Topic: African Queen fit out (Read 4659 times)

richardabeattie · « **on:** April 21, 2018, 11:21:27 pm »

Thinking of the Billing African Queen. Quite big but it's an open boat so where would I hide the motor, battery, ESC and servo?

Neil · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2018, 11:57:02 pm »

that's part of learning the ropes...........you have to make that decision for yourself...............every one will give their own ideas and only lead to confusing you............work this one out and your next project will be just that little bit easier.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2018, 06:14:12 am »

Have a look at:

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,20393.msg196883.html#msg196883

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,35515.msg354142.html#msg354142

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,6842.msg68263.html#msg68263

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,18083.msg174282.html#msg174282

richardabeattie · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2018, 05:04:12 pm »

Thanks Martin, very helpful.

Thanks Neil but i think you are confusing me with a beginner. I've now found what passes for the instruction manual and see that there is space under the fordeck for the servo. The instructions also refer to a second motor to drive the steam engine but typically Billings don't show where they suggest it should go.

ballastanksian · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2018, 05:14:30 pm »

The boiler could make one good place to hide a small motor.

Skimmer Fan · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2018, 05:21:18 pm »

The small motor goes under the deck and connects to the engine inside the box to the rear of the engine.

Skimmer Fan · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2018, 08:15:37 pm »

My mate has the model if you want to, we could photograph it

richardabeattie · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2018, 10:05:28 pm »

That wd be very helpful.

Skimmer Fan · « **Reply #8 on:** April 22, 2018, 10:08:56 pm »

I will ask him to bring his model to the pond on Wednesday.

Skimmer Fan · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2018, 07:39:28 pm »

Hope these help
1 Drive cover.
2 Cover removed.

Skimmer Fan · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2018, 07:45:13 pm »

3 deck removed
4 electrics layout

Skimmer Fan · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2018, 07:47:48 pm »

Engine plate removed

richardabeattie · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2018, 08:27:23 pm »

Thanks - just what I needed!

richardabeattie · « **Reply #13 on:** May 09, 2018, 05:01:03 pm »

The kit has now arrived. Surprised how flimsy the main hull moulding is. The instructions are a joke and refer to a booklet which is not supplied! Apart from all the other omissions the drawing showing which wooden parts are which bears no relation to the laser cut plywood sheets. The circular parts for the boiler are oversized and not proper circles. My immediate puzzle is the firebox door - it is rectangular but the opening in the boiler has a curved top so I assume I should cut out the curved opening and put the door inside - not sure why a firebox door would be recessed like that. Onwards and upwards. Next time Caldercraft!

derekwarner · « **Reply #14 on:** May 09, 2018, 10:40:05 pm »

Richard....

1st up......e-mail your supplier & confirm that no Billings booklet was included & requesting a replacement.....[in worst case it may be available on line]

Is there any mention of ballast to be added to the hull?.....if there is, you could consider using this alternate weight to reinforce the inner surfaces of the hull with vertical planking using thin [say 1mm thick] planks with some horizontal strips following the line of the top of the hull

You will certainly find many examples of such wooden fit-out on WEB pages and this will provide a surprising increase in hull rigidity

No having said all of this, ballast is usually employed low in the hull for stability......so you must understand the type of hull and consider the equivalent weight of wood say 1/2 above the waterline

One simple test is to place the open hull in the bath, then gradually add unopened food tins [or 375 ml beer cans

] then continue until your desired waterline is achieved......add up all of the weights & there you have the total allowable mass you have for the complete fit-out

Derek

richardabeattie · « **Reply #15 on:** May 09, 2018, 10:58:38 pm »

Skimmer Fan - many thanks for the photos but having now started in on the build I find the drawings for the engine fairly incomprehensible. More photos from other angles wd be a great help but even better if the boat you photographed is anywhere near Wiltshire so I could see it! At this stage I'm struggling to see which parts should move! How come Billings can get away with such useless instructions? As a sample, part No 1 is listed as "3mm x-finer".

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #16 on:** May 10, 2018, 12:31:59 am »

Instructions: http://www.billingboats.com/28/boats/advanced-beginner/P-bb588-african-queen.html

richardabeattie · « **Reply #17 on:** May 10, 2018, 07:28:40 am »

Thanks but you seem to have have sent me the advert for the model. The kit came with a drawing which is no more than a full size plan view and elevation of the finished model with no construction detail, a multi language set of instructions which do not go into any detail, and a lengthy list of parts. It does not come with the additional instructions referred to as the "building tips booklet". But the biggest problem is the engine - there are several pages of fairly incomprehensible drawings of a complex assembly. There ought to have been photos of it from various angles.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #18 on:** May 10, 2018, 07:34:21 am »

LINKS next to size and scale, top right.

richardabeattie · « **Reply #19 on:** May 10, 2018, 07:39:27 am »

Thanks again but these links are to what is already provided. I continue to think that,for the engine, exploded diagrams and photos from several angles would be a lot easier to interpret.

Skimmer Fan · « **Reply #20 on:** May 10, 2018, 08:11:04 am »

The owner is in Chester.I will talk nicely to the owner and see what I can do.

richardabeattie · « **Reply #21 on:** May 10, 2018, 09:38:32 am »

That's very good of you. I hope to motorise the engine but do more than just make the flywheel go round - there are other parts that ought to move. Amazed that this kit is described as at the easier end of the game!

Skimmer Fan · « **Reply #22 on:** May 10, 2018, 12:49:47 pm »

I know on the boat I am borrowing that the lever to engage the engine on the real thing is actually used on the model via I think its a micro switch.

Skimmer Fan · « **Reply #23 on:** May 10, 2018, 01:10:04 pm »

Just enlarged a previous post and it looks like its an on off switch.

Skimmer Fan · « **Reply #24 on:** May 10, 2018, 02:12:10 pm »

Did you find the links from Martins post

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Author Topic: African Queen fit out (Read 4659 times)