Hi All
Well a lots happened since I last posted
Changed the engine, Changed the boiler, painted the hull etc.
The first change was the engine, the original idea of fitting a tiny power 2V-10M turned out to be much to big and out of scale so I've got a TVR that fittes the scale perfectly
I've also changed the boiler to a "Yarrow" design as per K.N. Harris. This allows me to make it look like the original on the outer casing and also allows me to put the funnel
in exactly the right place no matter where the boiler is. I would like to thank George Thomson for his invaluable and continuing help in this.
The hull has been filled and painted, Peter green the owner of Alaska gave a tine of the same paint she was painted with in the refit, It's international polyurethane and it's fantastic stuff
just brush it on and wait for a very smooth finish.
If only it had been that simple, first I applied the GRP resin to the inside of the hull, this was fine, then I applied to the outside, well it all parted like oil on water and had to rub the whole thing down
back to the wood. Tried a second time and the same thing happened I can only think that it may have been cleaning the outside down with white spirit and the residue remained in the wood.
any way got a standard wood primmer and bob's your uncle.
It has 5 coats, just need to do the red water line and then the matt black anti foiling for the bottom. Peter has also very kindly donated this as well.
I'm not sure how you get a line on the boat to paint without putting it in a tank so I used the kitchen and a laser when the wife was out !!
Now this is where she gets the 6th coat of paint as I used the wrong pen to mark the line, it turned out to be indelable and permanent !!
I've skinned the engine and boiler area and will rib it ti to match the original hull
As for the engine it's made and runs nicely at 30 psi with a surprising amount of torque.
The boiler will be 6" long with 2.5" 5/16 tubes connecting the 2" top tube to the two 1" bottom mud tubes
Now 5/16 copper tube is about £3.50 a foot. 10Mtrs of micro bore 5/16 tube £18.00 from eBay. Thank you again George.
Got a jig for cutting the tubes as a pipe cutter flanged the ends over.
For those who noticed the golf clubs, yes I play golf and my handicap was 9 since taking up modelling i'm up to 13!!
I had quite a fright when I went to the Bristol show to buy the silver solder, I need 15 rods at a cost of £79.00, ouch
While walking round B&Q I found some copper brassing rods, I was going to brazze them with brass but thought i'd try these.
As I served my time a s a welder and sheet metal worker I still have the skills to weld.
It made a great weld with out and additional flux and I must confess , not a lot of cleaning.
So 4 rods for £3.48 Bargain.
I made a template for drilling the holes at 60 deg on the top tube.
I've cut the holes with an 8mm slot drill as it makes a neater hole.
As the hull has a nice coat of paint I thought I'd better treat her to a new stand
The holders are made from 8mm Aqua marine Acrylic, Just to simulate water !.
I'll let you know how I get on with the boiler. Shouldn't be so long next time as I don't play golf in the winter
