Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Steam => Topic started by: Geoff on March 20, 2013, 02:00:12 pm
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I have casually referenced my latest model of HMS Velox and thought this may be of interest. She is built to 1/64 scale plus a bit as I needed to lengthen the hull by a couple of inches and deepen it by about 1" as I wanted to fit a steam engine. The Boiler is a Puffin Mk 2 unit but I built the engine to my own design. It's a little larger than a Puffin and is double acting oscillating with twin output shafts.
Sadly the pictures are not of good quality as they were taken indoors last night but hopefully they will give a flavour to the engine and model.
Cheers
Geoff
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Looks good :-))
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wow....... that does look nice.
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Very nice indeed. Some video of her on the water would be fantastic. Have you sailed the model yet?
Andy
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Andy,
Not yet sailed so I await with some trepidation as to how fast she will actually go. I'll follow up in due course if we ever get some decent weather!
Cheers
Geoff
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Great piece of workmanship there Geoff. :-)) :-))
Ken
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Super job Geoff. Please more info when she takes to the water, I know she will look so impressive under way.
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A beautiful job Geoff! She's got a tremendous atmosphere about her :-))
Tony
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That's a really great model, I love torpedo boat destroyers.
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Yes Geoff....even from 22,000 km away I love then starkness & simplicity of the black hull & the extensively detailed ancillaries'.......could she been painted this way for night time engagement?
The steam also adds another spectacular element....... :-)) ....
We would appreciate a few more images detailing the assembled gas tank, boiler & engine etc.......Derek
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Thank you all for your kind comments. I'll try to get some more pictures up shortly. On the tecnical side of things:
- It's a Chedder Models Puffin MK2 boiler with a ceramic burner
- Self designed and built engine - can't remember the specs but double acting oscilating
- I have a small computer fan to feed air into the boiler room via plastic trunking
- The sides of the low superstructure are left open to admit cool air/let hot air escape - you can't have too much air!
- It's a Cheddar Models large gas tank mounted lenghth wise to minimise any list as the fuel is used.
- There is a metal "Andrews" tin (UK people will know what I mean!). It provides a larger volume oil separator. It has two outpul lines tone to each of the first two funnels
- The oil separator physically touches the gas tank and provided gentle warming to keep the pressure up due to latent heat of evaporation which can cause excessive cooling and reduction in pressure. I have used this method before and at the end of a run the gas tank is luke warm.
- Two channel radio, rudder and engine throttle/reverse
- Rudder is external and contoled by lines on a quadrant on deck which mirrored below deck fixed to servo
- All guns are brass
- Photo etched stanchions
- Funnels are waste water pipe to survive the heat
- Hull is balsa plankes/sheet covered in 1.8 oz fibre glass inside and outside and then the outer plates are plastic card.
- Colour is Victorian but typically the were painted all black during early part of WW1 to assist night attacks.
Real Velox was turbine driven and could do about 33 knots but as she was coal powered not for long as the stokers got tired!
Cheers
Geoff
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that looks brilliant like everyone else i would love to see it underway!
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Beautiful. Very impressive detail! :-))
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Get it on the water lets see her go :-)) :-)) :-)) .
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By way of an update I was able to "steam up" over the weekend and much to my suprise the engine went like a train! I could feel the air blast from the props, so I think it will be powerfull enough.
I would have tried sailing her but for the blasted snow and wind, too cold, too wet, too everything!
A few observations:
1) The ceramic burner lit like a dream from the top of the funnel, no problems at all and much easier than the usual blow lamp burners.
2) I think I may have had the burner turned up a little high as the varnish on the planks began to blister a little
3) I had read that the ceramic burners don't produce as much heat as the blow lamp style. So far they seem to give more but as above I had it turned up a lttle high.
4) I had trouble filing the gas tank or maybe I was using it too fast. Time will tell.
5) There was a hugue plume of steam from both the forward funnels so should look good on the water.
I'll report back once I have a chance to actually sail her.
Cheers
Geoff
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http://www.shapeways.com/search?q=velox (http://www.shapeways.com/search?q=velox)
This may be of interest to anyone planning a 1/96 scale model.
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By way of an update I was able to sail Velox for the first time last Saturday. She performed quite well and was able to steam at a reasonable speed once boiler pressure was up to about 30psi. I still have to work out the setting for the burner to ensure adequaite boiler pressure is maintained as otherwise she slows down a bit.
I had some problems with the throttle linkage which flexed too much and left me with astern power only at one point, but this should be simple to resolve.
I got half an hours sailing out of one bolier full which was less than I hoped but I still have to get all the settings right, but a reasonable start.
My main concern was an angry Swann but it seemed more interested in attacking the ducks as I guess they represmnted more of a threat but I was still quite careful!
I'll try to attach some pictures now.
Cheers
Geoff :-) :-)
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Outstanding pictures of a superb model, she looks perfect Geoff. :-))
Si:)
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Absolutely brilliant. Well done ! :-))
Superb detail work. Having a real steam engine aboard makes such realistic smoke on the water.
Nice
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Oh I do like that TBD, really looks good on the water as well as close up. You'll be the envy of every one that see's her. Well done. 8) 8) 8)
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I have casually referenced my latest model of HMS Velox and thought this may be of interest.
Did you use the Roberts plan? His plans are very good in they are accurate and quite precise.
IIRC, Velox was the plan with the Lyons book on 'The first destroyers', the book contains are few isometric drawings and internal views... also very good.
Actually, his 'Anatomy of..' books are nearly jaw-droppingly good. 3D drawings of boiler and enginerooms?
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Yes, I used the Roberts plans from his book, which is excellent. I added about 4" to the length and 1" to the depth as I felt I would need the extra boyancy due to the weight of the boiler and steam engine. This decision was wise.
In practice she "bobs" a little but appears to be quite stable albeit the turning circle is quite large and speed falls of considerably in a turn. This suprised me as the rudder is immediatly behind the props.
Sailed her again on Saturday and she went a little better, a bit faster but I still had some trouble with the throttle linkage.
I do have some slight issues which are not uncommon with a new model steamer:
1) The engine appears to leak rather too much steam/water so I guess my engineering skills aren't quite as good as I had hoped! Neverthe less I still get 25/30 mins continuious sailing. It may improve with further running in.
2) Speed. This is fine with a good boiler pressure but soon drops off. I can increase the flame but then find I am running out of gas. I'm having trouble getting a full tank and suspect the valve. On the up side I can sit still and wait for the boiler pressure to build and then do a spurt accross the lake.
3) I have a displacement oil lubricator but after runing can see no emulsification of the oil and suspect it's not working but have no idea why - any suggestions?
Cheers
Geoff :-) :-)
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As an update I have done some further sailing and she is performing much better, slightly higher speed and duration max 30 mins.
There is a steam fair comming up at Barlylands in Billericay, Essex, in September and Velox will be there on Saturday if anyone interested.
If you haven't been to Barlylands before its very much a steam traction engine/farm craft type venue but really quite good. The model club I belong to, Southend Model Power Boat, takes the lead role and assists with orgainsation and there is invariably a large tent with 60 + models from various clubs on display. We sail on the farmers reservoir so they can all be seen in action.
Cheers
Geoff
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Geoff
I hope you can get some video, I'd very much like to see her running and there no chance of me getting to Essex.
I hope you won't take this amiss but have you thought about using a darker blue on your crewmen? It's such a nice model but the crew are a little bright for RN uniforms. Sorry!
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I agree with the darker blue for the crew. The tin showed it to be dark blue but I agree it's a little too bright!
Cheers
Geoff