Hydraulic Dredge by Steve Harvath

[steve2try]

The forum does not recognize me anymore.  It won't let me post to my own log.  I got a new computer maybe that  is why.

 

I have been refining the pumping machinery.  Here is the centrifigul pump and behind it the engine.  They have been painted with gesso in preparation of painting.

 

I don't see how to insert an image anymore.  It asks for a URL.  It used to say browse.

[Steve Harvath]

I have been working on the pumping machinery.  Here is test fit of the centrifigul pump and behind it is the engine (supervised by the engineer leaning casually against the door frame).  The dredge had a sort of heavy timber scaffold over the equipment bay.  I have seen this feature on other dredges.  It is connected to the derrick that the suction tube is suspended from.  It might also be used to service the heavy equipment located in the bay below so I think I will make a roof hatch below it.

[wefalck]

Sorry for the bad joke, but it looks like a goose in the oven ...

 

Edited March 5, 2020 by wefalck

[Steve Harvath]

Ha Ha! Yes.  It does now that I look at it.  I should put some of those paper feet on it.

[Steve Harvath]

Here is the dredge machinery laid out for a test fitting: centrifigul pump, engine and condenser.  Second image shows the Westinghouse high speed engine and the condenser. .  These models are more representational than actual models.  I tried out various machine colors on them.  I don't have actual specifications for color.  I still have to figure out how to represent the piping.  Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[G.L.]

I like the colors. Especially the green and the red.

[kpnuts]

Very interesting and coming along great.

[Jim Lad]

If you're still debating the machinery colour, Steve, I'd go for the green!  How big is the tubing?  Could you use soft plastic and stiffen the bends with glue?  Or perhaps simply use copper wire?

 

John

[Steve Harvath]

I have been working my way forward with the deck and deck house fittings.  Here is the stern with the booms from which the pusher leg was suspended.  I have added some scratch built doors to the rear of the deck house.  The only thing I know for sure about the rear of the deck house is that there was a high window.  I have also started to build the exhaust manifolds for the paired Scotch boilers.  I am building them out of styrene plastic.

[Steve Harvath]

I have finished the smoke boxes.  There are four Scotch boilers on the dredge.  They must have needed a lot of steam.  The boilers are paired and each pair shares a smoke box and stack.  I have not made them very detailed as they will be in deep shadow but they follow the form and dimensions that I can see on the plan.

 

 

 

 

[Jim Lad]

She's really coming along, Steve.

 

John

[Steve Harvath]

I have assembled and painted two steam winch kits from Bluewater.  The winch raises and lowers the suction snout.  I modified a second winch kit to represent the steam powered drive for the auger on the business end of the suction pipe.

 

John,  At your suggestion I painted the red centrifigul pump green to match the engine.  It does look a lot better

[wefalck]

Run a soft pencil (B6-B8) between the teeth of the gear, it will make the silver paint look more like metal !

[Steve Harvath]

Wefalck,  That worked great.  Much more realistic looking gears.

 

I have been working on how to model the large diameter pipe used for the suction line.  On the plan it specifies an 18" inside diameter pipe. When I looked at the plan closely I realized that there were six identical flanged pipe sections represented in the line.  By my measurement each section is one sixth of a circle or a 60 degree section of a circle.  I think it was made without right angle elbows to facilitate the flow of the sludge. I thought these might be cast iron with flanges that bolted together.  I made a ply of basswood and balsa wood that is scale 20" thick and carved and sanded out the sections.  I put some filler in against the flange to smooth out the corners and make them look more like castings.  I gessoed them and painted them a graphite color.  

[Jim Lad]

Those pipes are looking good!

 

John

[Moab]

Steve; I just started following your build with great interest. I’ve always found Dredges very interesting. Looking excellent! ...Moab

[G.L.]

very nice work on the pipes!

[bruce d]

Nice work. There is a dredger drawing in this PDF, page 214 (page numbers are reacting oddly, it is magazine page 180 something).

canadian ship marine engineering p 214.pdf

[John Cheevers]

Great work so far, looking forward to seeing the complete model!.

 

 

[Steve Harvath]

I have been finishing the installation of the dredge equipment, installing windows and painting the deck house.  Next on to the roof of the deck house and stacks.

[Jim Lad]

I can almost smell the mud!  Looking good.

 

John

[Steve Harvath]

I have finished roofing the deck house and applying trim under the eaves and at right angle corners.  I decided to model roof hatches over the pumping equipment bay.  I think you can see the edge of a roof hatch in the image of the as-built dredge. My thought has been that the heavy duty scaffolding above the roof was used to service the equipment below with chain lifts.   I made the roof hatches removable so it is easier to view the interior.  Doing touch up painting as I go.

 

 

[Jim Lad]

She's really coming along, Steve!  Great stuff.

 

John

[Moab]

Great to see this project again. Looking excellent...Moab

[Steve Harvath]

I have applied the roofing to the deck house.  In keeping with the rough hewn industrial nature of the dredge I simulated rolled roofing with that rare commodity -- toilet paper.  I cut it into strips a scale three feet wide and applied it with a gray paint.  It came out like it was kind of bubbling up and warping in the heat and humidity.  Here re some images with the roof hatches on and off.   I also found some plastic tubing that is a good diameter to represent the wider base portion of stacks.  There must be a name for these.  They insulate the roof from direct contact with the flammable roof.

[wefalck]

Funnels were double-walled from about the middle of the 19th century on. For two reasons: in order to keep the flue-gases hot to  provide a better draught and to prevent the burning of adjacent materials. The internal flue was held concentric by spreaders.

[Steve Harvath]

Thank you

[Jim Lad]

She's really looking the goods, mate!

 

John

[Steve Harvath]

I have been constructing and installing the stacks.  I found a wooden dowel that was close the correct scale diameter -- 41 inches.  I sheathed the dowels with copper foil and simulated rivets with my home-made riveting tool (a dulled needle in a stick handle - patent pending).

[Jim Lad]

That's an impressive height of chimney, Steve.  Looks great.

 

John