Tipstaff

[Red_Hamish]

Hello all, as you are probably aware I've started on my first sdide wheel paddle tug. This is the free plan from Model Boats magazine the April 2005 issue. There was a large quantity of 5mm thick plywood lying in the workshop (shed) which was vrying out to be used, so instead of balsa (which I dislike) I decided to use the ply instead for the hull bottom, plus front and rear decks. Weight is not an issue that I have aproblem with. In fact as tugs are not meant to be like speedy things weight can be a distinct advantage. I also dislike card which is proposed for the hull sides and bulwarks, this I intend replacing with 1/64" (0.4mm) ply. There are photos within my album but here is the first stage of building that I'm happy to show. Progress will be updated regularly.


cheers

Jim

[Eddy Matthews]

It's looking good Jim - Progress seems to be fairly quick, should be on the water in time for the summer (if we get one this year!).

For other members, Jim has posted more pics of the build in his album in the Photo Gallery.

[mjt60a]

Yes it is looking good, it occured to me this might be an easy, quick way of making a semi-scale model of 'Alumchine' if there's any details available (I was looking at a pic in 'Glory Days' this morning and thought how it looked a bit like the 'newspaper boat' did when I put just the deck on it...)

[Red_Hamish]

Hello all, well I've finally got back into the shed after about a month away from modelling. This has allowed me to think through some ideas and put some of them into action. The paddlwheels have been constructed but are not yet finished. Wheel covers were posing me an ethical problem, although this is a semi-scale tug, the paddlewheel boxes just did not look at all convincing on the plan. I therefore have decided to go my own way with these. Using the insect mesh from a commonly available house vent in a styrene product will allow me to have a more convincing look with them. Once I'd cut out the sectors of the outer paddlewheels I had 16 pieces of shaped styrene which I thought I could find a use for. Suddenly an idea struck me, the access to the deck from the bridge was to be a straight companionway. My idea is to make fore and aft access possible by spiral staircases. Let'ss ee how the trial pieces go first before commiting to this approach. Any comments are always welcome here we go with a  few illistrations as I go.

cheers

Jim

[mjt60a]

....although this is a semi-scale tug, the paddlewheel boxes just did not look at all convincing on the plan.....

I quite agree, I thought the same when I saw the photos of the finished boat in the magazine (for anyone who doesn't have the mag/plan, they're square boxes with no vents at all...) and I'd have made curved ones, probably with the 'fan shape' vents like on John H Amos.
I like the idea of using the plastic air vent though, think I have one or two of those lying around somewhere...

[thewharfonline]

I don't know what the paddler ended up looking like in the magzine but ...square boxes rule...lol sorry I like square boxes, squares boxes with the slant on one side, round boxes just aren't the same for me! However you're model looks great so far, I love the wheels...I need to work out an easy way to make wheels, Oh and I have an idea for another easy paddler mtj60a, I was thinking that it may be possible to build a working paddler from rulers, the cheap wooden ones,because I used one to aid me in construction last night. Just an idea, but maybe you could think up a plan, and then I could build it to see how easy it is!

[Eddy Matthews]

Hi Jim,

Looks like it's coming along nicely - I assume you do mean a spiral staircase as opposed to a curved staircase? Yes they are different! :-)

In a spiral staircase, all the treads are supported on one central post, and the treads are shaped like a keyhole. It should be fairly easy to construct if you cut the treads as I've shown in the sketch below.... If it's actually a curved staircase your after then you on your own! :-)

[derekwarner_decoy]

Sorry Eddie - in plan view yes a cumulative view the stair treads appear as you have shown them, however in reality the inner right is a straight plane & so underlaps the successive next tread - I will be in Newcastle tomorrow, then Whyalla until Saturday 30/7  : so will have a lot to catch up when I get back  - regards Derek

[Eddy Matthews]

Sorry Eddie - in plan view yes a cumulative view the stair treads appear as you have shown them, however in reality the inner right is a straight plane & so underlaps the successive next tread

Yes I realise that Derek, just trying to keep my explanation as simple as I could - You have to realise my few brain cells can only cope with simple! :-)

[mjt60a]

I don't know what the paddler ended up looking like in the magzine but ...square boxes rule...lol sorry I like square boxes, squares boxes with the slant on one side....

No, these are SQUARE (well, rectangular as they cover only the top half of the wheel) but I mean totally vertical front and back, not like on my paper boat (for which I used as an idea the paddlebox shape on the 'Emmylou') but as it's a british design I'd have gone for a semicircular-with-the-rear-edge-going-back-at-a-tangent - shape. This hull could however easily be used for an Aussie boat...

...it looks like this;

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's - I have a number of vintage snaps [of the same] Australian paddlers taken at different times during their respective histories - from this it is clear that in all cases, the original design or early snaps confirmed semi circular [shall we say British style paddle box's]

The latter snaps have suggested that the vessel owner or master saw  wasted space both FWD & AFT of each paddle so these were simply boxed in over what ever supporting sponson area was available

So what was gained? - on each side FWD of the wheel was storage space, AFT of the wheel on one side was a galley/kitchen, and on the opposite side a rudementry toilet/washing facility

After great   by the owners, the advantages of placing the latter two AFT of the wheel are odvious

1) galley - during inclement weather this area is better protected from the elements

2) toilet - clearly a better choice than FWD of the paddle - Derek

[Walter Snowdon]

Hi Mick, if you look in the forum under Plans, you will find a Web site containing a good plan of PS MANNA which is ALUMCHINE under her original name. The plan should contain all you need. Article posted Sun Feb. 13th. Regards, Walter.

[mjt60a]

Excellent, thanks for pointing that out  

[thewharfonline]

The wheels did start semi circular as that was the design of the time but (as I've posted before) they were changed to a square design for a quicker build and more room to store storage!

Time's money and money's what we're here for!

By the way Derek is there any way that when you get those shots digitalised that I could get some for my 'historic' part of my Photo collection...I love vintage photos and the only way to get photos older than basically 1989 is to ask people I barely even know...sad huh lol

[Eddy Matthews]

Just finished viewing your latest shots of the Tipstaff build in the photo gallery Jim - It's certainly coming along very nicely.

You may have answered this question in a previous post, but what are you building the hull from? it's difficult to tell in the photos wether it's a very light coloured plywood or balsa...