All donations are securely managed through PayPal. Amounts donated are not published online.
Many thanks for your kind support.
Model Boats Website Team
Donation History
February 2019: 7 people January 2019: 16 people December 2018: 6 people November 2018: 11 people October 2018: 9 people September 2018: 13 people August 2018: 5 people July 2018: 8 people June 2018: 8 people May 2018: 7 people April 2018: 10 people
Wife bought me a nice little book cheaper than the original cover price ,decided nice little paddle tug would be the next project enlarged the drawing in the book to desired size hull will be 30"(760mm)long keel and frames were laser cut will build the hull and plank then cut out for the paddle boxes ,don't know if this is the right way but it made sense to me
Like your plan, is the book readily available, from the picture I take it that the tug has for and aft rudders, are you building with independently driven paddles or single shaft. Love the shape. Best wishes for a super build, Colin.
my wife got the book online from a company called Abe's books i think they had 3 or 4in stock ,it does have fore and aft rudders and is very symmetrical looking ,Aid was built in 1889 and worked out of Ramsgate ,I have only built static models before (3)so will build the hull and decide from there, I am attempting to draw the wheels using CAD and will hopefully get them water jet cut or photo etched at my work
Hi Colin ,the book is Famous paddle steamers by F.C.Hambleton sorry there is no ISBN number as its an old library book ans it has a sticker where the number is, if you search Abebooks uk it takes you to a page click on second hand books this gives a search panel enter the book title and auther and it will take you right to it ,they had 4copies when i looked this morning .Happy hunting Marky
Hi, I have a copy which I bought new in the early 70s for 60p! There is no ISBN number. The original was published in 1948 so my version is a reprint from 1971. Aid looks a nice boat which should make an interesting model. I am looking forward to reading how construction proceeds and the techniques you adopt. Good luck with it! Edward
A really intriguing choice of model, and a great example of where inspiration can be found for a scratch-built model. I will look forward to seeing a picture of the finished vessel. I notice that the book does not contain any information on the hull lines; what did you use as the source for the shape of your frames? Roy
Hi, I can highly recommend a site designed especially for lovers of paddle boats and their models . You will also find there a number of download plans and lots of advice and recommendations
hi Trillium, I have to admit to the use of advanced technology, I luckily work with some very talented craftspeople I took the book to my work where the picture was scanned by my friendly CAD technician Ricky who then used a programme to strip it down to basic lines (some guess work was needed here) deck level and keel shape were then made into a 3D line drawing ,Ricky then divided it into equal parts to get the basic frame shape then manipulated the frames using the Billings St Chanute as reference ,when we were happy he transferred it to the laser and cut it for me some of the frames didn't quite match and some tweaking was needed ,the guys at the work also enlarged the picture from the book to a working drawing with a hull of around about 30". Cheers Marky
keel frames and deck together ,couldn't remember if you planked in two halfs and then joined together so put it together and will plank alternative sides some fettleling and sanding to do first .
Hi Mark, you did it just right 👍👍 If you plank separate halves the hull will most likely turn out twisted 😡 Alternate planking of the complete hull is the best way to prevent this. Starting from the keel plate and working up to the gunwale. Interesting subject, watching with great interest, more power to your laser cutter 😉 Cheers Doug 😎
Hi Doug, only problem is that Ricky's insisting i do the drawings myself so what took him 2 minutes to draw up takes me a tad longer ,he's going to put the drawing programme onto an old laptop so I can practice anytime ,anyplace ,anywhere (an old Martini advert for those longer in the tooth) Cheers Marky 👍 forgot to mention my brother was across at your neck of the woods for the football last Wednesday
Aha! So he was one of the guys who clogged up the Richard Strauss tunnel on the Munich ring when I wanted to get to my bowling club evening !!! 😉 Happy CADing, it's not so bad once you've learned how to make it do what you want and not what IT thinks you want! Love your Stern-wheeler, can't wait to see her in action 👍 Cheers Doug 😎
mdlbt.com/34993
paddle boxes - Posted: 25th Oct 2017
while the paddles are on the drawing board being redrawn as I drew them with 8 spokes then realised there should only have been 7 thought i would have a stab at the paddle boxes ,bendy MDF and bendy ply yah beauty made it slightly easier to get the curves .long live the wood workshop scrap bin or as the good lady calls it the back bedroom .
Attached Photos - Click To View Large
mdlbt.com/35076
paddles - Posted: 28th Oct 2017
after a few attempts trying to master the CAD drawing malarky i think I finally got it to do what i wanted ,it was so much easier with a pair a of dividers , pencil and a ruler but alas the laser doesn't do old school .Very pleased with the results .👍
Way to go Marky 👍 Nice result. Know what you mean, I learned my drafting 'old school' as well, with drawing board clips and all the paraphernalia; H & B pencils, T squares, set squares, etc etc. Cheers Doug 😎
Look nice and detailed. I can't wait to see the finished product.
mdlbt.com/35143
paddle build - Posted: 29th Oct 2017
Started to put the wheels together ,joy of the laser is it fitted together nice and neat👍
Attached Photos - Click To View Large
mdlbt.com/35171
superstructure - Posted: 31st Oct 2017
So while things dry on the paddles started on the superstructures, yard manager on board with hands in pockets old school no hard hat .next stop decking and hull
Attached Photos - Click To View Large
mdlbt.com/35198
Question - Posted: 1st Nov 2017
Whilst things are sticking and drying ,I noticed in the book it mentions "at bow and stern were short "turtle deck" covers ,the drawings not very clear and looking on internet got lots of info about garden decking. So question is,is it a curved cover as seen on the bows of trawlers? or am I barking up the wrong tree. Any help appreciated book also says these were removed later on in her career so I can omit them if need be.
Quite right Marky, 👍 From: turtle deck in The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea » "Quick Reference The upper deck of a vessel constructed with a pronounced curve from the centreline of the vessel down to the sides. Its purpose is to assist overboard the flow of any sea water shipped over the bows."
Cheers for that Doug ,going to attempt laser printing a sheet of decking on 1mm oak ply this afternoon if the drawing works out , rather than use the old trusted coffee stirrers. embracing the technology "Faint heart etc. etc."
Marky
mdlbt.com/35629
Hull - Posted: 9th Nov 2017
Well it took a little while but the planking on the hull starting to take shape ,planking is 10mm strips of 1mm thick aero birch ply, nice and bend, time to order up the family size tin of filler.
Attached Photos - Click To View Large
mdlbt.com/35630
Decking - Posted: 10th Nov 2017
Hot off the laser the sheets for the decking ,have used strips (coffee stirrers )for decking previously but thought if I can access the technology why not use it.decking is 1.5mm thick oak faced ply sheet 1m x500 lasered every 5mm then cut to the desired sizes
Attached Photos - Click To View Large
mdlbt.com/35867
semi disaster - Posted: 16th Nov 2017
Came home today to what looked like a disaster but after a few well chosen words it wasn't as bad as first thought for some reason known only to the glue one side of the hull timbers had come off the ribs, the same glue was used on all the planks working from the keel up, alternating sides ,anyway a liberal application of gorilla glue at the effected area and some ratchet straps seem to have done the trick will leave the straps on for 24 hours and hope for the best.👍
