Picket Boat #1 by RVB (Rick) - Model Shipways - Scale 1/24

[RVB]

How do you make a lazy granddaughter shovel coal (what I really mean is help pick up the dishes after dinner).

 All suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Notice shovels haven’t been moved!

Best Rick 

[RVB]

[RVB]

[RVB]

On 11/23/2025 at 3:20 PM, TerryPat said:

It's available? Great! I'd like to see you build it. 

It's a very simple working steam engine. You solder some of the major parts together.  The intake and exaust ports open and close as the cylinder rocks side to side. Very clever. You fill the boiler with water and put a few drops of oil in the water and light the sterno chunks that you put in a cup under the boiler. As i recall,  the engine was a separate kit way back.

Hi Terry
Out of nowhere this appeared on my EBay site and I won it for $60 ( a really great price for a vintage kit. All the ones online are in the $200 range) Not my next build but it’s waiting in line. 
As Always Best Rick 

[RVB]

A thank you to ALL!!  I hope all of you are enjoying the adventure with me. 

Best Rick

Edited November 26 by RVB

[TerryPat]

That's fantastic Rick! I'll be pulling up a chair for that build. Congrats!!  I hope you can find the steam engine kit to go with it. No problem with the money you just saved

Edited November 26 by TerryPat

[RVB]

Well after a hard day at work my granddaughter became unhinged because of my anal compulsive behavior making sure my hinges were working and straight on the coal bins. Since she stressed me out and knowing tomorrow we will head to sea again I decided to take a jacuzzi bath to relax before bed. 
As Always Best and Good Night Rick

Edited Wednesday at 11:54 PM by RVB

[RVB]

Got up this morning at 5 and the seas were rough so decided to stay in port. Since my lazy granddaughter sleeps till noon only thing to do was work on the engine. After 3 or 4 hours things started to look good. 

[RVB]

Well it’s late in the afternoon and she finally got up. TO BE YOUNG AGAIN!!

Since it near dinner I thought we would celebrate with all my log followers. 
 

         HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO All

[GrandpaPhil]

Happy Thanksgiving!

[RVB]

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Got up this Am before the sun. Can’t head out (weather and wave outlook great) because  I need an engine that’s not in multiple pieces so back to work. 

Edited Friday at 02:30 PM by RVB

[RVB]

By the way notice the magnetic part holders. They are made for holding parts when airbrushing but I use them for everything from painting to holding small parts when I’m working on them. I even hang them from my work light when I run out of room on their stand. One of the best things I ever bought. The kit is very cheap on EBay. 
 

Best Rick 

[RVB]

Mid afternoon and airbrushed engine parts. Didn’t get any help from my - - - y

granddaughter but she can’t wait to set sail again. 

[RVB]

Sun setting and still in port.  Painted engine parts dry but will wait till tomorrow to start reassembly.
Until tomorrow  Best Rick

[RVB]

Another nice day and anxious to get back on my adventure. Spent the morning reassembling the steam engine. I’m a great mechanic but this little steam engine is a pain in the neck. There is something great to be said about sail power. Having raced a Vanguard 470 you can actually feel the power in your arms and butt as the sails fill. You don’t get that with this little steam engine when it’s running. 

 

Edited Saturday at 04:46 PM by RVB

[RVB]

Thanks Phil for the mechanic encouragement. This morning working on the engine was traumatic to my health. I’m sure you have been there. The riveting was a pain in the      — — S. After a very frustrating hour I ended up making the rivet heads back up with CA. They are  hidden and you can’t see them because they are in the back side. Sure worked a hell of a lot better than trying to hammer a tiny copper nail on a 1-2-3 block to create a flat head to secure the parts.  5 minutes for all 3 rivets instead of an hour plus repeated failures. 
Best Rick 

Edited Saturday at 08:11 PM by RVB

[TerryPat]

Looking great, Rick

[RVB]

Weather suppose to deteriorate Tuesday with snow squalls predicted. Anxious to get back to sea hopefully tomorrow at the latest before the storm my granddaughter actually got up early today. The steam engine is almost back together.A wee piping to go. Will put it off until tomorrow since the sun is setting. 
Until tomorrow AM Best Rick

 

[RVB]

[RVB]

[RVB]

Big storm coming tomorrow so will stay in port for another day. Almost finished the steam engine just a wee bit of plumbing to go. Will finish in the morning. Put new iron straps on the steam boiler (3mm satin black auto pinstriping.  Sure beats painting cutting and gluing card stock. May try using it for waterline in the future. It work great for the iron straps and comes in multiple widths from 1mm on up.  Would be great to get a very crisp waterline with out all the headaches  associated with painting   Time to turn in for the night because 5AM comes quick. 
Best Rick 

Edited 20 hours ago by RVB

[vvvjames]

1 hour ago, RVB said:

5AM comes quick

I've rediscovered this lesson too many times (most recently last night) while working on the Albatros 😂

That steam engine looks spectacular Rick, well done. Stay warm through the storm!

[RVB]

6 hours ago, vvvjames said:

I've rediscovered this lesson too many times (most recently last night) while working on the Albatros 😂

That steam engine looks spectacular Rick, well done. Stay warm through the storm!

Thanks so much for the great compliment! They are predicting 10-12 “

of snow. Will be a great day to stay in and work on Picket. 
Best Rick

[RVB]

11 hours ago, vvvjames said:

[RVB]

Been up most of the night and finally got the engine together. Starting it up for a test run. Granddaughter and I hoping to get out of port before the storm hits. It appears to run pretty good. While at sea today we need to arm the vessel with a cannon and torpedo to fend off sea PIRATES. 
Until later at sea. Best Rick

[RVB]

[RVB]

[RVB]

Thanks Phill for joining me on my journey. Best thing I did was joining MSW and having members along with me on my journeys. 
Best Rick