Exciting development!

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob, I thought I saw that the winch/whatever arrangement at the stern on the pictures of the real boat had a fair few spoked wheels on it, could be a visual aid, but i suspect that something as you suggest may be more visible, especially on a longer shot.

 

I might make the disc a bit more…victorian, somehow?? but a good idea nonetheless.

 

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Glad you like it, Ashley

 

Would some genuine Victorian grime help, to tone it down?

 

I think we`re just about done now…..Only the cable drum to sort out. The TV people are working on a “Galvanometer” at the moment

 

Bob

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

I had similar thoughts to Ashley, but with circular holes in the wheel disc which would be easier to fabricate than spokes. But it also depends on what level of realism versus utility you are aiming for. The wheel with red quadrants will be very effective at showing the rotation.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Mark

 

I`ll give it treatment shortly, as it does look a bit garish!

It should be nice to see it rotate?

 

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

You may be just about there now Bob, unless, that is, there is a problem with the actual paying out of the cable….

 

I think you have a right old juggle here, to balance historical accuracy with the practicalities of it being a model AND showing the cable thing to best advantage on the screen..how about taking a video of your trials and playing it back to get some idea of how it looks on the screen??? Other viewers may have comments to make, after all, its the viewers that have to be satisfied, and they are a fickle lot.

 

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Ashley

 

I think, next week things will start to happen………Hopefully!

 

Just need the go ahead about which type of wire to be used and I`ll sort out the storage of same and some sort of over-run brake.

The balance weights will also need adjusting to cater for the reel of wire

 

There is a problem coming up……..After a longish run, we`ll need to rewind the wire in a tidy and neat manner. Might have to invent a rewind gadget

 

Duckie will be taking the videos……It`s his new found hobby!

 

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just a nice picture of GE in dock somewhere, going off the waterline, she`s grounded.

Must be the cable laying era, since there are only four chimneys?

 

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Billysugger
Thank you, co-axial cable sample recieved and looks ok

Having PC trouble at the moment with Explorer 9
This mail posted via my I-pad

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Nothing new to report……….All quiet tellywise

 

Made a spare prop……..Just in case!

The rudder has been modified to a Becker type, which improves the steering of such a long ship….( 7`-0″ )

 

Bob

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

The calm before the cable-laying storm, no doubt!

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob….dont forget to paint those nice shiny bits below the waterline black or v dark grey…

 

Ash

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you Ashley

 

Seems a shame really!

 

I will paint them, red primer eh?………then scrape about a bit….for the…….. “used look”

 

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob, yes it does seem a shame but you really dont want the glint of shiny brass appearing below the surface spoiling and at the same time revealing the secrets of Atlantic cable laying !!! Black, flat and unweathered it will have to be.

 

AFTER , and only after…you will be able to remove the guide as it was not fitted to the real one and so the vexed issue of weathering will not be applicable….

 

Ash

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Always expert advice from our Ashley!…..lol

 

I`m wondering now, whether or not there could have been some device to protect the cable from the propellor?……A snarl up would have been a major disaster!

 

And then again, they could have used the paddlewheels only?……….That`s worth a try when we get to sea!

 

Good call!

 

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob,

 

For someone who thinks nothing of fitting a becker rudder to the GE, I would think that providing a tunnel shroud for the prop would be but a moments work

 

Ashley

[Phil Winks 1Participant @philwinks1]

Hi Bob I’ve finally caught up with this thread and your showing your usall flair for inventiveness I must say a tremendous undertaking and wait the airing of the finished show with great anticipation

 

Keep it up me auld mucker

 

Phil

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Absolutely, and very exciting to be given the opportunity to continue development of a model along correct historical lines, and be paid for it as well !! not to mention the fame.

 

I only submit stuff to the mag for the fame, fleeting as it is.

 

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Phil and Ashley

 

From the forum members constructive comments, during the project, you can all take pride in being part of the team!

 

We`ve got the wire choice narrowed down, the underwater cable guide sorted, the visual cable feed wheel fitted and got the painters in to sort out the shiney brass!

 

Well done chaps, but we ain`t there yet!

 

Capt Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Found this picture of GE on the net, complete with winch mechanisms!

 

That was a lucky guess of mine, positioning the payout sheave on the port side?

Note the long overhang……..To clear the prop no doubt

 

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob… rewind gadget for cable….fishing reels???

 

A lucky break would be finding a sea fishing reel able to carry your amount of cable….rewind and over run brake all catered for ??

 

An over run brake if you cant find something only needs to be a light spring rubbing on the side of the drum,, flat or coiled spring… this would also lightly tension the drum for payout as well.

 

I wonder if the port payout has anything to do with prop rotation, or they just put it there as there was something else on deck they didnt want/couldnt remove?

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Ashley!

 

Where have you seen a fishing reel 4″ dia x 6″ long?……LOL

 

But it`s a good idea though!

 

I`m looking forward to inventing the drum mechanism with overrun brake, but I need to know exactly what the wire and drum look like first. You Ash, will get a chance to submit your design in due course!

 

A good method of rewinding will be essential, as it will be rather oversize, if we`re not careful.

It would be nice to repeat the cable laying exercise at our regattas……..Got one coming up in June and September

 

So it`s over to you now, Peter………… ( TV chappie )

 

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

This is about the largest drum, the hull can accomodate.

Spool………………………………………20 mm dia

Max drum of wire…………………140mm dia

Width between flanges…………..94 mm

Where`s Mark?

How much wire can we get on the drum, please?

I think the flanges rubbing on the hatch sides will act as a suitable overrun brake?

Bob

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

Aye aye Skipper:

CL = L x pi x [r2² – r1²] / d²

L = 94
r1 = 10
r2 = 70
d = 2

CL = 94 x 3.142 x (4900 – 100) / 4
= 354,418mm

= 354 metres

 

That’s with 2mm diameter cable! Now you’re talking!

 

The cable volume goes up with drum diameter squared, so increasing the drum diameter from 75mm to 94mm accounts for the increase.

 

If 200m is what you want, then you have plenty of scope. Plus, if this new arrangement allow you to lift the drum out through a hatch, then you have a much easier job to manage rewinding and reloading the cable.

 

To keep the cable from being overstressed, keep the inner spool diameter reasonable large. If you can, I’d suggest a 40mm inner spool diameter. Now taking the drum width down to 90mm (to allow width for the flanges, and perhaps some margin) and retaining the 140mm outer cable layer diameter, gives:

 

L = 90
r1 = 20
r2 = 70
d = 2

CL = 90 x 3.142 x (4900 – 400) / 4 = 320 metres

 

Plenty of margin for 200m with moderately imperfect cable laying on the spool.

 

How’s that?

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you very much, Mark!

 

What good news too!

 

I don`t know why we didn`t do this earlier!

 

Thank you very much Mark for your help……. You`ve saved the day!

 

I`ll make the drum to your revised dimensions……..and then invent a rewinding mech with cross motion etc

 

Errrr……..Drilling hull will be a bit tricky!

 

All great fun!…….Innit?

 

Bob

[Mark Beard 1Participant @markbeard1]

Do you need to drill the hull?

 

Instead of mounting the drum axially, have you thought of putting it on rollers? That way you can lift the drum in and out of the hatch without a pesky axle getting in the way. The rollers will need to taper towards the outside, like train wheels, with parallel drum flanges (acting like rails).

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