“Miranda”steam launch

[alan nashParticipant @alannash50560]

Hi,

Just thought you might like to see the steam launch i have just completed.She is an Edwardian Thames launch “Miranda” drawn by Basil Harley.

I have installed an Anton Cristal steam engine and boiler. Only this morning ran it in a test tank on the Patio,ran perfectly straight away.

Alan Nash.

[alan nashParticipant @alannash50560]

[Southern SailorParticipant @southernsailor76583]

Hi Alan,

The boat looks great.

Can you show or send details of the remaining parts of the installation, radio, valves etc.

What throttle valve did you use?

Brian

[Barry FooteParticipant @barryfoote68385]

Come on Alan, more information and pictures wanted…..

[Gerald Gardiner 1Participant @geraldgardiner1]

Dang, I have to dry off another keyboard. That looks fantastic. More photos please.

Regards,

Gerald

[Fred Nightingale 1Participant @frednightingale1]

Hi Alan

 

Like yourself I have just completed the Steam Launch Miranda. Building Engine and boat from scratch.

First dip was in the bath to get the water line. I then took it to a friends swimming pool, he did not want me to run the engine (OIL) so I got in and swam round with it making the water a little choppy  Everything seemed ok although it sits quite low in the water and appears a bit unstable.

When I got it home and checked it out there was a little water in the bottom of the boat. I have since put it back in the bath and there no leaks. The only thing I can imagine is I made the water to choppy and it went over the side.

Have you had any problems with yours being unstable

Regards Fred

 

[Adrian Parker 2Participant @adrianparker2]

Hi,

 

The pictures look great, thanks for sharing.

 

I am coming back to model boat construction after ‘a few’ years away. All my efforts before have been balsa sheet or pre-formed hulls so it’s time to learn new methods and skills. As I have the boiler and engine for a steam launch I have started a Miranda to take them.

 

However I have never completed a plank on frame boat and I have several probably very stupid questions. The information on the web seems to skip over the techniques to achieve close fitting planks, are there any good descriptions or video links?

 

Are there any construction pictures of the Miranda hull that could help me?

 

Regards

 

Adrian Parker

 

 

Edited By Adrian Parker 2 on 24/01/2011 09:40:15

Edited By Adrian Parker 2 on 24/01/2011 09:40:55

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

This has been discussed before but I found Harold Underhill’s book Plank on Frame Models very useful. He describes how to set out planking runs with battens and proportional dividers and I found the whole thing really came together for me once I got my head round it. I found his system worked well.

The books aren’t cheap to buy but it would be possible to get them from a library- hurry while libraries still exist!

The publishers are Brown, Son and Ferguson of Glasgow and they still advertise in Model Boats if memory serves me well.

 

Hope this helps,

Ian

 

[Adrian Parker 2Participant @adrianparker2]

Many thanks for the pointer, next time I am back in the UK I will try to get a copy

 

Regards

 

 

Adrian Parker

[Fred Nightingale 1Participant @frednightingale1]

Hi Adrian

 

I take it you have the Basil Harley Plans for Miranda. There is also a written article in Model Boats Magazine around Oct.1983 which does help a bit when constructing the boat and it also has a few pictures

With so few bulk heads you need to put on a skim of 0.4mm ply wood this helps when planking.

If you don’t have, and can’t find this article let me have your address I will send you a copy.

 

Good Luck Fred

 

 

 

[Fred Nightingale 1Participant @frednightingale1]

Hi Adrian

 

Forgot to add some Pics

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