Vintage Gentleman’s Cruiser

[BanjomanParticipant @banjoman]

You're very welcome, Bob

I'm not too sure that I'd care to apply the adjective "skilled" to myself just yet. Fair to middlin'? Yup. Decentish? Ayuh. But I am only too aware of my weaknessess and exactly where the warts are located to really say "skilled". But enough already: I don't want to turn this into neither a discussion of me (boring!) nor a competition in personal modesty.

I used to be an avid builder of model boats (and many other kinds of models, too) when I was in my teens and early twenties, although most everything I built back then suffered heavilly from the nefarious influence of my old arch-nemesis, the evil Dr Impatience! I was always too much in a hurry, back then, to get to the finish line and onto the water to do a proper job of building.

With Eilean Mòr I am only on my seond model since taking the hobby up again in 2008 after a 20 year hiatus. The first one was the Caldercraft HMS Pickle kit, which I saw as a testing of the waters (to the extent that one can use that phrase about a static model), particularly in order to find out if the more mature me would be better at fighting off said Dr Impatience than my younger incarnation used to be … ?!

I now, however, solemnly promise and swear to stop gatecrashing your thread with dull mush about myself; I do, however reserve the right to step in anew with further utterances of delight or general drooling over the thread's proper subject, i.e. your build!

/Mattias

Edited By Banjoman on 21/11/2014 12:07:49

Edited By Banjoman on 21/11/2014 12:08:09

Edited By Banjoman on 21/11/2014 12:09:40

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just a few pictures to keep Paul up to date………Unfortunately, Paul is not so well at the moment

We hope you will feel better very soon, Paul……….Your presence and comments are sorely missed

First picture shows the finished skylight

Second picture shows the nearly finished funnel

Third picture shows the short propshafts with aluminium extension tube to make up the length……Novel eh?

Next comes the rear seating construction

Finally the motor drives awaiting the timing belt drives……….The pulleys and belts are costing the handsome sum of £135.00…..which is an early Christmas present

The weight of the hull without any gear installed is 14 lb……….Not bad?

Bob

[Mark Jarvis 2Participant @markjarvis2]

HI Bob

Sorry to hear about Paul, get well soon mate, your skills and above all your humour are most welcome.

I have been following this from the start, the beast is getting better and better. Looking forward to seeing it down at Etherow, good job our committee is buying us a small crane to launch large heavy models!!!!!

Mark

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Sorry to hear about that Paul, Best wishes for feeling better soon but don't rush back until you are ready – not that Jane would let you!

Colin

[CookieOldParticipant @cookieold]

Paul , Get well soon mate

Very Best Regards Dave

[IAN_IParticipant @ian_i]

Hi Bob…

Master class….

Great work on the Funnel and all the seating.

The Abell motor mount looks great.

the skylight is a work of art….who's the geezer trying to get on board….lol

So sorry to hear Paul is unwell, if you are in personal contact please send best regards and get well soon.

Ian

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Dear All

Thank you for all of your kind concern, along with my physical problems I have a problem with balancing my serotonin levels, thankfully the medics are able to twiddle with the meds and I usually come out of the other side.

Thanks again

Bob

How do your aluminium extension tubes work? I have been trying to make sense out of your description and photo and just cant figure out how you are doing it.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Nice to have you back, Paul…….Welcome home!

I have two M4 prop tubes about 12" long, which are too short for the job

I`m hoping to extend the shaft only to the length required, by using a length of 8mm aluminium tube with suitabell end fittings that fit the propshaft….A simple 4mm bore at the propshaft end and a 6mm stub shaft for the timing belt end……Complete with a brass bearing assembly……..Should look nice and also, unusual

So, looking at the motor drive we will see a rotating ali tube for most of the drive, disappearing into the rear section somewhere

All will be revealed shortly

I think we ought to have double width timing pulleys on the final drive…..So I`ll leave enough room for them on the shafting

Regards…..Capt Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just had an interested Email viewer, asking if our Stephen Bros 55ft Motor Yacht type, took part in the Dunkirk Evacuation?

I wouldn`t be surprised, since it was built in 1932

Anybody?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Bob

Its doubtful that the Sea Dog took part in the Dunkirk Evacuation. The boat was built in Stockton, California and as far as I could find out it never went further than South America.

The ally tube sounds like a good idea but it might need supporting mid way to prevent whipping.

Paul

Edited By Paul T on 24/11/2014 19:08:25

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

The Timing drives have finally arrived!……….Christmas has come early

Fit for purpose too!

The motors will have packers beneath the bases to adjust the belt tension

Fan blades will be mounted on the motor shafts

All great fun…….Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Ahoy Capt Bob

Have I missed something ………Why are you fitting fan blades to the shafts?

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Because we`ve got two spare shaft ends doing nowt!

For cosmetic reasons really, but will do some good

Guess where these portholes came from?……….No idea?

Yale lock surrounds!

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

You could use one of the spare shafts to drive a little water pump.

Cool the motors and have an impressive bilge pump effect through another, but smaller, 3/8in brass ring on the transom.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

That sounds like a nice idea, Paul

I like to see warm water squirting out the back anyway

The bilge pump is also a must…..All my boats seem to leak

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

All my boats seem to leak

Its nothing to do with the design………perhaps you should use waterproof glue (or make better joints)

Are you going to have a chap at the wheel and make one of your clever connections to the rudder to make him turn the wheel.

Paul

Edited By Paul T on 27/11/2014 15:38:31

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just realised…..We`ve got quite a few spare rotating shaft ends……The countershafts and the propshaft ends

Fans on the motors and water pumps on the shafts

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Paul

The moment of truth………..Bit of a tight squeeze………I thought we had plenty of room!

The coaming needs to be cut away at the moment, then we`ll get a better idea of the space required

Bob in the Engine Room

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Drawing Office to Chief Engineer:

Do you remember asking for a drawing that showed the optimum layout for these motors.

lol

Paul

Edited By Paul T on 27/11/2014 19:18:03

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thanks Paul

I do remember your layout, but I didn`t like the housing shape

I`ve cut the coaming away and it looks ok now………Don`t think I can get the propshaft belt drive in though

Pictures tomorrow……..Footie has started on the telly!

What was the designed propshaft pitch again, please?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

The propshaft angle is 2.60deg.

Footie and Horlicks…………..you do live life on the edge.

I've seen the TV programmes about oap football fans tanked up on sanatogen and running riot through the over 60s dinner dance hall.

Beetle crushers, drape jackets and flick action zimmer frames….the queue at the post office tremble when they hear you lot coughing and wheezing on your way to the coffee bar (its the only one with a ramp access)

Paul

Enjoy the footie

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

You Cheeky snotty nosed kid!……..Don't be too hasty in mocking your superiors!

Such is the fun obtained form this build, I have temporarily abandoned the moronic footie nonsense, gone upstairs and assaulted the coamings and placed the tackle in position!

Here's the proof!…….

I can sleep tonight…..lol

Now where's me 'orlix?

Capt Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Gosh Bob, that looks really intimidating!

Colin

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Colin

We are just building a chunky model with unconventional features

The motor drive is crazy but an exciting impressive experiment

The size is also OTT, but we think that driving it round the lake will be a real eye opener, for all concerned

We've got space for the toys…..Water pump for cooling

Fans for eye candy

Bilge pump for the inevitable hull leakage

Internal illumination

Animated driver and animated back seat driver

Pretty dolls furniture

Strange motor sound?……Hpoefully

Etc etc etc

Great fun to work on and post on the thread

Great viewing figures……..150 views today!

And it's caught your attention too!

It's only 5'-0" long but, boy it's a big gun!

Capts Bob and Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Did some lateral thinking this morning and came up with the ideal layout!

Plenty of access space and nicely positioned?

Just need a pair of longer belts now

Paul, what was the propshaft pitch again please?

Bob

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