Topic: Intro new member (Read 15739 times)

gondolier88 · « **on:** May 12, 2009, 04:04:37 pm »

Hi guys,

Just thought I'd introduce myself on this fantastic forum.

I'm a relatively recent model boat fan, but a lifelong steam fan- I work as a plumber/heating engineer and also as casual crew on the steam yacht SY Gondola on Coniston Water, UK.

I am currently building a heavily modified Krick Victoria- basically everything but the hull is new- even that's modified

.

Here's a couple of links to some pics and also to SY Gondola's website;

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gondola

Greg

andrewh · « **Reply #1 on:** May 12, 2009, 04:26:38 pm »

Greg,

Welcome to the Mayhem, you come with great credentials

I'm sure that everyone who knows Gondola appreciates her sheer elegance.

The inhabitants of Mayhem are friendly and helpful, and would love to see your Victoria - please keep us posted. What motive power have you got in mind?

andrew

boatmadman · « **Reply #2 on:** May 12, 2009, 06:06:50 pm »

Welcome Greg,

I used to play on the Gondola when she was abandonned and lying on the shore at the south end of Coniston. I was but a lad, must have been in the late 60's.

Ian

gondolier88 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2009, 06:25:09 pm »

Wow, your a lucky guy Ian, I wish I had seen the original! Have you benn on her since she was rebuilt?

Thanks, she is a very special boat and close to my heart, I would love to know if anyone is modelling her atm- I know of only one model, built in the late 70's/early 80's I think, and was documented in the Model Boat magazine of the time?

I am using a Cheddar Puffin steam plant- however I have built onboard water tanks and fitted a check valve to the boiler to top it up with a manual feed pump, also I've swapped the awful o-ring safety valve for a proper british rail pattern one, also added a proper wheelhead globevalve instead of the steam takeoff coming straight from the boiler to the lubricator/engine without any isolation. This is also a point of safety as I'm building the launch into a windermere style and as such I've built a hinged engine casing, which while it looks just right, does impinge access to the lubricator shut-off. I have also added a false engine bed to the engine to make it mor stable and also to make it look like it's cast.

I have lots more pics to add, however I may have to add them all on individual replies- if I post more than one it says "error" and deletes the post!!!

Has anyone else modified a Victoria on here? If so, in what ways? Is it standard practice to replace the plastic prop supplied with thw kit, with a brass one? I have- and under tests it certainly shifts! Mind you I have used a 75mm Steam Prop! Most reccomended lol!!!

Greg

Bunkerbarge · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2009, 10:33:49 pm »

Unfortunately I am not able to access third party picture host sites, as my employer thinks it might corrupt me, but I'd love to see some of the pictures of this model.

Just try resizing them to less than 161 kb and make sure they are in .jpg format and you should be able to attach 12 pictures to each post. Have a go and if it doesn't work let me know and you can send them to me and I can put them up for you. Your modifications sound interesting but I need to see them to be sure just what you are talking about.

Anyway great to have another steam enthusiast here, i'm looking forward to hearing a bit more about your models.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2009, 11:15:11 pm »

( Original post corrected. )

John C · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2009, 08:53:40 am »

Blimey................thought I was a lone model boaty in Pock, welcome to the mayhem.

John C

John C · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2009, 12:34:44 pm »

As an after thought, there was a steam powered model of Gondola in the November 2006 MMI built by David Affleck.
I have the article so pm me if you want it.

John C

gondolier88 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 13, 2009, 10:08:52 pm »

Thanks for putting the pics onto the post for me martin- how did you do it btw

? They are all Jpeg and I can't seem to be able to re-size them!?

gondolier88 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 13, 2009, 10:37:12 pm »

Hi,

Just found your post on posting re-sized photos- I now know how- had to download the Vista re-sizing tool.

So here are the first of many more photos.

1- Aft section- note proper laminated inwhale- really strengthens the topsides up.
2- Rudder detail- not to plan funnily enough!- laminated obeche strips on mahogany inner- shaped and sanded to taper with fabricated hinge assembly.
3-Cabin roof- as you can see nothing like the krick victoria- this a clerestory style roof- painted to the owner's taste and to match the boiler funnel.

Greg

MONAHAN STEAM MODELS · « **Reply #10 on:** May 15, 2009, 03:38:09 am »

Hi Greg,

Welcome to the forum! It's good to see another steam enthusiast joining the forum. Nice work so far on your launch. I look forward to seeing more.

Quote from: gondolier88 on May 12, 2009, 06:25:09 pm

Has anyone else modified a Victoria on here? If so, in what ways? Is it standard practice to replace the plastic prop supplied with thw kit, with a brass one? I have- and under tests it certainly shifts! Mind you I have used a 75mm Steam Prop! Most reccomended lol!!!

I am also currently building and heavily modifying a Victoria too. The only piece from the kit I kept is the hull. Well most of the hull. Anyway here are some pictures of what I have done to it so far.

Best Regards,
Nick

gondolier88 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 15, 2009, 07:56:20 am »

Hi Monohan,

Thats a great job your making- I must say how impressed I am that from such a rubbish kit, with a little imagination you've created a wonderful boat.

What made you modify it?

It will be good to compare our efforts when were finished as mine is a cabin launch- I take it yours is staying open?

Greg

gondolier88 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 15, 2009, 07:59:09 am »

Ps, how do you manage to get away with putting ring spanners on a lacquered table, I'd be chased out of the house by the higher authuorities!

gondolier88 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 15, 2009, 06:33:34 pm »

Some more pics guys-

No 1-Laminating the stern section inwhale
No2- Rudder servo and stern decking

Greg

MONAHAN STEAM MODELS · « **Reply #14 on:** May 15, 2009, 06:57:55 pm »

Hi Greg,

Nice work and thank you for you compliments.

The Victoria is a very stable boat in the water when finished and makes for a great steam powered model. I highly recommend building them. I do agree with you that some of the materials supplied in the kit can leave you desiring a bit more from their quality, but overall it still makes for a very nice model when finished. Like you said, with a little imagination you can make something that you can be very proud of for many years. My primary reason for not building the Victoria as per the plans was mainly due to my desire to try to reproduce the general looks of a particular steam launch which happens to share the same basic hull shape and dimensions of the Victoria's hull when built to 1/8 scale. Keep up the great work and keep those updates coming!

Nick

PS, Fortunately the Misses is very understanding of building models in the house! She would rather I be at home building the models and leaving spanners on the lacquered tables than down the street at my shop till all hours!

gondolier88 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 15, 2009, 07:32:25 pm »

Hi Monohan,

Yes the kit is'nt all that bad really- it's not helped by the fact that it's not my boat, i'm building it for someone, however they have had the kit since the mid nineties so a lot of the bits have deteriated- excagerated by the fact it was in an uninsulated boathouse loft for a few years- hot in summer, wet in winter- not ideal!

Have done stability tests and the hull is fantastic, too bouyant if anything!

What launch have you based it on? I'm a member of the Steam Boat Assosciation so I may know the launch your basing it on- and also may be a good contact should you need details of launches.

Greg

MONAHAN STEAM MODELS · « **Reply #16 on:** May 15, 2009, 08:33:34 pm »

Hi Greg,

Yeah, with a model stored for that many years in those conditions i would imagine the wood being a bit distorted or deteriorated.

This is the launch i am doing a "rough" rendering of. I am actually building another launch which will be exact to the original but this is a long term project. I started the current model out of my desire for instant gratification until the long term version is finished. The idea is that the long term design will possibly be eventually made into a kit for resale.

Nick

gondolier88 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 15, 2009, 08:49:25 pm »

Hi Nick,

Your right, very similar hulls- perhaps slightly fuller on the waterline at the stern on the Victoria- perhaps a little too full in my eyes.

Have you ever made a model kingdon boiler- as fitted in the full size launch?

I would like to do a design for this boiler for my next model launch- its got quite a large water capacity so would give a decent steaming period- but also quite efficient.

Greg

gondolier88 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 15, 2009, 08:58:54 pm »

Also Nick, interestingly the launch you are basing it on- was it built by Simpson & Strickland or Lifu by any chance- that looks like a small Lifu engine to me, but the kingdon boiler was built prolifically by Simpson & Strickland?

Greg

MONAHAN STEAM MODELS · « **Reply #19 on:** May 15, 2009, 09:14:19 pm »

Hi Greg,

I agree with you that the Victoria hull isn't spot on with the original launches hull, which is why I plan on building the" long term" more accurate version. I have already designed a Kingdon type boiler which looks exactly like to one in the full size boat, plus a dummy twin cylinder compound launch engine to go with it. These are specifically intended for use in the "long term" project version of this boat.

I am afraid I feel like I might be hijacking this thread at this point.

I don't want to interrupt your build thread with too many details of my launch project. We can start another thread on this project if you like?

Nick

MONAHAN STEAM MODELS · « **Reply #20 on:** May 15, 2009, 09:15:46 pm »

yes, you are correct. Great Eye for detail! The original launch was built by LIFU.

gondolier88 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 15, 2009, 10:18:19 pm »

I'm fairly easy going with threads

but I think you should have a thread for your build, it sounds fantastic, very interested in your boiler and engine.

See you on your thread mate.

Greg

gondolier88 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 16, 2009, 01:09:29 pm »

Some more pics guys;

No1- Flag staff- I have made this hollow using the same method by which pencils are made, this then house the antenna- leaving just the tip out which won't be noticed. Made out of two lengths of 6mmx3mm cedar, routered using a small diameter brass rod then laminated using superglue. Tapered and sanded and mounted on angled bracket.

No2-Planking on midships water tank surround, drying as I type- decent sapele planks butted.

No3-Bow section sterating to take shape- inwhale blocks mounted as for the stern section- theres about 65 of these either side of the boat! Also shaped a piece of oak for the stringer across and tied this to the inwhale blocks using white glue- once the inwhale is laminated onto the blocks it should make a really stiff structure.

No4- Windermere style engine casing with brass handrail.

No5- Engine casing with flaps up.

Bernhard · « **Reply #23 on:** May 16, 2009, 01:21:20 pm »

hi...............reale well don....nice to see how you build it up..........

Regards Bernhard

gondolier88 · « **Reply #24 on:** May 16, 2009, 01:45:53 pm »

Hi Bernhard,

Thats kind of you, and coming from you i'll take it as a compliment

. I'm glad you enjoy seeing it built up- lets face it, for most of it building the boat is just as much as fun as watching it on the water so I hope everyone is enjoying seeing it come along.

Greg

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Author Topic: Intro new member (Read 15739 times)

Bunkerbarge

John C

John C

MONAHAN STEAM MODELS

MONAHAN STEAM MODELS

MONAHAN STEAM MODELS

MONAHAN STEAM MODELS

MONAHAN STEAM MODELS

Bernhard