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[Neddy Seagoon]

Hello,
Firstly thank you to Peter for accepting me and his kind letter of introduction.
I first tried to build model boats when I was a small boy 60 + years ago but the results were rather poor!
I`ve now re-kindled my interest but on a bit of a tangent to the norm.

I`ve two projects on the go, both based on old hulls. The first is a one metre carved wood WW1 destroyer hull, very similar in shape and size to a Basset Lowke Destroyer from the 1930`s. Purchased twenty or more years ago from a junk shop with the remains of a simple steam plant installed. Put in the loft and forgotten about I made a start a few months ago. I`ve spent many hours on the hull, it was badly warped and split but looks reasonable now and has been saved for the future.
The second project is again Bassett Lowke, this time a Streamlinia hull. But now we have the difference.....this is cast aluminium!! A resent purchase, the vendor said her Father bought it from the B L shop in Manchester in the 1950`s.
Has anyone else seen one?     Both models will be steam powered.

Is anyone else interested in restoring / re-using old models of this type?

My username? goes with my age and a liking for the Goon Show, also I have a sports car first owned by Harry Secombe.

Regards to all,

Graham.

ps  Can anyone let me have a copy of Streamlinia plans so I can build the superstructure?

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

Welcome to the Forum Graham.   

I was curious so I Googled it for you.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Streamlinia+plans&noj=1&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjM4OnKv9LZAhVPZVAKHS19A0kQsAQIMg&biw=882&bih=513

is this the one  ?

ken

[Neddy Seagoon]

Hi Ken,

Yes, that`s the one. Was hoping someone had a plan with some basic dimension to save me having to scale them from a drawing. I`m going to try to attach a photograph of the hull....it may not work!
Nice to hear from you anyway.

Regards,

Graham.

[unbuiltnautilus]

Hi Ken,

Yes, that`s the one. Was hoping someone had a plan with some basic dimension to save me having to scale them from a drawing. I`m going to try to attach a photograph of the hull....it may not work!
Nice to hear from you anyway.

Regards,

Graham.

Blimey, I've got one of those! Had no idea what it was though..about 30" or so??

[LJ Crew]

I had one too. The version shown top right in  https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Streamlinia+plans&noj=1&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjM4OnKv9LZAhVPZVAKHS19A0kQsAQIMg&biw=882&bih=513
The windows were glass and the hole in the cabin top was over the pressure gauge. The steam plant was a single boiler (I have seen twin boilers) and a "chicken hopper" feed for the multi wick burner. The tin fuel (meths) tank was rectangular and almost the height of the boiler, with an outlet valve operated by a pull rod at the corner of the tank. The (8?) wick tubes were on a rectangular section twin branch tube. There was an in line displacement lubricator and a single cylinder "4 pillar" engine. The safety valve was just forward of the chimney. The fuel valve must have leaked at some time as I remember a major fire in the carved wooden hull which I put out by pushing the boat under water! Oh how I wish I still had her but I swapped her for something (I can't remember what) and the new owner dropped her and split the hull, I have no idea what became of the steam plant.

[ballastanksian]

Welcome to the forum Graham.


There is so much excellent model making and so many useful ideas and tutorials on here that Martin has to nail planks across the end to stop them spilling out into the next door forum (Crocheting and Patch working; They don't like their patterns spoilt by bits of MTB and the odd ribald Pirate joke :O) 


I am building an 'M' Class destroyer from WW1 to about the same size, so yours sounds like it is roughly 1:96th scale. Do you know which class yours is?

[Neddy Seagoon]

Hi Guys,

Many thanks for your replies,

`unbuiltnautilus`
Great to hear you`ve got one too,   mines a tad over 37" x 8" beam.
I believe it to be a Streamlinia hull, lots of pictures on the net, have a look and form your own conclusions. 
Original Steamlinia hulls were carved from solid, although the 1948 catalogue advertises a `Fibrous plastic hull, unpainted` for £3 17 6
 I know mine was purchased from a Bassett Lowke shop in the 1950`s but don`t know whether it was marketed by BL or another company.  Does anyone know anything about these cast alum. versions??
The model seems to have been designed by F.J. Camm circa 1935.
I`ve a 1937 catalogue, all parts were available separately or a complete (steam) model was £9 9 0d 
I also have a 1960 catalogue where it was still available for £55. Also in 1960, an electric version with single channel radio for £52 10s (different cabin and nowhere near as pretty in my view!)

"LJ Crew"
A great description, thank you. Shame it came to a sad end!

"ballastanksian"
Can`t really help with your question. The carved hull I have is very similar in looks and dimensions to the Bassett "Flotilla Leader" sold in the 1930`s. (lots of pics on the web) so I am building it `in the style of` rather than a copy of that model.
They were quite crude and naïve compared with todays idea of a scale model, more a rich kids toy, but that`s what appeals to me so much!

 Regards,

Graham.

[roycv]

Hi Neddy, I made my own one from scaled up plans from Hobbies Annual 1937.  That was in 1988/9 runs nicely, sold it last summer but still have the plans.  It would be quite easy to draw up the plans as long as you stick to feet and inches. 
Streamlinette is a recent smaller model in Model Boats magazine last year.  There were more than one superstructure layouts and I followed one from 1950's with a covered rear cabin to protect the RC.

I and a friend did some experiments with steam and then I went electric.  The outcome was that if you want the boat to gently plane then a 2 inch 3 blade prop running at 2000 rpm works fine as I am sure other combinations would.  We could not manage that consistently with the steam plant we had so I went electric.
As far as weight went another friend with an original Streamlinia and original steam plant weighed his one I think it was around 10 - 11 lbs.  But this was also the weight of my (brushed) version with a 12 volt SLA battery in it.

However just recently having seen an original one steaming at the North London club it is a rather poor performance.
I think for any kind of satisfaction with speed you will need to go electric.

By the way I also loved the Goons and in the 1970's I used to know and live opposite the BBC Producer John Browell  who produced the show.  I am pretty sure one of the goons also liked model boats as well as I seem to remember a contact with RipMax in the 50's.
regards Roy

[reg]

Wasn't that great goon Peter Sellers (Ned Seagoon) that had a fast electrice
called 'Boat Called Fred'.
happy days sitting with my ear pressed up against the radio listening to them
and 'Dick Barton'
  Reg 

[Grumpy Dave]

With luck attached is a copy of the lines and layout of Streamlina from the 1948 sixth edition of F.J.Camm Model Boat Building. This was to be carved out of a solid block. I notice that there is no step in the deck. Big Picture! I remember Dick Barton speshul ashun too.!

[roycv]

Hi all, I also like the expensive toy thing, I have a home built Sea Jay from the Basil Harley plans in Model Boats called Celia May.  Originally for steam power but the home made steam plant I had did not quite fit and was a bit heavy so I went electric with a Bassett lowke Marine motor, which runs a treat on 6 cells.  It was a free plan in Model Boats way back.
The original superstructure is 3 pieces of tin plate but it was just balanced on the hull.  I made a one piece unit which sits nice and snug.

Always creates interest on the water but runs better than the original Sea Jays.  I also have a rescued clockwork boat from the 1930's which has additional aid from radio, may well be in Model Boats magazine when I eventually get to the lake for some photographs.
I have another Basset lowke model boat in mind that I might copy but producing plans can only have a limited interest and there are only so many Goons fans left!

with a cheery  "He's fallen in the water"!
Roy

[Neddy Seagoon]

Hi Guys,

Well that was fun, thanks for all the replies and comments, lots of `Goons` out there it seems!
Special thanks to Roy and Grumpy Dave for their technical input.

Cheers,

Graham.

[jarvo]

Ying tong yiddle I po  !!!!!

[Big Ada]

"Has anybody seen my gun."

[ballastanksian]

'What colour is it?'

[roycv]

Yes Neddy it is a blue gun.
What are you going to do with it?
Just stand over there in the corner and keep very still
It is a very nice blue.
Thank you Neddy.
Why are you pointing your nice blue gun at me?
It is much easier to hit you that way, now keep very still.
Will it hurt?
No Neddy, I shall not feel a thing.
BANG
AHHH! I have been shotted!  I am falling down
Just lie there quietly Neddy.
But I am bleeding blood!
So you are Neddy and do try not to make a mess.

regards Roy

[sparkey]

Hi,Neddy,this is a good site for vintage boats,also mayhem has a good group on facebook to look at,in fact there are some very good model boat groups on there and you can get all the help you need,vintage model boats,classic wooden model boats are worth looking at,also groups that deal with specialist types of boats like warships,tugs and lifeboats,if fact today we are so lucky to have the internet and the wealth of knowledge we can obtain there,enjoy your boat building and we hope to hear how you are getting on.

[jarvo]

You rotten swine, you have deaded me!!!