Scratchbuilt Stern Mississipi Wheeler

[kpnuts]

hi all i thought i would post some pics of the pamela3 a mississipi stern wheeler

she is loosely based on a Vic Smeed plan


she is a generic model of the type of steamer that used to ply trade all along the mississipi.


They were a very unsafe mode of travel with boilers blowing up a regular hazzard.



There was a famous race between the Robert E Lee and the Natchez in 1870 which
Robert E Lee won. she later caught fire in 1882 killing 21 people such were the hazards of boat travel on the Mississipi.


 

 As you can see she will be rc planning on making her belt drive.



 

 

She is starting to take shape now still loads to do though think about 50% done although
knowing when to stop is difficult.


 

biggest mistake i've made so far is using hardboard (takes so many coats of paint and
weighs tons)doubt i will need much ballast.

 

trying to find the right thickness of rope for the stanchions to go round the crews quaters on the top deck tried platting cotton together but it does not look right.


found out about photo etch the other day may rip out the banisters and replace them with photo etched parts.

 


well thats her up to date probably wont be doing much more to her this year (its really cold in the outhouse this time of year) what do you guys think any suggestions welcome.

[Logan Hartke]

Looks very nice!  Well done and welcome!

Cheers,

Logan

[Queeg]

Wowser - that's impressive!!!!!!

What's the approx scale btw?  Lights and some passengers would make an awesome looking display she she takes to the water ....

cheers
Brent

[Silver Fox]

Very nice!

Are you building from plans or just off the top of your head?

As a fellow RC shipbuilder I'd also be interested in your rudder arrangements.

I've long wanted a sternwheeler, beautiful boats in every way. I'm hoping mine (when eventually built) will have smoke generators and maybe an MP3 player to get some Dixieland tunes rollin. :)

Well done so far sir, very well done.

Welcome to the madhouse. :)

[kpnuts]

She is based on plans by Vic Smeed she is 1/43 scale. not sure what you mean by rudder arrangements the rudder is attached to the servo by an offset wire rod passing up through a brass tube to above the water line which is packed with vasline (can post photo if you like, it is a very simple setup which I have use loads of times, I think you would be quite disappointed how simple it is.

[Silver Fox]

I was primarily wondering if you were using a conventional rudder or one of the triple arrangements you sometimes see on riverboats.

I've got a couple of Vic Smeed's plans. I have no idea how he managed to build so very much stuff! :)

[FAAMAN]

Cool build!!

[kpnuts]

Just a conventional rudder arrangement yes Vic's plans are really nice to work from too.
And thanks for all your comments it nice when people enjoy your looooooong hard work.

[GTX_Admin]

Wow!!  Great build! :)

[elmayerle]

Beautiful!!  you can almost imagine a figure of Bret Maverick gamlbing in the salon (as the "Maverick" theme goes, "...riverboat ring your bell...").