steamschooner

When I started thinking about laying out the boiler deck, I very quickly realized that I had further work to do on the main deck. For example, the main staircase and the boiler chimneys would both affect the boiler deck's design, so I decided to make those items next. While doing so, I also added more detail to the boilers as this seemed as good a time as any. At this point in the build, I'm moving beyond what's known about the vessel and entering the speculative realm. Steamboats used a variety of main staircase layouts, but I went with the style shown in the "official" painting used by the museum (itself highly speculative, and in my opinion wrong in some cases). You can review this painting in the first post of this build log. I also just like the split staircase design it shows.
 
Because this staircase would be walled in on all sides, I didn't bother carving stringers, but built up the staircase by making individual sets of steps. Each consisted of a vertical and horizontal piece, with a thinner lip under the horizontal piece that served as a platform for the next step. This modular approach was much easier than getting angled stringers right. Once I had the two main staircases done, I attached them to a landing and used a loose piece of wood as a spacer across the time to keep things stable for the moment.

 
Next, I walled in the sides and back, using pre-scribed wooden sheets left over from building model railroad structures. These made things a lot faster and look good enough for this internal, partly hidden feature. I also extended the landing down to deck level. Notice the slot I left below the landing; this let me slip the assembly of the last three steps (see previous photo) in there for a more secure fit. I also started painting the interior while I had better access.

 
A view of the walled-in back. I carved slots in the edges of the scribed sheets to mimic board edges.

The mostly completed staircase; it'll show up again in a few photos in its final form.

Meanwhile I also started laying out out the chimney extensions, the oddly shaped bits that connects the three boilers to the two chimneys. These seem to have varied quite a bit in design from boat to boat and I have no idea what Arabia's looked like. So I studied the drawings and info for Bertrand and Chaperon as well as what else I could find, and just invented a design that worked for me. This was built from wood sheets. I considered overlaying this with thin styrene so I could get some rivet details in there, but decided not to for three reasons. First, getting nice corner seams with all these unusual angles would be really hard. Second, I had no idea how the metals sheets for this might have been laid out. Third, most of this won't be very visible as it's up under the boiler deck and mostly in shadow. So I decided that a relative lack of detail would help it blend into the shadows, while incorrect detail might draw attention to it. On Model Shipways' Chaperon model, this also seems to be simulated by a fairly basic piece.


And here are a few views of the finished staircase and the updated boilers. I added the steam drum (atop the boilers) and mud drum (below the boiler), pressure valves (atop, near the chimneys), and more. I also drybrushed some brown pastel to simulate subtle rust and vary the texture. It doesn't show up strongly, but that's kind of what I want. I don't want this looking like a rust-bucket, just a well-used but well-maintained vessel. If desired, you can review photos of the original boilers here. On the finished vessel, this will all be obscured under the overlying deck and behind a variety of other support beams and cargo. On the steam drum, note the two tubes sticking out aft (left) with short wires coming out of them. This is where the steam lines will run back to the engines once this is all permanently installed. I drilled and inserted those wire stubs there so it would be easier to attach and align the steam lines later on, because I'll likely be installing them after the next deck is in place since they're supported from the overlying beams.

View from above. I also used a brush to spread some brown pastel down the centers of the staircases, to simulate the inevitable dirt tracked along by many boot and shoes. The interiors of the chimney extensions aren't painted because they'll be filled when the chimneys go in later on.

View from above and astern, somewhat similar to this original view of the wreck.

Overview. I took these on my kitchen table for better natural light, as it's too cold out to use my normal porch location. Note the jugs of homemade mead and strawberry wine fermenting in the background. The top of the staircase represents the next deck level; the chimney extensions jut a little higher up because they're meant to go through the deck. I've set the boiler deck to be 13' above the main deck. For reference, Bertrand's decks were separated by 12' and from what I can tell online, Chaperon was similar.

So that's the progress of the last few weeks. I also need to build the two separate pumps (the doctor and the manual) that sit behind and next to the boilers, respectively, and figure out what other main deck details I want to develop before starting on the next deck.
 
Thanks for reading!
 

Just a few more shots of the engine, have added a few things have a few to go.

Just a teaser to show I have been working on my project. It's far from being done and there are a lot of temp pins holding things together. Once I have all the parts made than I will do the final assembly.

I use one of these to straighten wire. Just center the wire in the middle of the three rollers close rollers on wire than pull wire though. I believe I got this from a bead store.

Thanks, Patrick and Michael  Here's another little job done. The J.C. did not have much of a bow fender so I think this will do.

I use one of these to straighten wire. Just center the wire in the middle of the three rollers close rollers on wire than pull wire though. I believe I got this from a bead store.

I use one of these to straighten wire. Just center the wire in the middle of the three rollers close rollers on wire than pull wire though. I believe I got this from a bead store.

Thanks, Patrick and Michael  Here's another little job done. The J.C. did not have much of a bow fender so I think this will do.

DANG IT ! ( not the words I really used )

Patrick, I have been at the bench just not alot to show for it. I did manage to get these little buggers made. Two on left the line was to heavy and they came out a little big for scale. I liked the color though. Middle ones are cotton string which was the right size scale wise but the color needed help. I colored one on the left. The three on the right is also cotton string that I found in my line stash. It had a reasonable color and the scale size worked out. Still need some triming and maybe a little coloring/weathering. Now it's on to the bow fender..... oh boy!!

Just a few more shots of the engine, have added a few things have a few to go.

I use one of these to straighten wire. Just center the wire in the middle of the three rollers close rollers on wire than pull wire though. I believe I got this from a bead store.

Thanks, Patrick and Michael  Here's another little job done. The J.C. did not have much of a bow fender so I think this will do.

Boy! I guess I should get busy and post some progress. Not much to show for 6 months, but I did get my mast shrouds finished this time without cutting the wrong wire. I have also installed both life ring holders and  have mounted both boats. Added a step on both sides of pilot house just to round things out.

I use one of these to straighten wire. Just center the wire in the middle of the three rollers close rollers on wire than pull wire though. I believe I got this from a bead store.

I use one of these to straighten wire. Just center the wire in the middle of the three rollers close rollers on wire than pull wire though. I believe I got this from a bead store.

I use one of these to straighten wire. Just center the wire in the middle of the three rollers close rollers on wire than pull wire though. I believe I got this from a bead store.

Thanks, Patrick and Michael  Here's another little job done. The J.C. did not have much of a bow fender so I think this will do.

Thanks, Patrick and Michael  Here's another little job done. The J.C. did not have much of a bow fender so I think this will do.

I use one of these to straighten wire. Just center the wire in the middle of the three rollers close rollers on wire than pull wire though. I believe I got this from a bead store.

Anchor hawse-hole and stiffener.

Thanks, Patrick and Michael  Here's another little job done. The J.C. did not have much of a bow fender so I think this will do.

Thanks, Patrick and Michael  Here's another little job done. The J.C. did not have much of a bow fender so I think this will do.

Thanks, Patrick and Michael  Here's another little job done. The J.C. did not have much of a bow fender so I think this will do.

Thanks, Patrick and Michael  Here's another little job done. The J.C. did not have much of a bow fender so I think this will do.