RMAS Forceful

[pealdie]

Hi Everyone

I have just joined this forum as I am interetseted in building RMAS Forceful,my first paddle wheeler. I have had the plans for well over 20 years and now that I have a bit of time on my hands I want to build this ship.

A wee bit about me. I am 57 years of age , a retired police Officer and have been modelling since I was 8 years old  first in plastic and balsa wood aircraft and then when I was 15 I made my first wooden boat (Dimarche).
Since then I have made numerous radio controlled boats with currently 2 retained ,Burutu and a 7ft model of HMS Eagle ( twin funnel one) which is almost finished apart from minor detailing. I got the plans from the Admiralty which cost over £100 and slowly built the model over a number of years. It floats, it sails, it turns and it weighs a ton due to the size, radio gear and ballast needed to make it look right in the water.

Anyway something smaller was needed and when I checked what plans I had Forceful jumped out at me. There is a problem however which I hope some of you guys can assist with.
I was going to scratch build the gearbox and paddle wheels first but when I tried to get hold of 120 tooth gearwheels the cost of them together with the smaller gears was going to be about £90 which the missus didnt go too well on. Add to that the other items for the gearbox and it is looking like it is going to be an expensive build

Does anyone know a good stockists of brass gear  wheels or should I simply go for a simpler system to drive the paddles.
Any help on this matter would be appreciated.

pealdie

[Eddy Matthews]

Welcome to Paddleducks.....

RMAS Forceful was the first paddler I ever built - Unfortunately I made it far too top heavy, so it never sailed well

Having said that, don't be put off! It can be made into a lovely model.

Take a look at the geared motors from Kim at Clyde Model Boats, he does a lovely geared motor which does 300rpm on 12v, so at 6v-7.2v it should be ideal... http://www.clydemodelboats.co.uk/

Regards
Eddy

[pealdie]

Hi Eddy

Thanks for your responce.
Posted my message before I had a good look at the site and the questions I was needing answered are covered in the Paddle/Drive section.
Thks for the pointer. Will have a look at that site now.
Regards
 pealdie

[Bob Morrison]

Hi, just read your post on RMAS Forceful and like you I have had the plans since they were first published almost 30 years ago. In fact I started to build the model way back then and progressed as far as completing the planking of the hull before my first child came along and the priorities on my spare time changed drastically. Also like you I am now 57 years old and have taken early retirement so am hoping to find the time to blow the dust off my shelved (literally sitting on a shelf in my workshop for almost 30 years), project with a view to completing it over coming months and would be very interested in keeping in touch with regard our respective builds.

Hope it goes well

Bob

[Buccaneer]

Hello pealdie,
I finished a 39" paddle tug about 6 months ago, it displaces about 21 lbs. I used 2 of Clyde Model Boats 300 rpm motors and they are brilliant. I used a 1:1 drive using aluminium timing pulleys and a belt from motionco. ( www.motionco.co.uk ) I also used Kim's 150 mm feathering paddle wheels which are strong, but expensive. The wheels are independently controlled and all is run from a 12v 7 A/Hr battery. If anything it is a bit over-powered but runs well. I plan to bring it to Paddler Day.

If you are using independantly driven wheels take loads, and I mean loads!, of time to get the axles in line and the same height above waterline. One of mine is slightly low and as suchdigs in deeper and produces a bit more pull than the other making it a bit out of balance when running.

All the best with your Paddler.
John

[Buccaneer]

Hello pealdie,
I've just delved into the inside of my Paddle Tug and have a couple of corrections on my last post. I actually used a 2:1 reduction from the motors to paddle wheel shaft. The Paddle Wheels are nearer 140mm than the 150 mm I said. Kim's Site is down at the moment whilst he sorts out Cookie rules and regulations but it should be fairly obvious which ones I mean.

John

[Talisman]

Hi All,

I will post a msg in the traders area regards the web site

you are right john th ewheels are 140mm.

(now between you and me .... if you set your wheels to feather they won't dig in)
But don't worry i won't tell anybody and look forward to seeing the tug on the water at paddler day ... if you can make it then even better

Speak soon,
Kim

[mogogear]

A late welcome Pealdie!! Hope to see your posts soon!