The "Monarch" build

[Eddy Matthews]

It's looking really good Chris... Don't forget to take some photos of it on the water, and a short video too if possible?

Regards
Eddy

[monarch]

Those wheels don't look too bad!!  You'll have to come on a Monarch driving day to learn how to handle the model!!!

[chipmonk]

Hi Mat. I'd love to come on a driving day. How's your insurance though .
Cheers Chris.

[monarch]

Very good-if you crash it, you get a fetching neck scar.................(once it heals)!!

[chipmonk]

Hi all.Well at long last the gods of the weather and work finally got their act together and I managed to get the wee beasty into the club lake to test the new paddles, drive train and electrics. And everything went well. As I posted earlier she was unresponsive on the water and more than a little underpowered. So now I have the proper paddles, taken about 6 kilo's of lead and batteries out, lowered the drive shaft and fitted a FET speed controller. The old "Maplin" one used standard transistors and I was amazed with the loss of voltage when it was in the circuit (over 1/2 volt). Now this one only looses about 0.2 V. So she performs OK on 12v however she has nothing "in reserve" so she probably will be run on 18v to give me a bit of power in case of trouble. Next its off to the workshop at work for spraying (not enough room in the shed) and I can get on with some of the finer detail. Incidental the mast has been made but it's from mahogany. I managed to acquire a piece from some old countertops they were throwing out at work so the mast is over 150years old . I know its not like the real boat but I could not resist it.
I will keep you informed as to the progress.

[monarch]

Looking very good...I wish the real thing was that size!!

Matt

[chipmonk]

Well here we are up to our whatsits in the fluffy white stuff and the model monarch looses all of her arctic camouflage .
As you can see from the photos she has been painted at last, mind you I am not the most popular person at work. Acrylic car primer really pongs. But it gives first class results. The paddles have also been painted but are waiting for a final coat of varnish before I fit them. The only things left to spray are the decks and the inside of the bulwarks but its too flaming cold. I shall start detailing the inside of the wheel house, does any body know where I can get a decent 50mm ships wheel the biggest I can find is 35mm and that looks a bit small.
Cheers Chris.
Ps Sorry about the rubbish photo's.

[Eddy Matthews]

It looks good Chris....

Ships wheels above about 40mm diameter are like hens teeth - Stuart Badger did a great little article on making your own at http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4223.0 (about the 9th posting I think?)

Failing that, try Kim at http://www.clydemodelboats.co.uk/ He's adding new stuff to his website all the time, so even though it isn't listed it's worth contacting him, and you'll be supporting a fellow Paddleduck into the bargain

Regards
Eddy

[mjt60a]

I'll have a look in my spares box when I get a moment, got one off a toy pirate ship that's about that size.....

[monarch]

She looks great!!  Well done.

Can't type much else as have horribly broken arm and this has already taken me ten minutes to type!!

Can't wait to see her finished.

[chipmonk]

Hi all, Well a few weeks have gone by and the project has come along some what. I must admit the more details she gets the more I like her. As you can see the hull has been lined. Most of the major deck fittings have been fabricated, painted and fitted and she now has  both fore and saloon decks planked . I hope you like it Mat I read that before your accident this was one job you were going to do on the full sized "Monarch". Still back to the lathe to turn up the mast head flag staff cap.
Cheers Chris
PS I have just noticed a strange thing, in the last photo, the model of my skipper has a small crack in his left arm. Mat which arm did you break? and do you believe in voodoo. 

[monarch]

You absolute bugger!!!  The model looks superb, and I cannot believe that there is a mini me in existence....is this the paddle steamer version of Madame Tussuad's?  (make sure that the hair colour is imperial copper blonde...ginger to the uncultured!)

Paint those ghastly brass door handles black, and you've got a pretty good representation of the old girl-can't wait too see her sail with the real thing!!!  Seeing as you're the first to model the Monarch, when she comes down I will give you Monarch's old pennant as a gift.  Well done you!!

[monarch]

............and it was the left arm!!!!!!!!!!!

[monarch]

Sorry for the third reply-but thank you for spending the time modelling Monarch-it makes me very proud to know that she is so well loved.  Basically, it's a great honour.

Cheers,
Matt

[Eddy Matthews]

The Monarch is looking very nice Chris - Should be completed just in time for summer (you know summer is July 27th this year?).

Well done!

Eddy