Paper Hulled Steam Tug Anglia

[David Hunter]

Over on Card Modellers forum (http://www.papermodelers.com/) TAPCHO recently built the Walden Models'paper model of Cleopatra's Needle Barge and I commented on that thread that I was going to build  a working model of the famous Watkin's steam tug Anglia which towed the obelisk to London in 1878.

And build it in paper!

Well I reached a milestone today and it's time to show and tell.

A plan and basic instructions are presented in G. H. Deason's book Simple Cardboard Models (MAP 1969) AKA Cardboard Engineering with Scissors and Paste from 1958. ( Details of Deason's other steam paddler the Cumbria are available here in the downloads section)

The technique is initially intimidating but ultimately not that difficult:

1. Make a plug mould. I used blue foam off a building site; acquired on a windy day when it was a nuisance to the workmen and freely given. 6mm depron foam was used for the parallel portion in the centre of the hull and all was glued together with UHU Pur foam glue. Carving was a skill I thought I had lost but with construction lines and templates I got there.

2. Cover the mould and make the hull. The plug was wrapped in kitchen film/wrap and a layer of wet model aeroplane tissue laid over this (blue in this case). Then the hull popper was laid using strips of 50mm wide gum-strip or parcel tape which is/was sold on rolls dry and the glue (gum)  activated by immersion in water. The strops were applied in layers, first along the hull then laid diagonal fashion to port followed by diagonal to starboard then straight again. Seven layers were applied in all allowing each layer to dry over night.

Card modelling experience was very valuable when cutting and fitting the stern and bow pieces which required a bit of finesse.

Once dry I built a "gizmo" out of thick card and marked waterline, datum and deck line around the trimmed hull then fitted the rudder keel piece and covered it too. Positions for the paddle axle were also marked and all other setting out will be offset from these lines and points.

After sanding and sealing with Deluxe Material's Eze-Kote resin (three coats) it was off to the bath to see if she would float or leak. The answer is yes and no.

For detailing the Walden Models paper model of the Anglia will be a useful aid. However, the next stage is to fit her out with electric power and radio control for the rudder.

David

[Eddy Matthews]

Nicely done David....

I bought the Walden models Anglia card model, and have thought about enlarging it to build a working model complete with the barge which carried Cleopatras Needle, so I'll follow your build with interest.

Regards
Eddy

[marinemole]

Delighted to see your thread, gummed paper lives on, but unfortunately increasingly difficult to obtain.

I am building a model of the Japanese battleship Fuso to1:100 scale using a plasticard skeleton infilled with pink foam which will be skinned by gummed paper coated with PVA and finally by a coat of glass finishing mat and resin.

Like Eddie will be following your thread with interest.

Andy

[mogogear]

Made plug of blue foam to model a 50" torpedo boat destroyer over the last year- you sure seem to have gone about it much quicker than I 

The Anglia is a very attractive tug!!!- and the paper model is eye catching-- good to have this to watch!

[David Hunter]

Thanks Eddy, Andy and Greg.

Gum Strip, well it sounds like a difficult sort of job but it isn't too trying really. Still not 100% convinced it will not soak up the water and sink .

Fuso lovely.

Speed: well the Depron foam parallel section helped speed me up and as you can see she's no size at all.

David

[steamboatmodel]

We had one fellow in our club that built model boats out of cardboard. He just coated them with shellac as a waterproofing when he first started, then switched to epoxy when it became available. One of his earlier ones was a recovery target towing launch (shellacked) that he used to hand the transmitter to children to run at shows. This model took quite a beating and still survived.
Regards,
Gerald.

[David Hunter]

Probably last work I'll do for a few days, just a mock up with the paddle wheels built per the Deason's article on a wire axle.

I thought plastic card or even litho-plate might look better and be rather more graceful. Also not sure how I can 100% waterproof other than submerge the entire paddle wheel in thin varnish?

David

[David Hunter]

Made a little progress and have managed to get a MFA Como Drills' gearbox and motor in to the tiny hull, 65mm wideπ. I was thrilled to bits when, despite measuring numerous times, the fit was good!

The pulley wheel is currently too big and thus rotation is too slow. At present c. 44mm diameter, I'll reduce the size of the pulley and and work out the gearing in a methodical manner to go a little faster. Also too much slip in the system.

The two 1.5V AA batteries are in a Meccano battery pack, part number 720.

David

[Spankbucket]

Hi David

Great job..looks fantastic.

It also tells me that I was too ambitious with my drive system as I still have to get it to my satisfaction!!

Cheers.........Bernie

[mjt60a]

Thanks Eddy, Andy and Greg.

Gum Strip, well it sounds like a difficult sort of job but it isn't too trying really. Still not 100% convinced it will not soak up the water and sink ....

I'm sure it'll be fine provided it's waterproofed, my current build was made from thin card on a balsa framework and the previous one was newspaper soaked with PVA (again, balsa frame). both are covered by a thinnish layer of glasscloth and resin. I even made one as a test, with newspaper and only sealed it with sanding sealer & paint, it was OK too - but would be susceptible to damage to the hull surface...

[David Hunter]

Thanks "mtj".

I am less worried about the hull being water-proof now that I have carried out two ballasting exercises in the bath.

However, I am still mulling over the paddles. I reckon third time will be the trick and I will use plasti-card and a building jig of some fiendish contrivance to ensure alignment.

I have built the framework/carcasses for the deck house, boiler casings etc. & the funnels but otherwise not making much progress this weekend. I have had a cold and too many things to do including a great day at the York Model Boat Club spring regatta:

http://www.yorkmodelboatclub.com/ymbc/York_Model_Boat_Club.html

No paddlers.

David

[Talisman]

my current build

 
Mick, what you up to now?
Spill the beans ...?
Regards,
Kim

[mjt60a]

Well.... officially I'm still working on the Princess Elizabeth - yes the hull is made of apple pie packaging!
but... I also have another 'experimental' project that I do a little bit on when the fancy takes me, it's a small motor sailer built only from materials found in the scrapyard or left over from previous projects (so I've had to wait for ply and styrene sheet to become available after using it on the Liz) but this isn't the place to go into that, I'll make a build thread if anyone really wants to know about it, but progress is slow...   

[mogogear]

Good luck with the third round on paddle wheels  David....I love your ( and others) use of paper and card board in ships!