vossy

at the uk site, starling models, they have an Australian Collins class submarine and a small scale, 1/700 patrol boat.
 
cheers
 
chris
 

I've begun building the piston engines. These are a challenge, as I know I won't be able to duplicate them exactly, but want to produce a reasonable approximation. I'm also dedicated to doing so with whatever scrap materials I already have on hand to keep costs down. To review what the original engines looked like, visit this post in my planning thread with photos from the museum.
 
I began by digging out some styrene tubing and wooden dowels. I needed to produce a concentric structure with the outer ring protruding from an inner surface, so I nested two styrene tubes and a dowel:

Next I needed to start the main piping coming out from each quadrant of the cylinder, so cut some smaller styrene tubing at a 45 degree angle with a hand saw, glued them up in elbows, and used a slab of wooden dowel to simulate the joining surfaces of these pipes:

After painting, I glued all this together and extended the piping above the joining surface. Here you can also see the end structure for which I used the nested tubing/dowels:

I then cut some wooden slats to form the structures connecting these pipes. These were higher on one side and lower on the other, reflecting the way that steam was pumped in and around these piston engines:

I then cut some tiny squares of styrene to simulate the bolt/washer assemblies on the cylinder ends, painted everything so far, and put it on the cylinder timbers as a test-display:

And here's a broader view of the two assemblages so far. Lots of piping and structure yet to add, but I like how it's coming together so far. The thick Model Shipways black paint does a reasonable job of blending the wood and styrene into a single surface texture and I'll probably use a bit of pastel weathering when I've finished assembly.

I've been on a mental block about starting these for a while, as machinery is my least favorite subject, but I think these are decent. The piping sticks out farther to either side than the real thing, but that's the nature of using the tubing I had on hand, and it's only noticeable to someone really carefully comparing this to the real thing.
 
Thanks for reading.

so finally got all the shutters done and glue on.


 
upper structure is now also glued into place. just have to add the skirting board around the bottom like I did with the second structure. the top deck is not yet glued into place so this should make it easier to do that. also added the top balustrades to complete the three tier passenger staircase. I really like how this turned out. looks really "busy" and cool in real life.
 







 
also added the bow water protection. I ended up scratch building this part myself as the kit one was a really hard pinkish type of wood that I didn't like. this one is the exact same dimensions and should blend in well once it gets a few coats of matt clear to match the deck.
 



 
next up, put the false beams on the underside of the top deck and affix that to the upper structure. the pilot house is nearly finished and just awaiting a few interior details I might add. once the top deck is attached I will begin the fancy railings around all decks. should look pretty cool I reckon!
 
cheers
 
chris
 

Thanks. Should have a photographic update this weekend. Been working on small, fiddly stuff like shutters and skirting boards. Would have been heaps easier to apply these before the I fixed the upper deck in place, but after soaking, bending, painting, clamping, and gluing little by little in place I will get there. It does give the structure a nice straight bottom edge and finishes it off nicely I reckon.



 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

so finally got all the shutters done and glue on.


 
upper structure is now also glued into place. just have to add the skirting board around the bottom like I did with the second structure. the top deck is not yet glued into place so this should make it easier to do that. also added the top balustrades to complete the three tier passenger staircase. I really like how this turned out. looks really "busy" and cool in real life.
 







 
also added the bow water protection. I ended up scratch building this part myself as the kit one was a really hard pinkish type of wood that I didn't like. this one is the exact same dimensions and should blend in well once it gets a few coats of matt clear to match the deck.
 



 
next up, put the false beams on the underside of the top deck and affix that to the upper structure. the pilot house is nearly finished and just awaiting a few interior details I might add. once the top deck is attached I will begin the fancy railings around all decks. should look pretty cool I reckon!
 
cheers
 
chris
 

Thanks. Should have a photographic update this weekend. Been working on small, fiddly stuff like shutters and skirting boards. Would have been heaps easier to apply these before the I fixed the upper deck in place, but after soaking, bending, painting, clamping, and gluing little by little in place I will get there. It does give the structure a nice straight bottom edge and finishes it off nicely I reckon.



 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

hi carl, on my boat I made the middle deck the dining room and on the side are the windows on either side of one long room. they are not individual doors, and hence have no handles. the upper structure I envisage as separate cabins, hence the individual doorways with handles and steps leading up to them.
 
just my take on things.
 
cheers
 
chris
 

so finally got all the shutters done and glue on.


 
upper structure is now also glued into place. just have to add the skirting board around the bottom like I did with the second structure. the top deck is not yet glued into place so this should make it easier to do that. also added the top balustrades to complete the three tier passenger staircase. I really like how this turned out. looks really "busy" and cool in real life.
 







 
also added the bow water protection. I ended up scratch building this part myself as the kit one was a really hard pinkish type of wood that I didn't like. this one is the exact same dimensions and should blend in well once it gets a few coats of matt clear to match the deck.
 



 
next up, put the false beams on the underside of the top deck and affix that to the upper structure. the pilot house is nearly finished and just awaiting a few interior details I might add. once the top deck is attached I will begin the fancy railings around all decks. should look pretty cool I reckon!
 
cheers
 
chris
 

Deadeyes and chainplates installed on the channels.
 
Regards,
David

this is so great eric! I wish I had the tools, space, and knowhow to scratch build some of our early Australian rivercraft!
 
cheers
 
chris
 

this is so great eric! I wish I had the tools, space, and knowhow to scratch build some of our early Australian rivercraft!
 
cheers
 
chris
 

this is so great eric! I wish I had the tools, space, and knowhow to scratch build some of our early Australian rivercraft!
 
cheers
 
chris
 

so finally got all the shutters done and glue on.


 
upper structure is now also glued into place. just have to add the skirting board around the bottom like I did with the second structure. the top deck is not yet glued into place so this should make it easier to do that. also added the top balustrades to complete the three tier passenger staircase. I really like how this turned out. looks really "busy" and cool in real life.
 







 
also added the bow water protection. I ended up scratch building this part myself as the kit one was a really hard pinkish type of wood that I didn't like. this one is the exact same dimensions and should blend in well once it gets a few coats of matt clear to match the deck.
 



 
next up, put the false beams on the underside of the top deck and affix that to the upper structure. the pilot house is nearly finished and just awaiting a few interior details I might add. once the top deck is attached I will begin the fancy railings around all decks. should look pretty cool I reckon!
 
cheers
 
chris
 

so finally got all the shutters done and glue on.


 
upper structure is now also glued into place. just have to add the skirting board around the bottom like I did with the second structure. the top deck is not yet glued into place so this should make it easier to do that. also added the top balustrades to complete the three tier passenger staircase. I really like how this turned out. looks really "busy" and cool in real life.
 







 
also added the bow water protection. I ended up scratch building this part myself as the kit one was a really hard pinkish type of wood that I didn't like. this one is the exact same dimensions and should blend in well once it gets a few coats of matt clear to match the deck.
 



 
next up, put the false beams on the underside of the top deck and affix that to the upper structure. the pilot house is nearly finished and just awaiting a few interior details I might add. once the top deck is attached I will begin the fancy railings around all decks. should look pretty cool I reckon!
 
cheers
 
chris
 

so finally got all the shutters done and glue on.


 
upper structure is now also glued into place. just have to add the skirting board around the bottom like I did with the second structure. the top deck is not yet glued into place so this should make it easier to do that. also added the top balustrades to complete the three tier passenger staircase. I really like how this turned out. looks really "busy" and cool in real life.
 







 
also added the bow water protection. I ended up scratch building this part myself as the kit one was a really hard pinkish type of wood that I didn't like. this one is the exact same dimensions and should blend in well once it gets a few coats of matt clear to match the deck.
 



 
next up, put the false beams on the underside of the top deck and affix that to the upper structure. the pilot house is nearly finished and just awaiting a few interior details I might add. once the top deck is attached I will begin the fancy railings around all decks. should look pretty cool I reckon!
 
cheers
 
chris
 

Thanks. Should have a photographic update this weekend. Been working on small, fiddly stuff like shutters and skirting boards. Would have been heaps easier to apply these before the I fixed the upper deck in place, but after soaking, bending, painting, clamping, and gluing little by little in place I will get there. It does give the structure a nice straight bottom edge and finishes it off nicely I reckon.



 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

Hey David, this rudder looks super. What did you do different to the first rudder picture you took a few posts up? It does look heaps better now they are all connected I reckon. I am really enjoying your work on this build. Doing a great job on her.
 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

Thanks. Should have a photographic update this weekend. Been working on small, fiddly stuff like shutters and skirting boards. Would have been heaps easier to apply these before the I fixed the upper deck in place, but after soaking, bending, painting, clamping, and gluing little by little in place I will get there. It does give the structure a nice straight bottom edge and finishes it off nicely I reckon.



 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

Thanks. Should have a photographic update this weekend. Been working on small, fiddly stuff like shutters and skirting boards. Would have been heaps easier to apply these before the I fixed the upper deck in place, but after soaking, bending, painting, clamping, and gluing little by little in place I will get there. It does give the structure a nice straight bottom edge and finishes it off nicely I reckon.



 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

Spyglass:
 
Great suggestion, which I took -- see picture and much improved rudder appearance.
 
Re the barrels:  I tested each carriage as I mounted it by making sure I could place a cannon through the windows -- particularly important because I framed the windows which makes them smaller.  One or two are tight -- but I can get it done.
 
Regards,
David

Thanks. Should have a photographic update this weekend. Been working on small, fiddly stuff like shutters and skirting boards. Would have been heaps easier to apply these before the I fixed the upper deck in place, but after soaking, bending, painting, clamping, and gluing little by little in place I will get there. It does give the structure a nice straight bottom edge and finishes it off nicely I reckon.



 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

hi carl, on my boat I made the middle deck the dining room and on the side are the windows on either side of one long room. they are not individual doors, and hence have no handles. the upper structure I envisage as separate cabins, hence the individual doorways with handles and steps leading up to them.
 
just my take on things.
 
cheers
 
chris
 

Begun the steps and put edging on the fancy flooring. Behind the scenes, the building of the shutters continue!
 



 
Cheers
 
Chris
 

hope the stairs haven't beat you on the paddle steamer?
 
chris
 

hope the stairs haven't beat you on the paddle steamer?
 
chris