Irish Royal Mail Steamer Connaught build

[Stuart Badger]

Hi Clark!
I shall be making the sponsons fixed - but the whole centre deck section complete with funnels, paddle boxes etc will (I hope!) lift off.

Stuart

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs
While I'm waiting for essential bits to come from the UK I thought I'd get on with the centre of the model. I can't do anything about the drive train till the belts and gears arrive and I can't start any of the 'fiddly' bits until I get the main superstructure built. As you can see - I really need to tidy the workshop AGAIN!
I have cut out the sponson house/bulwark sides and made a start on the paddle boxes. The decoration took 3 times as long to do as the big stuff as it's a 'relief' on 3 levels. The centre deck is half planked and at the moment under some weights as it has developed a slight twist - so I need to get it flat before I continue planking.
In the mean time it would appear that the fat director is chatting up the Captain's wife on the rear deck - Tsk Tsk!
There will be a little break before the next progress report as I have to go to Athens for a few days.

All the best

Stuart

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs
Well I managed to get back into the workshop after a nearly 3 day break. A word of warning - NEVER leave your workshop for more than 8 hours if your short term memory is faulty! I couldn't find a thing on my return so had to TIDY (Euch!) and start again.
I managed to get the centre section deck planked with the waterways attached. The whole thing will lift off complete with funnels, paddle boxes and flying bridge deck, The reason for this is that there is so much in the way of rigging and stays in this area. If I don't make the whole thing removable then I will end up spending about an hour rigging each time I want to get inside the model.
I have mounted the engine room skylight on its base and put the funnel bases and funnels in position in preparation for building the centre deck assembly. I just slipped the paddle boxes into position to give me an idea of heights etc.  I'm just a little disappointed with the joint in the deck. I was forced to place it where it is in full view, and unfortunately the planks appear to have been cut from 2 separate batches. There's only a few thou difference in their widths - but over that size deck it means that they don't all line up - ah well, measure Twice, cut Once as they say
More later.

All the best

Stuart

[Eddy Matthews]

Short term memory? What's that?

I've just spent two hours finding my Dremel and a sanding drum to do some work on my hovercraft!

It's a shame about the different planking, but I'm sure once all the fiddly stuff is in place no-one will notice! It never ceases to amaze me how minor bits stand out like a sore thumb to the builder, but no-one else spots them!

Regards
Eddy

P.S. When's the first on the water test due? Can't be long now....

[Stuart Badger]

P.S. When's the first on the water test due? Can't be long now....

I have to cast a big lead torpedo to hang on the bottom of the hull first. Then my beautiful assistant has assured me she is willing to don her Victorian bathing dress and get in the pool to oversee the first tests! (Rather her than me - as the swimming pool is 'polee cryo' at the moment - that's Greek for B****y cold!).

All the best

Stuart

[Eddy Matthews]

Victorian bathing dress eh? Sexy..... You'll be telling us she wears corsets and stockings next..... Stop it Matthews your getting carried away again!!

Shucks, that's the first time I''ve had to moderate myself!!

Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

We have had some of our older clothes dry cleaned for the launching!

[Eddy Matthews]

I have to cast a big lead torpedo to hang on the bottom of the hull first.

Will it really require external Ballast?

I would have thought at that size it should be reasonably stable?

Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

The simple answer is I don't know Eddy! But the funnels are quite heavy and I can't get all the heavy stuff down as low as I want. I've left 'pockets' ether side of the keel to put lead slabs into but I just have this 'gut feel' that she won't really want to stay right side up. I suppose the thing to do is try her in the pool with Ros ready to stop her rolling over and then take a gentle turn on the lake. At least the lake is only calf deep - so I wont lose her!

Stuart

[Eddy Matthews]

I'd certainly be tempted to try without an external bulb first Stuart..... You could always strap a couple of those inflatable packing bags on either side of the hull (outside) to catch it if it did start to roll, or failing that use two or three baloons!

Hopefully you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Regards
Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

Now that, Sir - is a very good idea. Thanks!

Stuart

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs
A little more progress. I've built the sponson house bases and fitted the edges in readyness for adding the sides of the houses and I've planked and temporarily fitted the flying bridge deck.
The eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed that the funnel pairs have moved farther apart - This is due to the fact that yet again the drawing does not agree with the Laird model. Looking at the few photos of the real ship however suggests that they should be further apart. I took the rear funnel back to the deck join to help disguise it - and I have a feeling that that area may well have an untidy heap of mail bags and a gathering of passangers to 'hide the join'!.

All the best

Stuart

[Eddy Matthews]

Wow, that centre bridge deck really transforms the look of the model....

It's too late for you to alter, especially with the different sized planks, but the best method I've seen for hiding a join like that is to stagger the planks like the top of a castle wall, so that the ends of the two sets of planks overhang the subdecking and link together like sliding the fingers of your hands together dovetail fashion (if you follow me?) It creates a castellated joint which is virtually impossible to see that it is in fact a joint.

As I said, too late now, but something that maybe useful on another piece?

Regards
Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

Yes Eddy!

I might try that on the bow. I could kick myself really because originally I was going to use a staggered finger joint - but I got lazy! Doh!

All the best

Stuart

[Eddy Matthews]

originally I was going to use a staggered finger joint - but I got lazy! Doh!

I have to admit, your description is slightly less long winded than my cack-handed attempt at an explanation!

Eddy