Irish Royal Mail Steamer Connaught build

[Eddy Matthews]

Of course the booms were fitted to Connaught, just divorce the beautiful assistant and forget about it...... Women!!!


Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs!

Well it's still blowing a gale here so the Sea Trials are delayed for a while yet.
In the meantime I have finished the rigging and just have to add 2 binnacles and a couple of bollards and Connaught is complete.

I have added the final passengers and crew and made and placed some Victorian Steamer Trunks to add a little realism to the deck area. All of the figures are attached to the deck with 2 brass pins located in holes drilled up through the legs and then super-glued in place - so they shouldn't come loose.
This is the last but one batch of pictures - I hope you enjoy them.

I really want to thank you all for the encouragment and support during the build. I have enjoyed it immensly. If there is any aspect (from research onwards) that you want me to finally enlarge on just ask.

 I am researching a couple of projects for the next build along with Wee Lorne of course - more later.
All the best

Stuart

[waldenmodels]

She's getting ever more beautiful, Stuart! Please take some video when you finally do get her wet!

While researching the "Bessemer" steamship I came across a comment regarding the protection of passengers from inclement weather which read something like "I would wish something to be done along the lines of what was done with the Irish Mail". This, to me, seems to indicate that sometime before 1875 the aft deck of all the mail ships were decked over, as we see in the picture of the "Leinster". So I may have to retract my claim that the famous picture of Connaught leaving harbor is in fact one of the other ships. 

I've contacted the Holyhead Museum in the hopes of obtaining additional photos / accounts, but no luck - they didn't even respond. Anyone live close by?

Cheers,

Oliver

[Eddy Matthews]

Hi PDs!

This is the last but one batch of pictures - I hope you enjoy them.

Shucks! I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the Connaught build, so I hope the break until the next one won't be too long or I'll get withdrawal symptoms!

I am researching a couple of projects for the next build along with Wee Lorne of course - more later.

Great stuff, the Stuart Badger production line is still in business!

Regards
Eddy

[djcf]

Hi Stuart,
Enjoyed the whole build thread....and what a fantastic end product!
Hope the wind drops soon!
regards
Clark

[Beeza]

Dear Stuart

Well done indeed.  All of the Warnham gang are very impressed.

Beeza

[marinemole]

Stuart

Just back from sunny Mallorca and catching up. She looks absolutely superb and I can't wait to see video of her sailing. A magnificent achievement and I hope seeing your project come to fruition will kick start me into some serious work on my grey pointy thing.

Regards

Andy

PS
You won't be surprised that I have come back to the rain in Balloch.

[Stuart Badger]

Thanks all very much for the kind comments
The forecast for tomorrow and Monday is about right for wind strength, So without tempting fate I shall attempt Connaught's maiden voyage - if the weather men are right!
All the best

Let's hope conditions are like this! (photo)

Stuart

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs!

The wind dropped to Beaufort 4 today - so Connaught has finally seen the water. I have uploaded a very unprofessional video - I'm afraid the video camera was playing up so the clip is very short.

I discovered a small leak in the hull (due I think to shrinkage) but this will be easily fixed and didn't affect the sailing.

Having carried her to the lake with a friend I ballasted her up, checked the radio and heart in mouth pushed the throttle forward.
She sails like a dream! The turning circle is huge but this was mainly due to the fact that her turn rate reduces dramatically when she is beam on to the wind, She displays no tendancy to roll and turns easily without heeling.
In a straight line she is VERY fast! I didn't manage to get the paddles up to full speed.

There is no problem with water ingress via the paddle boxes and very little water lift. She also makes a lovely noise as she cruises past.

All in all a brilliant day!

I'll make a concluding post later - I am now going to have a celebratory Ouzo. Hope you like the pictures and video.

All the best

Stuart

[Talisman]

Hi PDs!

The wind dropped to Beaufort 4 today - so Connaught has finally seen the water.
Stuart

Your a brave man, but what a fantastic result!

Thanks very much for sharing your build and knowledge - I know i have learned from it.

Many thanks and congratulations!
Kim.

[pete]

Beautiful Stuart, - A fascinating series of posts and a stunning result. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Congratulations.
All the best,
Pete.

[Thanasis]

Congratulation my friend.
She looks very pretty…
Have a celebratory ouzo from me…. I hope you have the right ouzo…

All the best
                 Thanasis

[Tug--Kenny]

She looks lovely on the water, Stuart. Congrats on your build. I enjoyed every minute of it. A superb model indeed.

Can't wait for the next one. 

Ken

[Eddy Matthews]

A great result Stuart, and it looks to be extremely stable!

As the others have said, a magnificent job, and I'll bet your over the moon now it's had it's first sail....

Regards
Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

Thanks All - it went far better than I could have hoped - I just need to fix the small leak and we're all done.

All the best

stuart