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Author Topic: THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale  (Read 2790 times)

Patternmaker

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THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale
« on: August 29, 2008, 10:30:36 PM »
Hello, I am Mike a newcomer to Model Boat Mayhem, a retired patternmaker with a passion for building model boats for the past 60years. I have one displayed in The National Sceince Musuem of a Shearwater Catamaran made in 1957 and a model of a fisheries protection vessel built for Lake Chad in 1962 for the United Nations building in NY.
I mainly built and raced Nitro boats but decided to build a steam launch, Miranda was scratch built from adapted plans by Basil Harley
All the mahogany used was cut from a discarded window frame, the engine and gas fired boiler were made by my son Paul.
Its nice to see so many nice models on this website.



http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr360/patternmaker_photos/013.jpg
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr360/patternmaker_photos/019.jpg
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr360/patternmaker_photos/017.jpg
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr360/patternmaker_photos/018.jpg
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr360/patternmaker_photos/014.jpg
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr360/patternmaker_photos/015.jpg
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr360/patternmaker_photos/011.jpg
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr360/patternmaker_photos/009.jpg
http://s499.photobucket.com/albums/rr360/patternmaker_photos/?action=view&current=023.flv
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr360/patternmaker_photos/013-1.jpg
http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr360/patternmaker_photos/015-1.jpg
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Bunkerbarge

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Re: THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2008, 01:21:43 AM »
Absolutely beautiful launch there Mike, and quite a stunning finish on the hull!

Lovely job and what a great first post to be able to share such a wonderful model with us.  I can't wait to see what else you have made.
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?Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack, Butting through the Channel in the mad March days"

Bernhard

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Re: THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2008, 07:08:01 AM »
Wooooooow.......GREAT.......

regards Bernhard
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barryfoote

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Re: THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2008, 08:33:11 AM »
Absolutely beautiful....Welcome to the forum Mike. I am not on my own in looking forward to your input.

Barry
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Patternmaker

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Re: THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2008, 09:36:53 AM »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfZ_e8zctdU


Link to utube video of first trial of Miranda Underway in neighbours 15ft diameter swimming pool at tickover, (10psi boiler pressure) full rudder required.
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tonyH

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Re: THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2008, 08:36:42 PM »
Stunning Mike,

Welcome to THE Forum to you and Paul.

Tony
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kno3

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Re: THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2008, 09:56:29 PM »
Very nice boat. What kind of boiler is that?
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Patternmaker

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Re: THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale
« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2008, 12:14:03 PM »



Hi kno3,   The engine and boiler were made by my son a precision engineer adapted from plans by Basil Harley with modifications to the engine i.e.:
crankshaft, valve chest steam ports,
controller, engine base plate and cylinder plate. The boiler is made from 16g copper sheet with 6 -15mm cross tubes all silver soldered, the boiler support and smoke box are mild steel
coated with heat proof paint. The boiler is gas fired with a 4in ceramic burner and refillable
gas tank situated in the front saloon with a removable roof and rear wall for access to ignite
burner. The boiler has been pressure tested to 100psi, safety valve set at 50psi.
The only parts purchased were; pressure gauge, whistle and globe valve.
I clad the boiler and made all the other brass fittings on the boat with the exception of;
Propeller, navigation lights and bollards.
Mike

Link to Engine and Boiler Test
http//vid4999,photobucket.com/albums/rr360/patternmaker_photos/001.flv">
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kno3

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Re: THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale
« Reply #8 on: August 31, 2008, 03:01:01 PM »
thanks! Do you have a pic of the inside of the boiler? I'd like to see it it has water tubes or fire tubes and how the flame goes up to the chimney.
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Patternmaker

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Re: THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale
« Reply #9 on: August 31, 2008, 07:41:58 PM »
Sorry, I do not have a picture of the inside of the boiler, the cross tubes are set at opposite angles 3/8" from the centre line of the boiler, you do not get flames in the smoke box or up the chimney from a ceramic burner/
Mike
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mogogear

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Re: THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale
« Reply #10 on: September 04, 2008, 11:30:55 PM »
You eye for detail is obvious. A very nice launch.
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bogstandard

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Re: THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale
« Reply #11 on: September 05, 2008, 02:54:45 AM »
kno3,

I have made one of these boiler and engine combinations and they do work very well.

I have done a very basic sketch for you to see how the cross tubes fit into the boiler.

They are the next step up from a pot boiler and very easy to make.

John
« Last Edit: September 05, 2008, 02:59:22 AM by bogstandard »
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kno3

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Re: THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale
« Reply #12 on: September 05, 2008, 10:48:21 AM »
Thanks John!

So, if I understand correctly, the flames go directly into the fire tubes below the boiler, and not around it?
Interesting design. Does it have any specific advantage over other boielr types?
« Last Edit: September 05, 2008, 10:50:24 AM by kno3 »
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SteamboatPhil

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Re: THAMES STEAM LAUNCH MIRANDA 1/12 scale
« Reply #13 on: September 05, 2008, 01:12:40 PM »
Thought you might like to see my one. Based on the Waterlilly, that was at the National Maritime Museum Greenwich. Its 4 ft long single cylinder 5/8 bore and stroke engine with vertical centre boiler. I was just finishing this when Basil's article first appeared in Model Boats, spent the next few years pointing out it wasn't the Miranda (still have to do it occasionally now) As you can see it also has the traditional tean earn in the aft cabin
 :)
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Steamed up all the time
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