Construction of French Spar Torpedo Launch of 1889

[kno3]

Does anybody know of a website where I could see a brass hull being made?
I guess that would work only for a larger boat, because of the weight issue.

[Engineman]

Does anybody know of a website where I could see a brass hull being made?
I guess that would work only for a larger boat, because of the weight issue.

Please check this article- http://www.modelboats.co.uk/news/article/mps/uan/44
And try to believe that tin-plated hull shall have seriously less weight rather than 'heavy duty' fiberglass hull  .

[Bierjunge]

Please check this article- http://www.modelboats.co.uk/news/article/mps/uan/44
And try to believe that tin-plated hull shall have seriously less weight rather than 'heavy duty' fiberglass hull  .

Thank you for posting this fantastic link! Very impressive and convincing. I think, I will read carefully through all this and consider converting my wooden skeleton into a former for sheet metal plating...
Shouldn't be too late yet. I will carry out some experiments on the technique, and then we will see. I'll keep you informed.

[Eddy Matthews]

A metal hull is probably the only method of hull construction that I've never tried..... I'm not sure my soldering abilities would be up to it! So I'll definately be interested to see how you manage if you decide to try it.

Regards
Eddy

[kno3]

Those metal hulls are beautiful, but they look like even more work than a wooden hull...

[Bierjunge]

I still have to make up my mind and do some tests first.
In general, the french torpedo launch seems to be almost an ideal candidate for a first attempt in sheet metal: Not too complex forms, and only three plating belts per side, with mainly cylindrical curvature.
By adding the side walls of the cockpit and the deck, it would give almost a box girder of big torsional rigidity, plus two bulkheads fore and aft the engine compartment and a handful of cross girders acting as engine and boiler mounts.
An open question would be the riveting: In 1:10 scale, rivets would be feasible (and visible), but almost a work of a lifetime:
The prototype was build of 1.5 mm steel sheets, riveted with 4 mm rivets in 20 mm distance. At a first estimate, I would need between 20,000 and 50,000 rivets...  And I absolutely don't want to drill this number of holes, especially not at a cost of 0,17 EUR per scale rivet:
http://81.169.175.242/fohrmann/de/artikeldetail.php?aid=629&language=en 
So rather than the low-cost alternative of embossing 10,000s of little bumps, still awfully laborious and still not the real thing, I would prefer to omit the rivets entirely and go for soldering only.
But everyone has to find the best compromise for himself. And a hi-fi realistic riveted hull would on the other hand require a true scale steam engine, whereas the Graham engine is somehow only semi-scale. So non riveted hull should be acceptable. Questions over questions...

[Engineman]

Those metal hulls are beautiful, but they look like even more work than a wooden hull...

Yes, surely it is...
But it depends on what are you looking for - the simplicity...or the best result at the end 
Also you need to bear in mind the particular application...working steam model.

Gretzschel,
I have some ideas in mind as well as historical/model engineering backround on the matter (i.e. brass or steel hulls).
If you wish - my advice and recommendations  will follow...

Cheers,
Engineman

[Eddy Matthews]

Gretzschel,
I have some ideas in mind as well as historical/model engineering backround on the matter (i.e. brass or steel hulls).
If you wish - my advice and recommendations  will follow...

I'd certainly be interested Engineman..... It's a method of construction that fascinates me!

Regards
Eddy

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's....Eddy...we have some ten postings here about alternate metal hull building .....  in the "Construction of French Spar Torpedo Launch of 1889" which is great  ......but really should go over to Brass Plated Hulls in the Construction Folder

You may wish to rename the subjet from "Brass Plated Hulls" to "Metal Plated Hulls"...as the subject & content is very interesting 

regards Derek

[Engineman]

Sorry for a delay with the methods and ideas of metal hull construction...but a small surprise for Gretzschel :

[Bierjunge]

Engineman, 

That's phantastic! That's most admirable! Really a wonderful surprise for me, confirming how nice a model will look. Extremely motivating...
Sorry that I don't answer earlier, but I'm on vacation in the wilderness and found only now a campground with internet and saw your lovely CAD model. 

May I ask how long it took to model? But these french plans leave hardly any questions open to interpretation...
Do you have other 3D models to admire? For example of your own project, I hope!

Many thanks for this big surprise and best regards, 
Moritz

[kno3]

Moritz, what happened to your project?

[Bierjunge]

Moritz, what happened to your project?

Not much, unfortunately.

Since my last postings, I had been traveling a lot, and right now I am already in the preparations of moving my entire household from the US back to Germany around Christmas. So my steam project has come to a sudden stop, packing boxes is more important right now...
But let's see what next year brings!

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's....&  ...best of luck with the packing Moritz.....we will all look forward to your new postings of your FSTL when ever you can make it...regards Derek 

[kno3]

Have fun packing and don't forget any parts of the steam engine!