Keith Black

 Greg, please correct me if I'm wrong but I think I remember you saying that the engine was run for a very short duration of time when at trials hence the small fuel tank? What would have been the actual run time between start up and shut down after the run? 

Craig, without doubt the prop is driven off the crankshaft. If the engine was thermosiphon cooled the need for a water pump is eliminated and the two pumps at the rear can be oil and fuel.

 When I was restoring cars I restored a 1919 Model T (a for real fairground racer out of Wisconsin)  and the engine was thermosiphon cooled. I rebuilt a couple of Chevrolet 216 engines and they didn't even have oil pumps! I think every early designed engine was unique and far far different than today's engines to say the least.   

 Below is from Google AI...

In a 16-cylinder, two-stroke engine, the crankshaft gear will turn four times for every one rotation of the camshaft gear. This is because a two-stroke engine completes its cycle in a single crankshaft rotation, while a four-stroke engine requires two crankshaft rotations. Therefore, the camshaft, which is typically geared to the crankshaft, would rotate at the same speed as the crankshaft in a two-stroke engine, meaning it would turn four times for every four crankshaft rotations, as opposed to the normal 1:2 ratio in a four-stroke engine. 

 Gear size relationship for 2:1 ratio. 

 The historical aspect of this project is fascinating, Eric. Thank you for taking the time to be our guide into the past. 

59 minutes ago, iMustBeCrazy said:

Yes

 I'm amazed they got away with no oil on those gears unless there was runout oil from/off the crankshaft/prop shaft. Or is there a cover I've somehow missed? 

 I assume this beast had a camshaft, is the large gear driven off the prop shat the timing gear driving the camshaft? 

 You guys are way ahead of me on the engines technical details but have either of you considered  a simple thermosiphon cooling system? The elongated radiators on either side appear to be ideal for such a system. 

 Simple and clean, Jacques. Very very nice. 

For being that tiny those are some well executed cap rails, Eberhard.  🙇 

 That derrick tower is detail intense, mcb. 👍 Absolutely amazing. And the cannon.......LOL 🤣

 You having fun makes the journey fun for those of us following along. 

 The building jig looks great, Jacques. Nice job.

 John, congratulations!

30 minutes ago, Cathead said:

Ferrus, see what happens when you let steamboat nerds into your build?

 Eric, I thought the same thing.   Ferrus started his build log fire not realizing how many ole moths would be drawn to the flame which is a testament to those in the modeling community who's interest run deep in sternwheelers and working boats.  

 Trevor, I need to type faster, LOL. 

\

3 hours ago, Ferrus Manus said:

This begs the question: if the coal box and chimney are both at the front of the boiler, how would the water be evenly heated? 

 Ferrus, the flue gasses travel in a u-shape going from front to back and back to the fore to exit. Theory of design being the longer the flue gasses remained in the boiler the greater the heating capacity.

 IMHO the Southern Belle kit is a rudimentary example of a 19th century sternwheeler begging no forgiveness for details not accurately betrayed. It is what it is, made for the enjoyment of building the kit. 

Spectacular work on the rigging, Bob. Glad to see your arm hasn't slowed you down too much. Even at a little slower pace you're at least twice as fast as I am. 

 Those davits turned out great, Glen. 

 Priceless. 

 Very well done, Ian. 3D printed parts are such a plus especially when you can do them yourself. 

1 hour ago, Glen McGuire said:

After seeing the amazing work that @Keith Black has done on his tiny Lula furniture, I thought about asking him to make these for me!

 Thank you, Glen. If you lived here in Michigan I'd love to help but.... You've just started and one can already see the Kentoshi lines taking shape. Will you still need to split the hull?

1 hour ago, Ferrus Manus said:

Kieth, I greatly appreciate being taught the terminology for a type of ship I know very little about.

 When I started Lula I couldn't even spell sternwheeler.   I've had to do a ton of research including going through the excellent build logs of many sternwheelers/riverboats. Thank God for the resources here on MSW and sharing knowledge is what the NRG/MSW is all about. 

1 hour ago, Ferrus Manus said:

Seriously, Kieth, your Lula is a masterpiece that I couldn't hope to compete with as I build this kit. You should be proud of her 

 Thank you very much, Ferrus. I've enjoyed building little Lula, I've tried very hard doing the best me old self can achieve knowing Lula was going to be the bookend to the pile driver. 

 This is the least expensive oscillating spindle sander I could find, Jacques.

https://www.amazon.com/WEN-6510T-Oscillating-Spindle-Sander/dp/B07KKXNWWX/ref=asc_df_B07KKXNWWX?mcid=77d015617dc9336bb8c9eb9849cd55a2&hvocijid=13510325352385267804-B07KKXNWWX-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13510325352385267804&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1019476&hvtargid=pla-2281435175938&psc=1

 Glad to see you back at work, Bob. The Astrolabe is really looking sweet! 👍

 Ras, I'm sorry the Archer transfer rivets aren't going to work for you. Hopefully you can use the rivets  you received somewhere and it's not a total waste of your money.