Tony:
Graupner makes a feathering paddlewheel in plastic used on their
"Glasgow" model
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paddleducks/files/Glasgow.gif The feathering wheels for this model are available separately as a
plastic kit. It's modeling applications may be limited as it's
really designed as a ready made and generic solution which probably
cannot be readily adapted to the vast array of different size wheels
and configurations that exist on prototype ships. The other
consideration is price. I believe the Graupner feathering blade wheel
kit is close to Can $100.00 (45 pounds sterling) and requires
assembly. I am going to research it a little further and place it in
the "FEATHERING BLADE" folder of our paddleducks section.
The other and most important consideration is, I personally doubt
that feathering blades really do improve MODEL paddlewheel ship
performance significantly on the size of models we're building. Our
wheels are so much smaller, probably rotate much quicker and water
pressure insignificant compared to the prototype which definitely
benefitted from the design. Since most of the mechanism is either
hidden by the paddlebox or beneath the water, you're really not going
to SEE much of the mechanism anyway when the boat is afloat.
However, out of the water is another matter entirely. A feathering
blade system looks incredible on a display model and is a pleasure to
describe to the "uninitiated" at Model Shows. When you do, the
look you get is of instant admiration accompanied by an immediate
elevation of status to RPG ("Revered Paddleboat Guru!")!!
So whether or not you use feathering blades on your model becomes
almost an aesthetic thing, but the appeal to those who get a " rush"
from an engineering challenge is undeniable!!
As for me...(and I've given this a lot of thought)..I'm considering
two sets of wheels. First my "simple" paddlewheels for on the
water performance...then a non-operating "display pair" which I'm
building in styrene/urethane (such easy materials to work with) with
all the correct scaling, rivets and gussets, weathering and super
detailing of the original. ONE day, when my skills and time
permit...I'll make a fully operating display set in BRASS (but 'tween
you me and the gatepost..it'll NEVER happen!!!)
As far as the last part of your question goes, Tony. In
sidewheelers, the "RMAS "Director" class Paddle wheelers were the
last commercial paddlewheel tugs ever built. 7 were built in
Scottish Shipyards between 1956 and 1958 and deployed to various
Royal Navy Dockyards for the express purpose of tugging the Royal
Navy's huge aircraft carriers. Incredibly maneuverable and powerful
with their twin Paxman diesel electric engines, they had a short
service life of barely 20 years. Although in fine operating
condition, they were all sadly scrapped without a trace in the late
70's in favour of the new RMAS "TUTT" (Twin Engine Tractor Type) tugs
which revolutionized tugboat operations in the Royal Navy. Although
the "Directors" were often regarded as the "ULTIMATE SIDEWHEEL PADDLE
TUG" and their crews loved them, nobody had the foresight to preserve
one of these beauties. There is an enigmatic epilogue concerning the
"disappearance" of RMAS "Forceful" (the last survivor) which leads
some to believe she still exists somewhere waiting to be
rediscovered!
Our Paddleduck Member, Trevor (Bodiam) in the UK has some knowledge
of this and is also building a model of her. I originally wanted to
model her (that's how I met Trevor )but since I found out he is doing
"Forceful", I decided to model her sister ship "Faithful". Just after
I had received a couple of great photos of her from the RMAS, someone
sent me a photo of a lovely model of "Faithful" done by a modeler in
the UK. Since a model of "Director" (the first ship to be built)has
already been done in Canada I now have to look at one of the
remaining four ships to do. (the names "Griper" and "Grinder" the two
Portsmouth ships, don't really appeal to me!!!)
Incidentally, both Metcalf and Kingston Mouldings do excellent
fibreglass hulls for these ships in 1/48 scale and plans are readily
available. You can find them in our bookmarks section in the "BOSUN's
LOCKER"
However..don't forget that Paddlewheeler construction is alive and
well today! Just go and look back at the thread we had last week (do
a search on "Echuca" on our messages files) and our BOOKMARKS> PADDLE
SHIP RESEARCH CENTRE> PADDLEWHEELERS OF AUSTRALIA >"THE PADDLERS OF
ECHUCA" all telling you about Paddlers on the Murray River in
Australia. A number of our people have told me how much they enjoyed
this information and had previously no idea that Echuca existed. So,
thanks to Jim (Stein) in Australia who first sent us details of this.
So that's it, Tony. Another long winded reply from me, (but then,
what else would you expect?) Hope it all helps!
PJ
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