Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Tugs and Towing => Topic started by: LightermanII on June 14, 2025, 09:48:16 pm

Title: Paddles
Post by: LightermanII on June 14, 2025, 09:48:16 pm
Hello all!
It's been a while.
I have come back to my boat and ship modeling after a break.























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Euston.... We have a problem!

I floated my model paddle tug for the first time.
Apart from a couple of small leaks, She is not buoyant enough! The paddle boxes and sponsons are far too close to the water.

I might have to look at removing a lot of weight  from the hull and the superstructure, The paddle boxes are wood clad brass and aluminium.
The casing and flue are made from thin gauge nickel-silver.
I need to put a smaller battery/s in but I want to avoid that.

I thought I would have had buoyancy to spare but any help / ideas offered to get her to float higher.[/size]


























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Title: Re: Paddles
Post by: JimG on June 15, 2025, 01:15:07 pm
Are there photos missing here?If removing weight doesn't help then the only option is modifying the hull by adding some extra depth.  While not for the same reason I did this with the old PBM paddle steamer, adding a 1/2 inch balsa block to the base of the hull. This was to allow for the fitting of a lead strip outside the hull to improve it's stability as it tended to lean over to one side under way.Jim
Title: Re: Paddles
Post by: LightermanII on June 15, 2025, 08:22:15 pm
Hello Jim.
Yes there were some pictures of shame!
I had the self same thought as you save that I would make one in the expanded polystyrene with a GRP shell on it. it will bolt on the bottom as I made some bushes with tapped holes I did this with a view to not only for display but to add an acrylic keel as you say paddle boats are a bit of drunken old ladies and do roll!

Title: Re: Paddles
Post by: SteamboatPhil on June 15, 2025, 08:54:23 pm
Really  want to look but sadly cannot open the pictures  :((
Title: Re: Paddles
Post by: JimG on June 16, 2025, 01:00:34 pm
Hello Jim.
Yes there were some pictures of shame!
I had the self same thought as you save that I would make one in the expanded polystyrene with a GRP shell on it. it will bolt on the bottom as I made some bushes with tapped holes I did this with a view to not only for display but to add an acrylic keel as you say paddle boats are a bit of drunken old ladies and do roll!
I found the extra depth and the external weighted keel did help but the final fix was to open up the slots in the paddle boxes, they would fill with water on one side and tilt it over. Non feahering paddles didn't help this.
Jim