P.S. Waverley --- My Build

[Tug--Kenny]

Here is (80)  (81)

[Tug--Kenny]

I had a man around to check the carpentry on the steps. (83) then it was time to start on the Paddle boxes.

First, I cut the slot for the shaft in the rear of the assembly and then lined it up with the hull. There was a ridge of fibreglass around the top of the boat which was cut back flush with the sides, to allow the top of the paddle box to lie flush. The hull was drilled with 3mm holes to allow the box to be bolted to the hull after applying epoxy resin, they were tightened down.

No turning back from here. (84) I then cut the sides from 3.6mm sheets and measured the angles (3 bends) to fit the plastic paddle box to the sides of the hull. Eight pieces were made and sized up ready to be fitted when the glue has dried. It does occur to me at this point that the lower tapered pieces are going to spend their time in water and be flooded when the paddle wheels start rotating ??. I might cover them with epoxy to preserve them and may be drill a few holes downward to let it escape ?

We then thought about this angled section on the windcheaters around the sides of the bridge and decided that as they were angled, to copy this with a piece of 2mm wood with a slope on it. It was epoxied in and clamped for the night. We shall smooth it down tidy tomorrow, and fit some imitation hinges to simulate a drop down section. (85)

[Eddy Matthews]

Coming along very nicely Ken, keep up the good work mate!

Now I've had my Waverley build "fix" I can go to bed happy

Regards
Eddy

[Tug--Kenny]

                 Change of design   

Thank you all for your letters of support for my little project. I also realise that the weight is getting critical, so I have changed the design a bit. Before I made any changes, I weighed her with all the fittings made to date just placed on top, and she weighs 8lbs, so far.

The 3.6 mm plywood was quite thin and nice to work with, but a lot of it tended to increase the weight a bit. I shall keep the rear cabin in timber as this section will be most used for engine maintenance and controls, and I don’t want it to fall apart. The wooden chairs will be hollowed out to lighten the load and the backs will be reduced in height to look more in scale with the model.

Out goes the wooden bridge deck so its start again with plasticard. Here are a few shots of the progress to date. (86) (87)

The rear access stairway was a little on the sturdy side and a bit out of scale, so this was removed and a new one fitted in its place. (88). I have veneered the upper deck instead of laying planks as I thought it would be lighter than rear wood.

[Tug--Kenny]

Those funnel supports are solid timber and quite heavy, so they will be drilled out. The funnels will be fitted into these holes and should be a securing fit and will make the assembly a bit lighter.

A light breeze should make her surf across the lake. 

[Eddy Matthews]

I think the move to plasticard to save weight is a good idea Ken - I know I keep harping on about weight all the time, but saving as much as possible up top will give a much more stable model that will be more of a pleasure to sail.

The weight you save can then be added to the bottom of the hull to bring her down to the correct waterline, and enhance stability.... You still have three months before our paddler day, so plenty of time to get it all sorted yet

Regards
Eddy

[Channel]

Hi Kenny,

Looking good . . . you won't regret building the superstructure with the plasticard. I made a mistake with my Director Class paddler, looked great but was rather sensitive.

I'm edging towards building a 1/48 Balmoral as my next build . . it was going to be a paddler but that may have to wait a little. I'll have to get my Comton Castle operational for September ?! 

Cheers
Chris

[Eddy Matthews]

One thing I forgot to mention Ken - Once you have got a paddler to sail nicely, you'll be hooked on the damned things! So start planning which one you want to build next!!

They have a charm all of their own - And ALWAYS attract attention when they are on the water, even from people that aren't interested in model boats, that's not something you can say of almost any other type of model.

Eddy

[Tug--Kenny]

           I'm sure you're right Eddy. It was their beauty that attracted me, which is why I want to get it right. Plasticard was my original build material, so I've learnt a few tricks of the trade with the stuff. and get on well with it.

I plan to go for the four lifeboat version, but would like to keep the extended bridge section.

Sandystrone, Was there a period of time when this was possible please, or would I be making a scratch version ?

Ken
 

[Channel]

She lost the port aft lifeboat/davits during the winter of 75/76. The starboard was removed in the mid 80's at the same time the wheelhouse was replaced I think.

Chris

[sandystrone]

Channel,
I think you are about right with the dates for the aft lifeboats removal.
In 1975 she had green canvas covers and in 1976 they were orange before reverting to green again.
I built my two models of WAVERLEY, as she was in 1975 with 4 boats and without the deck locker aft that held the Calor gas cylinders instead of the coal fired galley.
Ken, I've a feeling that the funnels in 1975 were oval in section, not round, but I could stand corrected,     Sandy

[Tug--Kenny]

Thanks for that, Sandy. I thought the drawings of the funnels were not quite 'round'. There doesn't seem to be much of an oblong, but it 'is' there. I shall have a go at flattening my drain pipes.

Nice to see you yesterday, Channel. Thank you for the photo's and all that information.Can't wait to get on with her today. So much to do ...etc.  We are going for the four lifeboats version with an extended Bridge deck. This would make her at 1975.

I've even started cutting out the sliding doors for the Captain cabin, and now working on the curved bench seat around the front section.This is now all in plastic card, so should be a bit quicker to make.

Ken

[sandystrone]

Sorry Ken, the round bench seat in front of the for'd saloon was not on the 1975 version.
Apoligies for being critical, and I'm not one of the "rivet counters"!          Sandy

[Tug--Kenny]

Today I got on with the plastic construction of the Bridge cabin. I’ve brought the computer to the workshop and ran the pictures donated by you guys. This one shows the bridge in super detail and by combining it with my drawings, I was able to get the sizes right and also identify some of the details. (91)

I’ve cut the window holes ready for glazing later after painting. (89) (90). I have also cut the lower cabins windows and door ways. (92)

Onwards to the funnels and how to fit them so they do not fall off. I’ve drilled out the bases to sink then down into the wood. Before this I had to make the tubes oblong by immersing them in boiling water and compressing them long ways by crushing the soft plastic into shape. (94) (93). There are no pictures of this process as I didn’t have any hands free.

[Tug--Kenny]

I had my tea break and thought I would do a bit of novelty work inside the cabin, so I’ve made some tables and cabinets for the crew to work at. The drawings don’t show it, but there is a wall dividing the cabin, fore and aft, so I’ve put a door, half open in between. (95) 

According to the computer (the computer says Yes!!), my windows were a bit shallow so, I have increased the depth of them and constructed a circular bench seat to place in front. (96)  It is only placed there, Sandy. I wanted to see what it looked like. I might remove it, competition time.