PS Reginald

[thewharfonline]

Today I was sick, but the good thing that happened today was that I finished making my first ever wooden, working, paddle steamer.

It's drive system is a rubber band and its a sternwheeler. I built the hull last year out of balsa and ice cream sticks but it ended up too small for a sidewheeler leaving me annoyed and leaving it in a heap.

But today i picked it up adn turned it into something beautiful adn I'm so proud. I simply added the wheel and it's supports and added a roof funnel and paint!

And this is the result!

[thewharfonline]

Well PS Reginald has gone for its first few runs. A float test in the sink proved it floated (yay) and then the first run int he bath proved which way I needed to turn the wheel, as I did it the wrong way water splashed up onto the decking causing it to sag . The next test runs went really well though, but for some reason the deck has gone out of shape and the big hole in the stern of the hull fills up with water cauing it to sink...somewhat like the Titanic!

But it was fun watching my first steamer model splashing down the bath!

[Red_Hamish]

Good On You Sean, this is where the fun bit begins. Once your first model floats and sort of does what you intended to do then your next will be better and so on. Enjoy the little challenges and overcome the hard parts. You'll soon have a modle to be contented with, then the enthusiasm takes over agian and the next one progresses. Keep it up and let us know what is next on the slipway.

cheers

Jim

p.s. I don't know if you've heard but my trials of the current towboat when in the bath went down rapidly from an all over ingress of water.  :cry: Now to get the dope and tissue out.

[thewharfonline]

Whats the model made from it looks like cardboard.

(My big RC model is atm made from cardboard, well the templates are and my sister goes one day....do you expect your model to go on water because I don't think cardboard lasts very long!) I ahd to tell her they were only templates!

[Red_Hamish]

Hello Sean, the hull is made from 6mm plywood deck and bottom, with 10mm softwood around the perimeter. The deckhouse is 3mm perspex (lexan) for walls clad with 0.8mm ply and 6mm ply for the deck/roof and the wheelhouse is 0.8mm ply all over . all in all with 1x12v 7.0Ah battery and the rest of the electronics, weight comes in about 7Kg Obviously there is still a wealth of detail to go on yet but I'm fairly positive once the dope and tissue paper are added to the underside of the hull it should be watertight. The doping up will have to wait until my finger has healed over completely as I REALLY DON'T WANT CELLULOSE GETTING INTO THE WOUND.

I hope this give some inspiration as so far in basic materials it has cost just £ 20 or Aus$ 50 without the motors etc. Modelling can be done quite in expensively in the way of sourcing materials leaving the electrics etc for the hard money to be spent.

cheers

Jim

p.s. thanks for the interest in a non-paddler item

[towboatjoe]

Hey Red, That boat looks a lot like a couple of the little harbor tugs working over at McGinnis in South Point, Ohio, USA. If you need any detail photos or ideas just give me a shout.
Joe

[Eddy Matthews]

Hi Guys,

There's no problem with discussions about other models, but can you move over to the Chat forum if you wish to continue please?

It just helps to keep things nice and tidy so users can find what they want without having lots of off topic stuff here there and everywhere... Apart from that, please continue - I like reading about other models too ya know! :-)

[Red_Hamish]

Thanks to Towboatjoe for those great shots of the small towboats. I'll start a new thread in the chat section and to  Eddy sorry for impinging on the thread.

[mjt60a]

...for some reason the deck has gone out of shape....

plenty of sanding sealer/suitable varnish would probably prevent that...

[thewharfonline]

...for some reason the deck has gone out of shape....

plenty of sanding sealer/suitable varnish would probably prevent that...

Hmmm well considering the hull has a stack of holes in it anyway I'm just gonna leave it be for a moment to let it fully dry. It was oringianlly flat...completely flat bottom it had, but one of the ice cream sticks has begun to pop out of place....I'll fix it, but I won't cover it in varnich or anything, the Reginald is only roughly 20cm in length and more of a bit of fun than a real keeper of a model. But now I know where my problems lie I will continue to construct my steamer (see Eddy my post is still where it belongs!)

Anyway I might get some better paints (more realistic colours than brown and banana yellow) and post some more photos of the first run!

[thewharfonline]

Well I uploaded more photos of the Reginald onto the comp, but my testing photos are all on my camera and who would have the cables at them moment but my grandpa in New Zealand!

Anyway, I'm gonna draw up some plans for anyone that wants plans of this easy peasy project and post them on the photo gallery.

You can make this steamer in under a week I'd say and it really works! (if you don't make the hull like I made it! lol)

So I'm gonna go ahead and begin reapairs and plans and hopefully soon everyone can have little PS Reginald Models! (Hooray!)