Ambitious project - model of Irrawaddy paddler "China" in 1 : 48 startet

[Hankwilliams]

Hi friends and neighors,

one week ago I startet my next project: The 1 : 48 model of "China"  of 1888, Irrawaddy sidewheeler. Keel and frames are now layed down as you see.
The lenght of the model will be nearly 2 metres, she will get a steam engine like most of my boats. It will be my largest model.
Because I am still fully employed in an occupation, it will take some time to finish her. I will inform you from time to time .
The plans I got by National Maritime Museum, the photo is from the book: The Irrawaddy Flotilla Companie by Captain Chubb.

The "China" was constructed 1888 by Denny in Dumbarton and was sendet in parts to Burma. In service until 1924, the boat was used after this time as a hulk.
In 1941 as good as all boats of the companie  - include the hulks - were scuttled to avoid falling into the hands of the Japanese troops.

Thomas

[Hankwilliams]

Hi friends and neighbors,

some work was done in the last weeks. I`ve finished the hull planking. Planking is made by 2 mm plywood and 2 mm by 10 mm oak fillets.
In and outside the wood was insulated with resin. Now the next days it will be hardened, after this I will continue with the decks.

Thomas

[DamienG]

Coming along nicely Thomas. 

[andy]

Very intersting kind of a steamer! Looking more like a swimming building than a ship on the first view.
Whad did you calculate for it´s weight? Stability?

Andy

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Andy,

the last 4 existing "rocket steamers" - although dieselised in the 1990tis - in Bangladesh are the last relicts of this kind of river steamers in East Asia.
There are some videos on youtube.
My model has a lenght of 1985 mm, breath of hull 290  mm. I expect a good stability, because the superstucture is not so high, compared with the american riverboats. Weight will be 12 - 15 kg with a draught of 30 mm.

Thomas

[Hankwilliams]

Hi, dear friends and neighbors,

some progress has archieved since the last post. Hull and main deck are almost finished.
Now I will continue with the paddle boxes.

Greetings

Thomas

[DamienG]

She's coming along nicely Thomas. 

[Hankwilliams]

Hi friends and neighbors,

some further progress is done since my last post two weeks ago. Paddleboxes with vents are ready. The rudder engine I made with Caldercraft whitemetal parts, also the capstan. The next work will be the superstructure fore and after the paddleboxes, the material will be mahagony.
In our photo gallery of Glasgow transport museum is a picture of the similar "Nepaul" behind the Congosteamer "Stanley", I presume it is also in 1 : 48 scale, unfortunately it`s not very clear.

Therefore a request: If anyone of us lives in Glasgow or surroundings and is visiting the museum, may be he`s able to shot a clear photo as much aspossible...?
I would be very thankful!

Thanks

Thomas

[herrmill]

Nice work & interesting subject matter outside the norm. I'll be following this one with interest.

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hullo Thomas...a few questions on the steering wheels & steering engine.......cannot see too clearly   but assume 

1. the steering wheel/s shaft axis is geared down ....then drives the horizontal shaft to the valve gear
2. this then ports steam to drive the engine output shaft clockwise or anti-clock wise which in turn hauls in/pays out the rudder chain which is attached to the rudder quadrant

Your expected displacement of 12 to 15 kg sounds line ball with her scale dimensions...how do you plan to  power her....electricity or steam? 

Derek

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Derek,

the steering engine isn`t functinable. It´s not an exact copy of a real steering engine, I made it after the drawings of the plan, including Caldercraft parts - for my opinion the impression is important.
As I know, in Germany only the paddler "Kaiser Wilhelm" remains her original steam driven steering engine, all other paddlers here and in Switzerland
have hydraulic or electric powered systems.
My model will be steam powered. Probable the Regner "Neptun" will be a suitable engine with some necessary alterations from a standing unit (for screw driving) to a direct driving lying diagonal aggregate.
Yesterday I ordered a kit of paddlewheels by Elde Modellbau. The feathered wheels are very expensive (695.- Euro!) but otherwise far more exact than a homebuild paddlewheel, also the diameter will be correct.

Thomas

[Mercury]

Great subject Thomas. Really interested to see this one develop. Given the very shallow draft how much weight will the hull carry?

[Hankwilliams]

Hi,

today I made a deplacement test of the hull in water . Until waterline the hull displaced 13,5 litres. Weight of the incomplete boat is now 5,6 kg - far enough clearance for a steam engine with boiler and feed pump.

Thomas

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hullo Thomas

I have seen images of the paddlewheel by Elde Modellbau...they are 

The Regner Neptune is a beautiful engine but would take considerable speed reduction for paddlewheel operation

The video below is of two Regner 12 bore x 36 stroke engines coupled together to make a twin cylinder engine for a paddle operation.......the work required  in the coupling of the two engines is actually very little.... [join the output shafts & the reversing gear linkage arms......then use one flywheel as a paper weight]

There are at least two model builders that have assembled two 12/36 Regners and made display videos

Would you have two functioning boilers like the original China?...or just one for steam and the other for illusion only?

The combined engines displacement of 16.2 cu mm sounds scary, however the low speed may assist ..... Derek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=uLUzL9eanXE

[Hankwilliams]

Hallo Derek,

the Regner 12 bore/36 stroke engine is also beautiful, I used her (slighly altered) in my sternwheeler "Ville des Bruges". Doubtless a good engine, only the piston slides for the long run were not complete steamtight. Some years ago Regner offered a paddle version of the Neptun, but she is out of production.
I`m also looking in the german ebay for suitable steam engines.
Probable I will make two flame tube boilers  fore and after the engine.  But this will have still some time - for now I must have some attention, thar the expense will not too much in a short time...
The superstructure fore and after the paddleboxes are nearly finished, in the next days I `ll show some pictures.

Thomas