Exciting development!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Paul

Just about got enough for another Ferrari……….Got six now!

Three Corgi`s and three Scalex!

The latest Coast Vid seems to have the final section now

It doesn`t show the Morse Code message being sent spelling….C O A S T…?

Perhaps that`s what the revision refers to?

Sir Robert of Hoylake

[hutchParticipant @hutch73959]

Hi Bob

The cost for the Coast video is way to much for my budget. our dollar is only 58P not very good at the moment.

Its too cold to go boating so I have built a Springer Tug 460mm long x 200mm wide, and a Barge 710mm x 260mm wide ,both built from 2mm plastic sheet as used for lining bathrooms as a splash back.

I used MEK to glue it together its very strong bond no leaks!

It has a single Cort nozzle, 12 volt motor plus ,ESC, sound unit , and a smoke unit with twin pipes,this smoke unit its from a model tank! , the barge needs 20kg to bring it down the the water line!!

Winter is nearly over should get warmer from now on.so I have been working the model railway layout. this keeps me quite busy.

Regards,

Hutch

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Hutch

Most video's on Amazon are about £12.00 and I suspect the asking price of £48.00 is an error

They also do single episodes for about £2.50, but haven't seen series 7 advertised yet

I'll keep an eye open for you

Can't imagine……Winter in Oz?

Why don't you post a few pictures of your latest builds, we are always interested in new builds

Bob

[hutchParticipant @hutch73959]

HI Bob

How do I post photos? I can not find any info on how to.

Cold in Adelaide? how about 4c at night and at the moment 15c during day time,we live not far [ 500kms] from the desert and we have had snow on the hills close to us.

If this of interest how about using a E cigarette as a smoke unit, you can just the burner unit get 5 for about 8 US dollars on ebay you will also need a small fan a brushless one would good to blow the smoke through the unit.

I use Liquid Paraffin oil it only gives off a white smoke but that,s OK with me and its much cheaper than the the smoke oil as sold in hobby shops,

Cheers for now,

Hutch

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Hutch

This is one of the most asked questions

It is very easy, but quite tricky understanding the instructions!

Look at the bottom right on this page……..FAQ……….Exam time!

Bob

[RedpiperbobParticipant @redpiperbob16487]

Hi Hutch

PM me about the BBc prog

Bob

[hutchParticipant @hutch73959]

Hi Bob

What's the new about the BBC program?

My email address,

hhutchinson@adam.com.au

Cheers,

Hutch.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Hutch

I don't think you mean this Bob, but the BBC Coast prog is on iPlayer for free, at the moment

There's about one week left

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just noticed this old photo of GE

I wonder what provision they had, to avoid an early descent down the ramp?

Afterall, 11000 tons hanging on an incline of about 10 degrees, is something to be reckoned with?

Come in, Paul

Bob

Edited By Bob Abell on 18/10/2016 16:36:07

[hutchParticipant @hutch73959]

HI Bob,

They had drum winches to control the descent but she did get stuck for some time,

Have you seen the two TV shows, 7 Wonders of the Industrial World, and Time Team?they both explain

how GE was launched, Time Team have a look at the launch site that is preserved at the Isle of Dogs on the River Thames.

Hope this of help,

Cheers,

Hutch

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Hutch

I'm ashamed to say it, but all these years I've always assumed, the chain winches were used to pull the ship down the ramps!

It's obvious now, that the chains were used to allow GE to slide down, due to gravity!

Hence my original post…………I'll just go and crawl under that piece of plate, they found on the beach now!

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

This was the original intended photo, but got mislaid in the Ethos somewhere……..That prompted my querie

Note how the beach has been cleared of the usual clutter

This could have been the actual original launch day?

No wonder, Brunel threw a wobbler?………….Can you imagine his state of mind at the time?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Bob

The GE was launched sideways and Brunels original idea was to employ steam winches and manual capstans to pull her into the water.

If you look at your photo showing the cleared beach you can see the line of the slipway and one of the large launching chains.

This was the first time a large ship had been launched this way and Brunel had wished for a quite shipyard so that he could oversee the operation and retain control of the launching crew.

The Board of Directors however had sold 3000 tickets and the yard was full of yelling spectators so all hopes of hearing commands were lost.

This should also answer your first question about 11,000t hanging at 10deg.

Why did the launch fail?…..The winches were underpowered, the slipway was inadequate and wasn't constructed correctly and finally the launching crews couldn't hear Brunels commands.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Paul

I`ve looked at this scenario many times and concluded that the sliding crabbing action was the best method afterall

At least it stopped a frightful possible runaway disaster from taking place

Where would the steam winches be positioned……..To stop a runaway?

They can`t be on the water side……..They`d get run over!

Can you imagine Brunel`s thoughts, as it neared completion?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Captain

There was never a danger of a runaway disaster as the launch angle was to shallow for the 11000 tons to ever gain momentum. The biggest potential for disaster was the ship rolling over as it started to move and Brunel countered this by building a supporting cradle which you can see in the photo.

Brunel knew this and had designed the launch based upon the winches hauling the ship down the incline

To achieve this the winches were located on the opposite bank.

The slipway was poorly constructed and partially collapsed during the launch so the ship skewed and got stuck.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Paul

I never realised the winches were on the opposite side of the river

Any further info on this, please?

For the ship to crab, as it was being winched down………It must have slid of it's own accord?…..eh?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Captain Bob

If you think about it there is no other position that the winches could have been positioned as they would have needed to be very firmly fixed into position otherwise the dead weight of the ship would've pulled them out of their foundations.

The ship skewed because part of the concrete slipway collapsed under the weight of the ship…..the ship grounded at the point of collapse but the winches were still pulling so the combination of inertia and winch caused the ship to skew on the remaining sections of slipway and stop moving.

Yes the ship was sliding but not of its own accord as the energy for the launch was being provided by the winches.

Does this help?

Paul

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

This model shows where the ship was constructed in relation to the river

In this image of the ship superimposed over current day London you can see some of the original forward slipway timbers just forward of the paddle wheel. Brunel employed two separate slipways rather than one continuous slipway

These show close ups of the same section of slipway

This is the concrete section that failed during the launch

The weight of the ship crushed this part of the slipway.

GE ready for launch, the cradles show the location of the slipways.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Many thanks, Paul

Is this sort of information, documented?

I'd love to see the original drawings etc

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Have a Google Bob, its all there waiting to be found.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Many thanks Paul for this very interesting bumper issue of Great Eastern info

Will comment shortly

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

Here is a link **LINK** to a site that discusses the launchways.

The timber structure that remains at the Brunel Museum is the supporting frame for the iron rails that the launching cradle sat on.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Paul

I have emailed the Brunel Museum, regarding the orientation of these rails

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Good Idea Bob

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