Greetings from mid-Europe

[Tomas Krejci]

Hello paddleducks- modellers.
I try to find and connect another modellers to chat with. I am older pensioner from the east of Czech republic. Sorry, my English is not perfect,as schoolboys we used to learn the Russian language mainly...
I am interesting in old sailing ships- more in smaller craft, as schooners and brigs 1750 - 1850(1900)till now for long years. In last time I recover The old beautiful steamers with their high funnels in black clouds of smoke.
I prefer Clyde puffer now, steam tugs and other little craft too. Nevertheless there are next beautiful steamers, I found in Australia on Murray River by chance. The nice sidewheelers ... nearly very simple to build , with open machine-room...e.g. very proper for live steam. . I was very fascinated that I built model of such sidewheeler finally , about 1 meter long , nearly alike steamer  Alexander Arbuthnot. I built her by sight only as in this time I had no real plans. Modell is powered by two cylinder live steam engine by Wilesco, RC.
She sits on my library this time waiting for the  new boiler.

[Eddy Matthews]

Welcome Tomas, I'm sure a lot of our Australian members will be pleased to see someone from the Czech republic has built one of their paddlers, and made a very nice job of it too may I say!

[Roderick Smith]

Beautifully done, and classically Australian.
I like the choice of name too.
Ned Kelly was the most famous/notorious of many bushrangers.
History is divided: just thugs and robbers, or folk heroes standing up for the common man against the wealthy and arrogant administration?

I suppose that the features of the Australian design make them good for modelling too: they had to be robust and easy to build and maintain.  The emphasis was on serviceability and not decoration or beautiful curves.  Even so, there is still sufficient curvature in the hull that steaming and fitting timbers during maintenance is still time consuming and take skill.  The open engine room was forced by the climate, and by the use of wood as a fuel: a lot had to be loaded, by hand, regularly.  In keeping with another Paddleducks thread, notice the centrally-mounted towing pole, with cable stays.

It is interesting that even a model can muster enough power to withstand the current in a river.

I had a quick check of my diary: I once got to Valasske Mezerici (I can't enter Czech diacritics here), but went west to Hulin, and not east to Roznov pod Radhostem.

Regards (from Australia)
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[thewharfonline]

That's a fantastic model!

I too have built a model based on the Alexander Arbuthnot, I am currently still finishing her off with extra added details, but you have a fine looking model there...and it's not even in Australia! That's fantastic!

I like the very simple paddle wheels you have used on the boat too, very clever.

Glad you liked our boats!

Welcome to Paddle Ducks!

Sean

[paddlesteamerman1]

Wow.. that model is fantastic.. I haven't even done a model that good and I live 300km away.. not 30000km
That is a great model and I am pleased to know that someone out in the big bad world appreciates the aussie paddler
Welcome to PD's

Cheers
James McDougall

[Tomas Krejci]

Hi lads,
            thanks for you words -and  excuse me for answerring so late.
I believe, the model should be more precisely done, with more details...The   problem of mine was the steam winch too...as I had no idea of construction such machine there.Any idea?Have somebody some drawings of steam winch needed (for Alex A, maybe Industry too), please?
.Model has length cca 108 cm, 118 cm o.a.,breadth 20 cm , 37 cm o.a.,displacement round 6 kg. Steam engine Wilesco 2 cyl round 300-500 rpm(by eye),total gearing ca 5:1, engine lubrication with silicone oil.The hull is wooden construction(plywood and spruce/lime planks.Some problems with stability..too narrow hull . The hull  breadth should be 25-28 cm at least (20 cm in fact--too little when the superstructure is very high and heavy)..but in other way , model is very quick on the water,the simple sidewheels ( 4 mm plywood disc 140 mm dia,8 feathers 50x25 cm each),behaves well- round 100-120 rpm  by eye here,maybe more.No problem with river stream.Main problem with steam boiler(250 ccm only...too small for two cylinder steam engine),PB burner.
All the best   TOM