1/160 (N Scale) Robert E. Lee EXTENDED

UPDATE

"A Special Day"

Why not to dosplay the Robert E. Lee as she would have been on a very special day! When looking around, each existing model of the Robert E. Lee shows how she would have being seen on a regular day. But there were days, when ships were decorated, in the Olde West. And so - let's do it!





Now my question to those among you with background knowledge of those orignal ships: is the distance between each tricolore okay, or are they placed with too much distance in between (on the side of the ship, not the front)?

UPDATE

I am lucky and honored to welcome the 3D developer and artist Hrishikesh Adsul who will add his 3D expertise to this project of miine. Hrishikesh is developing the 3D models for the N scale people that will be on the ship, while I give the numbers and type of persons and fashion designs. Those people will then be 3D printed.

Image: the engineers of the Robert E. Lee

There will be engineers, the steam engine workers, the deck hands, officers and the captain, cabin crew, and many many passengers. Some of the passengers will be settlers, goign "westwards". Their covered wagons will be on board, too!

Hrishikesh's URL: https://hrishi7276.artstation.com/

Note:

   The numerous Robt.E.Lees and many others were painted often as needed .The bigger packets were the luxury Steamers of their day. There were at least 8 Lees, 12 Natchez's, and 11 J.M.White's among others . Low pressure boilers didn't take kindly to safeties being capped for more speed .

    It was at least a weekly happening in the Port newspapers to read of another steamer , Big or Small that had blown up! Some was from Plain bad maintenence too. As far as painting many went through collor changes as a matter of budget cuts aas well. I know of two Lees that were the colors of the Confederacy Blu-Grey Uniforms. One J.M.White was painted the colors of the Union battle Flag ie Red/White Blue.( See U.S.Navy 1860's)

     Your Bunting looks good .The Fourth would still be Celebrated on these boats .Also something as mundane as Opening day of the freight and passenger season on the rivers ! Much Ado there .Boats hung with flags ,Bunting Calliopes ( if they didn't have one ) and Bands on the fore -upper deck. Dances and Cotillions once in port .

 There were many that had one thing most models don't show .A Full rail around the top deck .Remember the Cabins on the Texas deck were sometimes used for " First Class Passengers " The further away from the Boiler deck the cooler it was !

    P.S. I forgot to mention .I am taking the Natchez and the Lee and creating The Largest of the J.M.Whites on record . When Done I'll try to post it .

Great insight here! Thanks, Tanker-Builder, for this information. And please feel free, if you have more information on those ships, to share here. Your information might even influence the one or other detail on my ship!

Thanks also for the compliment about my flags! I aim to have one of the most amazing models of the REL when it is finished one day. There will be over an hundred persons on board, and all dressed correctly to the late 1860s! All those extra thigns are in the making as I speak. A number of items have arrived here already but not yet added as other items that are not yet here have to be added first.

Alright, once again: any more knowledge you have - please share it! It will help me a lot!

I have plans for the steamboat FAR WEST. If I did not have a project to be completed, I would be inspired to build this model after watching your thread. Great build. I will continue to follow your progress.

Happy modeling     Crackers   

Thanks for the great comment!

I actually know the Far West from a painting of that time, or maybe from a later time, not sure. First time I am seeing this ship as model! Wood or plastic? Seems it is wood?

Anthony !

 Very nice photo of the Far West model. If you can Try to get to the Little Rock Convention Center Hotel site .See if they still have any existing photos of their " Edgewater Princess" that I built for them . If not contact me in the message site and I will send you a photo ( copy) and my River of Commerce model for the Legislative Library in Little Rock( Again  copy ) .Both were done in the eighties. Well, actually the RoC was done in the late seventies and the Edgwater princess was delivered on the day Before I was Traumatized by weather and a tornado caused passing, of a child and the destruction of my business. 

     I tell you this to give some background. The River of Commerce was brass, paper and balsa wood as well as plastic .I had to build it pro Bono to get recognised ! The Edgewater Princess was built because of my friendship with a Board member of Cromwell ,Levy Trumper and Smith, Architects and Engineers  .All from Evergreen Plastic and Brass.

 I had left the firm about a year before to spend more time on my company. I did specialized design drafting. Restoration and Modernisation for the V.A.Hosp System .Plus I did Orthographic Projection drawings  and such. Unusual skill? Nah. Just loved doing it !

       The " Princess " was almost in the Lobby of the Hotel. It was at the Entrance to the original Edgewater Lounge .You should've seen the Riverboat Artwork .I don't know for sure, But I think some were painted around the time the boats existed. If not they were darned good copies, because none were Prints !

It wouldn't be a problem for me, if you publish those photos in this thread, too. It is kinda related, and can give me additional ideas.

There are also some paddle-wheel river steamboat groups on Facebook, and I am a member of some of them. Publish the photos there, too, and let me know.

Hi;

 Being as how they are old,old hard copies from back then, I can get you copies done on a copier.I don't have the negatives anymore either .

NOTE; Never mind the Hippie in the photo of the " River of Commerce " I had just gotten home from seven months in the Hospital. They wouldn't cut my hair.

 I will send them if you post your address in the Message Box. P.S. the Edgewater Princess is H.O.Rail Scale.

I would love to receive these photos. But I am located in Jamaica. However, a frien d of mine will leave the USA in two weeks and come to jamaica. If you really want to send out those special photos (think twice), then please send them to him, and he will bring them to me. But My suggestion is, to make cheap colored photocopies of those special photos, or even to get digitasl copies of them and e-mail them to me.

I'll PM you.

Another 3D designer whom's services I am using for this project, is "CB", he's making the horses and covered wagons of the settlers for me.

CB's website is: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/cb-s-designs.

AMain Hobbies has N scale figures of horses, boxes and barrels that would be appropriate for your steamboat modeling project.

Happy modeling   Crackers    

Hi, thanks. I went to their website but could see only H0 figures and items. Maybe i did not search correctly (I searched for "N Scale").

Can you post a link to their N scale figures? Thanks again. :-)

Walthers

If you go to their website, N scale figures are illustrated.

Happy modeling      Crackers   

I am still not successful: I entered "N Scale" as search string, then I had to decide if those are toys, ships, helicopters or RC boats. I opted for "toys".  Inside toys, I get the options of "figures" and selected them. But there I see only a few H0 figure sets. And they are also not in the 1860s fashion style as required for this 1860s ship diorama.

But anyhow, not important as I am 3D printing my figures, and also make them available to everyone else who is interested to use 19th century figures for their own scenes.

Finally, the customized decal sheet has arrived. And beside it, the first of the customized N scale items: horses, two wagons for settlers, engineers, buckets, and feeding troughs. This is just a brief update, photos will come soon. I am going to be hospitalized, that keeps me off from posting.

Oh Gosh!

      Has it been 10 months? Sir, I can only say this, I liken your work to my own. You're sick man. You need to stop before you turn proffessional. Great, great work.

I didn't see this.

        My museum has a member that can find these. When we did the " Golden Spike" event in Promontory Utah,We needed lots of them. Don't worry that they are model railroad parts. they will be right !