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

[JacquesCousteau]

Very impressive work!

[Jim Lad]

It's already looking pretty busy in that engine room!

 

John

[LJP]

Sorry about the delay, but I have been away.

 

JacquesCousteau,

 

Thanks much!  I have gotten much better but will continue to improve my skills.  This is in no small part to all of the information provided on MSW.  The insights are invaluable.

 

John,

 

Still have much to do in the engine room.  It continues to amaze me how they got all that stuff in such a small area.  

 

LJP

[LJP]

I completed the half of the panel entrance into the engine room and the single sliding door.  

Initially I thought that I could cement the hog chains and the stern wheel chains at a later point in construction. But I found out that would not work. So, I had to affix that panel and the starboard engine panel.  The hog chain braces are still loose and will be cemented in at a later point in construction.  
 

Next steps will be working on the bow hog chains, affixing the boiler room panel and then the bull rails. Hopefully after that I can start on the stairs.  But the way I keep changing the sequence once I get started, who knows what will be next.

[LJP]

Had some time to spend on the model.

Quickly installed the boiler panel.

The bull rails were added.  The forward one could be opened. I used Bates’ method where the rails could be inserted onto hooks.  I also added the canvas coverings above the rails. Apparently, this was a common practice for passengers due to weather.

Lastly, I included a gangplank. The gangplank was used where a finished dock was not available.  Long and narrow, it was prone to accidents according to newspaper articles. There were several references to people falling in, women in hoop skirts, and a boy who broke his arm and sued the boat. 

Now I can get started on the stairs.

[LJP]

The stairs are now completed. JHC had a very utilitarian set of stairs.  Many of the other early steamboats had a wonderful rounded double stair with an arched entrance underneath.  JHC was simply squared off and angled. 

 

Early construction shows the sliding doors from the inside of the boiler room.  I needed to repair one of the door slides which I had knocked off.  The stairs stringers were cut to an 8-inch rise. A tread was then added along with a riser.

The arrangement for the stairs was a short central stair to a landing and then a short course of stairs to either side.

Two frontal views. The first shows an up close with the access doors to the coal chutes. 

 

The second view is a front on with a view through the access doors.  The green hand pump is in the background.

 

Time now to complete the rest of the underside of the boiler deck.  Before I can add the carlines, I need to add both bells, the speaking tube, steering ropes and a bilge pump.  I also need to complete the various water pipes. Lots of little odds and ends. 

[Keith Black]

 Nice tidy work, LJP. She's really looking sharp!