Hi Eddy found this -
A pic of a replica of the Lynmouth Lifeboat Louisa (c.1869).
Hope it might be helpful
Cheers
Kim

not me this time matey.me and computors are like swimmers and great whites....don't mix, lol

that's the colour talisman,great stuff.

Very interesting project, Eddy.  Only just seen it as I've been busy finishing of my Lifeboat ready for the ModelboatMayhem get together this weekend.

How big will your model be as there is no mention of scale ?   Will you propel it with one motor or two ? 

Watching with interest

Ken

The model will be 36" long Ken, approx 1:12 scale.

Because the rudder is so small, it will have two motors powering it, so I can use "tank" steering to help the turns. Even then I don't think it will win any prizes for handling

Regards
Eddy

Would have been fun to scratch build. All that wood.   

I suppose the twin paddles on each side would be chained to each other. It also looks like she would sit low in the water.  Reminds me of a Hippo somehow.   

Ken

Today I've made a start on the first of the cartwheels using the kit of parts from Titanic Kit Productions

In the photo you can see the wheel in it's assembly jig, the centre hub still needs to be stained. It's a long slow process so I expect it to take a week or so just to make the 8 wheels, then I need to fit the floats to turn them into paddlewheels. Wish me luck!!

I'll post a photo of a completed cartwheel when this first one comes out of the jig....

Eddy

I've now managed to make 4 cartwheels, and just to get an idea of how things are looking, I propped them up against the hull.....

Only 4 more to make, and then I can start converting them into paddlewheels

It looks like the hull is actually quite a bit wider than the original model, but hey, it's only to give a flavour of what the real thing may have looked like, so I'm happy...

Eddy

I have to admit that I wasn't going to make this post, but then I thought "what the hell...". It's always good to give people a bit of a giggle and show that we all make mistakes from time to time...

I've completed the first two paddlewheels, and took a quick photo to show what it looks like.... The more I looked the more I realised something wasn't quite right! And the model was going to end up wider than an aircraft carrier, not good!

For some reason I've managed to make the paddle floats almost twice as wide as they should be, hence the wheels are far too wide. If you compare the original model with mine in the photos below you'll see what I mean!

So now I have to dismantle the two wheels I've done and start again, ho hum....

Eddy

you're a more patient man than i, eddy...but i see what you mean.
neil.

Surprisingly, thanks to a tip by Stuart Badger, I managed to get the floats removed without too much difficulty, and no damage to the cart wheels.....

The tip was to use vinegar to dissolve the PVA based adhesive I'd used!

Now all I need to do is cut some new floats, and we're back in business

Eddy

I like it. Don't worry about mistakes as we are all behind you. You seem to have the proportions right with the wheel's diameter and should look just like the original when the float width comes into line.

My first reaction was that it might rise in the water during trials, rather like a ducks web feet when taking off from the pond.  I would be interested in 'sea trials' so keep going.   

Ken

Thanks Ken and Neil,

A few minor problems at home mean I haven't had a chance to do anything over the last few days, but I hope to get back to it tomorrow with a bit of luck...

Eddy

Okay, here it is with the narrower wheels - It looks a lot more like the original model now thank god!

Tomorrow will see the start of another 4 cartwheels being produced ready for the next two paddle wheels....

Eddy

how's your lifeboat coming along Eddy.....haven't seen you post for a while.
neil.