Irish Royal Mail Steamer Connaught build

[Stuart Badger]

Hi Derek and PDs
To answer your points!
The flex in the paddle shaft is minimal (2/3 thou?) and on the principle of KISS (keep it simple stupid!) I'm not worried about it.
I was going to use ball races in the plummer blocks but decided in the end to use a virtually full length plain journal bearing (brass tube) again on the KISS principle which also serves to stop lateral movement of the shaft.
You are correct in that the secondary drive is two single acetal chains. The sprockets are bushed to take up the difference between the hole in the hub and the shaft size (I have to work with what I have!).
The gears are split pinned to prevent slippage and I think (KIM) in the event of a 'jam-up' the chain will fail before any significant damage occurs as it provides a 'weak link' in the system.

All the best

Stuart

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs
Despite what you may think from the adverts Greece can be f*******g cold! - so I have only managed a few hours in the workshop today as my emergency fan heater just isn't up to the task and the wind is blowing a gale (literally).
I have cut out and fitted the sponson bases. These are supported on beech crossbeams and will be planked over and clad around the outside edges. I decided to use 6mm ply rather than build them up in the interests of strength and rigidity. Before I do any flotation tests I want to get ALL of the overhanging stuff on so I get a true idea of roll recovery etc.
Have to go to Athens again soon for a few days so a little gap till the next post.

All the best

Stuart

[Eddy Matthews]

The sponsons really are starting to "tie" the various bits together, and bringing out the beauty of the ship. Mind those motors look tiny down there!!

Still eagerly awaiting the first on the water tests....

Regards
Eddy

[Tug--Kenny]

As you have wired your two motors in parallel then the amp/hours will be doubled.

Going on the figures suggested of 10 amp/hr per motor then the load will be 20 amp/hr.

In an effort to save battery life, It might be worth having one of the motors on a switch and trying the paddles on One motor only, to see if it has the power to drive the wheels satisfactorily. ( that is, if they are connected together)

On my Waverley, I found the acceleration very slow, but once she was moving, things improved. (apart from the large turning circle)

Hope these comments are helpful

Ken

[Stuart Badger]

Thanks for the input Ken. I hope to be able to get oodles of jelly-acid batteries in there - even with the motors in place I've still got 2 metres plus of room!

All the best

Stuart

[Eddy Matthews]

The motors I sent Stuart are a different wind to the one Kim has.... Also bear in mind that Kim is quoting figures at 24v and Stuart is going to use 12v.

Rather than using manufacturers figures, which are only a guideline anyway and often woefully inaccurate, I measured the Amp draw on the motors before sending them across to Greece, on 12v free-running they draw 0.2A each, and with a decent load they pull just over 0.6A - So a total of just over 1.2A for the twin motor setup Stuart is using.

Regards
Eddy

[Talisman]

|Hi All,
OK forget my recent post regarding motor spec sounds like a different motor to mine.

With regard to batteries i think i might be slightly more fortunate in regards to choice of batteries - I have narrowed my search down to wheelchair / Golf caddie batteries for main power -  I suspect i can get away with these large batteries  given Talisman's beam / stability. Another battery i had looked at but given the price versus my need for low down ballast would have been these batteries -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-x-D-Cell-Rechageable-10000mAh-Battery-Pack-Vapextech_W0QQitemZ220452006961QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ConsumerElectronics_Batteries_SM?hash=item3353f6ac31

Regards
Kim

[Tug--Kenny]

 So a total of just over 1.2A for the twin motor setup Stuart is using.

Regards
Eddy

That sounds much better. Please disregard my worry. 


Ken

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs

Well - I'm STILL waiting for stuff to arrive from the UK (mainly some thin ply) and until it does I can't get on with getting Connaught ready for flotation trials. What with that and having to go back and forth to Athens things have slowed up a bit.
So what I have been doing is making some more of the small fiddly bits. I have produced all of the bollards and the single bollard fairleads. These are made of PVC and will be fastened with dome headed rivets placed in the hole provided. The fairleads I made in PVC also and I produced the jaws by drilling a large diameter piece of PVC off centre and cutting away the excess to produce the shape as an extrusion - then sliced off the four jaws I needed.
I have also managed to make the deck seating - which is 4 strips of 1mm square boxwood sitting in 1mm milled slots in 2 1/2mm square boxwood stained mahogony. These will be mounted on brass legs and fitted on the rear deck.
More soon I HOPE!

All the best

stuart

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs

well - today I spent a bit more time on the fiddly bits and built the benches along with their paneled backs on the stern area. I also thought I'd have a bit of fun and see if I could fake some 'old' taken on board photos. I'm going to try to take some old on the water shots when she's finished. Anyway for your delight and delectation (or just to make you laugh at my hopeless photography attempts) - here they are. Hope you like them

All the best

Stuart

[djcf]

Hi Stuart,I Like the benches, I'm just about to attempt something similar. Its nice to work with wood again after months of fibreglass & plasticard!! Nice to see the smaller details going on.

Are you going to experiment with various rudder sizes for sailing? For my paddler build I will make a scale rudder for display and larger one for sailing.

regards
Clark

[Stuart Badger]

I'm probably going to cheat Clark and put  an oversize rudder on her - but will mark the outline of the scale rudder on it.

All the best

Stuart

[Tug--Kenny]

Hi PDs

well - today I spent a bit more time on the fiddly bits and built the benches along with their paneled backs on the stern area.
Stuart

I'll bet you enjoyed that. It's so nice to start on the "little extras",  and you're having constructive fun. 


The benches even look right at this small scale.

ken

 

[PeeWee]

nice work there, love the benches.  I find its the little peaces that start to make the model.   

[Stuart Badger]

Thanks for the comments Guys!

I noticed today that I've commited a small blooper - the benches should extend further towards the stern (I MUST look at the photos before I believe the drawing!) but no problem - I'll add them later.

I bought the batteries today six off 6v 4.5 Ah. I'm going to wire them series/parrallel to give me 12v. I ran the motors today and the gearing has worked out perfectly! I couldn't believe my luck.

More soon

All the best

Stuart