Another Branch of My Hobby

[LNR]

Thanks Aaron.
There's actually a pair of these turrets either side of the bridge.

Hants & Dorset 7.JPG (172.15 KiB) Viewed 44052 times

I had to make a male plug pattern then a female one to be able heat acrylic sheet(Perspex) and press it into shape. I may have done it in two halves (can't remember). Then put the frame on with thin strips of black tape and twin 303's with magazine belts of copper corrugated foil. The model even made the same rooster tail wake as the prototype only having two shafts (real ones had three Napier Sea-Lions)
Grant.

[LNR]

A paddle Tug based on one built for Dover the Lady Vita, and later went to the Tyne and became Lingdale. Although I never finished the deckhouses that should be on the sponsons.

My Paddler 2.jpg (201.19 KiB) Viewed 44016 times

Grant.

[ge_rik]

Just out of interest / curiosity, did paddle tugs have extra manoeuvrability by varying the speed and direction of their paddle rotation, or was that an unnecessary complication?

Rik

[Lonsdaler]

I shall have to scan some photographs

They would be good to see.
Grant.

Apologies for not replying quickly, but I've hit a snag. My (pre digital era) model photos are in a photo folder, but I can't find it I still have copies of some of the explanatory sheets that I used to put up when we held exhibitions/meets, but not the photo album. I'm just hoping it's tucked away somewhere and hasn't accidentally been thrown out. In the meantime, I'm hoping I still have the negatives, but don't know what condition they will be in. Fingers crossed.

[Lonsdaler]

A paddle steamer was on my 'to do' list until life got in the way and modelling of any kind dropped off my radar. That looks beautifully detailed, even if missing some superstructure. And your torpedo boat is also a brilliant piece of work. Lacking your skills, with the machine gun turrets I would have resorted to finding something clear that was 'near enough'; probably a clear plastic lid off a deodorant tin or similar

[Lonsdaler]

Just out of interest / curiosity, did paddle tugs have extra manoeuvrability by varying the speed and direction of their paddle rotation, or was that an unnecessary complication?

Rik

I'm sure Grant will be able to give a more complete answer but my understanding is that passenger carrying paddlers have both paddles 'locked' to one another. As the hulls tend to be quite narrow in proportion to their length independent paddles could induce severe instability and even cause capsize. AIUI, this happened off the south coast sometime in the 1800s. The only exception was for paddle tugs where independent control of the paddles provided excellent manoeuvring.
Interestingly, the last paddle tugs for the Royal Navy were built in 1957 and in use into the 1970's. They were electrically propelled with independent paddles and were primarily for assisting aircraft carriers into dock. They could tuck right under the overhanging flight decks without fouling the chimneys, and were very efficient for 'braking'. The drag from stationary or reverse paddles on the tug was very effective for stopping massive ships.

[LNR]

did paddle tugs have extra manoeuvrability by varying the speed and direction of their paddle rotation

There were Maritime laws preventing the individual driving of paddle shafts after an accident, and if memory serves it remained so for ocean going paddlers. Some paddle tugs I have read about were able to separate the shaft with a type of dog clutch. One of the reasons they were kept in use around shipbuilding areas was there ability to bring a load to a halt(the launching of a ship) because of the drag they could produce.
Grant