Irish Royal Mail Steamer Connaught build

[Eddy Matthews]

Thanks for all the compliments guys! - Now come on, there MUST be something that you think could have been done better - I don't bruise easily you know!

all the best

Stuart

I'll make a list of all the things that are wrong, or that could be done better, and post them tomorrow....

















You'll be glad to know I'm only joking!! 

Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs!

and thanks Eddy - I was preparing myself for a small rebuild!

Poor Eddy is, for his pains putting the build log on a CD for me - the trouble is just as he thinks he's nearly finished - I post some more- quite good fun really!

So far today I have made and fitted (at Eddy's suggestion) a rudder horn made from a UK plug earth pin - clever idea Eddy and one I haven't used before.

I have also made and fitted Connaught's stern name plate, Port registration and decoration. (the slight 'blooming' on the paintwork is due to the varnish not having dried yet) The decoration was taken from the gilded scrollwork on an old, cheap carriage clock. I used to visit my local clock repairers regularly for the bits and pieces he had no use for and they often come in very useful.

More later.

All the best

Stuart

[Red_Hamish]

Hello Stuart, superlatives, there aren't enough to describe the beauty of this outstanding piece of modelling. As ever I take my hat off to you.

cheers

Jim

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's ....I will not mince words ....this is what friends are for...& I have been communicating with Stuart on PD's for approx 12 years.....

My only technical question of scale with the brillant build of the Irish Royal Mail Steamer Connaught..."is the sizing of the square apertures in the stern 'duck boards' on deck level" ...[latest 004.jpg]

I could see the crew or passengers loosing a shoe as built ......... ....Derek

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs and Derek!

I have to say Derek part of me agrees with you and part of me has doubts about the gratings at the stern. If you look at the Science Museum Model (first photo) the gratings do appear to have smaller holes than I have made in them. The drawings however show the holes at approx 1mm square. Using my 'building factor' of 2.5 times plan dimensions this gives a hole size of 2.5mm (given the limits of my skills!) - which is what I produced. There is also again the knotty problem that the gratings shown on the drawing are a different shape and construction to the one on the Laird model! On the Laird model there are 4 rows of holes on the side gratings - on the drawing 3.

There may be some Old Victorian drawing convention that shows the grating apertures larger than they really are - but all of the other gratings on the drawings appear to be drawn to scale (ie you won't break a leg when walking on them!)
On reflection for reasons of PRACTICAL BELIEVABILITY I agree they should be smaller - but I fear when I have a dimension on a drawing I tend to become blind to common sense!

All the best

stuart

[mjt60a]

Magnificent! 

I must remember those last two tips.... plug pins as a ready made servo tiller thingy for the rudder, and clock decoration for the decorative scrollwork...

[djcf]

Hi Stuart,
Great idea using the clock decoration/parts....I will be keeping an eye open for any old ones now!

Great pics you posted showing Connaught from astern...Love the lines of the counter stern 

Thinking about the gratings at the stern, maybe they were for coiling the mooring ropes on, rather than walking on? Might explain the larger holes.

regards
Clark

[Eddy Matthews]

Poor Eddy is, for his pains putting the build log on a CD for me - the trouble is just as he thinks he's nearly finished - I post some more- quite good fun really!

You'll be annoyed to hear I've got the build log up to date, including todays postings, so time for the next installment

So far today I have made and fitted (at Eddy's suggestion) a rudder horn made from a UK plug earth pin - clever idea Eddy and one I haven't used before.

I'm glad it worked okay for you, saves you waiting 10 days or more to get a tiller arm from the UK!

Regards
Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs!

I'm pleased that you like the way Connaught is shaping up. The more I compare the Laird model, the drawings and my model the more discrepancies I see - still never mind, I  think the overall impression is the important thing and at this interval of time I don't THINK there's going to be any one to say 'excuse me but------'!

Today I rigged the funnels. Connaught's 4 funnels are stayed with chains - a very distinctive feature. I have rigged all of them but the chains are NOT exactly where they should be - it would be impractical to have to undo half of them and re-rig every time you wanted to gain access to the inside of the model - so they ALL attach to the removable centre section. I know this gives a slightly questionable 'engineering' appearance = but I have no real choice. The chain is from modelling timbers (24 links per inch) and is attached to the removable eye bits of some small turnbuckles I had by me - I have not glued the funnels in place as at some time the new owner may want to remove them to fit that smoke unit!

The light in the workshop was a bit 'moody' today due to electrical storms!

More later - I'm taking a break for the rest of the day - my eyes hurt!

All the best

Stuart

[R.G.Y.]

I have found the chain supplied by model shops to be very weak. I always use old necklaces now stronger and cheaper. I get them from car boot sales and charity shops, Don't suppose you have them where you are. Geoff

[Stuart Badger]

These chains seem pretty strong Geoff. There is no load as such on them so I'm not concerned.

All the best

stuart

[waldenmodels]

Stuart, you probably had this illustration already, I just found it completely by accident. It's from "The screw propeller: and other competing instruments for marine propulsion by Albert Edward Seaton"Looks like I'm going to have to make some changes to my design ;(

[Stuart Badger]

Those are drawings of the inside feathering wheels fitted to Ulster and Munster Oliver! NOT the ones fitted to Connaught and Leinster, both of which had OUTSIDE feathering gear.

All the best

Stuart

[waldenmodels]

Whew! Thanks, Stuart. That saves me a ton of work Incidentally, were those drawings part of J.S. Russells work? I didn't see them when I made my copies.

Cheers,

Oliver

[Stuart Badger]

Hi Oliver

I don't think they are from Russell - interestingly they are innacurate! - the spoke shape is entirely wrong, strange.

All the best

Stuart