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    Phantom Tug
    20 Posts Β· 22 Followers Β· 159 Photos Β· 192 Likes
    Began 3 years ago by
    Sub-Lieutenant
    United States
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    Latest Post 8 months ago by
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    πŸ“ Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 192 Views · 7 Likes · 3 Comments
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    Nine

    Laying the deck on this build was a little out of the ordinary. I had incorporated a false deck to stiffen everything and minimize the chances of introducing a twist to the hull while the planking went on. Even with the deck and the shear strakes installed I was constantly checking the trueness until there were five or six strakes on both sides. Even then I'd check occasionally just to be sure.
    Once the hull was planked and the outside sanded, filled, sanded again, and 'glassed, the false deck had to be cut off so the inside could be tended to.
    'Glassing part of the inside and epoxying the rest was un-eventful. Placing the mounts for the electronics, motor, and battery followed.
    After the house size was determined, the coaming built and installed, the false deck was cut to fit the coaming and reinstalled.
    The waterways were soaked, bent to shape and glued in.
    Next the timberheads were placed inside the bulwarks, then all of it was sealed and painted before the deck and cap rails were built and added so the paint cutting in wasn't so tedious.
    Rather than waterproof the false deck with epoxy I cut and laid a layer of .018 styrene plastic over the entire area to be planked with decking. My theory (and perhaps flawed,) was/is that if I ever wanted to add, repair, or modify anything on deck the epoxy under the deck would make everything from the deck planks all the way through to the sub-deck one solid piece. The styrene would waterproof the false deck, but would serve as a good barrier should any water ever get under the deck boards.
    The decking wasn't nibbed as I told myself this was a working tug, not a yacht. Using poplar for the planks provided a good base for painting which I had intended to do, but after scraping and sanding thought what could go wrong with staining? Intending to paint it anyway, if the stain didn't work nothing was lost.
    I had a stash of Rit fabric dye in gray, brown, and black which I used to stain the dock piles on a couple of previous builds which although water based didn't raise the grain to an alarming rate so why not try it here?
    A couple of coats of stain allowed to dry, then followed up with a scrubbing with a bronze-wool pad provided (to me anyway,) a plausible work deck color. Adding copious amounts of sealer, and a couple coats of MinWax dead flat coating has provided what I think I'll go with at least for the time being. Should the deck get boring, there's still the paint option.😊

    Photo's:

    1-4 Laying the deck with poplar wood, onto styrene, with
    CA.

    5,6, and 7 the deck after the stain, scrubbing with the
    bronze wool, and the sealer/finish coats.

    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    2 years ago by πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ Ronald ( Admiral)
    ✧ 69 Views · 1 Like
    Flag
    Appreciate your comments as I too have fond memories of conversations with Tim, though mine were over the phone. It truly would be a privilege to meet him in person and come away with a better understanding of the man we know as Black Shoe.
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    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    2 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ ToraDog ( Captain)
    ✧ 72 Views · 1 Like
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    I stopped by Phantom Tug's abode today. Had a nice lunch, a good beer, and spent many minutes drooling over the Fort Valley. I can only say that pictures do not convey the quality, character, or imagination that has gone into this build. I have said it before, and it bears repeating, this is not a model boat. It is a series of models, each it's own dioramma, wwhich all dovetail to tell an amazing story. The attention to detail can only be appreciated in person. Talking with Tim today, I gained an insite that, I think, escaped me before. All of the details on Fort Valley, all of the stories it tells, come from Tim's long carreer in the U.S. Coast Guard. Phanton Tug is a humble individual, surpassed only by how humbling his creations are.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Tug Fort Valley
    3 years ago by πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ jbkiwi ( Fleet Admiral)
    ✧ 190 Views · 0 Likes
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    That's looking greatπŸ‘

    JB
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    πŸ“ Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 188 Views · 4 Likes · 4 Comments
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    Ten

    Just a short update this time.
    The timberheads are all in, the bulwarks painted, deck laid and sealed, so it's on to the cap rails.
    There was no way to bend a flat piece of wood sideways to the curve of the hull, and knowing these would be painted, I opted for a lamination.
    To scale, the caps are 2" thick, and a foot wide.
    Ripping down miles (?) of 3/16 square poplar and soaking several pieces at a time, I wanted to establish the shape before they were glued together to eliminate any built-in stresses that may cause splits or failed joins later.
    Laying waxed paper over the top of the bulwarks and clamping up the wet strips then gluing once dried provided the curved pieces required. This was particularly critical around the radius of the stern.
    After the cap rail itself was built, the outside edge and inside fashion piece were added. Sanding everything, sealing and painting then brought it all together.

    Photos:

    1. The soaker tube is a 5' length of 2" plastic piping with
    a cap glued to the bottom. I occasionally use ammonia
    added to the water. After the soaking process is
    completed I dump the water (66 oz) and leave the pipe
    empty so nothing grows in it.

    2 & 3. Clamping the wetted pieces to shape until they dry
    completely.

    4.& 5 Strips waiting to be soaked and a scarf joint.

    6. thru 9. Different perspectives of the installation.

    10. The finished look that the interior fashion piece
    provides. (the vertical strake just under the cap rail
    covering the timberhead tops.)

    11. Cap rail installed and sanded standing by for paint.

    12 & 13. The bow with the breast hook included, and the
    stern before the drying rack.

    πŸ’¬ Re: Tug Fort Valley
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 183 Views · 0 Likes
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    Thank you all!

    MTurpin, that may have been my fault...I started out calling this the "Phantom Tug" because I hadn't decided on the name. It's a scratch build of no particular tug, just a class of old steam tug. I should have continued with "Phantom" because I suspect the site thinks this is a different boat.
    I'm not savvy enough to consolidate the two, but open to any suggestions....πŸ‘
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    πŸ’¬ Re: Tug Fort Valley
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ mturpin013 ( Admiral)
    ✧ 184 Views · 1 Like
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    Hi black shoe, have I missed something on this blog, the two entries visible are numbered nine and ten where is one to eight? I love to see the build.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Tug Fort Valley
    3 years ago by πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ jbkiwi ( Fleet Admiral)
    ✧ 188 Views · 0 Likes
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    Excellent job on the railsπŸ‘, model's looking great!

    JB
    πŸ’¬ Re: Tug Fort Valley
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ Graham93 ( Vice Admiral)
    ✧ 193 Views · 0 Likes
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    Really nice job on the laminated cap rails πŸ‘ and the scarf joint looks spot on.

    Graham93
    πŸ“ Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 183 Views · 6 Likes · 2 Comments
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    Eleven

    Apologies, I seem to have made a hash of this blog by changing the "Subject" line. Originally this thread was "Phantom Tug", then I settled on a name and continued with that which I suspect has the site believing that it's two different blogs and going back to the original name hasn't reconnected the thread.
    I've submitted a request to admin to consolidate the two as I'm surely not clever enough to do it.

    At any rate, here's another excursion into the unnecessary. I suspect this boat being a harbor tug may have been called on to perform all sorts of tasks even perhaps hauling a garbage scow out to sea from a major city. The scow couldn't be towed on a hawser because control in the harbor would be paramount, so the tug would be made up on the scow's hip. Being that close to the refuse must have been a trial, particularly for the cook. (I'm not suggesting the scow was his/her source of sustenance!! 😊)

    At any rate, screens for windows were invented in the middle/late 1800's, so it would be possible that a version could have found it's way shipboard and consequently into the galley windows of this tug. I anticipate a screen door for the galley, but won't outfit the entire boat for the fore-seeable future.

    The material for these (keeping in mind this build is 1:18 scale,) is the gossamer - looking ribbon that may be found on a bouquet of flowers, or perhaps a fabric store like JoAnn's here in the US.

    Very simple although tedious.... Making a frame out of 1/16" styrene strips that is a very slight interference fit with the window frame will keep the screen in place. (I didn't want to glue in the frame in case the screen got damaged and didn't want to deal with cutting out the frame - the interference provides the friction to hold it in place.)
    Making sure the "screen" is dead flat on some waxed paper, a couple of tiny drops of glue are placed on the bottom corners of the inside face of the frame, then the frame laid on the screen being certain the screen weave is vertical and horizontal, not on a bias. Turning the frame and screen over a couple of tiny drops of glue are placed on the top of the frame. The screen wants to be just taught, but no strain. Then the sides glued in a couple of places - this material is so light a continuous bead of glue isn't necessary. After the glue cures the screen is trimmed to exactly the frame's size. I found that painting the frame was problematic because of the thickness of the paint. What did work was using a "Magic Marker" pen. These come in all colors, are easy to use, and in most cases indelible.

    The photos:

    1 - 3 Gives the idea of how light and thin the material is.

    4 & 5 The screen in the window frame.

    6. Deciding if it's worth the effort.

    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 182 Views · 0 Likes
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    Thank you Steve.

    I personally think figures help tell the story of a model. There's everything from people to dogs, cattle, and even chickens to complete the image.

    The builds are mostly 1:18 scale (5/8" = 1 foot), and the figures are "American Diorama" found on Ebay. They're designed mostly for the diecast automotive hobby, but are easily modified for our use. They are also available in 1:24 scale.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί stevedownunder ( Captain)
    ✧ 184 Views · 1 Like
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    Very nice work Black Shoe,
    I like the use of scale people adds another dimension to the photo.
    Are the 2 people 3D printed?

    Cheers,
    Stephen.
    πŸ“ Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 188 Views · 6 Likes · 2 Comments
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    Eleven (a)

    The window screens seemed to work out and Ms Maud the cook insisted she get a couple of screen doors for her galley as well. Everybody that's ever been to sea knows that second only to the Captain the cook is the most important person in the crew. They are a prime source of morale - or lack of it - they are the source of news both real and rumor (hence the term "Galley News" being a rumor.) They hear things said at the Captain's table and may or may not share it.
    Anyway, when Ms Maud "asked" for door screens the request may as well have come from the skipper!
    The construction methods are the same as the window screens.

    Photos;

    1 & 2 Maud showing off her new screen door. (There is
    one coming for the starboard side.)

    3. What she has to do with passing judgment on the
    drying deck, I don't know, but the deck hands seem to
    be waiting for the verdict.

    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 188 Views · 2 Likes
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    Thank you Stephen,

    Ms Maud is the type that if she likes you she likes you, but you really don't want to cross her! She's somewhat of a prankster too. She put a glass eye in the stew one time and just waited in the galley with a smirk on her face to see who hollered. Evil!
    I think she thinks this is her boat!

    Maud is printed, but the rest of the crew are "American Diorama".
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί stevedownunder ( Captain)
    ✧ 189 Views · 2 Likes
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    Hi Black Shoe,

    Looks like Ms Maud was not going to take no for an answer.
    Lovely work and I love the 3D printed figures.

    Cheers,
    Stephen.
    πŸ“ Phantom Tug (Fort Valley)
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 186 Views · 9 Likes · 7 Comments
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    Twelve...

    The weather has finally broken in the NE US and a lot of time has gone into spring clean up and getting ready for the new season. During the winter there's no incentive to go outside at all, so the tug building can progress at a steady albeit slow pace. (I'm not very fast, but I sure am slow....).
    The smoker relocation was done in anticipation of this season's running.

    There were a couple of factors leading up to the new mount for the smoker. One was to eliminate a nuisance, another was to take a little heat out of the "engine room" (although in the space it was in and the volume of fresh air circulating through, heat wasn't a real issue. Potential leakage and visibility around the unit was an issue to me, and this modification helps in that aspect.)

    The unit was originally mounted adjacent to the main motor with a pipe extending from the top of the unit towards the centerline at a slight angle then vertical to penetrate the 01 deck and engage the stack. This seemed a little cumbersome. Every time the smoker needed fuel, or the fuel level checked, the deckhouse had to be removed and set aside to accomplish this. Once completed, resetting the house while lining up the stack and doing this all while the tug was waterborne was sometimes a troublesome proposition particularly if there were wakes, a light breeze, or any wave action. (before I hauled the 50 lb boat out of the water just to check the fuel I would turn off the smoker and claim the engineers were burning anthracite coal in harbor mode!)

    Another issue was this scenario; you've been operating the boat for a period of time. The boat is on the far side of the pond, and you've been running pretty good - not hard, but perhaps 2/3rds. The smoker manufacturer recommends wiring the unit in parallel to the motor so the ESC controls the smoker in concert with the main motor. You notice there's not much smoke coming from the stack and you're a pretty good run back to the landing. Decision: run hard to shorten the run in a potentially dry condition, or take twice the time idling back hoping to keep the smoker coil at a minimum temperature so it doesn't damage itself or the boat. (This particular unit has no failsafe and in the instructions in all caps "DO NOT RUN DRY!") Well, Cap' what'r'you gonna do?

    Here's my solution after actually experiencing the above situation. (I did burn a hole through the bottom of the unit for this boat.)

    Figuring the warranty was probably shot anyway,(πŸ˜€) I cut and glued a metal plate to the underside of the smoker with "JB Weld". I have used this stuff in several situations and it has proven worthy of this sort of job. My dog and I shared a tin of sardines so I could claim the tin for a catch-can since the size was appropriate for the purpose.
    I had a channel on my radio open that used an on/off toggle and a rheostat so incorporated a Pico switch and stand alone ESC to operate the smoke unit.
    With this system I can lay at the dock with just a wisp of smoke and no turns on or increase the smoke to full capacity at will. If the boat is a long ways off and the smoke is declining, turn off the unit altogether and bring the boat back, or turn it off, carry on and service the unit later.

    The mounting of the unit to the underside of the 01 deck has proved advantageous in that the deckhouse can remain in place, fuel can be checked/added easily, and there's plenty of air around the unit. If there is a failure it would be readily apparent and contained. In this build having the few extra ounces relatively high has had no effect whatsoever.

    The photos:
    1. The burned-out bottom of the unit.

    2-6 The fitting fabricated to allow filling and checking the
    smoke unit from above the 01 deck eliminating the
    need to remove the entire deckhouse.

    7-8 The smoke unit and the high-tech catch can.

    9 The assembled unit.

    10 The unit mounted to the underside of the 01 deck.

    11-12 All that shows topside is the fabricated elongated
    mounting studs and the fill pipe.

    13 Fittings covered and disguised under the engine room
    vent house.

    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug (Fort Valley)
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 181 Views · 3 Likes
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    Thank you ToraDog!
    It was a conversation we had quite a while ago that prompted the stand-alone ESC for the smoker.

    The best part of the last snow was it couldn't last!

    As for the tug, it's fast getting to be time to tidy up a couple of items and even though it won't be finished, it'll be sea worthy for this coming season. Next fall will see it back on the bench for some more detailing. There's a couple of idea's I have rattling around in my brain bucket that I'd like to experiment with....
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    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug (Fort Valley)
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ ToraDog ( Captain)
    ✧ 181 Views · 2 Likes
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    I really did expect that you would have made more progress. I know that DownEast time runs differently than the real world, but still.............
    All kidding aside, I know that the Phantom Tug has progressed far beyond this point and is anxiously waiting the get her keel wet with a good hard run. Considering that it has snowed for that last 36 hours, it may still be a bit early.
    Your work is top shelf all the way, but it is so much more impressive in person.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug (Fort Valley)
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ Martin555 ( Fleet Admiral)
    ✧ 184 Views · 0 Likes
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    Hi Black Shoe,

    Thank's it is good to be back.

    Sardine breath or not he is looking forward to your next boat build.LOL!!

    Martin555.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug (Fort Valley)
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 185 Views · 2 Likes
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    Thank you Ron. For me, half the fun of this hobby is figuring out another way to accomplish something.

    Steve, you're absolutely right! In the original configuration there were places under the smoker that were virtually inaccessible, (my poor design,) and although not very "hot" the fuel for these if spilled, or if even a few drops somehow found it's way to the bilge certainly makes a mess. I've just about come to the conclusion that any build I do in the future will have a metal catch can/tray under the smoker if one is installed.

    Martin, so glad to see you back! You're right about the dog and the sardines. If he got a whiff of them he'd come and sit in front of me smiling until I gave him some. Nothing worse than a dog with sardine breath!😊
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug (Fort Valley)
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ Martin555 ( Fleet Admiral)
    ✧ 187 Views · 1 Like
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    Hi Black shoe,
    Love the use of the Sardine Tin.
    I bet the dog would love you to make another one LOL!!
    Great work.

    Martin555.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug (Fort Valley)
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί stevedownunder ( Captain)
    ✧ 186 Views · 3 Likes
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    Hi Black Shoe,

    It is never a nice thing to see a burn hole inside a boat....
    Nice relocation and solution.

    Cheers,
    Stephen.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug (Fort Valley)
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ Ronald ( Admiral)
    ✧ 185 Views · 2 Likes
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    You do interesting work TR
    πŸ“ Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 185 Views · 9 Likes · 9 Comments
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    Thirteen

    Finally! Pilot house windows and the railings on the 01 deck (deckhouse roof).
    The corner windows of the pilot house are curved and it took a little experimenting to get them to, then stay in the proper arc. Trying a couple different plastics and methods with several failures at least showed me what wouldn't work. Some had too much memory and would bend fine, but wouldn't stay curved, some was too brittle and resisted bending at all.
    I usually use the plastic one finds in a blister pack that is the packaging for something found hanging on a peg in the hardware or big box stores. Sometimes these packs are already the proper shape and only need trimming to become their new purpose. (A small square or rectangle clear plastic bubble containing a half dozen #2 screws can be cut around the edge, painted, and be reincarnated as a galley sink. A small round one can become a radar dome. I am guilty of buying something that I "may use someday" just for the packaging which was perfect for the project at hand.😊)
    I digress. What I ended up using was a "jewel case" that started out as the home for a CD or DVD. This plastic is crystal clear, cuts easily by scoring several times and snapping apart, and although a little thick for the scale of the tug, doesn't show once installed in the window frame. It will not bend in a cold state so building a buck with the proper arc was necessary then using a heat gun (hair dryer) gently warming the piece and forming it to the buck. Discovering the right amount of heat was trial and error. Too little and nothing happens, then all of a sudden there's too much and the plastic curls and deforms. Another issue was although the plastic looked clean, the heat brought out any fingerprints or imperfections. Cleaning thoroughly with alcohol was necessary. Fortunately I only needed two!

    The stanchions needed to be 55mm tall to have the correct height for the top rail. When they came in the mail they were in fact 55mm tall, but that included the threaded mounting stud on the bottom. I ended up using some .043 ID tubing cut to length that would allow a 6mm taller stanchion. After cutting the lower section of the stanchion in two and inserting the cut pieces in either end of the tube and soldering, the top rail was the required height to scale. After drilling and tapping all of the holes, the stanchions were screwed into the deck and checked to be certain the railing holes were lined up. All that remained was inserting the railings then painting the installation.

    The photos:

    1 & 2. The curved corner windows. This vintage tug had
    windows that slid down in a track. They were lifted
    and secured with a leather strap.

    3 - 5 The railing installed and painted

    6 The over all state of the build to date.

    7 Although only a slight difference, the shorter
    stanchion would have made the figures look too
    tall for the scale.

    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 184 Views · 1 Like
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    Thank you.

    I'm getting a little anxious for a float too. The weather hasn't been very accommodating, and when it is good there's other things that have to be done. I may end up putting her overboard in my own little puddle just for a minor shake-down run.
    There's still some items on the "to do" list. A few more months of tinkering........
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    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ ToraDog ( Captain)
    ✧ 178 Views · 2 Likes
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    None too shabby. One might be led to believe that this is not your first build.😁 There is a major problem that I have spotted though. each one of you builds becomes fine and more detailed. This means that your next will have to be even more so!πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘ I am anxious to see her in her element.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ jbkiwi ( Fleet Admiral)
    ✧ 178 Views · 2 Likes
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    Superb, even down to the catch plate on the door !

    JB
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ Brightwork ( Commander)
    ✧ 185 Views · 2 Likes
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    OMG...what beautiful work. Gorgeous girl!!
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 185 Views · 1 Like
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    Thank you all for the positive comments!

    "Fort Valley" is still a work in progress although it will make several outings this season.
    There's still a lot of detailing to do which hopefully will add to the character. Lighting, deck clutter and visible interior spaces will be furnished next winter.

    Steve, that's the engineer trying to explain to Ms Maude why she can't hang the galley towels and ship's laundry in the engine room to dry. 😊
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ GaryLC ( Captain)
    ✧ 188 Views · 2 Likes
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    Incredible build with everything spot on and looking very realistic, I appreciate the time and effort that went into that build, mind the end result was worth it a fantastic-looking Tug. Regards, Gary.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί stevedownunder ( Captain)
    ✧ 185 Views · 3 Likes
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    Beautiful work Black Shoe,

    That is one impressive model, I hope the crew member talking to the cook wasn't complaining about the food...

    Cheers,
    Stephtn.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ Martin555 ( Fleet Admiral)
    ✧ 184 Views · 2 Likes
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    Fantastic work.
    Love the recycling,

    Martin555.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ Ronald ( Admiral)
    ✧ 185 Views · 3 Likes
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    Super duper worker thou art! Truly a gift you have.
    πŸ“ Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 181 Views · 11 Likes · 6 Comments
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    πŸ’¬ Add Comment
    Fourteen,

    Not exactly any building, but more of a proving what's been built.
    Fort Valley went overboard today for the first run of the season. She did well without making a drop of water with all of the systems working and nothing got hot. The only place smoke was let out was through the stack 😊

    I use "bean bags" of lead shot (diver's weights) for ballast and have decided I need to build cribs to place them consistently. I know "two red, one blue forward of the battery, and "two red, one blue, and a yellow aft of the shaft log oiler". Even though they don't shift underway, the correct placement is important for trim and list. There's no way this old man is going to ballast the boat on the hard then launch it, so ballasting afloat is mandatory and it's discouraging to get her all set, and head her out with a four degree list only to bring her back and move a yellow bag an inch inboard towards the centerline.

    A few of images from today.....

    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ RNinMunich ( Fleet Admiral)
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    https://tugchippewa.com/history
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    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 179 Views · 3 Likes
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    Thank you Martin. It's still a work in progress, but I'm gaining on her.

    Ron, my puddle is just too small to get a good feel for her characteristics. Good for testing ballast, and controls, but not sufficient for a good run.

    Brightwork, "Fort Valley" is a composite of things I liked from a search of images on the net and books. She would remind one of "Chippewa" for sure!

    Thank you Stephen. My waders help make the photos possible. Launching, ballasting, then walking around or turning her taking photos from water level make all the difference as opposed to standing on the bank looking down.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί stevedownunder ( Captain)
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    Hi Black Shoe,

    All I can say is stunning, she looks beautiful on the water together with really good photography and location.

    Cheers,
    Stephen.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ Brightwork ( Commander)
    ✧ 181 Views · 5 Likes
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    Sh reminds me of "Chippewa" so much.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ Ronald ( Admiral)
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    Tim, your backyard pool suddenly got bigger! But, I know where you actually took were, and it looks very nice on the water.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ Martin555 ( Fleet Admiral)
    ✧ 178 Views · 4 Likes
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    Very realistic looking.
    You have done a great job Black Shoe.
    Well done.

    Martin555.
    πŸ“ Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 185 Views · 11 Likes · 4 Comments
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    With the good weather and the gardens to tend, bench time has been scarce. Nonetheless, I have been able to get a little time here and there.
    All of the changes/additions have been subtle, but I like to think add to the whole.

    Images:

    1. Checking out the distressed vessel.

    2. Engine room ventilators under construction. The "ears"
    are grab handles to allow turning the ventilators to best
    advantage.

    3 & 4. Boarding ladders. One new, one with a little
    weather on it.

    5. Everyone was complaining the step into the pilot house
    was too high so now there's a couple steps.

    6 & 7. The emergency steering block and tackle. The tiller
    will be mounted on brackets fastened to the after
    house bulkhead.

    8. Certainly some need for a little house-keeping here,
    but the steering tackle, tiller, hawser, heaving line, and
    messenger are all visible.

    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ Newby7 ( Fleet Admiral)
    ✧ 179 Views · 3 Likes
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    Very nice job .
    Rick
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    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ Scratchbuilder ( Vice Admiral)
    ✧ 184 Views · 3 Likes
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    Excellent photographs and build work.
    Regards Bill
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ Martin555 ( Fleet Admiral)
    ✧ 179 Views · 3 Likes
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    Excellent work,
    It is all this detail work that brings this boat to life.
    Keep it up.

    Martin555.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§ T33CNO ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 182 Views · 4 Likes
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    Very nice 😍
    πŸ“ Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 187 Views · 8 Likes · 2 Comments
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    A quick update on the engine room ventilators.

    The main tube is just plastic water pipe with the bell being a resin cast from a custom made master.
    The screens would have been galvanized and removable.
    ToraDog asked me how many birds did I anticipate encountering while out at sea. Picky, picky, picky. 😊
    Actually, it wasn't birds that I was concerned with, it was the candy wrappers and empty beer cans from the deckies that became a nuisance.
    I have rarely seen these screens, but they seemed like a good idea and another unusual attribute to add to "Fort Valley".
    The plenum boxes were made up of scrap material and provide a firm base allowing the vents to rotate which will indeed funnel air to the "engine room" spaces.

    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 187 Views · 2 Likes
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    Thanks for the comments!

    Newby, it'll take a lot of cans to make any upgrades to this old bucket! 😊
    πŸ’¬ Re: Phantom Tug
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ Newby7 ( Fleet Admiral)
    ✧ 184 Views · 2 Likes
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    Collecting beer cans not a bad idea as you could cash them to pay for upgrades. LOL
    Rick
    πŸ“ Tug Fort Valley
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Black Shoe ( Sub-Lieutenant)
    ✧ 188 Views · 7 Likes · 2 Comments
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    Where does the time go?

    I've added a few details here and there on Fort Valley. None of them are super sophisticated, just adding what I suspect may be found on a tug of this vintage.

    1. The dory is a temporary expedient. There should probably be a Whitehall or peapod type of boat up there, but until one of them happens the dory will do.

    2. The oil drum with a hand pump.

    3. Aft stbd corner of the deck house roof.

    4. Aft port corner of the deckhouse. If davits and another boat go here, the chains will be removed. Also apparent in this photo is the mounting and stay of the aft mast.

    5. Some of the deck clutter. A pallet with a few fathoms of wire, and a couple five gallon cans.

    6. A shot of the deck downspouts. A lot of the early boats had a raised perimeter around the roof of the deck houses and pilot house to direct rain water so it didn't just wash over the edge and down the bulkheads. There were downspouts fitted to carry the rain water off to the next lower deck and ultimately to the main deck and the scuppers. There will be downspouts fitted aft of the skipper's house, and two places on each side of the main house.

    7. The galley stack. Since the smoker is on it's own ESC, I'm contemplating a valving affair to shunt a little smoke to this stack as well. (Too bad I couldn't make it smell like bacon, eggs, and biscuits!😊)

    πŸ’¬ Re: Tug Fort Valley
    3 years ago by πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί stevedownunder ( Captain)
    ✧ 184 Views · 1 Like
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    Looking great Black Shoe,
    I love the extra details adding more atmosphere.

    Cheers,
    Stephen.
    πŸ’¬ Re: Tug Fort Valley
    3 years ago by πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ ToraDog ( Captain)
    ✧ 187 Views · 2 Likes
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    And here I thought that you had all but given up.....nice details. How about a little electric solenoid valve for the galley stove pipe?
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