African paddle steamer

[AlanP]

I was given this model last Sunday, on getting it home I thought I had made the wrong decision by accepting it, but after having a good look at it I like it, I like it a lot.
Having built a few scale models I will have no trouble with the hull and superstructure, but the drive is a different matter, the window wiper motor and "O" ring driving the two paddles I reckon will have to go. Do I go for two motors and a mixer?, what sort of motors?, how are they connected to the paddles? how fast do the paddles have to turn?
I am hoping one of you gentlemen can steer me in the right direction 

Alan

[Eddy Matthews]

The Lulonga has a lot of character and it's a model I've always liked - Yes it's a little quirky in it's design, but hey I like quirky!

A belt drive is a sensible option in my opinion Alan, it's quiet and it also allows for some slippage if something should get jammed in the paddlewheels!

The Lulonga turns pretty well just using the rudders, but obviously a twin drive setup would allow it to turn on the spot. It all depends on how much you want to spend and how maneuverable you want it to be.

Since its a quarter wheeler (ie it has twin paddlewheels at the rear), you don't need a very fast motor - Something that gives about 120RPM free running speed would be more than enough and still have power in reserve to get out of tricky situations.

Kim (Talisman on the forum) runs a company called Clyde Model Boats - www.clydemodelboats.co.uk and has recently found a source for some nice geared motors which would probably be ideal on 6 volts. And having seen one in the flesh, they are very quiet which is unusual for geared motors!

I don't think he has them listed on his website yet, so drop him an email (his address is on his website) if you're interested....

Regards
Eddy

[AlanP]

Thanks for the reply Eddy, learning already.
Looked at Kim's site, interesting. I saw some brass pully wheels on the site, are these what are fastened to the motors and paddle wheels to transfere drive through some sort of belt?

Alan

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's....Alan....is that a 12 volt motor vehicle dashboard ventilation fan motor?.......if you decide to go down the single motor path I would consider saving the motor as they are super low current draw, very quiet & continuously rated or a 1/2 life of a million years 

Look at a WEB site or on PD's called ""Small Parts & Bearings" ....they sell toothed brass & nylon pulleys & toothed belts ...will give far better drive characteristics ....  ...but as Eddy implies would NOT allow any slip  .....Derek

PS...I would be wary of the nylon material as locking of the pulleys to the shaft  is limited to a split pin arrangement 

[Talisman]

Hi Alan,
I like your new model and hope it is the start of many more Paddlers

regarding our motors as Eddy has kindly said we do have a motor which would probably be ideal for your boat. A link to our new motors page -
http://www.clydemodelboats.co.uk/userimages/procart3.htm

Also as Eddy has said it might be fun to have the wheels independent. I'm would also imagine she would be stable with one wheel ahead and one astern given they are both close to the centre line of the hull.

Regarding methods of drive i don't have anything more to add other than a supplier i have used in the past -
http://www.motionco.co.uk/

I'd be interested to see what you do so please do come back with your news.
Regards
Kim

[AlanP]

Derek, fear not, I never throw anything away, even if it is broken, which is why there is no room in my workshop 
At the moment I am thinking along the lines of toothed belt drive, I know, no slip, but fuses in line with each motor rated at well below stall speed would save the motors, but then I suppose there could be damage to the paddles, mmmmm


Kim, I am almost sure I will go down the line of twin motors, with a mixer from Dave at Action, so with this in mind do you think two of your 200 rpm geared motors would be OK.

Pulleys and gearing I don't really understand, but at 200rpm would a small toothed pulley on the motor and the same size toothed pulley on the paddle be right

Also had a look at the supplier that you suggested, seems to have most of what I would need, thanks.

The model will be completed, but I am halfway into a Maggie M and an MTB at the moment and will not set to work on the paddle boat until I have everything clear in my head as to what I need and am able to buy it all at once.

So be ready for plenty of daft questions 

Thanks to you all again Alan

[Eddy Matthews]

Hi Alan,

I haven't seen the small 200rpm motors that Kim is doing, but I'd imagine they would be okay for your use....

But 200RPM is far to fast for your needs, hence the need to alter the gearing using pulleys and belts. Of course also bear in mind that the figures quoted are using 12v - If you use a 6v battery you will halve the speed of the motor, so you get 100RPM.

Final tweaking of the ratio can then be done using belts/pulleys, but 100rpm is probably pretty close to what you need anyway! A sidewheeler would need a bit more RPM than that, but a quarterwheeler doesn't need such high paddle speeds.

Regards
Eddy

[Talisman]

Hi Alan,
As Eddy says the 200rpm motors on 6v one for each wheel with gearing 1:1
Another advantage for you with the 200rpm motors is they are very light.
would probably be a good set up.
You could  use trims on the Radio and speed controller to make the last adjustment if you wanted to keep things simple.

If I'm to be honest the 200rpm run almost silently if kept bellow 7.2v
At full 12v the motor (not the gears) starts to make a little noise.

Hope it helps,
Kim

[AlanP]

Well I said that I wouldn't start it yet, but halfway through cleaning the workshop this afternoon I had to have a little look, and that turned into a little tinker, well might as well have three boats on the go instead of two 
The drive shaft for the paddles went right through and was out of line, with no way of removing it, the grub screws holding the paddles to it where rounded off and the bearing holder was held in place with a few spots of filler and would have let water into the hull. Drive shaft cut, grub screws drilled out and everything removed.
But at the rear of the hull I found a short prop shaft outer, stuffed with filler, do these boats usually have a centre prop or has someone just been using that as a drive with the paddles free wheeling.
Must get the workshop finished now 

Alan

[Eddy Matthews]

In answer to your question Alan, no the boat shouldn't have a prop fitted - Sounds like someone used it as a method of propulsion because they didn't know how to get paddlewheels to work!

Regards
Eddy

[AlanP]

Thanks Eddy, the offending piece will be removed 

Alan

[AlanP]

It's me again    can't leave the paddle boat alone. Two questions please

Eddy.   Can you tell me what size the output shaft is on your 200 rpm motor please.

Water line.   There is a ledge running around the boat, about how far down from this is the water line

See you are at the Blackpool show Eddy, where I will give you my thanks for all your help, might even buy something 

[Eddy Matthews]

It's me again    can't leave the paddle boat alone. Two questions please

Eddy.   Can you tell me what size the output shaft is on your 200 rpm motor please.

I don't have one of the motors to hand Alan, I think your confusing me and Kim - It's Kim that runs Clyde Model Boats and I'm sure he will be able to answer that in due course...

Water line.   There is a ledge running around the boat, about how far down from this is the water line

See you are at the Blackpool show Eddy, where I will give you my thanks for all your help, might even buy something 

You probably will see me at Blackpool, as I'm likely to be giving Kim a hand on his stall

If you buy from the stall Kim will get your pennies....  I could probably be persuaded to take a refreshement break in the hotel bar though!

Eddy

[AlanP]

Was rereading the thread and saw my mistake  was just about to alter the post but you beat me to it.

Refreshements  mmmm depends if you tell me about the water line 

If Kim does not respond to this post I will PM him

Alan

[Eddy Matthews]

I've never built a model of the Lulonga, so I cannot be definite about the waterline Alan. But I'm fairly sure we have a set of plans for it at our club - I'll take a look tomorrow when I'm there if no-one responds in the meantime.....

Regards
Eddy