Freelance steam powered paddle tug

[PhilH]

Following my recent introduction - here is my attempt at the construction of a 3/8" to 1 foot (1/32) paddle tug.

My main aim is to build a functional, steam powered, radio controlled model rather than an exact museum standard replica.  I managed to locate hull lines and photographs of Eppleton Hall to use as a basis but I am definitely not making any attempt to religiously stick to the original design.

I transferred the lines to a large sheet of paper to give a 1m long hull and I am now trying to decide which construction method to use.  I initially thought about using bread and butter construction then swayed towards plank on frame after seeing the cost of balsa wood at my local hobby shops.  However, I am now swaying back to bread and butter following an internet search for balsa or bass wood.  Bass wood is slightly more expensive but probably less prone to prangs?  Any views on either would be appreciated.  I understand that bread and butter is relatively expensive and quite wasteful but I believe it is likely to be faster and possibly easier for a beginner to boat modelling.  Any views would be appreciated.

PhilH

[Gerhardvienna]

Hi Phil
I alwys use  4 - 5 mm plywood for the frames, and balsa or pine for the planks, this depends on the length of the model. For Models up to 1 meter balsa is OK, if it is laminated after planking. Pinewood is stronger and much more expensiv, I use it for longer hulls over 1 meter, and this also is laminated with epoxy resin and glassfiber sheets.
Regards
Gerhard

[bill stafford]

just as a thought, have you seem glen guests paddle tug in MBs??
it is supposed to be a 1/32 tug but its not,so Im thinking  about re-drawing it, but in the same style of construction , super simple
it would be much bigger, but done in balsa, might even use a set of adelaide paddle wheels, that I have to spare ,as a quick model
food for thought
bill S
 

[HH]

Mr Stafford,
             Your statement "it is supposed to be a 1/32 tug but is not" worries me.
I have checked the article and failed to find any such statement.  In fact it clear states the model to be freelance and approximately 1/36 scale.  Please put e out of my misery and show me where such a statement exists.
Glynn Guest

[kiwimodeller]

Phil, regardless of the scale I would be concerned that at 1 meter hull length you would be cramped for room to fit a reasonable steam plant. To my mind if you are going to go to the trouble of building a steam powered boat you want to be looking at a twin cylinder engine (so that it is reversable) and this is going to mean at very least a 6" (150mm) long horizontal boiler. To fit this sort of set up without having all the neccessary accesories crammed in close I feel you should look at a hull at least 1.25M long. Regards, Ian.

[DamienG]

The majority of my models built over many years were from Glynn Guest plans as I recall none stated they were true scale I found them close enough to use fittings and sailors of the size Glynn states the plan approximates. have a look at my Lady of the lake (my take on Glynns Wrigley 121 or the or my conversion to Paddles of his Ogdensburg ferry Sea Road Lady.)

As already stated by  kiwimodeller I also think at it's designed size it will be a tad small for a steam plant.
Damien.

[bill stafford]

dear Mr glen guest ,
I am very sorry if I have up-set you ,It was never my intention to give you a restless night , over what I wrote , I really enjoy your articles , and intend to promote them to new members at the pond .
it seems my style to shorten text down to bare issues ,has crossed wires in the forum ,I can only say sorry
what I was getting at , is if the model was based on the eppleton hall tug , it was far smaller than it should have being .
In our area of the world , were we suffer from strong winds ,a larger sized model is a help .also by adding larger diam paddle wheels ,and also widening the paddle blade width , this creates extra thrust
I was trying to show , that a simple model , based on this plan , but enlarged to its larger scale dimensions ,should produce a quick to build model , that would look nice on the water ,like the original model does .
I trust this helps to settle my mistake ,as I had no wish to up-set any-one
regards and keep writing good articles   bill s

[bill stafford]

HERE I GO AGAIN!!  hope i dont put my foot in my mouth again !!!!
 steam power-it is far better to use a bigger hull, But we have put a boiler plant in a1100mm tug hull, and there is plenty of room,so a 1000mm tug is possible,w care
we used a gas fired boiler from MSM au,100mm diam.it is compact w a gas fired burner,drives a TVR 1,plenty of power,to 75mm prop,the steam plant is only apprtox. 600mm loa mounted on a common drip tray ,to remove the whole plant ,to change to electric power
with care you should be able to drive a 1M tug w steam ,but the bigger hulls are less of a squeeze
currently im getting ready to do the steam launch from model ship fittings au , w 75mm vertical boiler to clyde steam oscilator plant , gas fired
regards bill s

[bill stafford]

more foot in mouths , oops.
I started on the 1/32 paddle tug in G Guest style,inspired by the MB plan
approx. 955mmloa+200mm beam+100mm per side paddle boxes-low detail+simple construction, as designed by GGuest.early days yet, but I intend to sand deck balsa,then cover w paper+dope ,to seal it for painting.
paddle wheels will be alum frame,sized to suit adelaide , in i/24
twin tooth belt drive, from300rpm motors , to allow the model to spin in its own length+thinking of a becker type rudder, so as she will steer well
the aim of the model will to create a faST,SIMPLE MODEL ,thatlooks good out on the water,6/10ft away
bill s

[bill stafford]

IT SEEMS WE HAVE LOST THE ORIGINAL PADDLE TUG BLOKE
how is it going ??
it all seems hard at the start ,just make a start, it will fall into place,have a go ,its all fun
bill s
I promise to not help ??

[Barry]

Any photos yet Bill?

[bill stafford]

GDAY,   BARRY,
   no photos yet ,but, ole wooden head bill doesnt really know how+no time to find out ,Kay gone to folk festival, so , down a girl
basic hull frame done ,deck tissued+doped, compliments of geelong flowers , not as much room in it as first though, trial fitted motors+battery,was trying to lay battery down,w motors on top of false floor ,may have to go to smaller battery.
all fun
regards bills
ps have to send model engines a photo too

[bill stafford]

just about done all the drive , 1000rpm motors , 540? through 3:1 t/belts ,using 1/24 adelaide p wheels , but wider , approx. 85mm, twelve volt battery, becker rudder under construction, to make the beast turn
bill s