Steamer Ben Ain - Page 6

Nigel.D · 25-07-2006

Wow richard that looks awsome a great bit of highly skilled workmanship

**Bunkerbarge** · 25-07-2006

Thanks Nigel, To be honest I feel like I am scratchbuilding even though I started out with a kit.

Most of it is application of common sense, lots of patience and lots of thought and planning. From what I have seen a lot of model boats seem to be either very competently put together technically but with not much attention to the detail of the model or a really nice model that isn't very reliable technically.

I am hoping that with my background of plastic modelling combined with my engineering knowledge I will be able to combine the two and produce a very accurate and realistic model that also performs reliably.

Thats the thoery anyway!!!

**wonwinglo** · 25-07-2006

It has aken me a while to catch up with this thread,but I would just like to say what a great subject this is and shaping up nicely,the rolled flags look super sitting in those pidgeon holes.
Never under estimate how much time that detail work eats up,the basic shell of anything can be fabricated fairly quickly and is straightforward,but these little details which really make the model are the ones that you can literally spend hours on,but the challenge to do them,and especially if they turn out well is more than reward for the labour of love given to any model.

**Bunkerbarge** · 25-07-2006

I completely agree Barry. That is precisely why I have got to the trouble of making seperate hatch bioards for the hatch instead of fitting the pre-printed ply overlay and why I am laying decks from individual planks instead of using the same overlays.

The differrence is very significant but the time involved is many many hours against 15 minutes!!! I am sure it will be worth it in the end.

**Bunkerbarge** · 26-07-2006

...and that's all part of why it has taken nearly three years so far. Give or take the odd other small project!

**wonwinglo** · 26-07-2006

Richard,I think that sometimes a part that looks difficult to build,can sometimes be better tackled by building up from smaller items anyway,it can beome a bit of a jigsaw puzzle at times and perhaps fiddly,but once you jig everything together a bit of sanding pulls everything into place,and finally the vital paintwork and varnishing to add that finishing touch.

**Bunkerbarge** · 26-07-2006

The removeable bridge section was built in stages and as i was happy with one part i progressed from there. It all started with two planks on either side that sat on top of each other and was where i knew I wanted my joint to be.

They therefore had to be flat and mate together so I put them on. I then made guides and fitted the forward bulkhead and then more guides and fitted the aft bulkhead and the whole unit was very carefully built up thinking constantly how the finished item was going to lok and how it was going to work. I can't beleive the amount of hours that has gone into the thinking and planning of this section and it now looks so simple!!

The first deck planking didn't work and I did that just before I came away last time so I was actually feeling quite negative about the whole project. I therefore went back a stage and replanked the deck before going forward again and the peice eventually came together just how I wanted it. I now actually feel very positive about it and can't wait to progress it.

As you say I am getting quite excitied about getting some paint and varnish on it but, once again the process has to be thought through. I wanted to varnish the deck when I had fitted it but then, of course, the items to be glued to it wouldn't key as well. Consequently I will be varnishing the deck only after I have fitted the bridge and its components and the forward windbreaker which is then going to make rubbing down quite difficult.

I also have to think carefully about the order in which I put the bridge together because as soon as it is glued down it becomes more difficult to work on and yet I don't want to cut the aft bulkhead until it is glued in place to ensure a perfect joint.

It certainly keeps the grey matter in shape!

**wonwinglo** · 26-07-2006

Richard,so will you be able to remove the steam plant as a module itself for servicing ? I remember fitting the Meccano/Mamod steam plant to a block setting crane,after a few demonstrations it was plant out,clean surrounding structure,WD40 protection,plant in again,the way the parts would rust up so quickly made me think,the problem was condensed water getting underneath the steam plant chassis,I know that your model is made from wood etc but is this an issue ?

**Bunkerbarge** · 26-07-2006

The boiler and engine came on a base plate but it was too big for my boat and I wanted to get the whole thing as far back as possible so I actually wanted the engine higher than the boiler. As it is I couldn't quite get it back as far as I wanted it so I had to make a new funnel with an offset in it.

I therefore tailor made a base plate from brass with a step in it and mounted the boiler and engine on it. The idea is that this entire assembly will come out as one unit for maintenance and cleaning. All the pipework and fittings must therefore be accessible to allow this removal and I was originally intending having one large opening to enable this. I decided however that the hull required a longitudinal frame both at the fore and aft end of the bridge otherwise the fibre glass hull would flex and the bridge would never be a reliable fit.

Consequently the safety valve and the pressure gauge on the boiler have to be removed to be able to get the boiler assembly in and out but it is, as always, the best compromise.

Units such as this, with the best will in the world will always leak so allowances for this have to be built in. I am putting considerable efforts into modifying the boiler and engine to minimise these leaks but the boiler and engine must be easily and regularly removed to allow simple cleaning and fettling of the plant. I actually also picked up an identical engine on Ebay so I have the luxury of a spare that can be prepared on the bench while one is in service. All I have to do then remove the unit and change over the engines.

I will try to see if I have a few better pictures of the plant itself.

**Bunkerbarge** · 27-07-2006

As promised a few pictures of the developement of the steam plant.

The first two with the cream coloured base was how it was purchased. Since then I made the brass base, fitted a new funnel, rearranged a few of the fittings to make it easier to remove and sorted the plumbing.

There is actually more work to do with the development of the plant, which seems to be one of those things you are never quite happy with. I have made a copper saddle to fit between the gas tank and the seperator tank which I hope will warm up the gas tank and prevent it from cooling as the gas evaporates. I then need to fit a gas regulating valve in the line to control the gas outlet which I hope will be a lot more consistant than it has been so far.

I still have a few things to do to the plant to get it as I want it but I will get back to that when I have progressed the model a bit more.

Anyway it is a bit tight but the steam plant does now go in through the hole below the aft accommodation and it is possible to connect up all the pipes with only minimal amounts of swearing!!