New little paddler

[Hankwilliams]

Hi friends and neighbors,

one part of my book about steamboat models will be a step by step instruction with text and pictures of building up a steamdriven model. The boat shouldn`t be too difficult, even for not experienced modellers. Now I think, this open Yarrow paddle launch may be the right object.
Scale will be 1 : 12 with a lenght of 113 cm and a breadth of 20 cm. Propulsion will be the Graham TV1A with a homemade boiler. Beginning was yesterday. At end of april I have to finish the manuscript - hope, that the little paddler will be finished with this time...

Thomas

[worrior]

hello hank this is a fun project to follow this
this is not my language but try to do it as well as possible
greeting worrior

[kno3]

This is a nice boat and project. But the Graham tvr1a doesn't seem very suitable, unless you radically modify it to drive the paddlewheels.

[Hankwilliams]

Really? I use the Graham TV1A in 3 boats, two paddlers and one screw driven steamer. From my sight of view this engine is worth the money and with the hackworth gear rather close to an original steam engine. The only problem for the continental model craftsmen comes, if one screw or nut got lose - this kind of threat is not common here.

Thomas

[kno3]

I'm not saying it'not reliable, it works very well. Just saying it does not look like a paddlewheeler engine and it would require modification if you wanted it to directly drive the paddle wheels, as done in full size practice.

[Hankwilliams]

The Graham TV1A can be slighly altered to a diagonal paddle engine like in my Irrawaddy paddler "Mindon". My new little paddler - still without name - saw some progress, next and last work will be the paddles and paddleboxes. Boiler and engine will be installed in the middle of the boat. I hope, this boat will be not too difficult for an unexperienced craftsman. All steps of built will be documented with pictures and description.

Thomas

[DamienG]

Looking good Thomas. 

[Hankwilliams]

Again some advance with my boat. I named her "Presto", hope that the name will come true. Now the open hull with rigid paddlewheels (made of plywood) and - boxes is nearly finished. Material for the boiler is at hand and the kit of the Graham Engine also has arrived. I expect, that the boat will be finished in March. For the book I need good pictures of "Presto", probably next month the lakes are free from ice.

Best regards

Thomas

[Paddlemex]

I am always surprised by your speed of building Thomas. Only six weeks into the project and almost done.

Will you post pictures of the boiler making?
I have been looking at the Graham engines - very nice!!

Jurgen

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Jurgen,

of course I will make pictures of boiler making and the building up of the engine. One bad surprise: The Graham engine kit former was not liable to duty, but now it is - more than 50 - Euro I had to pay. But the price of the slide geared TV1A with ca. 250 $ in proportion is rather low even in comparison with oscillating Regner engines. The lowest price of engines of this size I found in the Chinese Microcosm oscillating engine in V - shape, only 140.- $.

[Hankwilliams]

I completed the TVRIA engine yesterday. The test run this time was very sufficient - it`s my forth TVRIA, with the first 3 engines in the beginning there was some adjustment necessery - but the present engine was running well from first rotation. Next job will be the altering to an diagonal engine like in the paddlers "MOL" and "Mindon". The "Presto" paddler`s casco is as good as finished.

Thomas

[Hankwilliams]

Engine is converted to a diagonal one in a simple, but solid way. I am now considerìng, how the connection from engine reverse to the servo can be reached in a reliable manner. The 100 x 100 mm boiler will be installed directly in front of the engine.

[DamienG]

 

[Paddlemex]

Looks very good.
Actually you didn't have to alter the engine at all. You just made a support for the inclined installation. Or am I missing something?
Is that a 1:1.5 reduction at the gears?

Jurgen

[Hankwilliams]

Yes, Jurgen. The engine itself isn`t altered. The gear reduction is 1 : 1,5 - we will see, whether this is favorable or not. The servo for the engine reverse will be installed in a crate behind it.

Thomas