Patrick Matthews
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from lmagna in HILLMAN TOWBOAT by Patrick Matthews - 1:32 - RADIO
My original CAD model only represented the "skin", enough to show lines and detail placement. More recently I drew up model frames and a 3d-printed Kort nozzle set. On towboats like this, the nozzles are flat bottomed, and the tops are blended into the curvy tunnel portion of the hull. It was just easier and more precise to print this as an assembly to splice into the wood hull model.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from lmagna in HILLMAN TOWBOAT by Patrick Matthews - 1:32 - RADIO
Using information provided by John Fryant, I was able to create a set of plans for the 115' towboats from Hillman Barge Co., five sisters built between 1949 and 1959. More discussion of all that in the Plans area:
https://modelshipworld.com/topic/10027-diesel-towboats-from-hillman-barge-construction/
I'm attracted to these boats because of the unusually graceful styling. Several still operate today, and rivermen still acknowledge their attractiveness.
The design, I suspect, results from the pent-up yearnings of a 1940's designer, Elmer Easter, who still recalled the "streamline moderne" styling of the 1930's.
Now it's time to build a model! Which will be R/C in 1:32, making for a nice sized model that should operate stably.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from WalrusGuy in Sorry to everyone back east...
...but here's the mid November view out my shop "window" in southern California
I'll spare you the photo of me in shorts
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from mtaylor in Sorry to everyone back east...
It's becoming Winter, a time when I'd retreat to my well heated basement shop where I could only get a little glimpse of the slate gray skies through the little casement window yet could hear the sound of the howling wind resonating down the furnace flue.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from lmagna in Sorry to everyone back east...
It's becoming Winter, a time when I'd retreat to my well heated basement shop where I could only get a little glimpse of the slate gray skies through the little casement window yet could hear the sound of the howling wind resonating down the furnace flue.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from Canute in Epoxy paint?
A while back I did a repair job on an Ingram towboat model, and noticed that it seemed to have a thick build of hard paint, which I assume was epoxy or automotive 2k. I imagine that a nice self-leveling epoxy could be an expedient way to achieve a smooth surface on a wood model of a steel boat.
Does anyone know if this is a typical trick of the commercial trade?
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Some of the damage, but the paint could take a beating!
All better now
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from GrandpaPhil in HILLMAN TOWBOAT by Patrick Matthews - 1:32 - RADIO
The cabin walls, be sheeted in basswood, are subject to splitting over time due to humidity changes. So they receive the same fiberglass treatment as the hull. It's easy to deal with here, as the large surfaces are flat or simple convex.
Windows are cut after walls are installed to ensure correct location. A simple template aids in marking out, and holes are opened and finished by Dremel, files, and sanding sticks. The aluminum sliding window frames will be installed later, likely made by printing.
A sheet of 1/16" plywood covers the lower house... it seems big enough to double as a boogie board.
The bulwark around the pilot house is basswood sheet again, this time being sheathed in 0.010" styrene.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from GrandpaPhil in HILLMAN TOWBOAT by Patrick Matthews - 1:32 - RADIO
Main cabin is built up from frames and stringers, and sheeted in 1/16" basswood. The tricky corners are "planked" or covered with steam-bent sheet, depending on the radius.
Traditional ship models are built from wood, often in a fashion that follows the prototype build method. If I wanted to keep that link to the prototype, I'd be rolling sheet metal skins here. It is possible- many modelers have built ships from soldered tinplate in the past. Today, modern ship modelers in Europe make use of thin phosphor bronze sheet. It's stronger than regular brass, allowing very thin gauges to be used... it works nicely enough and solders like a dream. But that's a bridge too far for me! I'll stick with simple wood.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from GrandpaPhil in HILLMAN TOWBOAT by Patrick Matthews - 1:32 - RADIO
Prop shaft tubes and motors in place. While it's a cheat on my part to run the tubes out to the struts/nozzles, instead of the headache of aligning an exposed shaft, I do have a couple photos of real boats that had enclosed tubes like this.
Motors are MFA-Como from the UK, with 6:1 gear heads mounted conveniently on 500-sized brushed motors. They'll spin the 2" props at the correct model speed.
Couplings connecting the 6mm motor shaft to the 5mm prop shaft, and the modified prop tube parts, are from Raboesch.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from lmagna in HILLMAN TOWBOAT by Patrick Matthews - 1:32 - RADIO
Get the deck "plating" on, and start fiberglassing.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from johnp76 in Sorry to everyone back east...
...but here's the mid November view out my shop "window" in southern California
I'll spare you the photo of me in shorts
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from mtaylor in Sorry to everyone back east...
...but here's the mid November view out my shop "window" in southern California
I'll spare you the photo of me in shorts
.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from FriedClams in HILLMAN TOWBOAT by Patrick Matthews - 1:32 - RADIO
The cabin walls, be sheeted in basswood, are subject to splitting over time due to humidity changes. So they receive the same fiberglass treatment as the hull. It's easy to deal with here, as the large surfaces are flat or simple convex.
Windows are cut after walls are installed to ensure correct location. A simple template aids in marking out, and holes are opened and finished by Dremel, files, and sanding sticks. The aluminum sliding window frames will be installed later, likely made by printing.
A sheet of 1/16" plywood covers the lower house... it seems big enough to double as a boogie board.
The bulwark around the pilot house is basswood sheet again, this time being sheathed in 0.010" styrene.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from lmagna in Sorry to everyone back east...
...but here's the mid November view out my shop "window" in southern California
I'll spare you the photo of me in shorts
.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from ThirdCoast in Pilar by ThirdCoast - Constructo - Scale 1:27 - Earnest Hemingway's Yacht
Any varnish could be used, builder's choice. But note that many details in this kit are completely wrong, including the finish shown on the box art. Hull should be black with a red bottom; transom MAY be varnished mahogany. I haven't confirmed what the cabin was... one source says mahogany (quite possible), and it may have been unstained early, and a darker stain later... the wood would be frequently refinished over the years.
The kit represents the boat as it sat at Finca Vigia before its latest restoration, including later gaudy modifications that Hemingway likely never saw, and loss of critical drive hardware like the bronze rudder footing and auxiliary drive. Here's my interpretation of what the boat should look like:
https://modelshipworld.com/gallery/album/2157-hemingways-pilar-in-112/
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from Ryland Craze in HILLMAN TOWBOAT by Patrick Matthews - 1:32 - RADIO
The cabin walls, be sheeted in basswood, are subject to splitting over time due to humidity changes. So they receive the same fiberglass treatment as the hull. It's easy to deal with here, as the large surfaces are flat or simple convex.
Windows are cut after walls are installed to ensure correct location. A simple template aids in marking out, and holes are opened and finished by Dremel, files, and sanding sticks. The aluminum sliding window frames will be installed later, likely made by printing.
A sheet of 1/16" plywood covers the lower house... it seems big enough to double as a boogie board.
The bulwark around the pilot house is basswood sheet again, this time being sheathed in 0.010" styrene.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from FriedClams in HILLMAN TOWBOAT by Patrick Matthews - 1:32 - RADIO
Main cabin is built up from frames and stringers, and sheeted in 1/16" basswood. The tricky corners are "planked" or covered with steam-bent sheet, depending on the radius.
Traditional ship models are built from wood, often in a fashion that follows the prototype build method. If I wanted to keep that link to the prototype, I'd be rolling sheet metal skins here. It is possible- many modelers have built ships from soldered tinplate in the past. Today, modern ship modelers in Europe make use of thin phosphor bronze sheet. It's stronger than regular brass, allowing very thin gauges to be used... it works nicely enough and solders like a dream. But that's a bridge too far for me! I'll stick with simple wood.
.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from FriedClams in HILLMAN TOWBOAT by Patrick Matthews - 1:32 - RADIO
Prop shaft tubes and motors in place. While it's a cheat on my part to run the tubes out to the struts/nozzles, instead of the headache of aligning an exposed shaft, I do have a couple photos of real boats that had enclosed tubes like this.
Motors are MFA-Como from the UK, with 6:1 gear heads mounted conveniently on 500-sized brushed motors. They'll spin the 2" props at the correct model speed.
Couplings connecting the 6mm motor shaft to the 5mm prop shaft, and the modified prop tube parts, are from Raboesch.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from mtaylor in HILLMAN TOWBOAT by Patrick Matthews - 1:32 - RADIO
Prop shaft tubes and motors in place. While it's a cheat on my part to run the tubes out to the struts/nozzles, instead of the headache of aligning an exposed shaft, I do have a couple photos of real boats that had enclosed tubes like this.
Motors are MFA-Como from the UK, with 6:1 gear heads mounted conveniently on 500-sized brushed motors. They'll spin the 2" props at the correct model speed.
Couplings connecting the 6mm motor shaft to the 5mm prop shaft, and the modified prop tube parts, are from Raboesch.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from mtaylor in HILLMAN TOWBOAT by Patrick Matthews - 1:32 - RADIO
Main cabin is built up from frames and stringers, and sheeted in 1/16" basswood. The tricky corners are "planked" or covered with steam-bent sheet, depending on the radius.
Traditional ship models are built from wood, often in a fashion that follows the prototype build method. If I wanted to keep that link to the prototype, I'd be rolling sheet metal skins here. It is possible- many modelers have built ships from soldered tinplate in the past. Today, modern ship modelers in Europe make use of thin phosphor bronze sheet. It's stronger than regular brass, allowing very thin gauges to be used... it works nicely enough and solders like a dream. But that's a bridge too far for me! I'll stick with simple wood.
.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from mtaylor in HILLMAN TOWBOAT by Patrick Matthews - 1:32 - RADIO
The cabin walls, be sheeted in basswood, are subject to splitting over time due to humidity changes. So they receive the same fiberglass treatment as the hull. It's easy to deal with here, as the large surfaces are flat or simple convex.
Windows are cut after walls are installed to ensure correct location. A simple template aids in marking out, and holes are opened and finished by Dremel, files, and sanding sticks. The aluminum sliding window frames will be installed later, likely made by printing.
A sheet of 1/16" plywood covers the lower house... it seems big enough to double as a boogie board.
The bulwark around the pilot house is basswood sheet again, this time being sheathed in 0.010" styrene.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from FreekS in PILAR by Patrick Matthews - 1:12 - RADIO - Ernest Hemingway's boat
Cabin is constructed of ply and basswood, with all exposed wood done in cherry. The real boat appears to have been built with mahogany, but I find that cherry "works" better, and has a better scale grain appearance. The sides are built up as a 3d jigsaw puzzle, as many as 3 layers deep. They hang down straight like a curtain from the deck intersection, but angle inwards at 2° from that line up, while also following the sheer... a bit tricky.
The cabin roofs are covered with shirt cloth to simulate canvas. The cloth is secured with water based polyurethane, painted, and clear coated. The weave still shows through, like painted canvas.
The cherry is all stained with Minwax "Gunstock", and clear coated with lacquer. Warning: Most all of my cherry stained a very nice color, but occasional pieces turned orange, yuk. Always test!
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I changed my mind after this shot and added the forward cockpit.
Roof beams
First piece of cloth installed
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from thibaultron in PILAR by Patrick Matthews - 1:12 - RADIO - Ernest Hemingway's boat
The most important part of the boat- the fighting chair. Brass parts aged in vinegar.
The figures were masterfully sculpted digitally and 3d printed by Luis Hidalgo, aka "Holden8702", of Spain.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from thibaultron in PILAR by Patrick Matthews - 1:12 - RADIO - Ernest Hemingway's boat
Source material: Many many photos, both historical and from tourists to Finca Vigia. Many of these nice folks post high resolution images on Flickr and elsewhere- very helpful, thanks! There's also one page from a Wheeler brochure showing the profile, but with a somewhat different cabin... still helpful for working out basic dimensions.
The grandson of Wheeler went to Cuba and measured Pilar in order to develop a modern take on the boat. But he won't share, I tried.
And yes I know about the several fake Pilars, none are useful for determining original features.
There's a Popular Boating issue from 1957 that has some good (and some imagined) information.
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Patrick Matthews got a reaction from FreekS in PILAR by Patrick Matthews - 1:12 - RADIO - Ernest Hemingway's boat
Most of the model is hand built from wood of course... but certain components were printed- either in plastic, or in wax for investment casting in bronze. Such as the struts and rudder footing. The footing works with the extended wood skeg, a common design layout in the 20's and 30's. This casting is missing from the boat at Finca Vigia, which leads some modelers to make some odd drive arrangements. If only they knew...
Hemingway had Wheeler make several well known modifications to Pilar, including the installation of an auxiliary 4 cylinder Lycoming for trolling. There is no evidence of this on the boat now, so this is also omitted from models.
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