Waverley and Marchioness of Lorne

[Eddy Matthews]

As some of you will know from other posts on the forum, sandystrone (Sandy Thompson) sold two of his paddlers recently. Walter Snowdon bought Waverley, and I bought the Marchioness of Lorne....

Both models have had a bit of surgery to update the radio equipment - Although working perfectly when bought (so certainly no slur on Sandy!), I prefer 40Mhz gear, and Walter wanted to change from the original micro-switch operated speed control setup to a fully proportional system.

The "wee Lorne" was no problem, just a basic changeover of equipment - And voilla, sorted.

That left he Waverley which was a lot more complicated - The two original motors, which gave two forward and two reverse speeds using a system of micro-switches, were removed. In their place went a large geared motor with enough "oomph" to drive the model using 24 volts. The redundant radio gear which had been removed from the Lorne - Tx, Rx, rudder servo, and speed controller were then connected up and everything checked out fine.... A quick on the water test between heavy showers yesterday, showed that although the Waverley was now slower than she had been, it still performed perfectly well. Our sailing water at Darlington is a lot more sheltered than Sandy's up at Tynemouth, so we can manage with less power.

So all that's left to do is a bit of tidying on the Waverleys wiring, move the drive motor slightly to give better access, and both models will be back in sailing condition.

Oh and finally (for now), I ordered a load of 1:35 scale figures for the deck of the Lorne, and they arrived this morning - I'll get those painted and have a liberal sprinkling of passengers around the deck to enhance the appearance, as well as some sort of cargo to fill the large space between the funnels......

Now if only the strong winds and the rain would go away for a while we could get them both on the water!!

Eddy

[sandystrone]

The LORNE used to carry a lot of cartons in her early days, especially on the Holy Loch run.

I can remember our bread coming in on her 9am run to Strone pier. The 3 local grocers used to drive down the pier and pick up their bread orders, which came in large cardboard boxes from BEATTIES BREAD bakeries in Glasgow. They also had to return the cardboard boxes the next day on the steamer.

My mother was postmistress at Blairmore for 35 years and she had to put her mail bags on the LORNE (later the MAID OF ASHTON) on the 5pm steamer for delivery to the sorting office at Greenock. I used to catch the ASHTON's ropes on the 5pm run after I finished school.
So Eddy, you can put cardboard boxes and mail bags as your cargo on the model!

I can also remember a rare occasion when a car was carried. It was driven across two wide planks depending on the state of the tide, and parked aft the funnel on the LORNE; very entertaining to the onlookers but very stressful for the driver.

After the LORNE and the ASHTON, came the COUNTESS OF BREADALBANE which narrowly missed being torpedoed after leaving Blairmore, but that's another story!
                                                                                                     Sandy

[Eddy Matthews]

Thanks for that Sandy - I'd thought of packing cases and boxes, and perhaps a car if I can find one of the right vintage at 1:35 scale? But mailbags never crossed my mind!!

You know what it's like when you buy a model - You've just got to start tinkering and put your own mark on it

Regards
Eddy

[sandystrone]

Just dug these photos out of the loft! of the LORNE at Strone and Blairmore
Sandy

[Walter Snowdon]

Eddy, for deck cargo have a look in themilitary section of plastic kits. Tamiya, hasegawa etc. do sets of battlefield accessories with packing cases, oil drums, packages ets in 35th scale. OR better still, I have seen a ready painted accessory set in 35th on the military diecast area of Stockton modeler. You will have to  throw away about half of them, (rifles etc) but there are plenty of wooden boxes, gerry cans, oil drums etc to fill a space. Or how about a motor cycle combination ?. Thers plenty to pick up in the military ranges.
 I went to the club yesterday for a while and did some more to Waverley. The new motor mount is made, fitted and running. The speed controller is screwed in place and a conduit fitted to keep the wiring clear of the paddle shaft. The new seats production line is well under way. The new battery mount is made, painted and fitted, I was going back to the club today to finish them, but sods law, I got a phone call at 8.30am to  say that my grandson was ill with a tummy bug and could I look after him. As they say ... the best laid schemes of mice and men oft gang agley! Regards, walter.

[Eddy Matthews]

Thanks Walter,

I haven't been in Stockton Modeller for more than a year! If you happen to be in there again over the next week, could you grab whatever you think would be suitable, and I'll give you the money when I see you at the club?

Thinking about it, a few soldiers wouldn't really be out of place - Troops home on leave, as the boat ran right throughout the second world war....

Eddy

[sandystrone]

I don't remember oil drums or lifestock carried on the LORNE, but you could get away with that, but one thing she never carried was milk churns.
Don't forget the little steel wheeled barrows the railway used, and bundles of newspapers that used to come in by steamer.