Steam Tug WATTLE

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick..

Just had another look through your pictures and not only do I like the amount of work you have put in to the sanding and filling on the hull, I do like the shape of the rudder.

>>(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,<<

That is a great idea and I did not know you could still buy Brasso.

>>another idea for the ports for ropes I found a 12mm plastic knitting needle then cut slices off and drilled the centre out<<

What a great idea….now where is the wife's knitting needles….lol

>>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 machine just cut the rounded end off and they are perfect then solder them onto a length of brass tube <<

You lost me n that one ..Mick… have you got a picture of said items..?

Your build is looking great, Mick..

Regards,

Ian

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

aye which one do you mean? the knitting needle or the gas bottle LOL!,

try the gas bottle they are about 3" long and 3/4" dia. and rounded at the bottom I will get a picture for you when the phone thing is charged up, the knitting needle is sort of self explanitory, do you have a lathe? I have one but cant get into ma shed to use the darn thing will have to have a sort out when the Wattle is finished big clean up time,

trying to think what else uses the compressed air from the small bottles.

mick

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick…

The knitting needle … I understand, thank you.

Its the gas bottle thingy…?

Look forward to the picture..

>>do you have a lathe? I have one but cant get into ma shed to use the darn thing will have to have a sort out when the Wattle is finished big clean up time,<<

I do have a lathe… a miniature lathe, works well, but as you I have put a board over the sander and lathe area, to rest the wattle on while I resin coat the inside of the boat.

So that has stopped work in the shed, also we had 6 grand kinds yesterday, for the 40s day in Lytham.

I had to evacuate the dining table so we could all eat, that has moved the assembly area back to the small bed room and the spray shop is off limits at the moment as the garage door has broke and will have to get the cable repaired to assist in the opening, of the door as at the moment its like a dead weight. lol

Regards,

Ian

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick..

Your latest upload of Wattle pictures are great…

The Toe bar and life boat arms are a great work of art.

The funnel air intakes are a great design, idea, you are a gifted model maker.

Ian

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

thanks for the compliment you aint half bad yourself, been making models since I was 7 years old a jet airoplane my cousin got for me made a total pigs ear of it but that is what got me hooked on it.

laters

mick

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick…

As you I have made models all through my 66 yrs off and on.. balsa planes with elastic band drives mecano, to Airfix.

As you grow up I had to make space for family, now I am looking at my time and making space in the spare rooms for our hobbies. The wife has one room for three sawing machines and all the stuff to make things and I am happy making model boats at the moment, which is a very absorbing interest, so varied with all the different things you have to master.

Regards,

Ian

[Amy jane SeptemberParticipant @amyjaneseptember49770]

Hi Ian

Any progress updates?

Amy jane

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi AJ..

>>Any progress updates?<<

Slow progress.. due to health problems.. had open heart opp in February.. that lowed me down ..

just getting back on my feet, when I was called in for a Hernia repair, which was not as easy as they thought, so half hour opp turned into a two hour repair, but was black and blue and has a hematoma due to one of the staples on the mesh cover leaking. So had to go back into hospital, now at home taking it easy and starting to move about more.

So that's between you and me… so don't tell any one….lol

only have one picture taken just before… it all hit the fan…

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Have now trimmed off the excess resin cloth, will sand and coat again, meanwhile have been in the planning stage about the batteries and all the other components required.

Hopefully will make it to the Blackpool boat show, end of the month.

I have been lurking on your new build and look forward to seeing your progress.

Also Paul and Bob have been entertaining, as I could pick up the progress on my phone, while in doc.

Don't know what's happened to Mick, but he did say, it would be slow going with the deck components to his Wattle build.

Best regards,

Ian

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thanks for the mention Ian

Pleased you like our friendly banter

You take things easy and don't do too much

Bob and Paul

[Mark Jarvis 2Participant @markjarvis2]

HI Ian

Your mention of Blackpool and batteries, I know what connection, its how my mind works!!!!! have a look at Advanced Battery Supplies in Stockport, i bought some 4.5ah Lucas batteries from them 3 months ago, they do free postage as well.

Im in the club with Bob and he is just as bad on our landing stage!!!! but a superb modeller his boats just have to be seen.

Cant wait for the big tug off at Blackpool,

Regards

Mark

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

Hi! yes still this side the turf LOL! for some strange reason or other every time I have tried to do more work on Wattle I have been sabatarged but against all ods have been quietly finishing off fitting all the small deck bits an pieces and the mast was a nightmare I had it made from wood then realized there are wires and they do have to go somewhere so decided to cut a groove the length of to bury them in and after noting the lights were two in parallel I think then connected the bulbs to see if they worked after all the wrigling about with the wires and lo and behold they did,

I then filled the groove with catt. and rubbed down you can hardly tell so sprayed it with filler primer and its ready for final painting and fitting have lamps ready to go as well, its surprizing how long these little things take,

will picture some of the bits I have been doing and post them,

[Amy jane SeptemberParticipant @amyjaneseptember49770]

Hi Ian

Sorry to hear of your health issues, I wish you a speedy recovery. As Bob says, take it easy. (The model will be well worth the wait, I'm sure).

Hi Mick, I'm enjoying your build too.

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi AJ..

Thanks for those kind words, I am recovering steadily its when the professionals tell you to behave your self… its not easy..lol

Hi Mick… sounds like you have also been very busy, look forward to seeing the pics,

Best regards,

Ian

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Bob and Paul..

Many thanks for those kind words, will do my best to, not over do things… have been looking at al the parts to finish the Wattle, that's been holding my attention.

Hi Mark…

Have family in Stockport, so next time we are through I will look in at the Advance batteries place… many thanks.

Best regards,

Ian

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick…

A couple of things re the Wattle…

Did you put the port/ starb.. lights on the outside of the cabin deck and have you done the had rail with four bars or as John did … two bars?

I have seen 2 bar and three bar hand rails, but not four, so wondered if you made your own .

Regards,

Ian

[Mark Jarvis 2Participant @markjarvis2]

HI Ian

They are on Avenue Sreet of Portwood opposite the peel centre,

Mark

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mark…

Will call in and have a look next time we are through, sounds like its near the mills.

Regards,

Ian

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

I intend putting the port and stbd. lights on the outside of the deck which means I will be able to put a post in on the corner, I have just followed Johns plan just two rails but have noticed the extra ones on the photo's, I have not thought about making any with 4 points for rails but will put my mind in gear, new pictures up not very good but show where I am at,

this Tuesday I will have a full day at it wiring everything ready for a trial run to make sure every things doing what it should be.

Just a thought if you made the posts from flat strip all you would have to do is drill the 4 holes need to have a look to see but think the original had flat posts not sure but check it out, I have one light to fit in the wheelhouse and one back of the funnel have a pal who is an electrical whiz kid coming to help out with final set up, then I have to start the painting! how will you finish yours by brush or spray, I managed to get a small compressor with gun and everything else from liddels for under £40.00 already have a de-vilbis gun had it for years be good to bring it back to life,

hey hope you are feeling better and wish you a speedy recovery sorry to hear you have had a rough time, I also have had a bit of a rough ride with a rodent abscess in gall bladder which nearly finished the heart job off but survived then blow it started up under left lung, hopefully the new antibiotics they used have killed the bug off keeping fingers crossed,

laters

mick

[Yabbie1Participant @yabbie1]

Good day Mick and Ian,

I've just picked up on your comments in passing…

The Wattle was built with two-rail stanchions. The extra rails were added in recent times, no doubt to meet modern safety requirements when working as a passenger vessel. If you look at the photos you can probably see how the intermediate rails were added, as there is no ball casting on the intersections. So two rails is correct if depicting the Wattle as a tug.

Glad to see you're making progress, all the best.

Yabbie 1

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick…

Fingers crossed for you, hope all is well and you have a full recovery.

Hope you have read Johns post, nice one… saved a lot of searching for a four post stanchion.

will follow in same with two bar stanchion fence.

I have just uploaded some old pictures of the trident build, which shows the Halfords paint used.

Some time early in the year, I also managed to get my hands on the Lidl spray gun and compressor.

Have not even looked at it yet, still in the box… have you used it on any test project?

I was thinking of using it on the Wattle, have been looking at making a spray booth in the shed with another Lidl purchase, the industrial vacuum cleaner.

This would be at the back of the booth connected to a cone, to extract the fumes.

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Yabbie1…

Thanks for the input , John…!

Will follow suit and go for the 1930s look and have the two bar stanchion.

I have been looking at figures for this model and looking at the picture in the article, the two people look like they

are in orange water proofs, do you know if they are still available?

Also, if you have the time, please…..

Did you spray paint or hand paint the model…?

As this looks a good job, done.

Regards,

Ian

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

I have re done the Funnel near the correct scale size…

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

New funnel is only half inch bigger, but looks much better.

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Found a ships wheel near to scale..

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