Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Steam => Topic started by: gondolier88 on May 12, 2009, 04:04:37 pm
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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 O0 O0.
Here's a couple of links to some pics and also to SY Gondola's website;
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gondola (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gondola)
Greg
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3639/3389172928_361734abc4.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3461/3387600895_5ab05dfff9_b.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3586/3387564961_079b834286_b.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3388369448_ebc7e7ee5f_b.jpg)
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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( Original post corrected. )
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Blimey................thought I was a lone model boaty in Pock, welcome to the mayhem.
John C
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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
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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!?
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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
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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.
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
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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. :D
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
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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! >:-o
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Some more pics guys-
No 1-Laminating the stern section inwhale
No2- Rudder servo and stern decking
Greg
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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! :}
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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. :embarrassed: 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
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yes, you are correct. Great Eye for detail! The original launch was built by LIFU.
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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
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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.
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hi...............reale well don....nice to see how you build it up..........
Regards Bernhard
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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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Very interesting build thread Greg and particularly useful when you are adapting a readily available kit that every one knows.
I'm enjoying watching this, thanks.
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Hi Bunkerbarge,
Very kind of you, I'm glad so many people are enjoying my build. :}
Greg
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Hi guys- past couple of days progress-
No1- Stern seating plus the bulkhead planking finished now.
No2- Looking aft from the bulkhead.
No3- First section of gun'l on the port side.
No4- Gun'l on the stern planking
No5- As above
No6- Looking forward from the transome.
No7- As above
No8- Looking aft down the coaming- nice sheer I think.
No9- Stern secton of seating removed to show new power switch.
No10- Water tanks completed- feed pipe slung underneath.
Enjoy.
Greg
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Just...Geting better and better
Bernhard
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Really nice work Greg.
Tell us something.....what do you do in your spare time? :-))
Ian
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I thought you had some sort of massive flywheel on the engine for a moment before I realised it is some sort of press on the work bench behind the boat!!
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Thanks Bernhard.
I've forgotten what spare time is Ian!!! Baby due in 6 weeks, and i'm overdue on completion of the boat already you see- i'm not normally this motivated!
{-) I wish it were the engine flywheel- its a pretty wheel. It's on my bargain antique drillpress- I bought it from Pickering traction engine rally last year from a family of (lets be PC here) travellers- he wanted £80 in the morning for a rusty, seized but complete manual drillpress- I said far too much and waited till evening- I noticed it still hadn't gone so I asked him again what he wanted- this time he said £40, I said still too high- he looked at me insulted- and said what did I want it for- so I told him to drill things! Then old father 'traveller' pipes up and says "£20 quid lad, and it's yours!" Funnily enough I had £20 quid in my pocket...! ok2 All cleaned up and greased up and works perfectly :}
Greg
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I last went to Pickering traction Engine rally about 20 years ago. Great day out though with all the steam boats and steam organs going full belt and the smell of coal and steam drifting across the show. Brilliant. By the way it's a great drill press!
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Hi everyone,
Some more pics for you- this time of the engine bearing/ propshaft oiler i've made from bits of scrap, gas fittings and an old water gauge that I don't trust under pressure anymore...
Tell me what you think...? :embarrassed:
No1- The first soldering job- the oiler body to a 'cap' of blank round brass of the same diameter- easy to acquire in my line of business as everything is either 1/4'', 1/2'' or 3/4'' BSP- to the nut of the water gauge fitting so the oiler can be unscrewed and will also provide a mounting for the bulkhead bracket...
No2- The finished soldered oiler with the first fitting on. Note use of commercially available 1/4'' BSP gas cap.
No3- Gauge fittings arranged in correct order.
No4- The oiler mounted on the forward side of the bulkhead- not bracket held between the fittings and the oiler and use of scale bore pipe to the bearings- this is used as remote pressure gauge piping in gas boilers and is 1/16'' OD.
Also you can just see poking it's head out from behind the engine the Mainsteam Models hand feed pump- really tidy piece of engineering- fully recommend it to anyone.
I've also painted all the plant's pipework in high gloss black but I havn't done any pics as yet.
Hope your all keeping up
Greg
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Fantastic work Greg! :-))
She's really coming together now. Please keep the progress updates coming.
Nick
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I am constantly amazed by what people can produce starting of with a GRP hull and a little Patience
Congratulations a great job :-)) :-))
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Hi,
Thanks Nick, will do- hoping to get plenty done on her today- set the 26th of June as deadline...! {:-{
Thanks Phil- I don't know about the patience though ;)
Greg
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Hi everyone,
Been so busy recently i've been meaning to show you progress since last update.
1st pic- Is the bow- now with planking, those little running strips that I really should know the name of (anybody)- to which i've added some brass fairleads- looks quite classy there I think, even if I do say so myself ;), also added a block of teak to look like the top of the stem coming up and also the name scroll- what do you think (not the name by the way- thats the owners choice)? Does it look right to you?
2nd pic- Taken tonight looking from amidships upto the new bow section, planking is now complete but needs fairing, the gun'l on this side is now finished- that was fun to bend round the bow I can tell you- anyone else like straining tiny bits of wood to within an inch of it's life? (Keep it clean! :D). Also in the pic are the boiler and engine bearers- just K and N brass square bonded into the floors, and also to be seen is the little tank I made to emty the condenser into while in the boat- I arranged the pipe so that you can tip the tank up but none of the oily dregs come out of the pipe.
3rd pic- A bit more in the stern section- I've been neglecting this end for a few days- and this bits easy so it's a nice break from twisting planks of wood covered in superglue around everything but the thing it should be on! Started doing the cabin (yes there is a cabin- under construction) planking on the inside of the cockpit.
4th pic- A good pic- don't think i've shown this view yet, looking aft to the midships bulkhead- leading away are the aforementioned bearers, the propshaft is in the centre, engine and shaft oiler on the bulkhead, the feed to the freshwater tanks is on the right and the outlet from the tanks to the feed pump inlet can be seen snaking it's way out of the bottom.
5th pic- the finished engine casing- lacquered and looks just right I think- looks great with the flaps up and the engine going underneath.
Hope you like these pics- could have done a couple more but the batteries ran out and i'm tired!
Greg
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Great stuff Greg, looking good :-))
Mick
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TIP-Top----------
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Hi guys,
Launch Day has arrived, well it was yesterday actually. Windermere was our boating pond and a classic Healey Boat was our slipway for the day and it was sunny with a slight easterly breeze.
Problems with the micro servo in the engine casing so I had to dismantle the servo assy and leave the casing off, a jury assy was put in place for the innagural voyage- about 2hrs steaming was had altogether, however when we got round to Bowness bay the Piezo ignition stopped working so i stripped it down on the lake, however I couldn't find any faults, a continuity test on the HT leads back on land proved the wires were fine, so I suspect the piezo unit has given up the ghost!!
Also on the way back I took a roll of lead from the boat owner to use as ballast when I got home, this rolled onto the cabin though and has done quite a bit of damage!!!!! >>:-( <:(
Enjoy the pics.
Greg
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HI I AM A NEW MEMBER ALSO JUST JOINED TODAY... WHILE LOOKING OVER THE SITE I CAME ACROSS YOUR BOAT AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY AS A BIG COLLECTOR OF STEAM ENGINES I TRULY ADMIRE YOUR BOAT IT LOOKS STUNNING
NICE TO SEE THE PICTURES THANKS GLEN
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Greg,
Nice to see it on the water, well done.
Was the Healey speedboat local to Winderemere? I found one for sale needing renovation not far away last year, but by the time I had found it the owners had changed their minds and decided not to sell. :((
Ian
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Hi,
Glen, glad to have you join the ranks here, the more steam men the merrier! :} Thanks for your comments- what engines do you have?
Ian, yes the Healey boat is local, although owned by a guy in Chorley- it is in a boathouse that is curently up for sale between the marina and Storrs.
The guy I have built the boat for is helping him get it back to running order- the engine wouldn't even turn over the week before I came over! It's not the best runner- but hideously underpowered anyway- the utility boats hardly ever got up onto the plane- the one we were in needed the gearbox sorting out- it had no neutral! I couldn't tell you were he got it from- although he hasn't had it long.
Interestingly the guy I'm building the boat for is also a member of the classic motorboat society and owns two Albatrosses- one of which was Donald Campbells! Beautiful boat- and in Bluebird's colours too! Along with a McGregor sailboat, two Range Rovers, a Series One Landy and an Astin Martin DB7!- Many an interesting conversation we've had I can tell you!
Greg