Riverboat--Stern or Side-Wheeler, have you built one?

I have built both.  Built the North River of Clarmount, a sidewheeler, scratchbuilt the USS Cairo (I'd call it a sternwheeler) and am building the Western Rivers, the sternwheeler that took the Custer survivors and non-combatants back to the fort.

I have the Lee slightly started, just the wood hull.  I have to get back to that old Scientific kit again.

I also have a limited rum of the Wolverine carrier from the Great Lakes fleet.  You should see the side paddle wheeler they used for the conversion, it was a almost complete rebuild.

They only made 500 and the quality is quite good.  My problem is that I would like a 1/350th scale kit, but there are none made.  Most likely I'm just going to have to sell it off because it's just too small for me to build

Ikar01;

       Yeah, I know the feeling. I am going to sell off All my 1/72 scale Aircraft, and my 1/72 scale Armor. The sad part is some of them don,t come in other scales and they are Old!

I built the Natchez ( the first release from Piro, the kit is older than me )

I also used many model railroad parts to make it at least believable.

The grand staircase was the most unforgivable, out of scale, architecturaly inaccurate piece of modeling I have EVER seen !  I ended up building my own out of stripwood.

I also built my own railings out of Brass wire and locomotive stations.

The ship now rests in a wood chest somewhere in my workshop.

I took some pictures of it 6 or 7 years ago... that's the last time I actually knew where it was in my mess.

( I can provide pictures if requested, but it has sustained quite a bit of damage over the years... )

Hi Ikar 01!

         Haven't talked for a while. I saw that kit for sale at the Spring Train Show. Some Lionel guy wanted to sell it because it was to small for him! I looked at it and decided it was too small for me too! Neat subject though!

I love those river paddle boats. I am doing research now because I want to build a large scale version of the Delta Queen as a rc project. But I also want to power it using a stean power source like the real one. I have alot more research to do so figureing I might get that project started in a couple years from now. I am also wanting to have an actual working coliape on it . thats going to be the hardest part.

Hi Lurch!

       You'll find the best engine and steam plant for your project by Cheddar out of England. There's two ways to do the wheel, An Articulated one or Fixed Paddle-Boards. The Articulated allows the Paddle-Boards to be 90 degrees to the water upon the rotation. It was used on Thames "Penny" Steamers.

      I think there's a company in Germany that makes miniature Calliopes. They ain't cheap AND they're only able to play one song repetitively! They specifically make them for the model Circus Fans! I hope this gets you turned down the right road. Question? Have you ever worked in Plexi?

     I have found for Watertightness that a Plexiglass Hull allows W/T compartments that after you install the thinner Plexi. Base Deck, gives you the opportunity to create sealed,  W/T compartments from the Bow to the Engine Room Bulkhead. You create the plexi Base deck out of 1/16 plexi sheet and overlay it with wood Fastened with a thin slurry of Epoxy, Like installing a Kitchen Floor!

       If you need more info Leave me a message and we can talk on the phone. There's a lot of info you need. If you don't have the books I can Verbally give you what info I have learned in building electric R.C.Boats over the years!

Hi Missileman!

      Say, did that boat have the four paired rudders? That's an interesting system!

Thanks TB I realy appreciate that. I want to use an actual steem engine but still looking at all the specifics. You have provided me with some great info. I will most likely message you at a later date wiht questions.If that is alright with you.

Coitanly! Ask Away Thats wut I'se heah foah!

   Hey Lurch! You have to remember there's a lot of protection you have to build in when you run steam! Lagging for the boilers and under the Platform it sits on, along with heat shields in the engine room. But, That's what all those Guinness cans are for!

Oh thats what they are for. Thanks for letting me know. Was wondering what to do with them. HAHAHALOL

TB, which one? North River, Cairo, or Far West?

Hi!

 I have always been fascinated by the CAIRO. Because she's so large compared to, say the Monitor. In Many ways the "Moniter" was a CheeseBox on a raft, No disrespect to the crews! The Cairo might not have been rigged like that. It was found mostly on the Standard Sternwheelers. because a result of steering input was needed ahead of the Wheel and Behind it! I would have to see the Cairo, I don't think her system was like that, not sure. Of course we all know ALL the Ironclads had various steering and venting problems as well!

That was one thing aboiut being stationed at Little Rock A.F.B.  When I would drive to town and cross the Arkansas river I could see river boats docked or moving along the river.  Before that I didn't even know they were still being used.  I never got the chance to take a river boat cruise at least through Arkansas, never had the time.

Hi TB!

Last year I built the old Pyro Robt. E. Lee. The only pic I have is of the start of the build. The deck was so warped that I couldn't get it straightened out no matter how hard I tried. I just threw it in the trash and made replacement wooden decks. First, I had to make supports for the deck. It's now sitting in the meeting room of our Retirement village. When we switch it out with another build, I will try to take some pics of it. They had my Kearsarge on the mantle for the last couple months.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vnnAQPKcYJDQ4RNf6

Also have the Authentic Miniatures version of the same kit but haven't built it yet.

Jim 

Stay Safe.

Tanker-Builder

Hi!

 I have always been fascinated by the CAIRO. Because she's so large compared to, say the Monitor. In Many ways the "Moniter" was a CheeseBox on a raft, No disrespect to the crews! The Cairo might not have been rigged like that. It was found mostly on the Standard Sternwheelers. because a result of steering input was needed ahead of the Wheel and Behind it! I would have to see the Cairo, I don't think her system was like that, not sure. Of course we all know ALL the Ironclads had various steering and venting problems as well!

 

Don't remember.  Built it about a quarter century ago, and donated it to a National Parks Museum in St. Paul (I think it was called the Great River museum or something like that- about the Missisippi River)  I got a little miffed at them- after just a few years on display it ended up on a supervisor's desk.  I did not keep any of my photos, but I do have one that was submitted for a build article in FSM.

Thats a great looking boat Don.

Don, that Ironclad is stunning work.  I wish that there were more pictures of it.  Excellent work my friend.

tjs

Fox,

I also have the Robert E. Lee in my stash.  My boxing is under the Lindberg brand.  I also have the much smaller Revell Robert E. Lee too.  I'd love to see more photos of your build when it's possible.  There are two gentlemen on you tube who have built the Lindberg version over the last several years and they have noted the "challenges" of this kit.  I do have to say that when it's completed by an experienced builder, it does look very impressive.  I do have a couple of Lindberg model ship kits under my belt, the stern paddlewheeler "Southern Belle", their WWII Japanese I-53 submarine,and their big Fletcher class destroyer "Blue Devil" so I know a little about what to expect from their kits.  Do you have any experience with the Revell kit?  Thanks and take care.

tjs

Hi Tom!

      Yes! I built the REVELL version of the Robt.E.Lee right after it came out! The Little Paddle boat, The "Southern Belle" is an odd little boat.I think it came actually in three sizes originally. Remember the little Sailing Ships Pyro had? They had her there too!

    I think she was then all of three inches long. Then the Medium sized one came out in the twin Kits! Then the larger one. Then she was motorized(Lindberg) then NOT(Pyro) Again! Then she was back nder LindbergAnd for a while as a Life-Like Model. I like that little boat,

    There's so much detail you can do to the large one. The Steam Engine and Drive gear in the engine room. The Quarters up on deck within the cabins and then the Wheelhouse, I did one like that,I think my second one and my neighbor who was a Towboat Captain(Diesel) bugged me till I sold it to him. So now I don't have one!

    NOTE:

  I took the Blue Devil(U.S.S.MELVIN-A real Fletcher!) And converted her to a F.R.A.M. Gearing! Took Best in Ships 1977,1978  in two different shows. She disappeared on Dec.03,1982 in the Tornado! I have wanted to recreate that, But, life got in the way! To Me, This is what PYRO, LIFE-LIKE and LINDBERG models are for. Modifying the daylights out of. BECAUSE they are definitely Cheaper! to do this to, than Modifying a Tamiya1/350 Iowa, at what they cost!! That's why for instance, I started my "Seniors Model Car Building Class" In North Little Rock Community Center, with MONOGRAM'S 57 Chevy-Bel-Air. If you tried, you really couldn't build a bad model with it! Some of those old folks taught me a thing or two!!

I was looking fo r a model of th Cairo, there weren't too many of the city class ships built.  They found the Cairo and brought it out of the river and were restoring it.

Tanker-Builder,

Thanks for your comments and I agree about Lindberg/Pyro/Life-Like kits being great for the builder to experiment with modifications.  I was not aware of the different sizes of the Southern Belle.  Do you know if the little Pyro Bohomme Richard kit ever came with ratlines?  I was "gifted" an opened kit and there were no ratlines in the kit.  I am so sorry that your "Blue Devil" was lost in a tornado.  Thank goodness that you came through it. If shipping wasn't so expensive or if we lived closer I'd gladly give you my built up version. Take care & stay safe.

tjs