New Member

[AKS]

Hello Everybody,

I found the website yesterday when I did a random search for information about the Watkins tug Anglia - aka Three Fingered Jack.
It's always fascinated me after I read about it years ago in a book and the description of the tow of Cleopatra's Needle.
I've never yet found a satisfactory plan and only one photograph and several obviously inaccurate engravings.

I started making model boats in my last couple of years at school. After I started work I was never home for very long so gave it up.
Recently I find I have a lot more time on my hands so I've just started back with a simple project. Glynn Guest's 'Phantom' US. Civil War blockade runner.

In view of the fact that his model did not reach it's intended design speed I've decided to make a couple of small alterations. I'm going to use a lower reduction gear to get around 300 rpm. at the paddle wheels and a fractionaly larger diameter paddle wheel of a different design, raised slightly higher in the hull to get less immersion of the floats.

I'm also trying to work out a slightly different desing of wheel as I strongly suspect that his design was a major cause of drag. Has anyone else tried similar alterations and did it have any effect?

Alan

[Eddy Matthews]

Welcome to Paddleducks Alan....

I've never built a model of the Phantom, so I can't help with your questions on that, but one of our members, Oliver Weiss, has produced a small card kit of the Anglia, which could probably be scaled up to produce some reasonable drawings. His username on here is Waldenmodels.

You can see photos of the kit and place an order by viewing his website at http://www.waldenfont.com/papermodels/default.asp

Regards
Eddy

[AKS]

Thanks Eddy,

It's Oliver's postings that lead me here. I'm intrigued about the plan he refers to in the P.N. Thomas book British Tugs.
I've had that book for years and there is no Anglia plan in it.

EDIT: I've just seen another thread and I see the plans are actually here somewhere on the website.

Alan

[tonyh]

Hi Alan,
Welcome to Paddleducks,
Regarding the Glynn Guest Phantom which you are planning to build, I have owned one of these which I bought at a modelmakers bring and buy sale. The one which I bought had been built with far too much topweight and was very unstable. The builder had compensated for this by adding lead plates under the hull. I removed these and tried to reduce the topweight but this was never successful. Unfortunately I didn't spot this mistake until it was too late.

I heard these words regarding paddler models (on this site) - when building (the upperworks?), build as light as you possibly can - and then build at half that weight!

Tony.

[Eddy Matthews]

Thanks Eddy,

It's Oliver's postings that lead me here. I'm intrigued about the plan he refers to in the P.N. Thomas book British Tugs.
I've had that book for years and there is no Anglia plan in it.

EDIT: I've just seen another thread and I see the plans are actually here somewhere on the website.

Alan

There are two articles on Anglia in our files Alan....

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=41

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=307

Regards
Eddy

[AKS]

Hello Tony,

Yes I'm aware of the stability issues. I'm making sure everything is as low as possible inside the hull and the upperworks will be as light as possible.

The best way to increase stability is to increase the beam - the greater the area of the waterplane the better will be the initial stability.
(See the picture below)
You will often find comments about old warships be found crank (having marginal stability) and being girded - that's where they put an extra layer or several layers of planking around the waterline.
It's not that easy on a paddler but even one or two layers of Glynn Guest's favourite card covering glued on could solve the problem.

Alan

[AKS]

There are two articles on Anglia in our files Alan....

Thanks Eddy.

Alan

[tonyh]

Alan, must say you have it all in hand.      Sorry I didn't do the same research before parting with my money.
Here is a photograph of mine anyway.
 


Good luck with the build and please keep us updated with the progress (and photographs).
Tony.

[mogogear]

Alan, must say you have it all in hand.      Sorry I didn't do the same research before parting with my money.
Here is a photograph of mine anyway.
 


Good luck with the build and please keep us updated with the progress (and photographs).
Tony.

an aside -Tony...are you the Arquebuse TonyH from MBM?

 BTW, great advise about keeping the top half light ..then lighter...!! Good stuff to take to heart and avoid the instability !