All my model boat builds history

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

Bob, Your posts above make me think you should start a thread for pictures of our friends and colleagues from the model boat world. Shows, pondside, meetings, whatever. I'm sure we all have plenty of shots to help with.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you Richard

I`ll give it some thought, along those lines

Bob

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

I'm sure that digging back through the archives will prove a little scary!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

The Great Eastern Story

The story started Christmas 2007, having just completed the Paddleboat Jeanie Deans, I was chatting on the Forum with Paul Thomason and a few others and what to build next .The Great Eastern was mentioned and I liked the idea, having paddle wheels and a screw prop. I got talked into setting up a blog of the build.

There were no plans available, which was ok by me, this meant that there would be no critics snapping at my heels!

So I adapted the Jeanie Deans plans, which was very enjoyable at the time and images of the full size ship and assorted sketches and plastic kit info

I was fully enthralled with the build and it was completed April 2008. It was nice sailing the strange looking ship model at Etherow Lake and also at Bury Marine club lake

The model was 7 feet long and simply galloped about with a good turn of speed. The motors were only two 540`s, but geared down of course

Now a few photos of the build

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Great Eastern build photos…..Assorted

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Several months later, I was contacted by Paul Freshney to write an article and submit pictures of my Great Eastern build.

The story appeared in December 2008 edition of Model boats Magazine

Of course I was highly delighted to see my printed article

Bob

Edited By Bob Abell on 30/06/2021 13:45:32

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

The model languished in the garage for several years years

When Colin Bishop phoned me to say that he had been contacted by the BBC.

They were looking for a model of the Great Eastern. to be used in an edition of the BBC Coast program

The program was to be about the laying of the first Telegraph cable to America in 1865 by the ship Great Eastern and was I interested?

I could have dropped cork legged!

Was I interested?

Can you imagine my thoughts at the time?

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Captain Bob

You should write a book about current methods of scratch building, similar to what Vic Smeed did but with modern tools and materials.

You could cover how to read plans, the use of power/hand tools, materials, modern adhesives and paints.

The correct use of a building board and the different methods of construction.

Just like your building blogs on this forum but refined for the beginner.

Your levels of knowledge and the practical application of skills are fast dying out and should really be passed on to the younger generations.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Nice idea Paul

But no thanks.

Some of my methods would make your teeth curl up!

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

It is the teeth curling methods that I am talking about, you have demonstrated amazing abilities to overcome every problem with unique solutions.

To many of us these solutions are more imposable than the problems, and yet they always work.

For example using weighted string to hold difficult joints while the glue sets, and I'm not going to mention the paired motors.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you Paul

The weighted string idea was a splendid idea at the time

Don`t know why other modellers don`t make use of the idea also

I do remember the model I first time i used it on.

The big vintage model with pointed ends…….

Silver Mist

I used to call them Issacc Newton clamps because they were powered by gravity

Happy days

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Your Newton clamps are exactly the kind of practical solutions that make you unique. Just imagine a book full of similar examples,

I would buy a copy just for the practical solutions and the head scratching that would follow as I tried to figure out how you did it, or better still the simple realisation of 'why didn't I think of that'.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thanks Paul, for your kind comments

Don`t forget, there used to be a file on this Forum, called `Eureka Moments`

It was full of handy ideas like your suggestion

I`ll try and find it

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

This is interesting. Found a few old faded photos from 1990

My big Piper Cub and Observatory

Happy days

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Also a Canal Barge Steam Engine

Built by my late twin brother Geoff

Only saw it run on compressed air

He called it IRON DUKE

His pride and joy

He was a qualified Engineer….. AMMEC-E

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Geoff also designed and built this Broom Handled Mauser Air Pistol

Based on a plastic kit

Sadly he had to scrap it, when the Brocock System became illegal

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

Love the engine, very sad the prohibitive cost of the boiler meant it never saw active service. It still stands as a testament you his amazing machining skills though.

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