Project Glasgow

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Larry

The correct sprocket supplier, is spelt like this…….HOBBY`S …….You can get their catalogue from W H Smiths

The paddles will certainly reverse, but there`s not enough room inside the hull for two sets of drive gear and a 12v battery

Bob

[RON HALEParticipant @ronhale41554]

Hi All

I have recently completed the construction of the Glasgow PS but have run into a problem

when giving it a bath test. It appears to require considerable ballast but where to put it?

No mention of ballast in the instructions ? Does it mean cutting access holes in the deck ?

Does anyone have a sensible answer to this problem? I had no other problems with the

construction.

Ron (new to forum)

[Terry PlumridgeParticipant @terryplumridge66794]

Hi Bob, I am following this thread with great interest. The Glasgow is one of the models on my shortlist for my winter build. Please keep the updates coming, if you have time of course.

Cheers, Terry.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Terry……Sure will!

Many thanks for looking in!

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

Ron has raised an interesting, and for him a worrying problem.

As an experienced paddler yourself and given that you are building the same kit how would you solve the problem.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

A tricky problem for Ron, since his model is complete!

In his case, I would test float the boat in the bath and add ballast on the deck temporarily and see how much much weight we're talking about?

Can you do that Ron and come back to us with the info, please?

For my model, I may adopt the GE style of keel weight, but the plastic hull would need beefing up!

I think a low down waterline might be nice, so that the paddles have some work to do and hence some visible paddle wash?

Bob

[DuckyParticipant @ducky]

Hi Bob

My first ever build was the Robbe Comtess'a and in that you added 1.8 kg of lead balls as in fishermans weights down the keel and then added a drop of epoxy to fix it in place, I only added .8 kg and a gull wing at 1Kg. But would it be poss-abell to use this method though a small hatchway, might be a bit more expensive but at this stage if it works in might solve Ron's problem.

Duckie

[LARRY WHETTONParticipant @larrywhetton68737]

hi Bob ,

i have fixed a srip of lead flashing to the bottom of hull on black rose pirate ship with doudle sided

carpet tape also use this method to lay deck planking when i use coffee stierers ,

also i have used builder silacone to hold things in place

when the ballest is painted the same coulor as hull you dont nitice in the water ,.Larry..

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Modellers need to be aware of the risk of sinking with this type of model

In a broadside collision, plastic boats go down to Davy Jones's locker!

A floating device attached to a length of strong cord on deck is a good idea? And any spare space in the hull could be filled with ping pong balls etc

Anyone got a better idea?

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

If nothing else, one of the first things I do as soon as the hull is complete is to bath test it.

I think that Ron`s only options are to add chopped lead/ball weight, as this will fit in odd spaces or as per Larry, to add a false keel. This does not need to be permanent, a couple of small studs fixed in the bottom or better still two blanked off threaded nuts set flush underneath will allow a false keel to be bolted on prior to sailing and not impinge on the models looks while out of the water.

Surely must be some other Glasgow constructors looking at this post??

Expanded polystyrene bits used for loose packaging would be the stuff, small enough to put in the nooks and crannies for extra floatation. I would say a lifeboat made out of foam and attached with PVA to its cradle, and a long thread tied to it would be just the thing for an emergency pop-up flaot!!

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

The hull section in front of the cabin structure is totally inaccessible!

But there is a hatchway glued to the deck, in Ron's case, which could be prised off and made into an accessible ballast loading point

But the whole point is……….We don't know how much lead we are talking about!

Will somebody out there give us a clue, please

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob, a good point this little matter was bought to your attention i think before you got too far!!

Ashley

[LARRY WHETTONParticipant @larrywhetton68737]

Hello again,

Ashley as put the false attachment idea to good use we are on learing curve here ,

some good ideas coming out of this post , how about some party balloons for floation ,

partley inflated of course , its bit cheeky but as any body got spare copy of plan,

its looks as would make a good scratch build …………Larry…..

ASHLEY , like your carpett carrier , grand as seen the pictures whants one for christmas

so when i start plan you sent me will build it side by side cheers Larry…..

Edited By LARRY WHETTON boatman76 on 07/08/2012 17:12:34

[RJRParticipant @rjr]

As duckie has come up with lead shot being poured in through a hole to add weight it sparked an idea for added boyance. Fill the empty spaces inside with expanding foam ! Can be added in through a tiny hole using the straw like applicator.

It has two plus points, it fills any void with a light weght boyant foam that prevens the space being filled with water. Secondly it will add massive amounts of strength to a plastic hull.

The downside ? dont squirt it into any cavities that house moving parts, cos they wont afterwards. Also ensure there is an exit hole or it could expand too much and distort a deck. If applied before fixing the deck down it could be allowed to over fill and be cut back when dry before deck application. It could in theory render it impossible to flood and therfore sink ?

[RJRParticipant @rjr]

Expanding foam, about £7 from most hardware stores… Here I used it for hills

here it was before trimming

Some good tips,

Mask stuff off

Always wear the provided gloves, when it goes where you dont want it too you will try and stop it with your hand !

If it goes where you dont want it LEAVE IT its easy to pick off when dry, hard to remove when wet !

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

I have PM'd a known Glasgow builder for his comments on the ballast problem.

But there's no guarantee he'll read it in the near future

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Would you believe it!

Just had a reply already from Tony Hadley of the Bury club

In his PM he says he didn't actually build the model, but will be submitting a few photos shortly.

For some reason, he mentions the ballast was "poured in" and the aerial in now trapped?

He is a keen paddler and says the model sails well and is very stable.

We await his comments and pix with interest

Thanks Tony

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Back to Ron Hales problem

At the bows section, there is a glued on hatchway. Prise this off and cut an opening in the deck.

Obtain about 5 or 6 lb of lead shot or chopped up flashing and load the model fore and aft till the correct waterline is reached.

After a proper sea trial, you can seal the lead in with epoxy or fibre glass resin and Bob's yer uncle!

Modify the hatchway for easy removal for future access

Many thanks to Tony Hadley for his quick response. He will be posting a few pix shortly, when he's sorted out his new camera!………New cameras…….Aren't they a pain?

Bob

[Terry PlumridgeParticipant @terryplumridge66794]

Hi Bob, just taking a step back to the start of this thread, I see in your photo's that the paddlewheel shaft is supported in what looks like brass tube "bearings". Would it be possible to use miniature ball races mounted on a subplate instead.

Cheers, Terry.

Edited By Terry Plumridge on 08/08/2012 19:55:46

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Terry

The bushes are in a temporary position, for my benefit really

They should be further out and closer to the paddle wheels, but they are not located very well, in my opinion!

They are epoxyed at a point where the wood frame meets the plastic hull.

In order to use a ball bearing, a housing could be mounted off the outside face of the hull.

So the answer is….Yes, ball bearings could be fitted.

I've used ball bearings in my Great Eastern model, for the big paddle wheels and that is probably the reason why it powers through the water?……..See the video on the GE thread

Thanks for your technical question

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

RJR. we have had this foam business before and the consensus was..dont.. as the foam expands considerably and if you get it wrong it can split the boat open….

BUT if you had an open deck for instance, then the foam would be ok, as it could expand to its full extent and then you could trim to suit.

Terry. Just a thought (have not built a Glasgow) but the tube bearings provide a water seal as well as rotational support. Ball races might be ok on the inside but would need sealing on the outside. MAy be a bit overkill unless doing considerable mileage. How about teflon drilled to suit?? great bearing material on stainless and water lubricated to boot!!

Ashley

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

If space permits then Hamsters on external treadmills are a possible option. You don't need batteries, just a supply of rodent food and performance is guaranteed as they run like hell to avoid drowning…,,

Colin (attempting to match Ashley's ingenuity…)

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Colin……I ought to report you to the RSPCH for such a cruel suggestion!

But, we could use Lemmings!….As they are built for the job!

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Problem with lemmings is that you can only use them once…

Colin

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

As an aside.. how do they steer stern-wheel paddle ships?? never thought of that before. New Zealand or Australia had apparently a stern wheel paddle warship, with Coles turrets.. would make a novel project. Not forgetting the paddle aircraft carrier the ya… Americans had on one of the great lakes (if I remember rightly)

Loads of room for hampsters in one of them!

Ashley

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