A novel idea

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Chaps

 

I was doing a spot of day dreaming this morning……..I was thinking about Duckies possible new project……………..a 1/12th scale barge and whether it should be a cargo or cruise model etc……..Yawn yawn…Zzzzzz……….z

 

When out of the mist appeared a vision!…………..Hmmmmmm!

 

A super duper idea!……….What about a 1/12th scale canal system?…..Wowee!

 

A 50 foot length of canal with a series of working locks at each end?………..With large header lakes and all nicely landscaped!……and a few trees, horses and cows….etc!…………………….What a pleasant idea!

 

The barge enthusiasts would have a great time chugging up and down the locks etc, especially with nice diesel sound systems, chugging away……..queuing up….chugging along…..put put put…..etc

 

Wouldn`t it be nice to watch the locks opening and closing….with the water coming and going? The barges wouldn`t look too slow, cruising along a narrow waterway either!

 

A pump could circulate the water and that in itself would be interesting

 

Alas, alas…….my vision is fading away……..The mist is descending once more, oh dear, but it was nice while it lasted!

 

Food for thought, chaps?……………Hmmmmmm…..if only?

 

Bob

 

 

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Barges etc

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

i’ll be round to your back garden bob, as soon as the rain stops and the hose pipe ban is lifted,

 

i’ll bring me own pick and shovel, if you’ll supply the bacon butties,lol

 

neil.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thanks NEIL

 

It`s a nice idea though, all the same………………….In the past. I`ve had a pond and 70 feet of 3 1/2 ” gauge steam track in the garden!

 

Something may still come of it……….early days

 

I`ve just been thinking about a lock system that is portable and could be mounted on the jetty and reach into the main waterway

 

I love to day dream………Bob

 

 

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

what is 3 1/2 guage in comparison with model boating scales bob….it does sound a wonderful idea…….i know i was joking but dreams are made to be brought to real fruition……..if you have the space….go for it……..a wonderful idea.

i only wish my misses would let me have a boat pond and not just a frog pond, lol

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Neil

 

3 1/2″ gauge works out at 1/16 th scale….just for interest

Picture below is my first loco on the garden railway and the little boy is 45 years next week!

Below is our garden now…………….I really couldn`t upset it all with a 1/12 th canal system….Would be nice though!

There must be a few contenders out there….somewhere?

 

Bob

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

oh bob, i’m now green with jelousy, both at the steam loco, and your gardn..but i see what you mean about upsetting it with a canal system akin to the Trent and mersey.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I dont know, every garden should have a water feature…

 

Ashley

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Hi Bob   Interesting idea    I remember    the  1992 Convention at Ellesmere Port a 25ft lock system being built  and operated  by members of the Haige Hall MBC?  as it was .Superb to watch . Even had 4 lock gates with two canal barges  going through  the system  and yes it was  landscaped. I have a photo   , I think.   I just wonder if this model still exists. Impressive to watch .

Dave Wooley

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

the question is, Dave…does Haigh Hall club still exist???

 

would love to see it if you can find it,

neil.

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Hi Neil  I’ll ask around .I know the old Haigh Hall  MBC vanished years ago  but  this canal system was very large and some of  it may well have survived.

Dave Wooley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Got another super duper idea, Chaps!

 

Most clubs suffer from the ease of getting heavy boats in and out of the water?………Yep!

 

Thinking about my model barge locks idea……………..Why not a high lift single lock system?……Eh?

 

The device would be mounted on the landing stage, with a lower lock positioned in the main pond. The size would have to be quite big to accomodate the fat heavy barges and having a water depth of about 6″.

 

The lift section could be about 40″ and  would be positioned on the jetty and would consist of a deep trough, with the top lock also having a water depth of about 6″

 

Hope you`re keeping up, chaps?………..Sketch to follow, if required?

 

Method of operation……..

 

Assume top lock and lift section are full…….(primed by a bucket or a water pump)

 

Place model in top lock…….at an easy height of 40″…….Sheer luxury!

 

Open the lock gates……..and chug into the lift section………Close the lock gates

 

Open the sluice……great fun……and the boat descends to pond water level

 

Open the main lock gate……………and power out to sea!

 

Getting back on jetty sequence……..

 

Drive into the bottom lock…….close the gate…..open sluice, to fill lift section and raise up model

 

Filling up the top section, could be a draw back, as so much water is required…..as in real life!

 

When full………open top lock gate and chug into top lock section

 

And the job`s a good`un?

 

There may be a few snags?…………………Any interested parties out there?

 

Now for a couple of Aspirins!…………………….Bob

 

[Rick DevonshireParticipant @rickdevonshire]

Bob if you upped the idea to The Manchester Ship Canal or other waterway serving a sea port then those of us who build warships etc could sail our boats through a scale lock system!

A new twist for steering events – sail up the canal and safely birth your ship – with of without tug support.

All it takes is a few enthusiasts and a disused strech of old waterway!

Hands up those who think it a good idea!!

Rick.

 

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

I think we’re wandering into the realms of fantasy now, Jones!!

 

Nice to dream though.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

I still think the boat launching idea, has some merit!

 

But it would need to be a club joint effort

 

It would make a great crowd pleaser on regatta days!

 

Bob

[Rick DevonshireParticipant @rickdevonshire]

A further thought.

If you upped the scale still further to 12 inches to the foot you don’t need to build a model waterway – a large system already exists!!

However you would have some difficulty transporting your ‘models’ to sail them……

Rick.

 

 

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

The Idea of a dock system and locks , rail terminal {working ] and large scale models  1;100 scale  is not fiction such a system   exists and is one of the big attractions at   German model shows . A Group of German modellers” Kaiserliche Marine” have this marvelous two dock system which also has a ship yard that launches ships and a drydock that  vessels can enter  , become dry , then  reflood and refloat the vessel out of the dry dock .  They usually  operate about  six ships within the system . The depth of the docks is about 150 mm, deep enough even for the large battleships.  The logistics of assembling  all of the display is impressive. Who ever gets such a show on the road in the UK would be on to a winner, star attraction I would say. 

The nearest to such a system as suggested was built by Ted Potter for the Boat Convention . This was a series of locks , bridges docks all electrically operated and was about  25m  long . Was even worked at night . One year at the event Ted had constructed a   15m scaffolding across the lock . Underneath was this  model dock system . Modelers  would ascend the scaffolding  {health and safety take note}   and contol their models from above . The idea for this was as if the  Helmsmen” were on the bridge of a ship. Great fun .It was even used at night  but that was very   difficult  fixing the exact position  of  the models in the darkness of the water   even though all the dock system was illuminated and the ships had their steaming /nav lights ablaze .  At one time Ted could  direct  up to 20 ships entering or leaving the system. He even built a huge stage type back drop that was 40m long and 3m high . This was illuminated at night to give the impression of a city view from out to sea. Ted Potter was a naviga participant in F7 and represented the UK many times in the 1960s 70s .He had a back ground in the theatre , electrics and  stage lighting.  

Dave Wooley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thanks Dave

 

I knew it would be a great crowd pleaser!…..Let`s hope a keen club resurrects the idea.

 

Nice, seeing you again….at the Colwyn Bay show yesterday

 

Another great show….Well done, Ray!

 

Regards…….Bob

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Hi Bob   Good to see you . Yes  the event at Colwyn Bay was excellent minimum of organization yet maximum model boating .

Dave Wooley

[StuartMParticipant @stuartm]

Hi Bob,

I’m a newcomer to the forum, my primary interest being 16mm 1/19 scale trains as in Garden railways. At present I am in the process of constructing a garden railway. So whilst browsing the forum I came across your ‘Novel Idea’. Loooking down from the bedroom window onto the track plan it occured to me that your Idea of a canal would be possible a 16mm 1/19 scale canal meandering through the lay out would look great.

I can already see it connecting an existing pond to a second pond at the other side of the layout. Certainley one for the future. So once the track foundations are in and everything is running smoothly and I’ve managed to slip it past the Domestic High Command! it would be a good project for the future. (no time scale here)

Now back to the projects already underway.

Cheers

StuartM

Edited By StuartM on 27/07/2010 09:43:40

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Stuart

 

You sound like the right man for the job!

 

It would be really nice to see a canal lock setup and great fun to play with……and you would most certainly attract the attention of the magazines….boats or trains!

 

Keep us informed, Matey

 

Any advice, just ask!

 

All the best…….Bob

[StuartMParticipant @stuartm]

Hi, Bob.

As ever time is the issue, it has a nasty habit of just evapourating. I’ve had the track in boxes for almost 10 yrs now. I started the layout in May this year the progress todate has been slow, but at least its moving now. I’m concentrating on the track in the garden at the moment. Once thats running smoothly and the detailing and landscaping starts I’ll look at how a canal can be fitted in to the landscape, but it’ll be into the future. Thats when the advice will be much needed.

I’ll keep the forum posted on progress, such as it is.

Cheers

StuartM

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Stuart

 

I see you`ve made a start on the barge already!

 

A hobby for all weathers!

 

Bob

[StuartMParticipant @stuartm]

Hi Bob,

Thats the soap barge, everytime a soap appears on telly I nip into the workshop. I started it years ago but  house move, no workshop and more important things! ment it was under the bench.

Its 48″ X 61/2. Scaled exactley to the piece of wood I had available at the time and therefore just represents a working barge. As the hull was virtualy complete I’m doing this one first. I’ve just fitted the motor and prop shaft. The rudder is next.

In between nipping out in the rain to build the track.

StuartM

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