Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Steam => Topic started by: gyronuts on August 04, 2010, 06:38:40 pm
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About 2 years ago i had a Cheddar Pintail that i was having problems with. I took it to John Hemmans who quickly identified and corrected a gas tank problem and the plant worked perfectly thereafter. Visiting John's workshop was amazing. I spied his magnificent steam plants and vowed to aquire such a quality item before I retire.
Recently I obtained a hemmens steam engine and boiler although not originally purchased as a matched set and without a boiler certificate.
I took the box along to John and asked him to check and certify the boiler, replace / service the unit and fit it onto a plate unit ready to fit into a hull.
Today i picked it up and it was amazing. Looked as good as new. John fired it up and briefed me on how to operate the plant and provided spanners,steam oil ,fill up syringe and instructions including a brand new certificate.
Excellent job John.
Bill
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Very nice. How much does the whole unit weigh?
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sorry I have been away on business. Will try and get it weighed by the weekend. Do you want the weight with or without the gas tak? Bill
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All inclusive, please, to know how big the hull needs to be.
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Hi,
Will do. I am fitting it into a Krick Victoria. I have removed the superstructure and it seems to fit fine. Shortening the propshaft as well. The krick is 1077 x253 or 43" x 10.12". . More pictures tomorrow.
If you look at John's website www.steamengines.co.uk you will see that his hulls for the plant are 43 to 47" long.
Bill
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before photos.bill
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superstructure removed and steam plant in temporary position to check balance of boat.
Boat as seen with plant + gas tank weighs 5Kg. The smaller launch is 38” long, by 12” wide and weighs about 3kg.
Bill
I know the union jack is upside down!
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Weights as follows:
1. steam plant 7.03 Lbs /3.182 Kg
2. Gas tank 12.6 oz/358 g
3. Total weight = 7.129 Lbs or 3.541 Kg.
Bill
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floatation check. Bill
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The plant looks very nice in the hull. What are you planning to do about the old cabin? I would scratch build a new one, as I never liked the standard Victoria cabin.
Thanks for the data!
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I am going to lave the hul primarily as it is rather tan build a new cabin. But we shall see.
I have replaced the propshaft and set it up to a greater angle from the hull than the original.
Bill
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Well sailed the victoria today. What a wonderful sight. The steam plant operated faultlessly and was like a sewing machine with control over the RPM so fine that you could go from the pistons moving slowly in forward motion to the same in reverse seamlessly.
Miraculously, the propshaft and connectors appear to be in line as if an engineer had built it!!!
Now that I am happy with the setup I will remove the plant( 4 screws) and do up the interior of the launch.
Sailed about for nearly 20 + mins on about 2/3rds boiler capacity.
I have some video but not sure how to download it..any ideas?
Bill
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Very nice. Upload you video to youtube.com and then post the link here.
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Congratulations!! That is always such a great day -- the successful steam up!!
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hope this works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNYLBcK-VXw
I will see if I can take a better one. Bill
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Works very well and looks very good on the water, congratulations.
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I took some better video today so will post it later. General discussion amongst club members is whether to reinstate the cabin behind the boiler. Any thoughts? Bill
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Not for me. I have an old Victoria and have had a play with a couple of steam plants but not really been happy enough yet. I've now seen two though with the cabins removed and they look so much better and make an excellent work boat. I would keep the bench seats and put in a steering wheel somewhere, just like a Borkum, but leave it at that.
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I took some better video today so will post it later. General discussion amongst club members is whether to reinstate the cabin behind the boiler. Any thoughts? Bill
I would vote for a cabin. But not the old one and not in the same place.
Actually I would like a cabin in the back, leaving the engine free, and a cabin in the front, with the steering post behind it ok2
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Hi,
Here's what I did on the Victoria I built;
Greg
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videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVg_BQQYyM4
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Here's a couple photos of a Victoria I've been currently building without the cabin.
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final video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F2zCIz2VF8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjL0WWTeJsU
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final video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F2zCIz2VF8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjL0WWTeJsU
Nice video's ...You were getting wet .....steam dedication :-))
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yes. Can't let a little rain ruin the day. Bill
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Hi....your boats look so fine.and nice videos,,.......Greg :-)) that a first class job you have do on that Victoria....
Regards Bernhard
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Hi,
Thanks bernhard, very kind coming from you.
I think steaming in the rain is very satisfying- especially when the air is so damp the steam exhaust lasts for ages.
Greg
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just layed the possible cabin on. Any thoughts? Bill
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Here's a couple photos of a Victoria I've been currently building without the cabin.
Very nice Nick, is that a plank-on-frame hull?
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just layed the possible cabin on. Any thoughts? Bill
Not my favourite style of cabin, to be honest (gondolier88's cabin is a good source of inspiration though). It would also need a door to get acces to the engine.
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hi......... i like it better withaut....or make a better looking one................
Regards Bernhard
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The Krick cabin is SO ugly, there is no point pussyfootong about about it, stand on it, and do the world an aesthetic favour!
I wouldn't mind, but Krick market this as 'the type of launch Simpson & Strickland launch builders of Dartmouth would have built around the turn of the century', the hull maybe, it's very pretty, but that cabin was NEVER built onto any historic launch I know of and isn't in any of Simpson & Strickland's catalogues.
I would search thge steam boat register on the SBA's website, or the National Historic Ships site, search 'steam launch' in the engine.
The one I built was based on this launch;
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I agree with gondolier88 "The Krick cabin is SO ugly", It looks like something scrapped off a fifties motor boat.
Regards,
Gerald.
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well finaaly decided to fit the figures and make a removeable cabin so that I can sail the boat either way. photos of cabinless attached. Bill
figures 1/10th to 1/12th from dolls house suppliers thro ebay..about £5 each made from porcelain.
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Looks great open, what about just a canvas top on four poles, "Surrey with a fringe on top" sort of thing. The figures look good, did you make them or are they available commercially? Cheers, Ian.
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the figures are from dolls house suppliers. I got mine from ebay search for dolls house figures. Bill
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I have to congratulate you on your good fortune, I ordered, and paid for, a Formidable kit and a Ribbersdale steam plant on July 9th this year. As of today I have an incomplete Formidable kit and no sign of the Ribbersdale steam plant. Several promises of delivery have been made over the past 3 months, but no actual delivery has taken place.
TerryG
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Hi,
I am surprised by your experiences. I emailed him and also phoned his contact number listed on the website and received a prompt e-mail response. He said that he didi not always answer the phone when he was in the workshop as it would quickly distract him from the task in hand. He seems to start at about 0730!
I suggest you try to contact him via the e-mail. Bill
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Many e'mails and several phone calls have only ever got me many different excuses.
TerryG
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hi...Nothing news in that.. %%.same old storie...bot you will get it in the end?....just few minuts before you start to get grazzy <*<....i now how it is...have you pay for it,,,
Regards Bernhard
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Hi Bernhard,
Certainly have paid for it, over 3 months ago. Very disappointed. Have requested a refund. Will not deal with John Hemmens again.
TerryG
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I have to congratulate you on your good fortune, I ordered, and paid for, a Formidable kit and a Ribbersdale steam plant on July 9th this year. As of today I have an incomplete Formidable kit and no sign of the Ribbersdale steam plant. Several promises of delivery have been made over the past 3 months, but no actual delivery has taken place.
TerryG
Yep nothing has changed with him,I as warned about him over 20 years ago and have spoken to a lot of upset customers, a local model shop to me ordered a plant for a customer paid up front and waited 18 months for it when it arrived the customer had bought a different plant so he was stuck with it, did you pay by credit card if so get on to them for a full refund.
Peter
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Thanks for your input Peter, yes I'm talking to the credit card company reference a refund. It's really a pity that some people can taint what is a great hobby.
TerryG