Steam Tug WATTLE

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

couple more picks of the brass works on the funnel

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick…

The brass pipes on the funnel look great, nice work as usual.

Did you find the pipe bending coils or work out another way to get the curve?

Also the telegraph in position is a good touch.

Great to see it coming together,

Ian

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick..

Hope you don't mind… I have reposted your latest image upload, so we can see the great work you are doing , without chasing the thread back to your picture library.

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

believe it or not thats also our kitchen table and worktop! I do suffer about it though LOL!

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick…

It sounds like you have a very understanding person with you…lol

Its the way, we are with the hobbies, my wife has a room and I have the small spare room, but it does over flow into the living room table area.

I did manage to sort out a shed two years ago and also have taken over part of the garage for spraying and drying, as the fumes can be a problem.

Best regards,

Ian

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

THERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO BEND THE BRASS TUBE, FIRST ANNEAL THE TUBE THEN NIP ONE END TIGHT THEN MELT LEAD WARM THE TUBE AS YOU THEN POUR IN THE MOLTEN LEAD WHEN ITS COOLED DOWN YO CAN THEN BEND IT WITHOUT IT COLLAPSING ON YOU, THE TRICK IS KEEPING THE BLOW TORCH ON THE TUBE AS YOU POUR TWO'S UP IS BEST IF YOU CAN GET THE HELP,

I WOULD BEND IT AROUND SOMETHING RATHER THAN TRY IT FREEHAND i DID HAVE A JIG SOMEWHERE MM! i WONDER,

TAKE CARE

MICK

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick..

Thanks for the explanation on how to create the bend, it looks great on the funnel.

I might go for plastic pipe and paint same colour as funnel, but not sure, yet ..still looking for the bending coils.

Best regards,

Ian

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

cornwall model boats have the bending coil

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick..

>>cornwall model boats have the bending coil<<

Thanks for the info, will look them up … I am also going to the Blackpool model boat show on Saturday.

I might find them there.

Take care,

Ian

[Mark Jarvis 2Participant @markjarvis2]

HI Mick and Ian

An easier way to bend small or large diameter tubes, crimp one end as Mick said but then fill with water and freeze the tube, round your former then allow the tube to defrost,

Hope this helps

Mark

[Mark Jarvis 2Participant @markjarvis2]

HI Mick and Ian

An easier way to bend small or large diameter tubes, crimp one end as Mick said but then fill with water and freeze the tube, round your former then allow the tube to defrost,

Hope this helps

Mark

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

sorry Mark but cant see how that works! have you used this method yourself?

I am a retired maker of Uilleann pipes (Irish bagpipes) and have made quite a lot over 45 years of making and the method I described works for sure, I just dont see how freezing it full of water can possibly work as you have to bend the tube around the former to start with!

or how wrong am I??

mick

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick and Mark..

I managed to pick up the pipe bender today at the Blackpool show, so will have a go at the Mick method first, but thanks for the input and freezer method mark.

Have been busy undercoating every thing about the Wattle, still need to sand down the hull.

Managed to find some colour match to the funnel and green deck.

Ian

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

Hi! Ian, nice one just keep doing a bit at a time, would like to have been at Blackpool years since the kids were little since we have been,

that toffee colour is the one I need I will most likely have to try mixing it myself as its a 200 mile trip to the nearest model shop in Glasgow we went into a place by the airport as I found an address for a model shop there we spent a couple of hours running round and asking people just to find it has been closed for a couple of years grrrrrrrrr! that was mad,

catch ya later

mick

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

oops forgot to remind you to anneal the pipe before trying to bend and if it hardens before you get the right shape just anneal it again by getting it red cherry and let it cool down on its own dont dunk it or it will become hard and brittle

good luck

mick

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick…

Two hours from Glasgow and civilisation…is that because of the bag pipes…..lol

I also struggled with the colours, did find two out of three with the revel colour match so got the little pots for touch up. Ended up at Halfords found a Lada cream that matched the funnel colour …to my eye...

Will have a go at the pipe bend soon, following your instructions, thanks. but still getting over the Blackpool show.. it was a great day , spend three hours going round the stalls and hopefully have most of the fittings.

Its school half term down here and the Blackpool area is at a stand still, took three quarters of an hour to travel from Lytham to the show, which would normally be 20mins.

One thing I forgot to ask, when buying the cast vents, which are in two halves… what do you use to stick/glue them together..?

Does the cast need special type of adhesive…?

Ian

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

what is it cast from?? resin or white metal?? if its resin use medium supa glue and same for the white metal just fasten them together with lackie bands, but have a look at "www.hobbies.uk.com they have glues for every occasion,

I am going to have a go with the Depron foam to build the model described in NOV issue of model boats a fast gun boat used during the Vietnam conflict, a SWIFT PCF ( patrol craft swift) interesting material though ron reese who wrote the article says that the cost of the depron, glue etc. cost £7.00 I think he wrote it a couple of years back as the depron has shot up in price by 3 times. I may be able to fit in a few bits in between Wattles finishing touches, I have just dismantled the deckhouse for painting had to do it out in the shed but its a bit cold out there have to wait a while now, just put a high polish on the brassworks it looks smart and I reckon that when the tug was new the guys who worked on it would have been proud and kept all the brass polished,

I worked on the Princess Alexander docks in Liverpool for a time and loved watching the tugs a pushing and pulling they used to show off pulling stunts with them when the basin was empty, I was loading frozen lamb into wagons from 7am to 7pm 5 days a week, I remember never buying anything but bread and butter from the canteen as there was always a box of tinned ham broken LOL! made sure of it, had some fun down there

take care and dont over do it

mick

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

bagpipes mmmmm! well I also played the highland pipes with the mid argyll pipe band but since I was ripped of by the cardiologist for playing at a wedding havent played them much, we did have a little folk band called "ga ainm means no name" and have made quite a few cd's so leaving a legacy of a kind,LOL!

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick..

Its White metal so will go with the super glue after I have cleaned them up, some parts are very rough.

>>I am going to have a go with the Depron foam to build the model described in NOV issue of model boats a fast gun boat used during the Vietnam conflict, a SWIFT PCF<<

Sounds like a great idea, will fill in the time, all this waiting for the paint to dry and resin /filler.

I get a great kick out of the build start…the torpedo boat and gun bout has a great design shape.

>> I have just dismantled the deckhouse for painting had to do it out in the shed but its a bit cold out there have to wait a while now, just put a high polish on the brassworks it looks smart<<

I have noticed the weather change and time to dry is longer, will bring the parts in from the shed and garage to finish off. I bet it does look smart with the brass work.

>> I reckon that when the tug was new the guys who worked on it would have been proud and kept all the brass polished,<<

It would have been great to see the Wattle, in its day.

You work on the docks in Liverpool…wow..

I was busy playing in a band…in the 60s, played at the cavern club, what a pit..

>>we did have a little folk band called "ga ainm means no name" and have made quite a few cd's so leaving a legacy of a kind,LOL!<<

How good is that…

I only made on demo and turned down the drummers job for the Marmalade, they had another name the played up near Carlisle… those were the days..

You take care also and thanks for the info on the white metal..

Ian

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

Ha!Ha! we used to frequent the cavern a right sleazy hole but had plenty fun and er! girls there,

we used to go in a little pub just across the way called the grapes my drink was a brown mixed, I loved it there had so much fun and missed the last ferry back from new brighton after the dance a few times LOL! and had to sleep rough there was usualy about ten to 15 of us and we found an old derelict mansion we all stayed there, spent many evenings at the pear head or riding the ferry back and forth aye we got up to all sorts of mischief there,

take care

mick

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Mick…

So pleased that brought back happy memories…..

I have just found the article in the Nov issue of the Model Boat mag, looks like a great build and good idea to have a project on the side of the Wattle build.

Hope you will have time to run a new thread on the build..

Ian

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

The hull is drying after primer coating

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

The deck has sanding sealer, primer and green spray paint.

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

While I am waiting for the paint to dry… I have got every piece indoors to help the drying, before sanding the hull.

So took this opportunity to put the parts together.

[michael wilkinsParticipant @michaelwilkins74576]

I have the deck house painted white had to bring it inside to dry to cold and wet in the shed will be looking for some spray paint for the deck and the creamy one for the funnel and davits and ventilators,

I have the front deck planked up on a backing ready to put on after the whole deck fraid I am following Johns directions to the letter will have all the supports for the bullworks to put in I noticed they are not all square to the deck that seems a bit daunting,

yours is looking good now as well, are you going to make the davits and cradle from brass?I have a spare tow hook I made,

laters then

mick

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