Steam Tug WATTLE

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi AJ…

Thanks for looking in…I as you have always been drawn to the 1930s era of build it was a magical time .

I also have a steam Windermere gondola on the build.

Best regards and good look with the engine problem, some time its best to give it a coat of looking at and go back, later…

Ian

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

would be interested in the sister tug as I intend to get this finished as quick as possible,

I have not much else to do but this so can spend as much time as I can stand at a go, last night I put all to sleep around 12pm.

this is my first big r/c build my usual time line has been17th and 18th century work boats of men of war, and our coastal open fishing boats all to a small scale ? not much into the scale more like semi scale,

but would be well into this sister tug,

mick

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick…

While its on theme…

A couple of pictures on the way I bend the stern frame for the grating…

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

To get the curve without the wood snapping, I soak the planks for a hour or so…

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

I have yet to do this, did you make a card template first or just copy from the plan??

think I will get this done this afternoon, I put cuts closer 1/8" it will bend then without any soaking or heat, there are some prtty tight curves on a guitar even tighter for a mandolin and the same method is used for most instruments,

excellent work though its good to talk to someone doing the same build very luck to have found you been a great help! John as well wouldn't have had a clue but for his help,

mick

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick..

..>>I have yet to do this, did you make a card template first or just copy from the plan??<<

I photo copy the section from the plan on to a 4A paper then cut this out as my template..

It must be very satisfying to make a guitar, when I was in my teens, we had a guitar maker near south lakes uk, Ireleth town. ( Askam In Furness).

His name was Peterson, the guitars were absolute works of art, every thing had made, I went to see him one day with a friend, he was delivering rib bones for fret and key ends… the whole building was full of guitars in very stage you could think of.

>>excellent work though its good to talk to someone doing the same build very luck to have found you been a great help! John as well wouldn't have had a clue but for his help,<<

I feel the same as you Mick…it is good to chat with others and see how they are progressing, with their builds and discuss the problems and successes.

Also very lucky to have dropped on a genuine person as John, who in his busy schedule, still finds time to drop in and give good advice.

We are lucky also in the aspect of being able to stop start, with what ever model we feel enthusiastic about, as John will be on a schedule to complete for the Magazine dead line..

Ian

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

Hi! Ian, finally made the grating, thats a piece of work if ever,

just wondering what part of the world are you in?? I am on the west coast of Scotland Argyll just bellow Oban,

I am on the side of loch awe s/w side near a lagoon called An-Lodan so we have plenty of water around us,

John being a salty may have heard of or even been to Crinan our local Haven,

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick..

Pleased to here you have completed the grating.. I ran out of staying power on the first attempt.

I should have created the grating in a square then cut it out to fit.

>>just wondering what part of the world are you in?? I am on the west coast of Scotland Argyll just bellow Oban,<<

It sounds a great place, you live in and plenty of access to water for the launch..of Wattle.

I live in Lytham near St Annes or Blackpool and the tower… all that, you may have seen Blackpool on the news.

Lytham is like the retired, bit near the sea and access to some paddle pools or as they call it round here, Fairhaven Lake.

>> I am on the side of loch awe s/w side near a lagoon called An-Lodan so we have plenty of water around us,<<

Sounds a great place..

I am originally from South lakes near Lake Windermere ( Cumbria Lake District). Plenty of water round there..lol

Best regards,

Ian

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

LOL!!! my aunt used to live there a long time back, its a long time since we visited Blackpool that was on motor bike and sidecar a Phelon and moor Panther carrying wife and two kids, those were the days,

mick

[Kimosubby ShipyardsParticipant @kimosubbyshipyards]

Hello Michael,

I know An-Lodan, we've stayed on Loch Awe a couple of times at Portsonachan in an old "Mansion House" and have often cycled down you end and up and around. Long, long ride, but what scenery. Amazed at that power station in the mountain at the top end too.

We also had access to a small boat so spent many hours trying to sail up and down the Loch. Ah, and who can forget the low flying planes, at first quite a fright as they hurtle low along the loch at a few hundred feet up.

Thanks for the small boat plans BTW, all come in useful.

Like this build you two, it's great that you are building almost at the same speed and sharing everything as you go and with the master overseeing you too.

As for you Mick, on a clear evening/night we can almost see the Towers lights from Bulgham (near Laxey).

Aye, Kim

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick and Kim..

To come from Scotland to Blackpool on a motor bike and side care, that's some journey…

Kimosubby…. thanks for looking in..

The T24 motor has just arrived and am keen to get it in place then I can seal the prop shaft in place..

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Mick …I made such a hash of the grating I have taken Johns advice from the magazine and ordered the laser cut pieces, so will complete once they arrive by post.

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

While I was waiting for the motor to arrive, started to make the frame for the upper deck …

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Starting to Resin coat the inside of the Wattle…

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

will let this coat harden then see if it needs a second coat to fill any holes…

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

mid section resin coat , with all the parts removed..ie motor and servo.

Will have to order the four batteries, looks like the best buy for the 6v 4amh, is at the Component shop.

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

dont just google the 6v4.5mah and a few places come up a lot cheaper than those

http://uk.shop.com/search/6v+4;5ah+Batteries?k=30&sort_popular=&t=0 just one £6.18

ebay.co.uk/itm/ULTRAMAX-RECHARGEABLE-6-VOLT-4-5AH-BATTERY-ELECTRIC-TOY-CAR-INJUSA-TORCH-PEREGO-/130957603790?pt=UK_Toys_Games_Outdoor_Toys_Bikes_Ride_Ons_LE&hash=item1e7dae73ce

the ultramax is what I have

mick

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

I put chopped strand mat inside as well just one coat then finished the outside with just a resin coat pretty strong will stand some knocking about LOL! if I can find anyone hereabouts the nearest club is in Glasgow a 200 mile round trip

yours is looking good I ordered some captive bolts for the motor but they have not arrived yet so think I will just use screws to mount it,

have to sort out just how John has made the shelves for everything else it looks pretty neat ,

right am off up the wooden hill (stairs) now so

laters

mick

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick..

>>dont just google the 6v4.5mah and a few places come up a lot cheaper<<

I will have another look round, but find the cost of the postage the big problem this can add another 50% on to the cost.

Ian

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

>>yours is looking good I ordered some captive bolts for the motor but they have not arrived yet so think I will just use screws to mount it,<<

Thanks Mick.. I got my bolts from a pound shop… might be a bit of a problem where you live…lol

I made two curved wood plinths shaped to the hull, with sponge underneath to help with motor vibration reduction.

Then screwed them in place, to the spine of the hull, once the bolts had been aligned to the motor bracket, I glued them in place. Also now has a thick laver of resin to hold in place.

>>have to sort out just how John has made the shelves for everything else it looks pretty neat ,<<

I had a closer look at plan page 2 and as you say, its a tight fit and looks like John has made trays for the four batteries and above this is a tray for the Foggy smoke unit.

Any further development on the battery charger plugs and switches?

Also have you looked at were to fit the receiver and ESC..?

Regards,

Ian

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

the ESC looks to be shelved on the stbd. alongside the motor, the receiver not sure but in the mag it says to keep it well above the water line.

I would imagine the receiver could sit the port side of motor.

I have some sockets and plugs which I got from ebay but am still trying to get the company John reffered to to answer me have written two emails asking when and if they can get them as one is in the UK the others all over the globe the ones John shows us looks to take up less room than drilling 3 big holes, the fuse holders from the same place as ebay.

have put a few more pictures in my album on wattle

laters

mick

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

think my batteries were free post

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick..

I have just had a look at the pictures in your album of the Wattle… it is looking very good.

Have you put the grey under coat on the resin after sanding… it looks very neat ?

Ian

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

yes I spent a long time rubbing down (wife says it looks like plastic LOL!!) but I first sprayed it red oxide rubbed it down to disclose any filling needed luckily not much then a grey primer filler which fills any scratches left one more coat of the grey stuff rubb down with wet and dry ready for finish,

I learned a bit about coach painting re finishing the odd motor cycle in my time so this will go the same way maybe 3 or four coats light rub down in between the last coat should be rubbed down to get a sateen finish , I get the finest wet and dry paper I can an take two bits and rub them together when you have finished and given it all enough time to harden you can use T-cut to polish the finish (I am a cheap'ster so I use Brasso instead does the same job) and if you want a sateen finish I use 000 wire wool to just take the gloss off,

another idea for the ports for ropes I found a 12mm plastic knitting needle then cut slices off and drilled the centre out just need to shape them and finished, also found just the thing to make ventilators the end from an empty air bottle the type used for cleaning out the pipes on a midge machinejust cut the rounded end off and they are perfect then solder them onto a length of brass tube drill into the tube after soldering and there ya go, just need to find a suply of empty cylinders, I have been saving them for years just found out now they do the job very well,

laters

mick

[Amy jane SeptemberParticipant @amyjaneseptember49770]

Looking very smart, Mick

I can never be bothered with that degree of sanding on my boats, and you can tell! I do admire the the end result of someone else's effort though!

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