Heroine 1838 by ggrieco - FINISHED - Scale 1:24 - Western River Steamboat as she appeared before hitting a snag in the Red River

[ggrieco]

Kurt,

 

Thanks for the info. I'll look for some of the Bob Smith CA and give it a try. I've used super glue in the past but only where I could also rely on a mechanical fastener as well. It has always been the non-BSI stuff from Lowes. I will certainly make a change.

 

Matt,

 

Thanks so much for the information and links. Looking over the JAX products, I saw several other products that I know would be useful. I do a lot of metalwork where the different patinas and platings would come in handy. I do appreciate you taking the time to pass along your tips.

 

Cathead,

 

I'll let you know how the new boilers turn out with the new techniques as soon as I get back to them. For the meantime, however, I think I'm going to take a little break from the thin sheets.

[Burroak]

Your steamboat is looking great

[kurtvd19]

Another thing about the BSI C/A is their accelerator is the only stuff I know of that doesn't leave a white residue after use.  At least the BSI C/A and the BSI accelerator together.  Don't know about using with any other brands.

Kurt

[druxey]

Without hijacking this thread, I appreciate your input about CA adhesives, Kurt. I've always been highly suspicious of their longevity, but your experience with these is interesting and informative. Thanks!

 

Glenn: your work continues to inspire and amaze. Keep those Saturday supplements coming, please!

[ggrieco]

This week I completed the last significant part of the machinery.  We are fortunate to have the feedwater check valve still attached to one of the arms of one of the standpipes.  The valve comes off of the standpipe at about a 45 degree angle.  The probable location of the water line suggests that the valve could not have been on the port-most standpipe but the exact location could not be determined from the remains.  I opted for the inboard port standpipe because it places the valve closest to centerline.  In Alan Bate's Western River Steamboat Encyclopoedium he mentions that one method of preventing breakage in the long steam and water lines was to include a length of pipe with a large radius curve.  This seemed to work well in this location.

 

Standpipe and check valve being lifted from the river.

 

 

 

 

 

Check valve parts fresh from the mill and lathe.

 

 

 

 

 Check valve in place on the standpipe.  The valve had a short foot cast into the bottom of the body.  This indicated the the valve probably sat on a block to support its weight.

 

 

 

Safety valves and steam line from the steam drum to the engine added.  This steam line will be slung from the deck beams of the boiler deck.  I'm leaving the lever and weight off of the safety valve until the boiler deck goes in.  I can only imagine how many times I'd knock it off if I had to work around it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[druxey]

Beautifully rendered, Glenn! Your posts are one of the highlights of my week. Thanks for sharing.

[Mirabell61]

fantastic work Glenn,

 

Nils

[albert]

Wonderful, very nice work, bravissimo.

[steamschooner]

Glenn, What can I say except " Awesome "

Steve

[dvm27]

That's a strangely beautiful model, Glen. It's complex, yet symmetrical and very pleasing to the eye. Your updates are the highlight of my week.

[mtaylor]

Beautiful work, Glenn.  I'll echo the comments of the others and add that this thing looks like it could actually take a head of steam and roll upriver.

[Cathead]

Man, is that pretty. Definitely the closest I've come to truly envisioning/understanding the 3dimensional machinery of a steamboat. Thanks.

[ggrieco]

Thanks everybody,

 

I really appreciate your kind comments. Finally the kids are getting ready for bed and I can relax with MSW. It has really become a high point of my weekend, sitting down with a glass of wine and admiring everyone's incredible work!

[robnbill]

Glenn, I love watching your work. Your Saturday updates are also a weekly highlight!

[Omega1234]

Glenn, I love watching your work. Your Saturday updates are also a weekly highlight!

I concur!!!

[dgbot]

Your metal working is terrific.  Your soldering looks top notch.

David B.

[Gerhardvienna]

Hi Glenn

 

High precision work at that pipes and valve! I just discovered some differencies to the CAIRO Boilers, she had the steam drum at the rear end, and there were 5 tubes instead of 4 at the HEROINE.

Absolutley prfect done!

 

Regards

Gerhard

[ggrieco]

Thanks everyone!

 

Gerhard, we aren't 100 percent sure about the four boilers since they were salvaged early from the wreck but, Kevin's comparison to the Yellowstone and a couple other contemporary vessels suggest that it had four tubes. Another difference though, these early boilers probably only had a single flue down the center of the tube where later vessels had two or more. If I recall correctly, each of Cairo's boilers had five flues making it much more efficient at producing steam. Cairo's boilers would have provided an impressive amount of power!

[Louie da fly]

That is so impressive. And seeing the machinery in its place in the hull is a special treat. I really enjoy clicking onto your build and seeing what progress you've made this time.

 

Steven

[ggrieco]

Not many photos this week.  With the engine complete I've moved on to the boiler deck.  I'm going to attempt to build it flat and lay it onto its supporting posts.  I've drawn the deck beams along the proper sheer in AutoCAD to get the proper beam spacing. I did the same for the main deck  If all goes as planned, it should shorten to the proper length when bent to the sheer.

 

 

Kevin's sketch of the boiler deck cabin arrangement.

 

Boiler deck being assembled on a drawing of the flattened main deck.

 

 

This post was light on photos so I decided to throw these in.  Our conservation lab has received a large number of artillery shells from the C.S.S Georgia and they needed wrenches to remove the fuses (the explosive has been rendered inert by years of submersion in salt water)  The manager of the lab, Jim Jobling, came up with the idea of using socket wrench sockets for the job.  It took me five minutes to mill down the teeth and they work beautifully.

 

 

[S.Coleman]

I would imagine that being quite hard steel? Looks good.

[Cathead]

Designing a flat deck that will bend properly into the right spacing? Just when I thought you couldn't top yourself. Can't wait to see the outcome.

 

About those cabin layouts, are the narrower ones essentially sleeper berths with curtains, like on a Pullman car? Looks like there's only a few "true" rooms, likely the pilot & captain at the bow and a few in the ladies/families section at the stern.

 

Also, thanks for sharing the photos of the shell fuses and your "wrench". I love learning about details like that.

[ggrieco]

Thanks everybody,

 

Scott, yes, when I was asked to make the wrenches, I doubted that I would be able to cut them cleanly. I didn't want to ruin a new half inch mill so I bought a re-pointed carbide end mill off eBay for 3 dollars. It cut through the steel like butter. I think the corner radius helped. I was so impressed I went back and bought a second one.

 

Cathead, your exactly right about the cabins. They're pretty simple and should go together quickly.

[druxey]

Well, I hope that the charges are inert! Neat solution to the problem of unscrewing the fuses without damaging them. Well done.

[BANYAN]

Very effective solution to the fuse removal issue Glenn, a tricky job made easier and safer.

 

Your skills are superb mate; the engines and boilers are miniature works of engineering art! Always a pleasure to visit your log (and drool )

 

cheers

 

Pat

Edited May 22, 2016 by BANYAN

[ggrieco]

Hello Everybody,

 

I didn't get a chance to post last week.  I took a few days off to take the family to the beach before the Memorial day weekend.  We had a great time but returned to Tornadoes and floods in College Station. 

 

Since my last post, I spent three days framing the boiler deck and two days tearing it apart and rebuilding it.  One incorrect measurement threw several of the beams out of location.  I think everything is finally correct and I should be able to drop the deck on the model in the coming week.

 

The deck before the rebuild.

 

After rebuild.  The shifting of the deck beams is difficult to see but, I also found it necessary to extend the overhang of the walkway by a few inches.  The notch in the doubled beam amidships will fit around the two posts supporting the feedwater pump lever.

 

 

I've been putting off securing the paddle wheels in place -- it's easier to move the model with the wheels off.  Now that the boiler deck is going on, it's time to assemble the clutch mechanism for the paddle wheels.

 

Milling the pocket for the shaft end.

 

Before and after milling.

 

The final contour was hand filed.

 

Test fitting one of the throw-out bearings.

 

The original throw-out bearing weighed over 300 pounds.  Amazingly, when we reassembled the the original pieces, the heavy bearing slid easily and smoothly along the shaft end with only the moderate pressure of one finger on each side.

 

 

 

[Mahuna]

Beautiful, Glenn.  Your work continues to amaze me.  I hope the local flooding does not affect you and your family.

[igorcap]

Awesome!

[Gerhardvienna]

Hi Glenn

 

Just beautiful! Great milling and turning work (as ever..............)

 

Regards

Gerhard

[dvm27]

It takes a lot of confidence in your drafting and building skills to construct a deck off the model. Great update, Glen.