robert e lee

Gene;

 There is also a nice one in paper that comes from Oregon .

Gene ;

 Either you or Steve can ask away . I will be happy to answer all that I can .If I can't well , I am old too LOL.LOL.  T.B.

TB, what is the name of the one from Oregon ? Have you ever built a paper kit ? I will have to go back to your building post to see what to ask. My short term memory is very short. A B17 Command pilot I knew well, could sing all kinds of WW2 songs, but like he said, he couldn't find his way home at night. He had 30 missions & signed on for more when his brother was killed in another B 17. 

  Tanker, You don't know what old is yet. Although, my mind has settled on somewhere between 12 & 20 for enjoying myself. 

Impressive work on the rigging. How long did it take you to do that?

thought I'd have a go at some railng's on the bottom deck

alan it took about 4 hour's , still a fair bit to do

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The Boat ;

    Hmmm. Let me see - - -I believe it was the paper model of the " Columbia Gorge " Don't remember the printer , but it came from some kind of Museum I think . Answer to your inquiry , yes , I have built many , many , Paper models , Mostly ships .

    Waterline  ( as most are ) full hull , as some are and many Full Hull , Full Rigged Frigates and Men of War . I will admit though , Because of the sheer selection , I build mostly civilian ships , cruise and freight .   T. B.

Okay Mate !

 You don't havve to go so far as to worry about me falling overboard ! I don't need no Stinking Rails , OOOPS , Blub ! Blub! Hmm , Guess I was wrong .Thanks mate !

You are doing fine and I appreciate your faith in me . I see my faith in the builder , is not mis-placed either !   T.B.

The railings look great. How did you fasten the short posts to the deck? That is where I use my wire.I drill a wire sized hole in the post & deck & use that  to hold them.

  I found a lot of riverboat stuff last night. I found the plans for the Western River. I also found my friend Alan bates plans, a bunch, of riverboats. It has been over 30 years since I saw him & I forgot his name, like I do everyone. You might like this as it is a smaller sternwheeler. 

  I even blew it up to HO scale & got a good start on one I was building for my train layout. I found all the nearly 40 year old parts & I will photograph them & the plans and some neat boat books if you want. I had built it as waterline for the layout, but I had also done a full hul bottom.

   You can see how I built it with Bristol board & wood siding & HO window & doors. I even cut the bottom off the paddlewheel for water level. Let me know if you want the pictures.

   I also finished the Prince, with the flags & all the rigging on it that I a going to do, before I go crazy. I have to take my Oak out to my son & get my bases made.

   TB, maybe you know Alan Bates. He was a real riverboat architect & did a lot of the present Passenger boats on the Mississippi. He was also a great modeler. He did a big one for a museum up in Iowa wher they raised an 1865 boat the was mostly intact. It had been in the mud like the Wasa. He said the shirts were like new & even the lamb was intact until the air hit it. It was a trade boat. I will try to remember the name.

Hi

 Yes , I am aware of Mr. Bates . I probably have any books he may have written or photos of his models .After moving more that fifteen times in six years I have no idea where they are .

   All I know is they are in one of two storage lockers .Remember , there's no place for a research library in an R.V.

   Since settling down after my second wifes passing the drawings I am working from are new . T.B.

 Tanker, I am so sorry to hear that you  lost your wife.  I have had my wife for 50 years & I don't know what I would do without her.  I do love to travel with a fifth wheel trailer, but I don't think I would live in one. It would be hard to build models in one. I bet that breaks you heart. 

     After our first couple campers we tried a lot of different trailers & settled on a little fifth wheel trailer. I had forgotton Alan Bates name, but we did go to see him in his Louisville home & he did have a neat layout with riverboats on it. I had called him when I was looking for plans for the Betsy Ann & he told me where to find them. 

   I did take a bunch of pictures today of the plans from a magazine on the Western River riverboat. I had gotten it a long ways away for my layout & quit for some reason.

T.B.

thank's for the nice word's and I would also like to offer my condolances on your loss .

to both you and gene , thank's for all the advice I have learnt heap's from both of you

steve5

the rigging for the rear boat , [question for T.B. , are the paddle steamers called boats or ship's , if boat's what do you call the life boat's ?? ] .

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Hi Guy !

   My late wife passed some time back and that's why the many moves . As to the " Boats " . That is what they were called , or " Steamers " Now the little guys were " Boats or Wherries " , or "Punts ". 

    Bye the way both wives figured out , if I had a modeling space I would be happy .That's why we had what was referred to as " Toy Haulers " . That way we had space for a wash machine, a dryer , inside by the door, a sewing machine space and table on one side and on the other side , My model building area . So I didn't miss much .

 Plus , many clients got their models delivered " Hot off the Bench ." Worked grand .Got to spend much quality time traveling with the Wives and deliver models personally !    T.B.     P.S. Boat's looking good , Mate . And yes , although they were my wives , they came into my life five years apart ! I still miss them though !    I apologise , another P.S. You should block off the rudder area topside .The ruddel was moved by chains and ropes which were not visible outside the boat . 

This thread has renewed my interest in the model, so i bid for one. I've done some quick searching on the 'net and am still looking for any record they may have for the color schemes.

The cabin tops have been green/gray or any combination of both on many models. The upper deck exterior walls were both white and natural wood from some of the paintings I've seen, but you can never tell what liberties artist take (modelers too).

Anybody have any sources?

Jake ;

  There is a museum in Ohio that has much info you could probably use . Many boats were colored depending on how tight the owners were .( Actually that is True ) The more well known boats such as the Lees ( there was more than one ) and the J.M.Whites ( eight that I know of .)

   The Princesses and Queens were detail painted to catch the eye .  They were almost always white overall with different low key detail colors .Many were quite ornate with fancy-work in Gold , Red , Blue and Green as well as a combo of Yellow and Green on the details .

 There were two that I ran across in my research ( Sternwheels ) that had ALL the engine parts visible such as the Arms , knuckles etc. , in iron or steel that was Brass plated for that WOW factor. They even on some went so far as to have polished mahogany cap rails on the stairs and passenger area railings .      T.B.     

Sorry Steve ;

 Didn't mean to keep hi-jacking this fine boat build thread . T.B.

no problem at all to me T.B. , I'm loving the history of it all

jake hope you win boat , would love to see what you could do with it .

Hi Steve . Question Mate ;

    When she's done are you thinking you might do another later ? Maybe the Natchez ?

 Point of history #1 . In the Famous Race there are many facts that show the Lee cheated . Fact . In the famous painting of both coming around a curve - Wrong ! The Natchez never got that close .

Point of History #2 the Natchez carried passengers and cargo . The Lee only carried the staff from their main office and faux cargo .

 Point of History #3 . The Lee burned on board furniture  , not stopping at two re-fuel docks for wood .The Natchez made every stop required .

    Point of History # 4 . This proves that even then , money bought power and position ! And yes , corruption too !       T.B.

steve5

no problem at all to me T.B. , I'm loving the history of it all

jake hope you win boat , would love to see what you could do with it .

 

I know I'm going to add the wooden deck to it (they sell that now) do a goodgle search for them.

Steve, can you provide information where you got your deck crates and such.  I'll add some of that to the model as well.

Hey ! B.J.

    I didn't know they had wood decks for the LEE . they would also fit the Natchez by the same company . I have skived so much wood to make decks for steamers I sometimes get crossed eyes . T.B.

They might, I would love to have a Natchez, Been searching ebaying for a while. Will trade something dramactic that I will never build, lets talk.....

I visited the www.hismodel.com but its in russian or check i think. However I was able to pull another pic.  Based on whay I see, we will need to sand the decks down, so the molded lines won't interfere, dryfitting will tell for sure. If I remember the deck jpoints are not too high, bit why be cheap about it; in for a penny, in for a pound........ 

bigjake

I bought that cargo a couple of year's ago , for another model and didn't use it , I normally get most of my stuff fron caldercraft , or model dockyard ,. I've looked through all the companies , and no-one sells deck cargo any more . I'll keep looking for you mate , see if I can find anything , I know it was caste resin .

steve5

Jake !

   Just a note my friend .Check the KIBRI website ( if they have one ) and WALTHERS . I have seen the cargo stuff for sale in their catalogues . Another one would be CORNERSTONE . T.B.

I won the model, and I messaged the seller to consider lowering the price opf shipping, (shoudl not be $19.99 from Tex., so he lowered the shipping by $5.00 and add the five to the model price. Going to be interesting feedback I leave......

But I got one for $54.00 and change.  It will be shevled for a bit, until I get the wood decks and other add-on.

Jakeed

bigjake had a bit a think about it , and I reckon this was where I got them

http://www.hobbylinc.com/preiser-cargo-kit-model-railroad-building-accessory-ho-scale-17100

I didn't find the exact gear I had , it was a few year's ago , but you should find something to suit

steve5

T.B.

could you answer a question please , do you leave the gangway's to swing or glue them in hard

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I think I will do another steamer mate , but in a couple of year's time , get some more skill's and do a better job , after this I'm going to do something different , maybe some tank's to improve my painting skill's some , see what happen's .

just about there

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