Beginnig a new construction - Rhone paddler "OCEAN with 322 cm lenght

[Hankwilliams]

Railing was finished with brass stanchions and 0,5 mm steel wire. I`m not shure - should I paint railing in black color or should it be as it is? I`m also considering to paint the deck in a light grey color for better optical effect - even black is very susceptible against dust and dirt.
I haven`t exact plans of the boat. There are many details which are not clear of color and looking. Fortunately I visited museum in Tournon sur Rhone last September and took some pictures about "Missouri" porteur and further models.

Thomas

[Paddlemex]

Hi Thomas,

I would paint the railings for two reasons:
1.- looks better and
2.- rust inhibiting.

Great build again.

Regards Jurgen

[Hankwilliams]

Building and installing the paddlewheels.
I made the rigid paddlewheels of 1 mm aluminium, there are 16 floats per wheel in dimensions 53 x 11 mm. Outside diameter of wheel is 124 mm, weight is very low.  Paddle shaft is above deck, the detailing must wait until the engine will be installed. Jürgen - I painted the railing in a gun metal graphite tone, from my impression it looks quite good.
I ´ve ordered three Faller cranes, which seems nice, but must be altered because the scale is a little bit too small.

Thomas

[John S]

I found it interesting seeing the offset paddle floats. Was this common on fixed float wheels? John.

[chewbacca]

 

[Hankwilliams]

John S - I made the paddlewheels like of the model "Mediterranee", the sister ship of "Ocean" in Castle Museum, Tournon sur Rhone, which I visited last year. This model isn`t very well made as you see, but gave some informations about details. I hope, my boat will be close to the original ship. The open paddleboxes were common to Rhone steamboating.

Thomas

[derekwarner_decoy]

Morning Thomas.......

With the Ocean de Mediterranee , firstly I wouldn't like to see her in an ocean, nor in the substantial river flood waters you experienced a year or so ago ......however what is in a name? 

The open top 1/2 of the paddle boxes would add to the visual effect by throwing a considerable quantity of water out

The example model in the Museum has one fixed swivel manual rope hoist , but for six hatch/holds!, which I assume on the original would have been sectioned off between each hold?

Still cannot imagine launching and steering the model, but what a ton of fun,,,,,, 

Two months ago, Covid was still the greatest fear, now other matters of dire consequence and importance.....stay safe

Derek

[Hankwilliams]

The contrast between the ships names "OCEAN" plus "MEDITERRANEE" and their construction and area of operation can`t be more much. I made the cargo hatches like in the plan - I suppose that between the freight section were bulkheads.
Detailing the model will be important. From Faller factory a very realistic kit of a small loading crane is availiable - but it was too small, made for HO railways modelling. I ordered three cranes, it wasn`t difficult to extend the crane boom with brass tube to scale of approximate 1 : 50. The art of anchor attachment I don`t find in models of castle museum in Tournon, it`s standart

[derekwarner_decoy]

Evening Thomas.......

1. are you planning on a simulated Rudder Arm as the principal method of steerage? - would you place a scale Helmsman?
2. the FWD anchor Windlass.....is that a manually rotated arrangement or steam/piston driven?
3. the old Plan indicates some form of Crew accommodation under the stern deck, not sure if any similar accommodation is provided toward of No1 hatch at the forepeak or is it just below deck storage?
4. the manual gear/wire hoists look good, are you installing 1 x hoist per hatch? [I think I see........  8 x hatches?]

I still find it difficult to understand how these men navigated vessels of such length in the River network 

Derek

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Derek,

today I saw my answers to your questions were not post. Therefore again my answers:
It`s a good idea to place a helmsman clothed in the dress of mid nineteen century - I will loof for a scale figur.
The models in Tournon museum don`t had anchors and windlasses. I made this parts like common European inland steamers.
Crew accommodation was fore and aft the freight hatches.
There were one crane for two hatches, so I made four cranes, one hatch doesn`t have a crane.

Greetings Thomas

[Hankwilliams]

Boiler making.
The boat will have two boilers side by side. Now I have made both flame tubes with each 10 cross boiling tubes. When I remember, I`ve made 21 boilers since 1989 - but this time there several leakings of one flametube got obvious, the other one was ok from beginning on. So I had to repair the leaks 4 times one after another. Fortunately now also the first tube is tight.
Pressure test until 6 bar was made with heated water. The tube is filled completely with water and closed. The warmed up water expandes and shows every small leak - no explosion is possible. This is a simple but reliable method for pressure tests of tubes and boilers.

Thomas

[Paddlemex]

Hi Thomas,

Those 'extended' Faller cranes suit the ship perfectly. Weinert also has some very nice HO cranes, but they are quite pricey.

Tip for the ropes: if you wet the yarn and let it dry in the position you want it on the crane it will fall perfectly straight and without loops or curling.

Regards Jurgen

[Hankwilliams]

Thanks Jurgen, I will do so.
Boilers are as good as finished and pressure tested. The two side by side boilers are connected with pressue equalization up and downside. Yesterday I made the pressure test until 6 bar - absolutely no leaking. At the rear end of boilers a rectangular smokebox will be installed, from the mid of this the funnel will be fixed.
l
Fortunately the brass and copper material was still in my stock, our local building marked didn`t have copper tubes - may be the shortage of material has reached Germany.

Thomas

[Hankwilliams]

Boiler unit now ready. The smoke box carries the collapsible funnel with counterweights. The refillable gas cartridge is very close to the hot smokebox to avoid low pressure of gas. An old Laspe gas - steam regulation will also installed. The whole engine - boiler - and RC unit will be in the middle part of the hull. Weight of hull with boilers and gas cartridge now is just below 6 kg - there will be enough free play for the engine.

Thomas

[DamienG]

Outstanding Hank.