1st post/1st boat: Billing African Queen, arrived highly modified. Trying to untangle what I have ... ? !

[DennisT]

Most of my modeling history is with railroad subjects.  Last week, my Cousin was helping a family after a death and they had a Billing BB588 African Queen.  Not knowing what to do with it, they intended to throw it away.  My Cousin saw it to be worthwhile, brought it home, then gave it to me.  I've had a long time casual interest in Marine models, but never broke ground on the hobby.  So here I have one.  It is, "built."  I'd say the builder's skills, on a scale of 1 to 10, were about a 6 or 7.  He made it live steam.  Obviously, he intended to do that from the outset, as most/all of the plastic boiler pieces are still in the original box I got with it.  Also some laser cut thin plywood pieces, still not punched out.  Deck is highly modified, and I have mixed feelings about that.  OTH, he probably needed to do something to have room for the live steam components.  There appear to be 3 servos installed, below deck apparently, I haven't gotten to them yet.  One for whistle, one for rudder and one for.....throttle?  I looked for a long time to try to identify the twin vertical steam engine.  I think I found what it is but don't have that brand name in front of me.  In the box has the full size drawings and the assembly manual.  I also got a couple mysterious metal, "tanks," and a couple other items.  It would be really helpful if any of you could identify what components I have.  I intend to try to do something with it.  I'm thinking if I could be sure everything was lubed and, "free," the drive train and engine might turn over with low air pressure.  (?????)  I've yet to, "mess with it," until I can learn what I'm doing.  I'll try to post photos here now, as that is the only way anyone can determine what's going on.  Thanks for comments, Dennis in E WA state. 

[ccoyle]

Welcome, Dennis! I'm not an RC guy, so I can't help you on that front, but hopefully some of the guys who dabble in that niche will come forward to answer your questions.

 

Cheers!

[Roger Pellett]

NICE!!

 

Forget African Queen. It’s just a Hollywood adaptation of the boat in C.S. Forester’s excellent novel anyway. You have a nice working live steam model of a c1900 steam launch.  Wealthy people back then used these as yacht tenders and to go to the nearby beach or island for a picnic.

 

The power plant itself appears to be quite sophisticated and worthy of further examination. I am wondering if it could be steam electric hybrid with the steam engine turning a generator feeding an electric propulsion motor under the wooden semi-circular shield.

 

My guess is that the builder was someone with knowledge and expertise in steam engineering who built the steam plant and then the hull to try it out in.

 

I envy you for your “dumpster find.”

 

Roger 

Edited July 8, 2022 by Roger Pellett

[Jim Lad]

Hello Dennis, and a warm welcome to the forum from 'Down Under'.

 

As Roger says, forget "African Queen" and just think Victorian steam launch.  That steam plant looks very nice indeed.  I think if it were mine I'd give serious consideration to replacing that rather crude wheel with something a bit more in keeping with the rest of the model.

 

John

[Roger Pellett]

Jim,

 

If you are referring to the large wheel aft, I was assuming that it was functional.  Maybe a flywheel?

[Jim Lad]

Sorry mate, I was thinking that was the steering wheel!

 

John

[Bill Hudson]

I believe this boat was commercially available as a whole. Maybe fifteen yers or so ago.  I remember seeing them for sale in model magazines and possibly Micro-Mark.