Hello Folks,

It’s probably me talking to myself ?? but no matter I will update the TID build/saga, It’s frustrating not having the number of views a thread receives shown anymore !!

We went on a pilgrimage to Maldon Essex on Friday to take photo’s of Brent one of the surviving TID’s which is of the 160 built during and after the war, fabricated in 8 sections and then taken to a temporary slipway welded together PDQ I imagine, she is rather battered ! but not bad for an 80 year old.

The cheap Wickes ply (£11) was a pain to cut initially, but once I got into the swing it’s fine so now I have a flat packed tug, with the building board ready the good part will follow soon 🙂

Regards  Ray

Hi All,

Well the TID hull is complete structurally and the steam plant looks about right, this was the stage I wanted to reach before I go away for a weeks holiday in the sun, that’s why we have a heat wave here 🙂 mission accomplished !!

Steaming by the summer I hope

Regards Ray

Hi All,

I have made progress recently, with a coat of polyester resin inside the hull to keep out the wet stuff 🙂 the expensive parts of the build are now installed with the prop shaft and 4 bladed propeller, the rudder tube is a cut down 5mm stern tube with a new bronze bush turned on the lathe the brass skeg is pinned and glued onto the ply skeg and stops the rudder falling off, I have plenty of copper sheet so the blade is 1/8″ silver soldered to the stainless stock, so that is all the critical parts done, now I can crack on the the deck and superstructure 🙂

Another diversion has arrived in the shape of a part built 5″gauge Sweet Pea narrow gauge 0-4-2 saddle tank engine for me to finish off as a winter project, to run next year 🙂

Regards Ray

Hi Richard,

That’s a jolly good idea 🙂 I think a little fresh water tank for the boiler feed, which can be used for ballast where and if needed,

I want to get the deck & bulwarks on before we put to sea , then it’s the superstructure, I have a lovely piece of 2″ diameter copper tube for the funnel, I hope it won’t be to heavy for stability ? we will see or I could roll a ply one I also want it to pivot to get under those low bridges 🙂

Regards Ray

Hi Richard & Chris,

Keep those ideas coming , plastic tanks is a new one on me and the baffles 🙂

Another brief pause coming up in 13 days time according to the Tui App I’m off to Nerja on the main land Spain for a week with old friends of my late wife and I 🙂

While I was away last time I thought my next yacht design for a plan would be the type used on the Norfolk Broads 🙂

Regards Ray