A paddle-propelled vessel is just an interesting subject, and these tugs were probably the final development of paddle propulsion. This will be a 'scratch' build, but the hull is from the Kingston Mouldings range, and many of the fittings will be from Mobile Marine Models. The superstructure and other scratch-built parts will be styrene, with the odd piece of brass. I have a windshield washer pump to supply one of the monitors, and plan to fit a sound system.
Having purchased the hull, the first task was to assemble and test the drive train, and at the same time fit some frames to the hull. The main structure of the drive train is 0.080" styrene, with .125" plywood added under the base for stiffness. Each rotating train is double reduction using toothed belts and pulleys, powered by Electronize 365-14 motors. (Belt drive is not as compact as gears, but definitely quieter.) The servo operates a clutch which engages both paddles. The clutch is a gear on a swinging link which is pushed into (or out of) engagement with port and starboard drive trains. A test on the water with just the bare hull was succesful, although probably overpowered on 12V.

The forward main deck is on its way. The formers were shaped to give the correct deck camber and fastened down to a building board. Stringers and stiffeners were added below deck level between formers. A layer of 1/16" thick balsa planks, ¼" wide have been laid diagonally on top, and on top of that is the planking of 2mm thick basswod, 4mm wide. The caulking is simulated by strips of 0.5mm black styrene; the whole glued together using CA glue. The pads for the bollards and the windlass were cut and inserted after planking; the mitre joints were simply marked with pencil. A removable square hatch was cut after planking, and another pad will be inserted into it under the fire monitor stand. A coat of 'natural' wood stain was applied to tone down the whiteness of the basswood and the whole given several coats of acrylic satin varnish.

The forward deck has been removed from the building board and trimmed ready for fixing into the hull. The hull itself has had all the openings cut: anchor recesses, freeing ports, mooring eyes, and holes for paddle box supports and paddle shaft. Generally these were centre-marked with a pin drill, drilled through 3mm dia, and then opened out with a step drill to the final size. A junior hacksaw blade was used to cut between the two holes forming the ends of the freeing ports, and then filed to size. Photos of these vessels (unfortunately checked after drilling) show no sign of the freeing ports; not sure whether that means they weren't fitted or they had close-fitting doors. So I may yet cover them in again.

The forward deck has been glued in. I make it a practice that mechanical and electrical components must be removable without cutting anything, so the aftermost 7 inches of the planked deck were cut off for later fitting as removable pieces. The remaining deck could only be fitted by dropping it in and then pushing forwards into position, a process requiring 3 steps. First the forward-most curving deck edge was coated with a paste-type epoxy, and the mating part of the hull interior was similarly coated. The deck was slid into position and then held at the correct height by bridge pieces and spacers made from scrap material. After that had set a more liquid epoxy was used to seal the straight deck edge on one side to the hull. This step was repeated for the other side. The main supports for the paddle boxes are ¼ inch square brass tube angled to suit and epoxied. One support had to be made with a removable centre section so that the drive mechanism can be fitted and removed. The after deck has been made with camber but not sheer so it has been made from a single piece of styrene. The rudder tube was fitted and leak-tested before glueing the after deck into place.

After more study of the available photos, it seems clear that the freeing ports were never fitted, even though they are shown on both plans I have. Holes in the bulwarks only let water in so if the prototype didn't have them, a scale model definitely should not. So the freeing ports have been filled in again and primed. The sponson decks have been made up and glued into place. These wooden decks are sheets of basswood with the caulking marked using pencil, a technique I learnt from '4clubs'. The bulwark supports have been fitted and those and the after deck primed. The removable portions of the forward decks have been fitted, although this photo shows them removed while painting.

The paddle boxes have almost been completed and painted. The outer faces are temporary construction pieces. Their construction began with the side walls being glued to styrene strips taped to a piece of glass. Trials on the water will determine whether the boxes will be glued in place and the outer faces made removable, or whether the the boxes will be complete units which are fastened in place as a removable whole. The after deck has been painted and the tow bars made from 1/8 by 1/4 brass tube heated and bent around a former.

The chocks along the rubbing strake have been fitted, the hull painted and depth markings applied. A final coat of matt varnish has still to be applied, hence the painting supports are still in place. I've repainted the superstructure colours to a shade I believe is more accurate. Work is now proceeding on the after deck fixtures and fittings, and rudder.

The aft deck is almost complete. The forward towing beam is only trial fitted at present and the bulwark capping won't be done until that is glued in place. The towing beams and supports are brass, as are the guard rails over the capstan motor. The motor is a casting from Mobile Marine Models. The capstan drum is a piece of 0.5" steel tube built up with Tamiya epoxy putty. The bollard tops are buttons; everything else is made from styrene.

Most of the superstructure has been constructed, only the roof of the wheelhouse to be completed. Shaping the funnels proved to be more difficult and time-consuming than expected. The towhooks are from the Aeronaut range; one has been modified and can be released remotely.

Construction is proceeding along 3 'avenues' at present. The larger installed bits have been fitted into the hull: the fire monitor pump, the SLA battery, the drive train, and the towhooks with release servo. Various deck fittings are being constructed and painted. The stand for the fire monitor and radar tower are also in work. Hoping to give it a tryout this month, now that we have liquid water again.