Topic: Choupette (Read 29877 times)

Sandy · « **Reply #50 on:** February 02, 2011, 10:11:27 am »

Deck finished, sanded and a small rubbing strip added around the upper edge.

Lower hull undercoated and then a first coat of paint put on.

I hit the first coat with sandpaper just to smooth it a bit. Pardon my ignorance, but it went from glossy to dull, which seems obvious. How then, after another coat (and maybe another) if I sand again it does it stay glossy?

I have the varnish to put on. Does that make it glossy again?

I also tried steaming an experimental piece of mahogany for the coaming. I can see need more steam and more bend without the heartrending ... crack ... of snapping wood.

Aeronut4 · « **Reply #51 on:** February 02, 2011, 08:24:07 pm »

Sandy - regarding the gloss, the idea is that you sand intermediate coats down to get them as smooth as you would like, so that the last coat won't need any rubbing and stays glossy. Another approach is to sand the last coat with very fine wet and dry, using progressively finer grades until you end up at a stage where you can use cutting compound or metal polish to bring the gloss back. If you're trying to bend mahogany strip to go round the curve at the front of the coaming, you'll struggle to do that without breakage. You could either laminate two or three thicknesses of thinner wood, or do as I did and make the coaming out of thin ply, then cover it with 1mm mahogany.

Sandy · « **Reply #52 on:** February 08, 2011, 06:18:07 pm »

Hi,

You were correct about breakage. Snapped my way through several lengths. The only way I could get it to work was by water and bleach. It bent into shape fine, but the bleach had killed the mahogany.

Soooo .... going for plywood and paint instead, probably the same paint as the lower hull. Off to the model shop tomorrow for some electric bits and ply to install motor, servo and battery and get a feel for the engine cover and seat.

We are going for the 'old steam launch upgraded and modernised to internal combustion power'. Perhaps not a supercharged 502ci Chevy big block though ...

Started varnishing, as suggested with thin coats first. The boat stands are, as you can see, of the no expense spared variety.

All the best

Aeronut4 · « **Reply #53 on:** February 08, 2011, 06:46:26 pm »

I love the deluxe stands! Why not do as I did and use thin ply for the coaming and then plank that with thin mahogany? I'll take a pic of mine and post it tomorrow. I've now finished the deck area, so gave it a last rub down and first coat of varnish today. Hoping the weather will be warm enough to allow me to spray the primer on the hull sides and bottom at the weekend.

tt1 · « **Reply #54 on:** February 08, 2011, 07:17:42 pm »

Am really enjoying these posts gents, it's a real pleasure to follow your builds (warts 'an all!) Have never tried a wooden kit but your builds are making it a very tantalising option for the future!
please keep the pics coming, (I think your ahead on points on that score Sandy

)

Regards, Tony.

Aeronut4 · « **Reply #55 on:** February 08, 2011, 08:16:22 pm »

Tony - thanks, it's nice to know that someone else is reading our posts! Sandy is definitely ahead on photo count, but I'll try to redress the balance a little tomorrow. Building a wooden hull from scratch hasn't been easy for me, but it has been very satisfying and I've even found a few skills I never knew I had. Give it a try, what's the worst that could happen?

steamboatmodel · « **Reply #56 on:** February 09, 2011, 12:01:18 am »

I think there are a lot of use just watching and following with out posting.
Keep up the good work.
Regards,
Gerald.

Bob_V · « **Reply #57 on:** February 09, 2011, 12:52:06 am »

I second that Gerald. I've got a Choupette wood pack and plan sitting under my workbench ready to go sometime in the future.

I have been watching these builds with great interest. In fact it was seeing this thread that prompted me to purchase the wood pack at Ally Pally
in January.

Keep up the good work lads.

Hoping to learn a lot and make my build a little easier when I finally get around to it.

Got my TVR1A running in on air at the moment. Haven't ordered a boiler yet as I am not sure if a horizontal boiler will fit in the Choupette.
Might have to go vertical but would prefer not because of possible stability problems. Does anyone have any experience of this?

Bob.

Aeronut4 · « **Reply #58 on:** February 09, 2011, 11:14:53 am »

OK, now that I know we have an audience.

Bob - I pondered long and hard over what steam plant to put in my Choupette. I made card templates of all the parts and trial-fitted them over the plan. I eventually decided to order a TVR1A and a Maccsteam 3.5" horizontal boiler. The TVR1A arrived before Christmas, but it was immediately apparent that it's severe overkill in a small launch like the Choupette - while it would fit, it just looks way out of scale to my eye. Also, further research has shown that the TVR1A would be way too powerful and would end up running at tickover most of the time. Another problem with the Choupette, is that prop diameter is limited by the design, I've had to modify it slightly to get even a 50mm prop to fit. All things considered, I decided to order a Regner 'Venus' for it, which is a bit more compact and less powerful, so should suit the boat better. Still awaiting delivery though.

I'm also having second thoughts about the Maccsteam boiler - I get the feeling that it, too, will look out of scale, but I've decided to postpone my decision until it's actually here and I can try it in the hull. There's a part of me that's minded to just order one of the smaller Graupner twin cylinder plants and use that, but I'm just a little unsure of the build quality. I'll post some more pics later today.

Gordon

kno3 · « **Reply #59 on:** February 09, 2011, 12:33:13 pm »

Did you order the whole Venus steam plant or just the engine?

Aeronut4 · « **Reply #60 on:** February 09, 2011, 05:26:08 pm »

kno3 - I just ordered the engine for now.

Sandy, I do hope you are happy to share the thread? I don't wish to steal your thunder, so if you'd like me to start a new thread, don't be afraid to say so.

Some photos - This was the first time that I'd tried the assembled TVR1A in the boat and I have to admit that it doesn't look too out of scale. The main problem is its length - by the time there's a coupling added, there's only just room for the boiler between the engine and the front bulkhead - the gas tank would need to go forward of that front bulkhead and, to my mind, it would make the whole front section of the boat look very crowded. I'll put off the decision until I have the Venus engine and the boiler in my hands.

tt1 · « **Reply #61 on:** February 09, 2011, 07:01:18 pm »

That's some cracking woodwork there Aeronut! I like the banding around the inside coaming, and is it plastic or timber between the deck planking?

Looking forward to the next installments, regards, Tony.

Aeronut4 · « **Reply #62 on:** February 09, 2011, 08:10:25 pm »

Tony - thanks for the compliment about my woodwork - I think I've rather surprised myself, to be honest!. All timber you see is mahogany alternated with lime. The deck planking is 5mm mahogany and 1mm lime. The inside of the coaming is 10mm mahogany and 10mm lime. It's had its second coat of varnish today and is starting to acquire that rich colouring that's characteristic of those woods.

kno3 · « **Reply #63 on:** February 09, 2011, 11:12:06 pm »

@ Aeronut4: The boat looks very good, the contrasting woods and the workmanship, congratulations!

Regarding the Graham TVR1A: your hull seems large enough for it, the engine doesn't look out of place at all.

Aeronut4 · « **Reply #64 on:** February 10, 2011, 06:14:54 pm »

kno3 - thanks for that! I now agree that the engine does look OK in that hull, but as stated in my previous post, it's the length that's causing a slight problem. There's also the fact that the TVR1A needs a throttle valve and an extra servo over the Regner Venus engine.

Bob_V · « **Reply #65 on:** February 12, 2011, 05:51:41 pm »

Aeronut;

Thanks for the info on the suitability of the Choupette for the TVR1A engine. It seems as though there are several limitations. For example the maximum prop size may be a little small, the engine may be too powerful for the hull, it also is quite a long engine which means a vertical boiler will probably be required. This might introduce stability problems with such a shallow draught. All in all you may be right in using the Regner Venus engine. I notice that you initially had a PM Research V twin for the Choupette. What happened to that?

I was discussing these points with one of our club members and he offered me a Waterlilly hull which is similar to the 'Miranda'. He did have a Cheddar steam plant in it but now uses it in onother boat. I might take him up on the offer and use it for the TVR1A and get a smaller plant for the Choupette. Time will tell.

Sandy;

Great work on your boat. Looking very good. Are you still going to use electric power or are you considering one of the small steam plants now your hull is at the point of installing the power train?

Bob.

Aeronut4 · « **Reply #66 on:** February 13, 2011, 08:50:43 am »

Bob - The plan shows a vertical boiler and I'm sure that would work and that the boat could be made stable with one, but I think it would need to be a smaller one than a 3.5" Maccsteam. I'll post some pics of the Regner Venus engine in the hull as soon as I receive it. Yes, I do have a PM Research V-twin sitting here - I bought it with the intention of putting it in the Choupette, but this one really does look out of place in the hull and is very heavy - see pic earlier in this thread. It is quite a bit shorter than the TVR1A and it does only need one servo for control, but I think the Venus will be a better match for the boat overall. As soon as I've sorted out why it has developed a tight spot, I'll be putting it up for sale.

Sandy · « **Reply #67 on:** February 20, 2011, 04:22:21 pm »

Varnishing done as best I can and various bits of brass fitted.

And....

it floats

Sandy · « **Reply #68 on:** February 20, 2011, 04:56:21 pm »

One or two little snafus fitting the brass bits (mainly off centre drilling - first time with a Dremel) but it is a 20 footer so I hope it will look okay.

Major snag is non-appearance of motor/shaft coupling at local shop as motor is an M4 but shaft is an M5. Hopefully sorted on Tuesday.

All the best

Sandy · « **Reply #69 on:** February 20, 2011, 05:18:32 pm »

I will see how the 'non-supported' skeg does. I have some small diameter brass that I could epoxy in place near the rudder just in case it needs support.

Once I have the coupling, I can locate the motor and battery and build the little deck house/engine cover and wheel position, then work on seats front and back, and some interior decking.

I may try and make a canvas dodger for the front on the coaming, depending on how much wet comes over the bow.

It floats very well with battery and motor and servo on board.

Aeronut4 · « **Reply #70 on:** February 20, 2011, 05:38:03 pm »

Sandy - That's looking really good now - a great piece of work! That skeg is really only to protect the prop a bit, so I don't think it will cause a problem unless it happens to get bent in transport. You've put a lot longer piece of brass on the prow than I have - now I'm wondering if I should fit a longer piece! Got mine painted this last week and I won't be able to do much more now than varnish the deck again until the boiler arrives.

Sandy · « **Reply #71 on:** February 20, 2011, 11:34:20 pm »

The local pond (Rouken Glen Park) has a shelving, rocky banking which, along with making launching difficult, also tends to really hammer forepeaks, hence the longer piece of brass. In actual fact, it is as long as it came from the shop.

Thanks for the kind words. Yours looks great !

Aeronut4 · « **Reply #72 on:** February 23, 2011, 06:47:38 pm »

I'm lucky in that the lake where I usually sail has vertical sides, so I think the brass piece I have already fitted should suffice.

I said I'd post a pic or two of the Regner Venus engine when it arrived. Well, it arrived a couple of days ago and here are the pics I promised. I think the engine looks just about the right size for the Choupette. I've only run the engine on air so far, but I do have to say that I expected better from Regner. Many of the small bolts were quite loose and two had actually fallen out when I unpacked the engine. Many joints were showing signs of leaking, so I had to go round and nip up every bolt on the engine, which seems to have stopped most of the leaks. The engine does run beautifully and will just tick over very slowly, but control of the speed on the built-in regulator is almost non existent, so we'll have to see what can be done about that. Waiting for the boiler to arrive now!

Sandy · « **Reply #73 on:** February 25, 2011, 04:42:08 pm »

Looks good. Quite a 'sexy' looking engine. I hope your boiler arrives soon.

Finally got the coupling from the local shop, so the motor is finally in its 'final' position.

Done some interior decking and seating. Let's hope it doesn't ship to much water as I haven't left myself enough space to sook it out ....

kno3 · « **Reply #74 on:** February 26, 2011, 02:16:56 pm »

nice work both of you.

What type of regulator does the Venus engine have? Perhaps you could improve the regulating capabilities for slow speed by filing the edge of the holes (to get a tear drop shape instead of a circle), if there is a valve disc inside.

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Author Topic: Choupette (Read 29877 times)

Sandy

Aeronut4

Sandy

Aeronut4

Aeronut4

steamboatmodel

Aeronut4

kno3

Aeronut4

Aeronut4

kno3

Aeronut4

Aeronut4

Sandy

Sandy

Sandy

Aeronut4

Sandy

Aeronut4

Sandy

kno3