Todays Boating

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Sorry chaps. Teaser time. Excuse the state of Trevors worktop, but this a proportionally correct (subject to change) exact non scale mockup of the next project. Ashley

[Len Morris 2Participant @lenmorris2]

I would bet it’s a paddle wheeler triboaticle. 🙂

Len

[Roger FugeParticipant @rogerfuge]

It good be wind powered

[ashley needham]

On ashley needham Said:

Sorry chaps. Teaser time. Excuse the state of Trevors worktop, but this a proportionally correct (subject to change) exact non scale mockup of the next project. Ashley

Those tins will never float Ashley!

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

We were mulling over another 30’s never,-built boat. In the past I have made crude cardboard mockups to get proportions/ workable proportions right, but with this particular item we see the main issue as buoyancy and how far we could “interpret” the artwork to stand a chance of it working whilst achieving a good look.

There’s nothing like having something solid to look at to gauge the overall effect, and trevors food storage cupboard provided cylinders of several sizes, and an action man was found to give the mockup scale.

Due to the…unconventional…drive system I am going to have to make an actual test boat to see if it provides any propulsion whatsoever before starting the boat proper. Although we have talked about this before, my experience is that the models I make have to look like the whatevers they are based on so you are a bit stuck for any radical alterations to get it to work. In this case, if I can’t get the propulsion to work, the whole thing is a non-starter.

Ashley

[ashley needham]

On ashley needham Said:

We were mulling over another 30’s never,-built boat. In the past I have made crude cardboard mockups to get proportions/ workable proportions right, but with this particular item we see the main issue as buoyancy and how far we could “interpret” the artwork to stand a chance of it working whilst achieving a good look.

There’s nothing like having something solid to look at to gauge the overall effect, and trevors food storage cupboard provided cylinders of several sizes, and an action man was found to give the mockup scale.

Due to the…unconventional…drive system I am going to have to make an actual test boat to see if it provides any propulsion whatsoever before starting the boat proper. Although we have talked about this before, my experience is that the models I make have to look like the whatevers they are based on so you are a bit stuck for any radical alterations to get it to work. In this case, if I can’t get the propulsion to work, the whole thing is a non-starter.

Ashley

 

I completely agree Ashley, but I still think those two bits of wood will not support the weight of all those tins!

Just try to imagine a line of laughing emoji’s now, as we don’t have them available!

[Len Morris 2Participant @lenmorris2]

Hi Ashley.  Getting more interesting by the minute!  If it’s what I think it is then I’d drive the front rotors with a single motor via a simple Mechano spur gear diff and a servo pulling friction brake bands on each shaft.  A decent tread or plates like the old steel tractor wheels must give it some propulsion.  The back rotor could even pivot with the brake servo to give a rudder effect.

Two channel RC is all it would need.  I don’t see buoyancy as a problem at all.  Once you know the weight of the kit going into it, you’ll know the displacement needed to give the right floatation.  Suppose that effectively sets your minimum scale.

Intrigueing that the boat cold actually drive up the beach as well.  Could be totally wrong. 🙂

Len

[Len Morris 2Participant @lenmorris2]

Hi Ashley,

Just a quick addition.  The tin cans empty weigh practically nothing.  Fill them with water on the kitchen scales and the weight is your maximum buoyancy.  I recon you have at least a maximum of a whole kg on the front.  Try some tin plate work! 🙂

Len

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

Have you thought about using tank steering?

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Thank you for your thoughts chaps. The single page in the magazine dealing with the cover art contains a DIFFERENT design of boat (same propulsion but looking like a larger passenger vessel) but includes mention of a rudder.

Where this rudder is located is a bit vague but from the drawing appears to be just in front of the rear rotor.

To be honest, almost anything is possible and only a test boat will.prove ‘ought either way!.

Terrible vibration on hms Hasty looks like an unglued propshaft outside under the hull, and I have replaced the u/j with a bit of my silicone rubber tube which will help.

“Train” ferry coming on well, however the seated figures that came with the 1/43 mixed set are blatantly too small. As pointed out by Trevor. Have ordered more and different standing poses, and a seated set, which if the measurements are correct should be a better size.

War is coming with China…get your cheap rubbish in quick! I am splashing out 4k on a Bass Sax. Ridiculously cheap (a Selmer is 24k) and the reviews are good. I am a sucker for a unusual instruments.

Ashley.  Parp parp!

[harry smith 1Participant @harrysmith1]

Hi Ashley

Trump trumpets from Russia are only 2K with free postage!!!

Well it’s time for you to move south, 25C today and a cold 20C for tomorrow.

Off to do a display tomorrow, taking the PT109, Perkasa and the 1920 Gentleman’s Runabout.

Warm Regards

From your southern weather man

Harry

 

 

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Ah Harry, it’s the time of year here when I remember why I hate you so much with all this talk of a “cold” 20C…

It’s a balmy 8 degrees here and raining…but you knew that!!

Not going to be ordering a Trump Trumpet any time soon.

Good luck with your show. I know pictures will be forthcoming.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Have just received a parcel with 30 1/43 people in it. Very nice, ready painted and fit to go. Have stuck now 30 passengers on ferry (I had some wot I painted,) and it looks really great.

Waiting for some hopefully right-sized sitting people, so have stopped gluing standing passengers on in order to have room for some benches. If the people ARE too small I might make some benches anyway and have a few “children” on them, or perhaps an anti terrorist gun position…rough lot in Bushy Park!

I also need to re-order some ferry stickers. The ebay history does not go that far back, but I have the card from the print firm which was included so stand a chance of getting the same, for fleet commonality…

Ashley

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Ashley, I have quite a few sitting people left over from the paddler. They vary from 2.5cm to 3cm high in th sitting position.

You are welcome to them if they re of any use.

Colin

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Cheers Colin. Thanks for the offer, I may be in that position if the next delivery does not man up enough.

My sitting people, of which there are only two poses left are only 2.5cm high and look under par. 30 mm should do it. Wait and see.

The cabin is looking good now with an angled front window and painted on window bars, and I am glad I bothered to do the stairwell/staircase to the top deck as it is a bit of a feature, and adds colour as the top flat inside the rails has been painted in a ‘safety’ yellow. Similarly some small plastic rings from the hardware shop have peen painted yellow/red as life-rings and also add a splash of colour.

off to eBay now to try and get ferry stickers to match those on the original ferry top.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Success in the stickers department in that I found my original supplier.

Sitting people arrived. A bit small stoll even at 30-32mm. You can see the difference when you hols a standing and sitting figure together. The sitting torso belt upwards is definitely undersized.

However, two benches with 5 sitters are in place and they look OK

No boating tomorrow as attending the armistice parade in Molesey.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Train ferry top now just awaiting stickers.

Small disaster. HMS hasty, sitting on its box for propshaft repairs was knocked off and fell behind the workmate by some old clumsy dodger in the shed and suffered …some… damage. Oops! Nothing terminal as most of the bits were just knocked off and glued back on ok, but one boat davit is beyond repair. They are in plastic and have already been broken and repaired several times, and I have two pairs of brass items which I think I will now fit. The bilge keels were both cracked but a line of superglue fixed them easily.

A small amount of retouching is required, but everything is matt black so not an issue. A lucky escape!

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

The “Bushy Park Ferry Co stickers arrived and have been stuck on the three top passenger bulwark straps. A larger FERRY word in red now adorns the flat front and the whole top now looks really good. I may take a snap later.

It’s 0821 as I type, and it’s really really dark outside…a bit onimous….

I am now wondering what other tops could adorn the ferry hull? Its a bit of a blank canvas really.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Today. Almost didnt boat as something, looked like the ice rink at hampton Court, meant the car park was full. Stopped behind Peter and after a few minutes two dog walkers returned and we were in….and stood by the pond in the light rain.

 

HOWEVER it stopped and then was sunny, but with a gusting breeze. I put the train ferry in and it was very tender, as expected…I might glue another bit of lead under the boat (theres a few strips there already. Not a problem on a windless day, but it was gusting.  Larger lander fine, wobbly but in no danger,

 

New man DAVE turned up with a couple of boats….and a bumper boat!! top marks for a) doing a bumper and b) making a spiffing land rover top for it. top notch.

Train Ferry as I know you are all desparate to see it…..

 

Ashley

 

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Very ingenious and colourful Ashley. I never realised that James the Red Engine had a little brother.

Of course Thomas the Tank engine would prefer to travel by LST.

Colin

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Was down at the pond before any other boaters, car park full (went round three times) but gave up.

Next week will have the Christmas top on Jessie.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

…BIT early for a christmas top….??

There appear to be 4 Sundays before christmas so I might reserve the christmas ferry deck for December?

Stuch some strip lead on top of the lead strip already stuck on under the ferry so will see how that steadies the train deck up. Glad I cut the top off the landing ramp, it looks much less like a landing Craft now. Not that I can be bothered, but levelling the front bulwark sides would complete the transformation, never know, I might get the rasp out.

I will post a picture of Daves landy bumper top, unless Dave does it first.

WHICH REMINDS ME. It might be nice to ping me if anyone thinks they might visit the park, especially if coming any distance, to ensure we will be there, and so we can tool up appropriately ie bring bumpers or landers, Tups etc to mach. It’s almost embarrassing to have visitors and all I bring down is the Mintanic or something equally notveryexiting when I have so much good stuff in the garage…goes for the rest of the troops as well!

Ashley

[Dave ReedParticipant @davereed72029]

Kids today, always on the phone

lucky there wasn’t a police bumper on the pond…

 

[ashley needham]

On ashley needham Said:

…BIT early for a christmas top….??

 

 

Most defenately!  Keep Christmas in December!

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

One of our neighbours has already been putting the lights up!

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