Vulcan / Kylemore

[Mercury]

Having failed to complete my Waverley project (mothballed when I moved house overseas) I'm a touch nervous to start a new build here but have to decided to anyway. Hopefully this will act as a incentive to complete it fairly rapidly.

Having received some great help to find drawings andcomponents I have started to make progress on the new build. As I stated when I was looking for information previously this vessel was ordered as the Kylemore in 1897 but had to wait 10 years before she finally took that name having been the Britannia and the Vulcan in the interim. As the Vulcan she wore the beautiful colours of the Glasgow and South Western Railway - owners of the magnificent Juno & Glen Sannox. Unlike these fliers she was an all year round working steamer of 200' in length - very much a typical vessel for her day.

In 1907 she returned to her original owner, Captain James Williamson and continued to work for Williamson and Williamson Buchanan until she was sunk in WWII in 1940. Her regular route was Rothesay to Glasgow and even today the inside berth at Rothesay Pier is still known as the "Kylemore berth" due to her long associated with it. The Kylemore was used as much for cargo as passengers and interestingly the area on the main deck forward was not fitted out as a lounge but was even used on occasion for the carriage of cattle & sheep!

The model itself is based on a Models By Design Albion hull with modified paddles by Kim at Clyde Model Boats. The drawings are from the originals sourced at the Ballast Trust in Johnstone. I haven't as yet decided if she will be built as Vulcan or Kylemore or if the bridge will be behind or in front of Ethe funnel.

Some pictures attached so early progress - I have built up the hull sides from the original lower moulding and am currently framing out the interior.

[djcf]

hi Richard,

Glad you have made a start...looking like her already with the bow plated up to prom deck level. As you know I like the Kylemore/Vulcan so looking forward to seeing your progress with her!
regards
Clark

[PeeWee]

Good luck wirth the build, i always enjoy reading them

[Mercury]

Progress is coming on now although I haven't posted much. I've had to build completely from plasticard this time around which I have found to be easier than using ply. Anyway, I've completed the hull internal structure, installed the sub decks and built the sponsons. I've gone for detachable sponsons again, same as my Waverley build. Interestingly I found them much easier to build this the around - I guess it's just the practice.

I've purchased a set of paddle wheels from Kim at Clyde Model Boats. Kim was kind enough to resize his Juno set which are 7 bladed and have exactly the same profile so by reducing the diameter of the wheel and width of the blades I have a scale set. Many thanks to Kim for doing this for me and perhaps a suggestion for those others who need a set of wheels which are slightly different from the standard sizes.

I'm still swithering between going for the ship as the G&SWR Vulcan with bridge abaft the funnel and Lavender grey hull or the plainer Kylemore with bridge ahead of the funnel and black and white paint.

Next challenge will be the paddle box fronts. I'm going to try and make them in plasticard - failing this I may get them etched in brass. Kylemore has a simple but very delicate curved slat design which could be quite difficult to get right.

Some pictures attached

[Talisman]

Hi Richard,Now  I'm no great fan of Plasticard but have pushed ahead / lead the way in the laser cutting of the stuff ... I'd be interested to hear how in ''Layman's / Kim'' terms how you did the sponsons houses they look very cleanly built!
Regards,
Kim

[mjt60a]

It's looking very good, as to the colour scheme/version I think the 'vulcan' sounds more interesting... but either will be great 

[Mercury]

Kim - Sponson houses are very simply built. One piece base with hole for the paddle drum cut out. Some simple box structures in the general shape of the houses but without the curves. I then stuck on the top decks and used very thin plastic for the outer skin of the deckhouses. Finally I put in the plastic for the drums - the space creates the right shape - I just needed to get the length of plastic right.

mjt60a,

We had the family vote yesterday. Having attached the sponsons I mocked up a couple of cardboard deckhouses and tried her in Vulcan and Kylemore configuration. Kids and wife all voted for Kylemore - may be something to do with the fact that is the name of our house (yes - it was named after the paddler!) So it will be Kylemore.

Pictures of the mock ups attached:

[mjt60a]

As I'm not familiar with this ship I couldn't resist searching out a few pictures
http://website.lineone.net/~tom_lee/kylemoreimg.htm
http://www.paddlesteamers.info/Kylemore.htm
http://www.wrecksite.eu/imgBrowser.aspx?17363

[mogogear]

Nice crisp styrene work indeed!! ..Ahh ...family votes

[djcf]

Hi Richard,

She's coming together very nicely indeed, and as has been said the sponsons look the part, neatly done.
Looking forward to seeing more as you progress,

cheers
Clark

[Talisman]

Hi Richard,
Thanks for the explination... but ... did you heat / form the curves prior to glue or did you use a former?
Either way i'm still impressed!
regards
Kim

[Mercury]

I just bent thin 0.5m plasticard around the curve. The important bit was to ensure I had a good surface to glue either side. Also notching the top into the deck above helped set the point the curve started.

Thanks for the comments Clark. You MoL is looking great!

[Mercury]

Following another gap to move country again I'm now making some progress. The paddle box facings have been completed - I just used plasticard with strip behind to simulate the pattern of vents. An etched brass option would probably have resulted in a finer finish but I wanted to keep it simple given my remote location. Next steps will be to complete detailing the sponsons with doors, windows, lining etc. and then start painting them.

I did manage to get back to the UK a couple of weeks ago and had a sail at Rouken Glen with the Model Steamer Club. One of the models sailing was a really excellent Marchioness of Graham at 1:48th. This was the first time I've seen one of these sailing in a long while and it reminded me what a great model this ship makes. Will try and get photos next time I am back.

[Mercury]

Finally added some pictures. Paddle box fronts now added and I'm currently detailing the sponsons with doors, lining etc. It looks a bit scrappy at the moment but will look better with paint. That will have to wait for a while until I get back to the UK for some materials.

In the backgrounds are the drawings. A bit faint but not bad for photocopies of drawings from the 1890's.

[Talisman]

Hi Richard,
I'm so glad your relocation hasn't stopped you building and have to say she is looking good!

Now settle down in one country and get builing!

hope to see you soon,
Regards,
Kim