Steam Tug WATTLE

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

It was a long job making all the panels and making the rivet points…

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

coating the card to make it water proof once the panels had been finished seem to take ages..

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

still need to cut out the anchor hole..

found some better looking port holes..

grey primer ready for final paint work..

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

..red primer…

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

new port holes..

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

Hi! Ian, WOW!!!! looking excellent, plating looks spot on, I haven't done the plating as I still keep getting the running out of time thing cant seem to shift it keeps coming back so I just crack on this Wattle has been whetted and runs perfect it had a bit of a list to stbd. so adjusted that and its second sea trial is now due,

I did find a tool that can be used for making the rivet effect its a thing used to mark a dressmaking plan onto paper, it is just a handle with a wheel that has teeth on it and it is really good will impress thin ali sheet no problem

I will be starting on the amazing hull as the SWIFT a gunboat from the Vietnam war a coastal patrol boat built from foam,

where did you get those portholes from they are excellent, my copy of the wattle magazine is well thumbed through as well, I have just finished the mast cables and screw adjusters I have made it so I can take them off and lower the mast for traveling.

nice to see you on again have kept a look out for you

mick

[BanjomanParticipant @banjoman]

Hello Ian,

I must chip in here, and say that I absolutely agree with Michael Wilkins – those are very pretty portholes, not least as they are the hinged cover type, which always adds to the appearance!

Am likewise very impressed by the effort you've put in to the plate-and-rivets effect, and even more so by the result! It really looks the thing!

/Mattias

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick,

Hope you are well good to see you are still building…

AMP is the port hole supplier I found them in the model hobby parts book, will get more detail.

have you any pics of the Wattle on water and what sound system did you settle for as I was thinking of contacting

John to see if he is still in contact with the restoration people in Australia to see what sound the wattle engine made..?

Lots of questions … will chat soon,

Best regards,

Ian

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mattias..

Thank you for those very kind words, I do appreciate them and have been driven by your excellence in your build.

The portholes are a great find and the model hobby parts is a great asset to the realistic look of the wattle or any build.

Hobbys had book 2016.

Best regards,

Ian

[Yabbie1Participant @yabbie1]

Hello Wattlers,

Just passing through, and glad to see the progress being made.

The time is rapidly nearing when the full-size Wattle will have to move to make way for dockside development. All necessary work is being hurried along to make her watertight ready for the day a large crane will lift her into the water again.

I would like to think it will be possible to record the sound of the engine (and whistle, etc.) once she is operational once more, as I could then put these sound clips into a sound effects module I have, and reproduce them exactly on the model, with the engine responding to the throttle.

In the meantime, a slow running steam engine sound effect would do; the engine is a two-cylinder compound that generally runs at no more than 100rpm. One of the engineers told me it is possible to stand alongside the engine and carry out a normal conversation whilst it is running at full speed, so you don't need a lot of volume.

Yabbie 1 (John)

[BanjomanParticipant @banjoman]

I hope my attempt at embedding a Vimeo link here will work. If it does, it should appear here:

https://vimeo.com/129559005 (https://vimeo.com/129559005)

In case it doesn't, I will put the link in clear at the bottom of the post.

Anyway, although the video (hopefully) embedded above is obviously not of the Wattle's engine, it does show a small two-clyinder compound, running at 120 rpm on a head of steam at 120 psi for the ship to do 6 knots. The short film was taken by myself in the engine room of the Clyde Puffer VIC 32 (**LINK**) back in late May this year (actully on my 50th birthday, which was the reason we were doing a five day cruise with the VIC 32 at that specific time).

Although the sound and image quality are not in any way approaching professional quality – it was filmed with my iPhone – one does, I think, get a fairly good impression of how the engine sounds. And yes, just as the Wattle engineer told you, John, it was perfectly possible to stand next to the engine and carry out a conversation in a normal voice! Steam engines are comparatively speaking very quiet … Oh, and the odd noise at around 00:22 is the skipper making a noise down the speaking the tube to alert the engineer that we are 30 minutes away from dropping the anchor for lunch …

/Mattias

Edited By Banjoman on 01/08/2015 08:04:38

Edited By Banjoman on 01/08/2015 08:04:56

Edited By Banjoman on 01/08/2015 08:05:24

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi John..(yabbie1)..

Thanks for looking in and the info on the sound, this is very helpful as I have no idea what it would sound like.

It would be interesting to hear the real thing when it fires up…

I was looking at the sound system from Mtroniks ( DIGISOUND) £59.99 UK.

Not sure if this digisound 5m has the ability to record your own sound on to it?

Best regards,

Ian

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Banjo…

Many thanks for the info on the steam tug sound track, it will download ok, thanks.

I hope this is near the sound required and will look forward to John coming back with the Wattle sound track of the

Engine and whistle.

It is a great video you have, lots of detail on the engine room.

Best regards,

Ian

[Amy jane SeptemberParticipant @amyjaneseptember49770]

Hi Ian

Good to see an update, and congratulations on a continuously interesting build.

Aj

[Yabbie1Participant @yabbie1]

Ian,

A more advanced sound module than the Mtroniks unit is required if you want to add your own sounds and adjust all the parameters, something like the Model Sounds Inc. Shockwave2. **LINK**

"Firing up" a steam engine can be an anti-climax, a sort of long sigh followed by heavy breathing and the odd thud.

Banjoman's video gives a pretty good idea I think.

Yabbie 1

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi AJ…

Thank you for your kind comments…

Good to see you back on line again.

Best regards,

Ian

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi John…

Thanks for the Shock wave module link will look this up.

Ian

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

While you're looking at sound modules you might try this link **LINK**

From reading the various websites it seems that neither the MTroniks nor the Model Sounds systems will allow you to instal your own sound recording, whereas the ACTion P100 will. There are full instructions on how to go about the process here **LINK** (P100 User Manual Part 2) and the CD-ROM which you can obtain for a fiver includes not only a very useful marine sounds library but also audio editing software and the special utility which permits you to instal your own sound. You will need an amplifier and speaker in addition to the P100.

DM

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Dave…

That is very helpful and looks like just what I need, I think the Action stand will be at the Blackpool model show in a couple of months will have to get saving…

Hope you are in good health…

Best regards,

Ian

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Ian

You'd best check with Component Shop to see if they are taking the ACTion demo stand and stock there. I shan't be in attendance; my next show will be Warwick in November (I'm still trying to retire………). Last year there was a very good deal price at that show for P100 plus its attendant bits and pieces.

Dave M

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Dave..

Sorry to hear you are still working, this retirement is well recommended..

>>Last year there was a very good deal price at that show for P100 plus its attendant bits and pieces.<<

I hope they do bring the P100 and visit the Blackpool show as its a new venue and hopefully will bring more people.

Regards,

Ian

[Yabbie1Participant @yabbie1]

Dave (and others),

Please don't think I have an axe to grind here (I have no association with the company) but those 'various websites' have mislead you.

I have a ShockWave2 unit from Model Sounds and you can indeed add any sounds of your own to it (.wav or mp3 format) or select from their library or other sound libraries. It will automatically generate 16 or more throttle step-ups from a basic engine idle sound and play the start/shut down sequence appropriately. It actually has two independent throttle functions as well as your choice of up to 16 other sounds, all in the one unit – the P100 has to be set up as either throttle or switcher mode according to the specification, so it seems you can't do both and would need two units. The ShockWave has a built-in amplifier (up to 40Watts) and will reproduce two sounds simultaneously at CD quality as well as do things like flash LEDs in synch with a Morse code or gunfire sound. So you can have your engine chugging away in response to the throttle and without interrupting it, blow the whistle, sound a bell, fire a gun or whatever, all at high audio quality with a lot of volume (which can be turned up or down remotely via an RC channel if desired). Given the built-in amplifier and dual throttle/sound functionality, it is likely to be a cheaper means of achieving this functionality than the alternatives.

The downside is that the set-up can become quite complex if you want to use your own sounds and tweak all the parameters via the software. (It can be supplied pre-programmed to requirements.)

Just wanted to set the record straight a little. I can understand people wanting to hear demonstrated and to buy a local product 'over the counter', but it's important to carefully compare specifications.

Yabbie 1

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi John…

Many thanks for further information, will hopefully with your help gain all the sound sequences and correct whistle sounds.

It looks like the steam engine is a very specific sound and would be very grateful if you know of any one that can help with Wattle sound tracks..

Best regards,

Ian

[Yabbie1Participant @yabbie1]

Ian,

If by "'Wattle sound tracks" you mean the actual sounds specific to the tug Wattle, no-one can help, as they don't exist yet! The hope is that it will be possible to record them once the vessel is back in service. This will not be anytime soon.

In the meantime, you would have to use a sound module offering a generic steam engine sound, i.e. a sound typical of a vessel powered by a steam engine, preferably of the two-cylinder compound type.

If you get a sound module that enables you to add your own sounds, then you can use the generic sound in the meantime and when/if the Wattle sounds become available, change it over to them.

Overall though, since a steam engine really doesn't make much noise I question whether it's worth the trouble and expense – you can get along well with just a simple steam whistle sound (and the smoke generator) to create atmosphere.

Yabbie 1

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