1 : 50 live steam model of paddlesteamer "Rigi"

[Hankwilliams]

Hi friends and neighbors,

a few pictures of my little model of "Rigi", steam driven. This model I built first in 1967 as a 14 year old boy from a kit of Billing boats. Througt decades it was kept in the house of my parents . A few years ago (2009) I rebuilt the whole model, some parts of the old one used again, but most is new.
Propulsion gives a tiny Andreas ministeam oscillating engine (6 mm bore and stroke) combined with a 50 x 100 mm flame tube boiler.
It`s a great joy steering this tiny (81 cm) ship on summer and autumn evenings.
In the 1960ties Billing Boats produced also one other paddlesteamer, the 1 : 32 "Hjeilen" of similar dimensions. Also this model I rebuilt in later times with a ministeam engine. May be later I will send you some pictures too.

Thomas

[DamienG]

Certainly a beautiful Ship/model Thomas.

[Hankwilliams]

Thanks Damian,
may be some further detail pictures are interesting. The bow decoration and the sidewalls of the saloon are from the original boat, which I built as 14 year old boy - long time ago!

[Hankwilliams]

"Rigi", the original. Transformation of the boat while a time of 100 years.

The "Rigi" was constructed 1847 in London by Ditchburn&Mare. The sections were sended by ship, with railway and by horse-drawn vehicles to Lucerne/Switzerland. In April 1848 the ship was finished and at the end of may the regular travels begin.
These pictures show the transformations of the boat in a space of time of nearly 100 years.
The boat was withdrawn in 1952 and after fully restauration in his last condition in 1959 "Rigi" got an exhibit of the Swiss transport Museum in Lucerne.
In 2005 the boat got very damaged througt hight water, all wooden parts had to be removed.
In the last years "Rigi" was restored again to 1870 condition (last 2 pictures).

[Gerhardvienna]

Hi Thomas

Thank you for this! Beautiful model, and some photos that are new to me! As I can see, the RIGI had solid walls instead of a "normal" railing in her early years. Thanks for showing, this will help me with my RIGI build!

Regards
Gerhard