Irish Royal Mail Steamer Connaught build

[Stuart Badger]

TeeHee!

I just had a mind picture of having to build an enormous slipway to the lake! - You are of course correct Eddy 5/16 inch to the FOOT! (doesn't bode well for scaling the plans does it? DOH!)

Stuart

[Eddy Matthews]

Mind you, a 108 FOOT long model would be impressive!! 

Sorry, I just couldn't resist the little wind-up.... You should be used to my sense of humour by now!

Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

Hi all

I've been whitling in the workshop building Connaught's main deck saloon. The panelling is made up of 0.7mm boxwood strips and in the photos is bare wood. Once I have varnished, stained and revarnished I can add the glazing. One thing has become obvious, at this scale I am going to HAVE to put some interior detail in - there are so many windows it looks like an empty barn!

After conversations with Dave Lyons and with reference to Waldenmodels build plus photos (thanks for that trip to the Science Museum Mick) and drawings I THINK I've got it about right.

Hope you like it - I may show it some sandpaper tomorrow!

Stuart

[djcf]

Thats VERY impressive, Stuart, I like the panelling. Are you using a regular hardware shop "off the shelf stain", or something more specialised? I have a wheelhouse to build & was going to get a few of the small pots to test on some scrap wood.

Clark

[mjt60a]

That's looking really good, the finished model should be a sight to behold!

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's...a very nice start Stuart ......'building Connaught's main deck saloon' ...I think I can see 15 equally sized windows & 2 door panes.... ....so that would make 30 + 4

With so many & they look identically spaced  ....do you use a 'JIG' type of construction to deliver this quality spacing & format?   where every one looks = & = & = & = etc

Derek

[Stuart Badger]

Thanks for the comments Guys!
Clark, I always give the wood a coat of sanding sealer or thinned varnish and then sand again before staining. If one attempts to use a stain or coloured varnish directly on bare wood you always get an uneven finish due to differing densities, stray glue, finger grease etc. I then use a clear satin water based exterior quality varnish and add water colour pigments (from a tube) to achieve the colour I want. Using this method means that you can make the colour as dense or translucent as you want. The only thing to be aware of is that some water colours are not truly permanent - so it's best to check on the manufacturer's chart first.
Derek, normally I would use a jig, but on this occasion it would have been too awkward because at this size I couldn't have kept the saloon sides flat before assemby (boxwood tends to warp and twist in thin sections). I made up the saloon to 'waist height' on a reinforced ply base using 1.5mm boxwood sheet for the lower flat panels. I then marked the centre line of each paneling strip and glued the strips over these building up the 3 layers of panelling as I went. I did make up a very small card square (to check the strips were vertical) and a small card 'width guage' to check that all the windows were the same size. Using one of those self healing cutting mats is a boon too, as they are marked with a grid.
All the best

Stuart

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs!

No more photos yet - I shall probably have some by the end of the week. The Main Deck Saloon is varnished and stained and the other 3 skylights are finished. I had a Greek friend visit me in the workshop today. He sat with me for about an hour as I was finishing off glueing the last of about 450 0.5mm brass glazing bars onto the skylight window frames.  "Stuart", he said "Why are you doing this?"  - Do you know, I REALLY couldn't answer him!!

Once I've finished the current deck houses I shall make a start on the Paddle Wheels, as I now have all the materials I need

All the best

Stuart

[mjt60a]

I don't envy you that job! The science museums working model of the engine/wheels shows 14 feathering floats per wheel - and it looks a very 'spindley' structure with various bracing pieces..... 

[Stuart Badger]

I'm going to try to build the wheels as per full size. That is the spokes will be in two pieces (spoke and float pivot bracket) The rims will be separate quadrants and I will put all the bracing in. Hopefully even though I'm going to use 1.5mm PVC as the main material all those braces should make it a rigid structure - but I am just a little apprehensive!

By the way Mike - did you notice when you took those photos at the Science Museum whether the superstructure REALLY was cream - or was it the dirt of ages/tungsten light?

Stuart

[Stuart Badger]

The deck houses are now virtually complete. Photography is a cruel medium where models are concerned and looking at the photos I need to do some 'fettling' but I'm quite pleased with the results. The stain did NOT go on evenly - but it has come out with a pleasant weathered finish which I quite like. I'm going to put interior detail in the main saloon, but for now I have just installed the hideous victorian carpet.

I have yet to add the rainwater down pipes to the corners of the saloon.

I had to revise my glazing technique, I was using 1.5mm polycarbonate - but it was so heavy that I chickened out for fear of adding too much weight topside, so I have used inkjet OHP film.

Now on to the paddle wheels!

Stuart

[Eddy Matthews]

Oh god, doors with hinges, handles with escutcheon plates, skylights with full glazing and bars - Doesn't it make you sick?

Only kidding Stuart, a true work of art as always!

Regards
Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

Thanks for the kind words Eddy - I'm really annoyed that the doors don't open, but I seem to have mislaid the key

Stuart

[Tug--Kenny]

Your 'seal before staining' method came out very well. It's always a risk just applying stain, (as you say) because some areas come out different. A superb job, well done.  Are you going to illuminate the inside ?

ken

 

[Stuart Badger]

Thanks Ken!  Yes. I will be illuminating the model. I got 50 12v LEDs from Squires (they have the resistor built in). I chose yellow to simulate gaslight as the ship pre-dates electric lighting, in fact she wasn't even required to (and didn't) carry any navigation lights at all!
Stuart