Caroline N by mbp521 - Scale 1:64 - Mississippi River Towboat

[mbp521]

10 hours ago, Cathead said:

So glad to see you're still dabbling away at this! Life has been keeping me away from modeling, too. Love the look of what you've done lately.

Thank you Eric! Dabbling away is a perfect way of putting it, it’s definitely been a slow process, but I am making headway. 
 

I really hadn’t planned on getting into 3D printing either, but like I said in my post, it was way more cost effective to get a printer and build the pieces myself than ordering them online. The printer was less than $500 and the filament is dirt cheap, a 1000g spool runs about $14 and goes a long way. The grand kids get a kick out of it as well. I think so far we’ve printed several dragons and numerous fidget toys for them. 
 

-Brian

[FriedClams]

Good to see an update, Brian - very nice work.

 

I've always wanted a miniature lath and milling machine and if I had those, I would be wearing them out from use.  I see them simply as tools to advance one's vision and quality of the model.  They provide the freedom to create parts that one might otherwise decide to pass on, because they are either too difficult or next to impossible to create without them.  I do enjoy the process of attempting to make parts by "hand", but if I had machine tools there would be a great deal of brass details on my models.  I see 3D printing and laser cutting in the same way.  Used skillfully, they can enhance and improve the project.  If I had these tools, I would use them unapologetically.  Though I haven't spent much time creating parts in solid modeling software, I find it isn't slam dunk easy and complex parts take time to create.  So, it isn't a free lunch by any means - just a different skill set.

 

I was wondering - did your printer come with solid modeling software or are you using something like FreeCad?  Good luck on your foray into this technology, sounds like fun.

 

Gary   

[mbp521]

Thank you Gary! 

 

My grandfather always told me, “why pay someone to do something for you when you can do it yourself cheaper”, and I have lived by these words most of my life. I do know my limitations and there have been times where I just have to get someone else to do it. It’s not for lack of trying, but it would be cheaper in the long run for fear of screwing it up and having to redo the project. 
 

I took these words into consideration when ordering the printer, now I can build the parts myself and not have to pay someone else for them.
 

4 hours ago, FriedClams said:

I was wondering - did your printer come with solid modeling software or are you using something like FreeCad?  Good luck on your foray into this technology, sounds like fun.

I’ve been in the technology field for almost 30 years and have been using CAD software for almost the entire time. Many of the software packages these devices use are based on CAD so the learning curve is fairly easy. Most of them come with a free version that is simplistic and scaled down for the standard user. There are other programs out there that are more robust and allow for much better renderings and manipulation of the project you are working on, but I’ve found the free ones get the job done for what I need. Not to mention the better programs are stupid expensive.
 

My 3D printer is a Bambu Labs P1S and came with its proprietary software Bambu Studio, but like many of the other programs out there it uses the standard file types, and there are several sites out there that have free files that you can upload to the device, and you can scale them to the size you need as well as make alterations to them. Somewhat like my laser engraver/cutter, there were a few days of beating my head on the table trying to figure it all out but it didn’t take too much time before I was off and running. 
 

-Brian

[FriedClams]

Thanks for the info, Brian.  Before retirement, I used AutoCad for decades in electrical design and documentation, but I no longer have access to it.  Now I use an older version of DesignCad.  But for 3D part creation for printing, I prefer solid modeling over surface modeling, so I've been looking at some of those programs.

 

Gary

[KeithAug]

On 10/1/2024 at 4:00 AM, mbp521 said:

So I did the next best thing, we invested in a 3D printer. 

Brian, certainly a valid method, but how easy is it to create the programmes you need for the parts you are printing.

[Keith Black]

 Brian, wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Edited December 25, 2024 by Keith Black

[mbp521]

19 hours ago, Keith Black said:

 Brian, wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Thank you Keith! Merry Christmas to you and your family as well.

 

Merry Christmas to all of my MSW Family too.

 

- Brian

[Cathead]

Brian, when do we get to unwrap new photos of Caroline? Hope all is well for you, it's been a while.

[KeithAug]

Yes - what Eric said. I hope your Christmas was wonderful.

[mbp521]

Thank you Eric & Keith. I’m hoping the new year will bring new photos of progress on the Caroline.
 

The past few months have been a little rough, the bench has been collecting dust (unfortunately not sawdust) and my MSW time has been neglected. We lost our daughter in law in an automobile accident and a lot of my (our) time has been helping my son and granddaughter get through things. Life is a strange being at times. It can be sublime and it can be cruel, but we do the best we can to deal with what it gives us and move on. 
 

I have made myself a promise to get back at it after the holidays, so new material will be headed this way soon. Thank you all for following along and sticking with me. This voyage is far from over and we will reach our destination. 
 

-Brian

[Keith Black]

I'm so sorry to hear this terrible news, Brian. May God lay His healing hand on your son, granddaughter, and your entire family.  

Edited February 3 by Keith Black

[Cathead]

Well, don't I feel terrible for forcing you to share this awful news. I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm all too familiar with how tragedies can yank you out of normal life and reset all your priorities. My most fervent best wishes for you and your family as you work together to build a way forward.

[KeithAug]

On 12/28/2024 at 2:42 PM, mbp521 said:

We lost our daughter in law in an automobile accident

That is terrible news Brian, my heart goes out to you all.  

[mbp521]

Hello again everyone, I have finally returned to working on the Caroline.

 

It has been a while, but I finally got around to sitting down and getting a few things done over the last couple weeks. 

 

First thing, I fired up the 3D printer and made up the lifeboat/work boat. Not really sure of what it would be called in this instance. I tried my hand at designing and printing this time, and I am quite please with the results. I wasn't able to get the runners on the hull to come out right due to the small scale of the boat so I ended up just printing it out with a flat bottom and glued some styrene strips to get the effect.

 

The outboard motor was a little more of a challenge. I managed to find a predesigned version, but couldn't get the prop to print. Again due to the small scale, my printer just wouldn't do it. I'll see if I can make up a small version with some of the materials I have on hand.

 

Here are the results. Still need to paint things up.

 

 

Next up were the life rings. These were pretty straightforward, just printed them up, gave them a coat of orange paint and finally the white details.

And one of them in place.

 

 

While the 3D printer was warmed up, I went ahead and printed out the cleats as well. 

 

A little more clean up to do on these, but they came out nicely.

 

All I need to do now is to get them painted up and glued into place.

 

Lastly, it's about time to start nailing down the main deck so I formed up and installed the vents that run along the walls. I'll get these all painted up and glued into place shortly then work on gluing down the main deck walls.

That is all for this update. I realize it is not much, but I'm just getting back into the groove of things and wanted to get something out there. I appreciate everyone sticking with me, and hopefully I can keep a steady rhythm with the progress and updates.

 

Thank you all for stopping by. 

-Brian

 

Edited February 2 by mbp521

[Keith Black]

 It's nice to see a post from you, Brian. All your 3D printed pieces came out really well, they look great. 

[Cathead]

It means a lot to see you able to return to this project. Thanks for keeping us a part of it.

[KeithAug]

Good to see more progress Brian. 3D printing all looks just the job.

[mbp521]

Hello again everyone, the journey continues. 

 

Slowly making more progress as I find the time to work on the Caroline. 

 

I managed to get the cleats all painted up and installed. As I post the photos I can clearly see some of the imperfections in them, I'll need to go back and clean some of them up. The resolution on today's phone cameras is almost too good. 

 

Next was getting the motor painted up for the work/life boat. Still need to build the propeller, but I'll get there. I'm also going to put some decking in the floor to clean up the printer lines and add a few other details such as a fuel tanks and fuel lines and whatever else I can think of to throw in there.

 

Moving on to some of the main deck details, I built the exhaust fan vents that flank each side of the engine room. These I made from thick card stock and ABS plastic. The ABS provided the black background for the vents then the frames and louvers were cut from the card stock.

 

The louvers are hinged so that when the fans are off they swing closed and lay flat, I didn't like the way they looked closed so I decided to have the fans on and the lovers open. Adds a little more life to them.

Once the vents were completed they were installed in their locations on each side of the main deck.

 

The work continued on the main deck with the bollards. I used the laser cutter to design and build up a jig that would help me line the pieces of the bollards up while I built them. This was a simple tool made up of three layers of scrap wood glued together. The first layer had a hole cut in the center with room enough to fit a small dowel that will be used to push the completed bollard out of the jig. the second layer has a hole in the center for the smaller, center section of the bollard and the third layer has the hole for the top part of the bollard. All three layers had holes cut on the corners for dowel pins to help keep everything in line. All layers and centering dowels were then glued together. 

 

The center (smaller) ring of the bollard was place in the jig.

A dab of CA.

 

Then the top ring was glued in place.

The bollard removal dowel was then used to push the completed bollard out and viola! perfectly centered bollards. 2 down, 23 more to go.

 

All of the bollards have been built and ready for sanding.

All sanded up, now to shoot some paint on them.

 

Next was cutting the rings that will form the bottom of the bollards. These I also made from ABS plastic. 

Here is one of the setups temp installed on the deck to see how they look.

 

Having the ABS rings separate also allowed me to get a clearer measurement for proper placement of the bollards by being able to see the measurement lines through their centers. It was much harder to try and line everything up with the completed assembly. I just glued the rings in place then came back in and placed the bollard tops in the rings. So much easier.

More bollards on the tow knees.

There are two bollards on each side that are built up or elevated and slightly angled. I think these are setup this way to allow for tows that are either empty or sit higher in the water than the boats deck to keep the tow lines from slipping off. 

 

Here are a couple of photos of the bollards on the actual Caroline (aka Titletown USA)

 

The first shows the angle of the bollard, located right in line with the forward part of the main deck structure.

The second photo shows the angled tow line secured to the bollard.

 

Here is the completed construction of the angled bollards.

 

Here is an overall view of the bow with all bollards and cleats in place. I also started work on the tow knee railing, but have not entirely figured out how I want to do them (and got a bit frustrated with them, so I moved on to something else). That is the reason you see the vertical railing supports installed. Right now they provide a good place to snag my sleeve or hands when working on other parts of the forward deck.

 

Finally, while I contemplate the tow knee railings I got started on the deck ladders. These were just a standard build, I din't take many pictures of their construction, I just cut them out on my laser cutter, glued the runners together and painted them up.

 

Here are a couple temp installed to make sure the angle is right.

 

Here is another, painted up. The only bad thing about these is that they require more railing. I am really starting to not like railing.  

 

That is all for now. I appreciate all of the likes and comments. Thanks to all for stopping by.

 

More to come.

 

-Brian

 

 

Edited Sunday at 02:15 PM by mbp521

[Keith Black]

 A lot of good work there, Brian. 

[wefalck]

Never seen before such low bollards. I gather only a single loop/eye of wire-rope goes onto them, right?

[KeithAug]

Brian - Re your last photo showing the painted steps. I note the background with interest - your workspace looks a bit like mine - just not quite as untidy.🙂

 

You have been busy - great progress.

[mbp521]

3 hours ago, Keith Black said:

 A lot of good work there, Brian. 

Thank you Kieth. I’m trying to make it look like some work has been done. Gotta keep things interesting. 😁

 

 

3 hours ago, wefalck said:

I gather only a single loop/eye of wire-rope goes onto them, right?

Good question Eberhard. Most of the time that is the case. If you closely at the second live photo I posted you can see the multiple lines tied to the tow. I’m no expert on these, but they use several tow lines secured to several bollards to distribute the tow. some are also tied to the cleats as well. I’ve watched several videos on tow operations and the crew is constantly going in and checking and resecuring the line tension every few hours to make sure nothing breaks loose. 

 

14 minutes ago, KeithAug said:

Brian - Re your last photo showing the painted steps. I note the background with interest - your workspace looks a bit like mine - just not quite as untidy.🙂

Dang, you caught me!  I usually try to keep my mess out of the pictures, I just wasn’t as careful this time. 🤪 Most of the time it’s total chaos and needs a good cleaning every now and then.  I’m just glad I didn’t get the whole bench in the photo. 
 

-Brian

[Cathead]

How exciting! All this progress looks great. To Eberhard's question, here's an image I took along the upper Mississippi last year, showing a similar towboat using single lines to multiple bollards to hold a tow fast.

[FriedClams]

Nice update, Brian.  I like your louvered vents, and I agree the open position is more visually dynamic.  Great little bollard jig.

 

Gary