Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Steam => Topic started by: steamyjim on April 18, 2017, 08:06:54 pm

Title: Puffin Rebuild
Post by: steamyjim on April 18, 2017, 08:06:54 pm
Thought some may be interested to see a boat I restored last summer. Picked up from eBay in rather rough condition...


Boiler re-painted, re-lagged, engine rebuilt with re-lapped cylinder and valve faces, made a set of new gaskets, and a repaint. The decking inside the hull was a rather horrible blue painted aluminium, this was replaced with wooden decking that needs to be covered with planking eventually I think.


Anyway, see the pictures below, starting with as bought.


I'd be interested to know what hull this has been built on - looking at an old Cheddar catalouge there is an identical hull fitted with a Puffin engine and named 'Puffin' and I've recently purchased an electrically powered imitation steam launch built on the same hull...





Title: Re: Puffin Rebuild
Post by: steamyjim on April 18, 2017, 08:24:39 pm
And some more pictures of the restoration.


I'm having trouble uploading the rest of the pictures as they're over 300kb, any suggestions on reducing this?
Title: Re: Puffin Rebuild
Post by: Baldrick on April 18, 2017, 08:58:10 pm
Nice , one of the earlier puffins like mine with the shapely centre column , not like the later ones more square and easier to produce.
Title: Re: Puffin Rebuild
Post by: steamyjim on April 18, 2017, 09:38:05 pm
Nice , one of the earlier puffins like mine with the shapely centre column , not like the later ones more square and easier to produce.


Indeed! They certainly made some pretty looking engines...


Lovely quality column casting - I presume lost wax cast.
Title: Re: Puffin Rebuild
Post by: pipercub1772 on April 20, 2017, 01:35:35 am
Hi the model boat you have is the AMARYLLIS it was released by bruce enginering based on the designs from the turn of the century by builders such as simson and strickland  the kit was sold in the early 90/s it was designed to take the cheddar puffin engine ,regards Allan.
Title: Re: Puffin Rebuild
Post by: RWH on April 20, 2017, 01:14:49 pm
http://www.selway-fisher.com/Steamover30.htm


http://www.steamboat.org.uk/upload/61299(1).png?67633

Title: Re: Puffin Rebuild
Post by: steamyjim on April 20, 2017, 06:37:02 pm
Thankyou for the information on the hull design. I think it makes for rather a pretty vessel...


Any hints as to how to reduce the image file sizes so I can post the completed pictures?
Title: Re: Puffin Rebuild
Post by: Baldrick on April 20, 2017, 07:39:04 pm
Upload it to Photobucket or one of the similar hosting sites then when you download from there to this site it will be downsized to suit.
Title: Re: Puffin Rebuild
Post by: steamyjim on April 27, 2017, 08:54:49 pm
Some belated pictures of the nearly completed rebuild.


Still a few bits and pieces to do such as finish the edging around the engine compartment and apply suitable carpet and fake coal to hide the screw heads, but she looks alright on the pond!


(http://i1310.photobucket.com/albums/s654/JimH1994/P13_zpsurenp80i.jpg) (http://s1310.photobucket.com/user/JimH1994/media/P13_zpsurenp80i.jpg.html)


(http://i1310.photobucket.com/albums/s654/JimH1994/P14_zpsrzxd8ue8.jpg) (http://s1310.photobucket.com/user/JimH1994/media/P14_zpsrzxd8ue8.jpg.html)






Title: Re: Puffin Rebuild
Post by: KNO3 on June 18, 2017, 08:49:38 am
Congratulations on restoring the Cheddar steam plant, it looks like new.
However, may I suggest replacing the rubber tubing with copper or brass tubing and appropriate threaded connectors? It should look much nicer.
Title: Re: Puffin Rebuild
Post by: steamyjim on June 30, 2017, 09:29:50 pm
Congratulations on restoring the Cheddar steam plant, it looks like new.
However, may I suggest replacing the rubber tubing with copper or brass tubing and appropriate threaded connectors? It should look much nicer.


Thank you - I was rather pleased with how she came out. It's on the to do list - I always think that was one thing that let down Cheddar plants, however I can quite understand why they used rubber piping like that.