J H Crawford by LJP (Lawrence Paplham) - Scale 1:64 - an 1894 to 1898 Wisconsin sternwheeler

[Keith Black]

 I love all that detail you included, LJP. Really nice work. 

[Jim Lad]

Beautiful work on that boiler!

 

John

[Cathead]

That's glorious!

[LJP]

My major source for images of some of the machinery and the engine room is the S. S. Moyie (1898).  Moyie is now a museum boat in  Kaslo, British Columbia.  It had an incredibly long life and ran Lake Kootenay until 1957.  It has numerous YouTube videos, both of the ship as a museum, but also when it was still in operation.  Several years ago, the museum website (which also has a Facebook account) had an interactive video (since discontinued, unfortunately)  that afforded an true in-depth look at the boat.  I have gotten screen shots from several of the videos.

 

Moyie had two manual pumps that I replicated.  In the engine room was a manual fire pump while in the boiler room was a manual feed pump. 

These are two photos of the fire pump. 

This is the build without the handles.  Note a new dime – wore the other one out.  The diameter of the dime equates to 3’ 8” in scale.  I lightly glue small parts to scrap balsa to make it easier to airbrush or paint. That is what you see at the base of the part.

Finished product, with arms. Ready to be placed in the engine room.

I do not have a great photo of the manual feed pump but it still provides enough detail for a build.

Another dime time before painting.

And the finished product. This will be placed on the main deck in front of the boiler pit, just like Moyie.

Next, onto the steam main and auxiliary feed pumps.

 

[LJP]

John and Cathead, 

 

Thanks again for your kind words.  Suggestions are always appreciated as I am no expert by any means.

 

LJP

[Keith Black]

 Great looking pumps, LJP. 

[LJP]

Keith, 

 

Thanks again for both of your comments.

 

On a more serious note, take care.  We do not bounce like we once did when we were younger.  Hope to see more on your Lula.

 

LJP

[Jim Lad]

I agree with Keith - very nice pumps!

 

John

[LJP]

Thanks John,

 

I have lots of machinery to go.  I am trying to provide more detail than when I did Thistle.  I have learned a lot and hope to incorporate some of the changes as I go forward.

 

LJP

[LJP]

There are numerous examples of feed pumps out there.  I did not use Moyie’s pumps as they are completely different and much more modern than many of the period single pumps.  While I used photos of several different pumps for the period, the two following are the ones I most relied upon.  My build used rocker arms (top photo) versus the older slide model on the bottom litho.

The dime is back! The finished but unpainted main and auxiliary pumps are below.  I have included a photo of each side to show the detail.  The air chambers are cut down corsage pins. The rest is numerous pieces of Evergreen plastic, wire, and thread.

 

The finished products, again showing both sides.  And “saved” with paint.

 

 

Now onto the engine assembly.  This means I will need to build the engines, slides, pitman arms and the paddle wheel – along with the cylinder timbers and sternwheel bracing.    This will take time and will be several individual projects.

I want to build each of the individual components and then place them where they should be in the final build.  That way it will be easier to install during final assembly. Once completed, I can then build the crew quarters and layout the engine room before re-installing the engine assembly. 
 

 

[Keith Black]

LJP, those pumps are fantastic! Using corsage pins was pure genius.  

[LJP]

Keith,

 

Thanks!  I struggled trying to make the air tanks until I stole these from my wife's craft projects.

 

LJP

[Cathead]

Between your project and Keith's, I think I'm retiring from steamboat building. The bar has been set too high, LOL.

[LJP]

Cathead,

 

Thanks but... the reason my build is where it is, is because of your builds.  Among other things, I am not ready for the hull framing that you have done.  And the detail on your machinery is exceptional.  You are way too modest.

 

LJP

[Keith Black]

1 hour ago, LJP said:

Thanks but... the reason my build is where it is, is because of your builds.  Among other things, I am not ready for the hull framing that you have done.  And the detail on your machinery is exceptional.  You are way too modest.

 I agree 100%, LJP. I'm following the trail Eric blazed and now I have you to follow as you lead forward. 

[LJP]

Hi Keith,

 

One of the best parts of the builds is how willing people are in sharing information.  We all use ideas and methods that others have used and perfected.  And for those of us less skilled ( a/k/a me), people are not judgmental, just helpful.

 

LJP 

[Keith Black]

Up till now wood, some paper, and brass have been my materials of choice. I've used very little plastic but if I want to up my game I've GOT to start using styrene. I've resisted but after viewing your pumps my not going to styrene is just being a stubborn ole fool.