Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Working Vessels => Topic started by: conrad on October 03, 2009, 06:12:12 pm

Title: Working Model Trireme
Post by: conrad on October 03, 2009, 06:12:12 pm: I am in the process of building a model (1:24) of The trireme replica "Olympias". I am hoping to make it a working model with independently controlled port and starboard oars and rudders. I have posted details of the reconstruction and of prototypes of the rowing machinery on my website:
http://richardsmodelboats.webs.com/
I would welcome any comments from people who have built working model rowing boats before.
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: Martin (Admin) on October 03, 2009, 07:54:21 pm: Beautiful word Conrad! :o
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: Eddy Matthews on October 03, 2009, 08:07:18 pm: That's absolutely magnificent Conrad - I love it!!

I've always fancied trying an RC oar powered model, but I think the necessary engineering would be beyond my skill level :(

Regards
Eddy
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: DickyD on October 03, 2009, 08:55:05 pm: Club members rowed life boat. He specialises in rowed boats.

http://www.youtube.com/user/srcmbc#play/uploads/17/RJSITPrkzmU
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: rob on October 03, 2009, 10:13:39 pm: now that is what i call woodwork.......... well done sir.
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: conrad on October 03, 2009, 10:40:24 pm: Interesting video of the working lifeboat. I would be interested in seeing how the mechanism works. It would certainly be impressive to fit 170 working oarsmen on my trireme, but I think my simpler oar beams my be more practical for me! The trireme is a very weight sensitive model. It must be light and float at the correct waterline for the three tiered oar geometry to work.
I built a trial section to satisfy myself that the oar machinery that I plan to use is feasible at 1:24 scale and to weigh all the parts to add confidence to my weight estimate.
(see my website: http://richardsmodelboats.webs.com/ for details).
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: Arrow5 on October 04, 2009, 04:26:14 pm: There was a trireme on the pond at the 2008 and 2009 Dortmund show. Do a search on Youtube ... am wasserbecken de intermodellbau from heinrich08150 is one and intermodellbau 2008-4 by articlercm is another that shows it in operation, loads of oars ! Looks a bit tender. Beautifull construction details of your hull Conrad, I hope you will keep us informed...pictures are the law <*<
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: Arrow5 on October 08, 2009, 10:12:39 pm: Any more on the rowing scene ? Did you look-up the German ones on Youtube?
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: tonyH on October 10, 2009, 04:35:22 pm: Beautiful work Conrad,

Does anyone remember the outcome of the old ('60s I believe) argument about the speed of biremes in The Times?

Tony
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: conrad on October 11, 2009, 10:12:50 am: The debate about oar arrangement/speed of triremes etc culminated in the building of the full size replica trireme Olympias (designed by Coates model being built by me- see above!) which sucessfully underwent sea trials in the 1980's. John Coates wrote a book (The Athenian Trireme). They formed a trust to continue the research/ debate, a more details can be found at the site:
http://www.atm.ox.ac.uk/rowing/trireme/
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: conrad on November 22, 2009, 03:25:40 pm: I have now completed the hull framing and removed the model from the build jig:

More photos on my web page:
http://richardsmodelboats.webs.com/triremeolympias.htm
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: DickyD on November 22, 2009, 03:52:30 pm: Dont know if you have seen this.

http://www.srcmbc.org.uk/photo_galleries/gallery_albums/Mike_Sheppard%27s_models/index.html

http://www.srcmbc.org.uk/advert_images/galley_lg.jpg

Sorry I forgot, excellent work by the way.
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: awvs on November 22, 2009, 05:12:40 pm: Hi Conrad,
this is just stunning woodwork. Simply beautiful. :-)) :-)) :-))

Regards
Wilhelm
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: das boot on November 22, 2009, 06:41:54 pm: That is absolutely awesome stuff....

Rich
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: dreadnought72 on November 22, 2009, 06:58:37 pm: Richard, this is fantastic.

You mentioned keeping the hull on the former while building progressed in order to avoid the risks of distortion. The hull as it looks now would seem to be prone to warping, as it's such a shallow and thin shell. Could you tell us how stable it is?

Big thumbs up for the quality of this build - she's beautiful!

Andy
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: cbr900 on November 23, 2009, 12:25:48 pm: Conrad,

I used this system in my boat seems to work OK.........

Roy
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: conrad on November 23, 2009, 07:52:47 pm: The hull does seem to be surprisingly stiff now it is off the build jig, but yes I am worried about warping. Particularly as very precise alignment is required for the oar system.
I have remade the building jig as a cradle which now supports the hull the correct way up giving access to the interior for fitting out. The cradle supports the hull at 4 places on the outrigger and two on the keel (I will post a photo at some point).
Once the hull is fitted with stringers, deck beams, knees etc. it should hopefully become more resistant to warping.
Title: Re: Working Model Trireme
Post by: steve pickstock on November 26, 2009, 01:01:29 pm: Are you fitting the cable system that Coates originally began investigating? Or would it it be superfluous at this size?