "Alligators", they really are a fascinating subject.

PJ
Victoria, BC Canada

[thewharfonline]

Thnks for that PJ, that whole plan looks perfect for the upper structure I am after for the model! and doesn't stray too far from a Murray River design which I was after....PERFECT I am a happy chappy now that i have a deck plan!

Soemthing I noticed on the picture, the Spark protector thing, something many of our steamers didn't have, alot of them went up in smoke because of being able to create a paddle fast and getting onto the river as quick as possible