Paddler kits and hulls

[Eddy Matthews]

I thought I'd start to list some of the kits and hulls that currently available commercially - it may give new members some idea of what is available if they don't want to build totally from scratch...

The first is a model of the Princess Elizabeth available from Scale Model Boat Yard http://www.scalemodelboatyard.co.uk/

THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH WAS BUILT IN 1927 FOR THE SOUTHAMPTON TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT SEVICE AND RETIRED IN THE MID 60S. SHE IS NOW PARIS AS A RESTURANT.

THE MODEL IS 36 INCHES LONG WHICH IS BIG ENOUGH TO BE PRACTICALFOR RADIO CONTROL. THE PADDLES ARE MADE WITH STYRENE SHEET, BRASS TUBE AND STAINLESS STEEL WIRE. THE MOTOR GEARBOX IS AVAILABLE FROM MODEL MOTORS DIRECT.

THE BASIC KIT IS £49 PLUS £8 POSTAGE FOR UK WHICH INCLUDES FULL SIZE DRAWINGS, TEMPLATES SHEET WITH INSTRUCTIONS, PLENTY OF STYRENE SHEET, STAINLESS STEEL WIRE, BRASS TUBE AND BRASS SHAFT, A DELUX FITTING KIT IS AVAILABLE

[Eddy Matthews]

This is a hull available from Metcalf Mouldings http://freespace.virgin.net/metcalf.mouldings/catalogue.htm

P.S.BERRY CASTLE.

Excursion Paddle Steamer.

This excursion paddle steam "BERRY CASTLE" was built in 1880 for the Dartmouth & Torbay Steam Towing Co., She represents the Victorian ear's discovery for relaxation and enjoyment at the seaside resorts along the South coast of England.Later excursion paddle steamers owned by the same company were the `Kingswmear Castle' and the `Totnes Castle'. The timberwork and fully planked decks, together with paddles make this an interesting model, whilst challenging to make it is still a quite straightforward model to build, using the Graupner plastic paddle set reduces the engineering side of the model to a minimum, very suitable for alectric power the model is still practical to fit with a small steam plant.


Measurements
Model Scale = 1:27.
Length....48".
Beam....5.3/4".

[Eddy Matthews]

Another hull available from Metcalf Mouldings http://freespace.virgin.net/metcalf.mouldings/catalogue.htm

P.T. RELIANT.

Steam Paddle Tug, Formerly OLD TRAFFORD.

This super detailled hull is a model for all those who love paddlers. The steam paddle tug "RELIANT" was built in 1907 as the P.S. OLD TRAFFORD, being named after an area near to the Manchester Ship Canal where she spent the early years of her working life, being sold for further use as a harbour tug at Seaham.

Our hull features all representative plate lines, sponson support pads, panama ports, hawse pipe holes and scrolls, and the stern rubbing strake all `moulded in'.

Each hull is supplied complete with comprehensive full-size two sheet plans by David MacGregor, showing details of her appearance and include details of her previouse apperance as OLD TRAFFORD.

This actual ship was on display in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich for many years. More suited to a builder of some experience.

Measurements

Model Scale = 1:48.
Length....26.1/2".
Beam....5.1/2".

[Eddy Matthews]

Another hull available from Metcalf Mouldings http://freespace.virgin.net/metcalf.mouldings/catalogue.htm

P.S. TALISMAN.

Diesel Powered Clyde Paddle Ship.

Our lovely detailled model hull of the "TALISMAN" brings all the grace and beauty of the Clyde paddler to the modelller, when built in 1935 the decision to build "TALISMAN" with diesel power was most unusual as steam was still in its heyday on the Clyde, but the advantages of economy of operation, ease of starting and refuelling and instant speed changes all helped to sway the owners (L.N.E.R.) minds. "TALISMAN" ran well from 1935 to 1939 when engine damage laid her up, she was repaired when WWII started and was requisitioned in 1940. "TALISMAN" then became the anti-aircraft ship HMS Aristocrat. D-Day saw her at Arromanches as H.Q. ship for the mulberry harbour there, here she was damaged by enemy gunfire. She was eventually sold for scrap in 1967 after a long and varied career.

Our hull has moulded in side windows and porthole positions, the anchor hawse pipe positions and sponson lines are also there and a full waterline. The model is perfect for electric power and the two sheet plans by Nexus show all detail as well as simplified and fully working paddle drawings, however with some modifications she will also take the `Graupner' plastic paddle sets, thus making her ideal for the first time builder.

.

Measurements

Model Scale = 1:48.
Length..56.1/2".
Hull Beam..7".
O.A.Beam..14".

[Eddy Matthews]

One of the hulls available from Kingston Mouldings http://www.kingstonmouldings.com/home.htm

Director class tug.

Director was launched in 1956, the first of a class of seven diesel electric
paddle tugs that were built for the Royal Navy to be operated by the
RMAS. Their paddles could either be linked together or independently
controlled, and this made them highly manoeuvrable. The low profile of
these powerful tugs made them ideal for handling aircraft carriers with
their characteristic large overhangs. Although the tugs were fitted for fire
fighting, salvage and oil pollution spraying, towing winches were not
fitted, and they were not used for long-distance towing, largely because
of the vulnerability of their paddles in the open sea. The plan was
produced from the original Shipbuilder's drawings of Director, and it also
contains some model construction information. Most of the class were
modified in service, and both as-built and the later updated versions are
detailed on the plan. Although all of the inward-sloping bulwarks are
moulded on our hull, the paddle boxes are not included.

[Eddy Matthews]

The fictitious tug Glasgow, produced by Graupner - Although a fairly nice model, be aware that the basic kit doesn't contain paddlewheels or any fittings - the paddlewheels and fittings are available as two seperate kits, so bear that in mind when considering the price of the full thing.

Glasgow paddle tug.

R/C side-wheel-paddle tug. Semi-scale model design for single electric motor or steam-engine drive. 4 channels. Quickie kit with moulded hull.
Product information
This model of the paddler tug GLASGOW has been designed to 1:40 scale using English drawings. The scarce information available on the history and career of this tug indicates that it was mainly operated in ports of Northern England and Scot-land. The modeller has the option of powering his model with an electric motor or - just like the fullsize vessel - with a steam engine. All difficult to fashion parts, such as hull, paddle wheel covers, life boat, skylights, companionways, pressure vents etc. are moulded of ABS plastic. The wood parts all come profusely pre-shaped. Building time is further shortened by the many injection-moulded ABS plastic parts of the set of fittings (No. 582), such as winch anchor, bollards, davits, engine room telegraph etc., as well as the brass rail stanchions.

Contents of the Quickie kit
Quickbuild plan with R/C installation and imprinted building instructions in Dutch, English, French and German. Extruded hull, wheel covers, life boat, skylights, companionways, pressure vents and other ABS plastic moulded parts, printed and die-cut wood parts, such as bulkheads, deck superstructures, bridge deck etc., moldings, dowels, wire, eye pins, belaying pins, decals, miscellaneous parts.

Specification
Length o.a. 1010 mm  Width (beam) 388 mm  Width (excl. paddle boxes) 200 mm  Height 424 mm  Draught 65 mm
A. u. weight, incl. R/C gear 6.2 kg  Weight, empty (without drive system,  power supply and R/C gear) 1.8 kg  Scale 1:40

[mjt60a]

Metcalf Mouldings also have a hull for Waverley....

[kiwimodeller]

I have been on the lookout for a paddler hull for some time and liked the look of the Metcalf Mouldings Berry Castle as soon as I saw it. I have always wanted an older style boat with open decks with seating on them and not too much superstructure. What worried me about this one though was the narrow beam, at 5& 3/4" it is much skinnier than many of the smaller hulls on the market. After several unsuccessful attempts to email Metcalfs I eventually spoke to David Metcalf on the phone but he was unable to provide any pictures of a finished boat, there has never been a magazine article about it and he did not know if anybody had built a steam version. Has anybody actually seen one on the water? Has anybody actually built one? Keep up the good work Eddy. Thanks, Ian.

[Eddy Matthews]

Thanks for reminding me Mick, I had forgoten about the Waverley hull from Metcalf Mouldings http://freespace.virgin.net/metcalf.mouldings/catalogue.htm

P.S. WAVERLEY.    

Excursion & Clyde Paddle steamer

The "WAVERLEY" is the last sea going paddle steamer left in the world, she must be the most recognisable ship around the coast of Britain. Launched at A.J.Inglis' shipyard at Glasgow on the 2nd.October 1946 for the LNER until nationalisation in 1948 when she became directly owned by the British transport Commission, she continued her ferry trade on the Clyde along with summer excursions. Being taken over by Caledonian-MacBrayne in 1973. She was not entirely succesful and in 1974 she was sold to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society for the princely sum of £1. Since then the PSPS have formed a seperate company to own and operate the "WAVERLEY", called the Waverley Steam Navigation Co Ltd. Since then she has gone fron strength to strength.

Our fantastic model hull is complete with the paddle sponson boxes moulded onto the hull saving a great deal of work, other detail moulded in include window shapes, port hole positions, hawse pipes etc. The drawings are a two sheet set from Marine Modelling, both sheets are full-size and give full details of paddle wheel construction. If you wish to save more time with some modifications the Graupner plastic paddle wheels can be used, made-up she is a beautiful model, always a crowd puller at the lake, fitted with R/C. and individual paddle drive, she steers beautifully, even usable for regatta's, a model for beginner or expert alike.

Measurements

Model Length.....54".
Hull Beam....7".
Beam over Boxes...11".

[Eddy Matthews]

Dumas Products in the USA do a couple of paddler kits in their range http://www.dumasproducts.com/cgi-bin/dumas.storefront

The first is the Creole Queen sternwheeler

The Dumas model of the Creole Queen is constructed of precision die-cut birch and mahogany plywood. The detail package included in the kit is immense. It has stampings, wood turnings, castings, plastic parts, and a 3 page decal set.

[Eddy Matthews]

The second offering from Dumas Products http://www.dumasproducts.com/cgi-bin/dumas.storefront

The Mount Washington

The Dumas kit of The Mount Washington includes everything needed to bring the original grandeur back to life.

It should be noted that the Mount Washington is a difficult model to get to work correctly, it tends to be very top heavy and needs careful thought and a great deal of modelling experience to get it to work successfully!

[Eddy Matthews]

If anyone else know of any kits or hulls for paddlers, please feel free to add to this listing...

Only models and hulls that are currently in production though, and please try to include a brief description and a photo if possible.

Many thanks

[towboatjoe]

The kit contains all the necessary laser cut parts, mahogany planking and fittings in both wood, metal and brass to complete a model you'll really be proud of.
The hull is roomy enough to hold R/C equipment although their are no instructions provided. So, if you are an experienced R/C modeler, there's no limit to the fun you can have building and sailing your own authentic Riverboat.

Length 41 1/3" / Scale 1:50 kit by Mantua/Sergal

http://naturecoast.com/hobby/mantuas.htm

[Brian]

Here is another "STEAM-powered" model Paddle Steamer, available from Hobbies of Dereham, Norfolk (UK). For more information about this model see - http://www.alwayshobbies.com/showProduct.asp?id=SP/B

The steam-powered model is based on a Mississippi-style stern-wheeler, but it is actually powered by a "pop-pop" steam unit, with the paddles moving due to the water passing under them. You might say that is cheating - but there are some full-size paddlers that are similarly "cheating".

The items available are -

(SP/B) Boat Kit with Steam Power Unit
(SPU) Steam Power Unit
(SE:F) Fuel Tablets

As the Steam Powered Unit is available separately it could used for other models (side-wheelers?).

 :roll: OK! admittedly it isn't really the sort of model made and/or owned by P/D'ers but it could be one way to get younger children interested in Paddle Steamers :lol:
.

[herrmill]

Am interested in hearing comments from anyone who has built or is familiar with Saito's Delta Queen kit.