Suter hull?

[David Allinson]

Eddy.  
You make it all sound so very, very, very easy. I think that you must have the instructions in front of you……………… ?? That will never do!!  
Good luck with some of the trickiest and stickiest jobs on the model.  
Regards  
David  

 
-----Original Message-----
 From: Paddleducks [mailto:construction@paddleducks.co.uk]
 Sent: 08 March 2005 21:16
 To: construction@paddleducks.co.uk
 Subject: Suter hull?  
 
The following message was posted on Paddleducks, by Eddy Matthews  
Here's the first stage in building the hull for the "Suter". Now that the basics are done, the hull will be covered in glass fibre, the inside will be sealed with resin, and then the deck will be attached...      
   

 Regards
 Eddy
 
 
 Email reply, imported by Paddleducks Mail System.

[Eddy Matthews]

The hull has been given to a friend who's a genius with fibreglass - He'll do the work a damned sight better than I could.

He can get a perfectly smooth finish, while I would have runs and lumps of resin all over the place! :-)  I'd then have to spend the next week sanding everything to get a finish that could be painted!

Tomorrow I hope to make a start on the paddlewheel...  I'll try to post photos as I progress. After that it will be time to look in detail at "Towboat" Joe's drawings for the pitman drive setup, as my model will be electrically powered - I'm not ready for the challenge of steam power just yet!

[towboatjoe]

Eddy, when you go to make the cranks, make four identical cranks. Two for the wheel and two for the drive axle that will slide the pitmans back and fourth. If the radius is slightly off it will cause a kink in the mechanism and the pitmans will either jam or give a jerk when they approach a binding position. If you have any questions give me a holler.
Joe

[Eddy Matthews]

Eddy, when you go to make the cranks, make four identical cranks. Two for the wheel and two for the drive axle that will slide the pitmans back and fourth. If the radius is slightly off it will cause a kink in the mechanism and the pitmans will either jam or give a jerk when they approach a binding position. If you have any questions give me a holler.
Joe

Thanks Joe.... I don't know if my metalworking abilities are up to the challenge, but I'll never know if I don't try will I ?? Metalwork is NOT my strong point - Gimme wood any day!

If the worst comes to the worst I can always use a simple belt drive, but I'd much prefer to have a proper working pitman drive if possible. Rest assured that I'll yell if I need any help or advice! :-)  I reckon it will take a couple of weeks to make the paddlewheel, so I won't be hassling you immediately!

[Eddy Matthews]

The build continues....

I got the hull back yesterday - There were problems covering it in fibreglass, for some reason the resin wouldn't dry on the bottom of the hull, so the whole mess had to be scraped off and redone :-(

Fortunately it seems to have cured properly this time, so I can now make some progress...

Yesterday I fitted the main deck, and left it overnight for the glue to dry. once that's had a bit of sanding to finally get it to the right shape I'll take a photo to post here. Unfortunately family commitments mean I'll be out for most of the day, so it may be tomorow before I get that far.

[Eddy Matthews]

I've managed to make a bit of progress on the Suter over the last couple of days. The deck is fitted, and the rear part of the superstructure is starting to take shape - At least now it's beginning to look like a sternwheeler!

[mjt60a]

It's looking good so far  

[Eddy Matthews]

Thanks Mick, when it gets it's next deck fitted it will start to look a bit more like a real boat - Hopefully! :-)

A friend is making the cranks for the sternwheel - He has machine shop facilities that I don't have, so once he's done those I can start to build the sternwheel - Once that's fitted it will really start to look the part!

[thewharfonline]

Wish I hd some time to work on my steamer....or alternatively my fellow shipwrights had time to work on mine....ahhh the problems of being a youth!

Anyway I' ve been rather busy with school production auditions (I got the role for anyone that cares) and homework and the forming of my River Boat simulator, its all been done basically except I haven't had time to get myself another geocities site!

Anyway you're steamer looks great (I HAVE A NOT SO WATERTIGHT HULL!) so good luck with the further modelling!

[Eddy Matthews]

Construction on the Suter continues..... The upper deck and the next cabin assembly are almost finished. In the photos, the upper deck is just lying on top of the model as I don't want to fix it permanently until I have the drive system sorted fully - It's much easier if I have FULL access to the hull!

I've bought all the materials I need to make the paddlewheel, and all of the window frames that are required - I have to admit I'm not looking forward to any of those areas of the build!

[Eddy Matthews]

The build continues.... The major parts of the superstructure are now built. Just need to get some suitable tubing to make the stacks, then it's onto the paddlewheel and the drive system.

At least it's now starting to look like a sternwheeler! :-)

[Khephre]

Looking fantastic Eddy! Yr making great progress.

Tony

[Eddy Matthews]

Isn't superglue (cyano) a wonderful thing?......

I've spent the day working on the Suter. and progress has been pretty good, but if I've stuck my fingers to the superstructure once today I've done it a dozen times! :-)

Am I the only one that does this, surely not?

[mjt60a]

Not at all, I do it too (I use superglue to fit the windows and frames) By the way, superglue fumes can have a 'clouding' effect on clear styrene windows but I found it's pretty much OK if you clean them before applying the superglue to the frames (ever watch 'crime scene investigation'? they use superglue fumes to show up fingerprints on plastic surfaces....)

[thewharfonline]

However good superglue is I hte the weeks after use...and the constant picking off of the dried glue.....rrrrrrrrrrrrrr superglue amazing yet incredibly annoying. However back to the lines of card modelling I find it the best because it gains an instant hold instead of waiting and waiting for PVA glue to dry or annoying 'web' craft glue which makes your models look like they've been in the shed for a looooooooong time!