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Author Topic: MH&B Topaz Build -  (Read 33046 times)

jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build - alignment
« Reply #100 on: April 21, 2017, 04:24:01 am »

Hello again,

If you are following this thread, you might have noticed that
I feel that talking about the mistakes I have made and how I corrected them is an important part of the build.

So - one of the things I noticed while trying to run-in the drive train is that it seemed to be lagging and struggling.

At first I thought that the driveshaft might have gotten bent or mis-aligned. However when the engine is removed
the shaft turns fairly easily.

So then I put the engine back in - this time WITHOUT the U-Joint. 

Well - shiver me timbers matey -
the shafts are not even pointing at each other.

In order for the U-Joint to work correctly the two shafts need to be pointed at each other. 
They do not have to be exactly straight in line, but the ends of the two shafts need
to be aligned in such a way that there is no strain put on each piece by the other.


So I added some shims under the back of the engine to bring the shaft up to meet the driveshaft.

Some pics:
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jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #101 on: April 21, 2017, 04:31:32 am »

Time to start working on the Decks.

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steam up

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #102 on: April 21, 2017, 09:15:09 am »

I have always tried to ensure that the drive and prop shaft are dead in line before fitting a universal coupling, an alternative is to use a double coupling these always run very smooth.

steamboatmodel

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #103 on: April 21, 2017, 06:32:24 pm »


I try to set shafts up with a solid coupling, then when things are inline switch to a flex coupling.
Regards,
Gerald.
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Jerry C

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #104 on: April 22, 2017, 12:03:53 am »

I found this arrangement has worked well for five years now with no sign of wear.  My steam plant however is removable in one go hence this design. I don't even bother to put the pegs through the holes in the yoke. Boat is looking really good.
Jerry.

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #105 on: April 22, 2017, 03:09:45 am »

I have always tried to ensure that the drive and prop shaft are dead in line before fitting a universal coupling, an alternative is to use a double coupling these always run very smooth.

 Its smooth because a double Cardan joint is the way the job is supposed to be done. Just look at the driver shaft in your car.
Model boaters always insist on a single cardan joint. This isn't a proper universal set up. It can not possibly compensate for misalignment

John
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jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #106 on: April 22, 2017, 03:18:47 am »

Gerald and Jerry,

I had gotten everything aligned in the beginning.  Then I decided to coat all the
wood in the bottom of the hull with a coat of clear fiberglass to act as a stabilizer and waterproof it.
This must have shifted things out of wack.

The kit comes with the U-Joint, and the tolerances are so close that I did not even have room for a
flywheel.  I'll come back to the engine again in a couple of days, but I wanted to get the deck done first.

As to the deck, I decided to attach the outside "side decks" first and then fill in the middle.  I am debating the
makeup of the middle planks.  and whether I will add come inlays. 

Tomorrow is our annual "Ice Breaker Regatta" with my club, The Colorado Crew, at our local city park.
So I did not get as much done today as I expected.

Thanks for reading,
Jim Pope
Denver, CO
USA

More Pics:
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steam up

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #107 on: April 22, 2017, 07:54:11 am »

Looking good ,have you started on the cabin ?

jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #108 on: April 23, 2017, 03:22:45 am »

No Cabin just yet.
I want to finish the decks first.

I decided to take a little departure and add an inlay strip
to the deck.  I used this in my other boats, it has become
a kind of trademark.

So far so good.

Thanks for reading,
Jim Pope
Denver, CO
USA




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jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #109 on: April 24, 2017, 08:09:53 pm »

Finished the aft deck planking.
a few more details and then the decks can start to get their
topcoats.

More Pics:

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steam up

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #110 on: April 24, 2017, 08:15:00 pm »

That looks great the checker board effect makes all the difference.

jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build - Front Cockpit Deck
« Reply #111 on: April 26, 2017, 12:36:36 am »

Thanks for following this build.

I worked on the deck of the Front Cockpit today.
I decided to continue the theme of the inlay.

The upper decking has one coat of top varnish.
More to come.

Here's pics:
 
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jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #112 on: April 29, 2017, 03:13:20 am »

So.  I am a believer in running lights.  The MH&B kit does not include any.
So I made some of my own and added the internal connection block. 


Then I made the benches for the front cockpit.  They were a little tricky as they needed
to be on a slant. 

Finally - putting it all together.

Here are pics:

Thanks for reading,
Jim Pope
Denver, CO
USA

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ballastanksian

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #113 on: April 29, 2017, 12:14:04 pm »

She is stunningly beautiful especially with that chequer strip and candy stripe internal planking.

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jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #114 on: May 01, 2017, 04:26:08 am »

Time to start working on the Salon.

First the sides.

Pics:

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jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #115 on: May 04, 2017, 02:27:55 am »

Staring to assemble the salon sides.

They need a slight bow in order to follow the curve of the sides.

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jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #116 on: May 06, 2017, 04:59:18 am »

now starting on the doors and windows

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jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #117 on: May 07, 2017, 12:50:44 am »

Two finished doors.

More to come.

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jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #118 on: May 08, 2017, 03:30:59 am »

Working on the saloon.

I built the doors, and decided to make the rear ones open and shut.

I did not have any real small hinges so I cut some slightly larger ones down.
I may give up but for now I am going to give it a try.

One other thing I am finding is that the pear pieces do not always take a finish
to the same hue.  So I am prefinishing all the pieces and the strips used to
make up the saloon.

I believe in a certain symmetry so I want to match up the different hues to
make a pattern I like.

More pics.

Thanks for reading.
Jim Pope
Denver, CO
USA
 
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Baldrick

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #119 on: May 08, 2017, 08:22:33 am »

  I must admit that I was also disappointed that the doors in he kit were not hinged, However I was having such a battle with the cabin construction in general that I decided to go with them fixed.
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SailorGreg

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #120 on: May 08, 2017, 08:31:10 am »

Jim, have you tried searching dollshouse suppliers for hinges?  I think you will find a range of styles at a scale that matches your splendid boat. 


You are certainly moving on very quickly with this - you'll be steaming in no time!


Greg

jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #121 on: May 09, 2017, 02:26:19 am »

Baldrick and Greg,

Thanks for the comments. Following your advice I looked on the net for dollhouse hinges and found some
on Amazon.  As it turned out they are about the same size as mine when I cut them in half. 
So I am going to try them.   A bird in the hand - don't you know.

Here is one end of the saloon under construction.

Thanks,
Jim
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jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #122 on: May 10, 2017, 03:20:36 am »

I continued to work on the ends of the saloon.

Each piece was sanded and given a coat of Spar Varnish.
This established the hue I spoke of earlier.
Then I matched up the pieces to give me the symmetry I like
rather than just pick at random.

Then I decided to add some of the inlays to continue the theme
I started in the bow.  I also added the cut down hinges. 

I know that the hinges are placed kinda funny but the upper part
of the doors and the walls need to support the window panes and
it would have been much harder if there was a hinge in the middle of the
window area. 

Each assembly will receive additional coats of varnish later.

So some pics:
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jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #123 on: May 10, 2017, 03:39:10 am »

Time to start playing with putting the sides on and seeing how it might
start to fit in the hull.

One thing I am noticing is that various assemblies are going to need some
"fitting" together.  Maybe more than I expected.

Note: I have not finished cutting out the windows yet.  By that I mean that MH&B
left some pieces of wood in the corners of the end windows to give some structure.
You are supposed to cut it out sometime before you are finished.

More Pics:

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jpdenver

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Re: MH&B Topaz Build -
« Reply #124 on: May 10, 2017, 04:12:31 am »

Now I need to look harder at the assembly process.

What I noticed is that you have to line up the bottom of the windows
between the sides and the ends.

This means that the sides I thought I had done such a great job on
are, in fact, too high.  After you get things lined up right you are faced with
having to trim off the tops of both sides.

I went back over the construction of the sides and I think I did it all
correctly. There is a note on the drawing that you have to trim it down
to fit the curves of the end pieces.

I just did not expect to have trim so much.
It is going to be interesting to figure out how I am
going to do the trimming.

Here are more Pics:

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