The "Monarch" build

[Eddy Matthews]

I beleive the Monarch is 42 feet in length?

Assuming I'm right, 1:12 scale would be 42", 1:10 scale 50.4", and 1:8 scale 63", so my vote would go for a 1:8 scale hull - Still not too large for transport, but it allows a wealth of detail to be added. The downside to a 1:8 scale model is finding suitable figures to put onboard....

Regards
Eddy

[steamboatmodel]

Considering postage costs, I would go for 1: 12 scale also easier to transport.
Regards,
Gerald.
PS How about molding it in four sections that could be joined?

[chipmonk]

Hi all, thanks for the encouragement. I have "acquired" a GRP hull that with a bit of surgery should be usable. See photos. I also have managed to convert my attempt at a CAD drawing to PDF format for you to have a laugh at . So things are beginning to move along, all be  it slowly.
Cheers Chris

[monarch]

Thanks for your input, we shall work on the mould.  I didn't realise that you guys would want something so large!!

All proceeds from the hulls will go towards the boiler fund, which is coming along nicely.  I know I shall live to regret this question, but what would you chaps consider a fair price if we made them up?

Chipmonk, the hull you have looks pretty good, although to be accurate you will have to straighten the bow up which shouldn't be too difficult with a bit of car body filler!   

[monarch]

Ere!!!  Why the bloody hell am I a junior member of this group...surely I'm the only member to drive a paddle steamer everyday...I should be a higher being!

I look forward to seeing your model completed, bring her down to the Island and let me have a drive of it and I might just let you have a drive of the real thing!

Regards,

Matt

[Eddy Matthews]

Thanks for your input, we shall work on the mould.  I didn't realise that you guys would want something so large!!

The fact is that scale plays a large part in wether a model will sail succesfully or not Matt, generally the larger the better, though transportation has to be taken into account! Remember that each time you reduce the original hull by half in length, you reduce the volume (and hence the displacement) to 1/4 - So imagine if your vessel is 42 feet in length and has a displacement of 20 tons, a model at 1:2 (half size) would be 21 feet long with a displacement of 5 tons...... Now work it out when you get to sensible model sizes, and the equations get frightening! That's why so many paddler models are so "tender".

All proceeds from the hulls will go towards the boiler fund, which is coming along nicely.  I know I shall live to regret this question, but what would you chaps consider a fair price if we made them up?

Based on the few paddler hulls that are currently available commercially, I would suggest between £50-£80 depending on which scale you build the hulls at - That's the sort of figure the commercial hull suppliers would be charging. Postage is generally between £10-£15 within the UK.

Regards
Eddy

[Talisman]

Ere!!!  Why the bloody hell am I a junior member of this group...surely I'm the only member to drive a paddle steamer everyday...I should be a higher being!

 Stick in and you might get promotion, I'm sure a tea boy at the paddler day would be most usefull

(Sorry i just couldn't resist it )

I look forward to seeing your model completed, bring her down to the Island and let me have a drive of it and I might just let you have a drive of the real thing!

Regards,

Matt

Which reminds me of a story about a captain of a paddler who used to  practice bringing my Dad's model Jupiter along side piers as he struggled with the real thing. I believe his boat handling improved as he didn't hit any piers for the rest of the season

Just out of curiosity what qualification do you need for Monarch?

[monarch]

Boatmaster and engineering quals.  She is quite unique in that the skipper is in full control of the boiler, engine and helm-bit like patting your tummy and rubbing your head whilst standing on one leg and singing the engineers song!

And as for practicing with a model....I wouldn't suggest it!!   

[chipmonk]

Hi Monarch.
You are correct about the hull,both the bow needs re modelling and a slight mod to the stern. It is going into monkenstein's lab (the nickname the family have given my workshop after seeing how I mod figures. ooh nasty ). The bow has to be split open and re shaped to give a vertical bow form and the stern is too rounded. The original has a slightly curved straight transom (well it looks like that in the photo's I have been given, cheers Chris). Still must get on I have to lay permanent marker buoys in our club water. To keep the pesky fisher folk out.
Cheers Chris 

[chipmonk]

Well construction proper has started, see photo's. The small fluffy moggy in the photo is Pickles my foreman, she will get into quite a few photo's
As planned while returning from Weymouth we detoured across the Solent and found the monarch moored at Newport. Unfortunately she was closed up and not steaming that day  I later found out that this was due to staff sickness. I hope you have recovered.Still I managed to take lots of fairly useful close up shots. The only problem is there is no scale to work from. Normally I put a marked rule in the photo for scale. Still I'm sure I can work round this.
As you can see I have reworked the bow and by now rebuilt the stern.
Next comes the rudder and the positioning and alignment of the paddle shaft in its bearings. Then comes the chain drive then the paddles. These are very unusual having seven floats connected to a single central arm. I am designing them now and will get a fellow club member who has access to a laser cutting machine to cut them out of 6mm acrylic for the main arms. Mind you that will have to wait until the new school term . In the mean time I have lots to think about.
Cheers Chris 
 

[Eddy Matthews]

Chris,

I didn't realise Monarchs wheels were so unusual - I've never seen wheels quite the same as those on any other boat, but at least they look relatively easy to make compared to some I can think of!

Regards
Eddy

[monarch]

I can quite honestly say...they are unique!!  I'm trying to make some time to make a geometrical plan of them!

Matt

[chipmonk]

Hi all, time for an update.
Well the hull has been modified (twice ). It did not look right the first go.
As you can see the majority of the deck beams are in place and the fore deck has been fixed down. Trying to get a good bond between GRP, hardwood and styrene sheet is not easy but acrylic adhesive seems to be holding.
I had a session on the lathe and have converted the main drive sprocket from 4mm bore to 6mm. Not as simple as just boring it out though. The mounting collar was a press fit into the sprocket so when it was bored out it would have fallen apart So I had to make a new one and mount it to the sprocket, then bore them both out. Still it was worth the headache (I think).
I am still not happy about the shape of the rudder so I will probably re shape it at a later date.
Next job after the rest of the decks are in place is the motor mount and a mounting plate for it. Then I can connect up the drive and radio etc.
Then on to the fun bit, the paddles . Being a bit impatient I will make a temporary set from styrene sheet so that I can do basic manoeuvring testing. As I will be sailing her on a few portable show pools I have enough room to fit independent paddle drives if its needed .I know its naughty but I will need the steerage.
Still heaps to do. All that superstructure in lovely styrene sheet and all the details. Must get back to the lab Well shed.
Cheers Chris M 

[chipmonk]

Hi guys, well another two weeks have gone by and time for another update. I have made and fitted the temporary paddles and I think I will mod them. looking at the photos of the real thing, I think I need to increase the blade depth. Still its not difficult to add blade area. All of the sub decks are in place and I am working on the bullwork cappings (half done by now). Next are the paddle boxes. then out to the garden test tank (pond). If all goes well, in a couple of weeks off to the club lake for some further testing(stability, turning circle, speed etc. Then we will see if I have built a "right lemon" or not. I will keep you posted.
Cheers Chris M.

[Eddy Matthews]

Thanks for the update Chris, good to see your making progress....

Can I just make one small comment - I hope you'll take it in the spirit it's intended (ie to help!), but it appears you either have the paddlewheels mounted too high, or the sponsons are too low, I don't know which? If you look at the photo of the real vessel posted earlier, and compare it with yours, the paddleshaft should be inline with the sponson, yours appears to well above the sponson - or is it an optical illusion?

As I said, the comment is meant to be constructive, as it can easily be changed now, but later it may be too late!

Regards
Eddy