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

[DamienG]

Outstanding Thomas.

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hullo Thomas......

I suspect the water proofing of the planked wooden roof would have been canvas strips, secured on the sides then rolled with molten tar

We have here a home page image of an Indian steamer with a deep ORANGE super structure ..... with a roof as discussed. It also appears to have a smoke or soot  blackening ...........

I certainly am unsure how you will preserve your roof finish..............if is left as the natural finish, dust & grime will be difficult to remove. ....... a thinned coating of matt spray with black dye may degrade the visual aspect you have created 

Derek

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Derek,

I suppose, a coat of colorless spray to fix charcoal drawings will be rather good possibility to avoid dust and dirt. The pictures of the rocket steamer roof were a prototype of my model. We will see.

Thomas

[Hankwilliams]

Just waiting...

two weeks ago I ordered 4 kits of lifeboats. I hope to get the kits in this week, for I `m able to finish the "China" and do some test trials in a water basin.
Except the lifeboats only some little details are missing. Yesterday I assembled the steam pipe and the davits.

Thomas

[Hankwilliams]

As good as finished...

in the last days I installed the lifeboats (Elde product), the funnel braces and the red insign flag. The ships name is missing, because I`m lacking of two tombac N letters which I ordered by Steingraeber Modellbau in Reutlingen, just 30 km from here. It`s a quite good feeling, you know.
Next week I will make some engine trials in my plexiglass basin, hope all things will be ok!

Thomas

[DamienG]

  Wonderful 

[Hankwilliams]

Damian - thanks for your cheers!

Thomas

[DamienG]

 

[Delaunay]

 :)Hello;
Too beautiful, as my little girls would say, I am the tongue during such work and getting very small.
Bravo and beautiful
François

[Hankwilliams]

Hi friends and neighbors,

in the last days I did some trials with steam in my water basin. The boat lies very stable, the draft reaches exactly the waterline, as you see.
Engine was running good, but in the beginning the gas tank became cold and looses pressure. So I made a tank heating with steam. Two minor leaks at the engine were sealed.
After at least 6 hours of trials and improvements it seems all is ok.
There are a few details at the boat which still must be done - the ships name, a ladder to the roof and some more.
The model is very bulky, it seems it will be necessary  of assisting by a second person for put it to water at a lake or river.
The rotation of the direct driving wheels: It`s possible to hold 108 rpm by a boiler pressure of 2,3 bar - in the calm water of the basin and with heating of the gas tank. Shortly the rpm can reach more than 160 by a pressure of 3,4 bar, but then the boiler pressure goes down soon.
There is only one problem with the boiler feed pump - obviously there`s no suction when the water level is below the pump - like in the boat. I will watch this.
The duration of running is about 45 - 50 minutes without feed pump, then the boiler must filled again. The triad steam pipe in the front funnel needs a lot of steam, but the sound is nearly original, real phantastic.
Now I hope, you will enjoy the pictures!

Thomas

[derekwarner_decoy]

Congratulations Thomas.........

You have said many things .... ....so I will not bore you with additional comment on the same points

Model weight...is she near the projected 15kg?.......yes you will need a second Deck Officer or Trainee Engineer with the transport, launching & mooring etc  ....I am sure you will find helpers at a common pond or club.....they will be sitting around the table just like this....

Boiler Feed Pump ...yes flooded suction is certainly preferable.....[can this be resolved?]

Running Time...40 to 45 minutes [on one boiler fill @ 2>3 Bar] is excellent..........did that require a gas refill during this period?

After this time ...30 minutes +...one may need a break to enjoy a  ......so I certainly would not be concerned about this........

Paddle Wheel Floats...I see you have left the timber floats as un-painted ..I do like this .....I plan to treat my floats in Toung Oil ...[the Chinese used this in waterproofing 'boat building' in a few Centuries BC]......

She also appears to create a huge paddle wash which is rather spectacular 

I look forward to seeing her on a pond or lake and hearing of her trials........

1. at ~~108 RPM & constant boiler pressure, it will be interesting to understand how this relates to vessel speed...[however we must remember she was a graceful river steamer and not a speed boat......and totally different in operation to contemporary sea going paddle steamers]
2. would you expect a turning circle of ~~~7 metre?.....
3. would such a turning circle only be achieved at full speed?
4. will the vessel in fact turn at low speed?

Again....thank you for an excellent and very interesting build project ...you deserve a  or two

Derek

[derekwarner_decoy]

Just .. ...... ... we see the gas tank is exposed to a certain angle of natural light

Do you have a $20.00 digital pyrometer?..........if so.....it would be interesting to understand the gas tank temperature when filled in your workshop......the take the vessel outside to expose the tank to Mother Nature??

I believe you will be surprised [and happy] in the temperature gradient 

Derek

[Spankbucket]

Your comment on the size of your boat reminded me of that fabulous video of you with 'Choctaw' at that exhibition!!!!

A really great piece of work!!!

[Hankwilliams]

Hi all,

Thank you. Today I assembled the tombac Letters (aeronaut Reutlingen) and the ladder in the middle of the roof.
Derek: I `m also tensed how much the turning circle will be - the rudder is relative big. I weighted the model just two weeks ago, weight was 14,5 kg.
The turning circle of my "Hope" (lenght 186 cm) is more than 7 meters, but the rudder is smaller and the underwater form is much different.
Boiler feed pump: One solution would be, to installate one or two watertanks between paddleboxes and engine area - then the water level will be above the pump. The floats of the paddles are only varnished.
As I wrote, the model is very bulky, therefore I will make a frame on which the boat lies, holding by two ropes. I think, after Eastern we will make a trip - my wife will assist me bringing the model from the car to the pond.
Now some additional pictures...on last picture you see the valve for gas tank heating, just in the upper right area.

Thomas

[Hankwilliams]

Hi dear friends and Neighbors,

some pictures of the first and second trip of the "China". It wasn`t too easy, because this summer in nearly all ponds and small rivers large colonies of water-weed has spread. Three times I had to remove water - weed from the wheels. But I hope, you will enjoy the pictures. Speed is rather fast with full steam, then also a turn is not too wide.

Thomas