WWPPBB table - Rog & Michael's build -THUNDERCHILD I

Dr. Rog · WWPPBB table - Rog & Michael's build -THUNDERCHILD I

Hi folks

(Title changed to include THUNDERCHILD I.)

Me and laddo have been having a little fun this week. Which has cheered him up a little as he has been poorly.

I have always wanted to make such a machine as I had a book as child which included how to make one.

So we sat down and did some sketches:

I think this will be entered for the "classic" section, so a 1920s look helps

First off was to make the engine from some 1/8" copper tube bought off the internet. This needed to be annealed before it would bend. This was done by holding it in the kitchen hob flame. It goes a funny silver colour when hot, then cools to a pale copper. I held it in leather gauntlets and quenched it straight away under the cold tap.

We selected a piece of balsa wood for the hull that allowed the proportions of our design and fitted the engine so that a small candle would fit under it.

In order to design the fore-cabin laddo wanted we tried to balance some wood against the weight of the engine. This should make the boat sit more evenly in the water and should help reduce drag. If we are wrong some ballast will not be the end of the world.

This determined that we could use a large solid block of Balsa, (if that is not a contradiction). This was glued on with PVA-based wood glue.
We carefully measured a template for the profile of the bow and used it to get both sides even. Then I cut it out with a junior hacksaw with a large pitch blade.

Some swept side panels next

Two coats of yacht varnish and it is ready for go-faster stripes, the yellow and black paint has got lost, so same bright orange will do. I should have rubbed it down and done a couple of extra coats but this is against the clock.

A good blob of glue prevents water penetrating into the wood around the exhaust pipes. It needs some time to dry properly before we test it. It also needs a name.

Les

Very well done, I am looking forward to seeing its sea trials.

Sandman

OOOh That does look nice.

Gary279

Brilliant!!!

mogogear

Hurray - this may have been our first father / son build I presume!!!!!

Good "action" shots

Swift Fox

I think that looks great with the wooden hull, well done both of you.

Look forward to see it in the water.

RocDoc

Oh yes, that looks really nice.

Pete

The Denying Dutchman

Very nice, it has a classic wooden toy look.

ZOZ

Very nice! The boat reminds me of a wooden shoe of sorts.

Well done!

Gary

mogogear

It has that classic 1940's hull look!! Nothing like a pair of young hands to pitch in!

I bet it is a goer in the water

Dr. Rog

Thanks guys, we will try and do a video this morning.

If the lady-folks allow us access to the bath

Dr. Rog

Here it is!
And it does about three inches a second

MrMamod

Rog great little build and it has to be called COBBLER

as it was cobbled together from parts around you

...

MrDuck

Robust and it moves by own flame

mogogear

Hurray for the team!! It moves quite well!!

Success for sure!!

Les

Wallace

Well done. Nice little runner

Dr. Rog

Thanks guys.

"cobble" is funny, true, but a little deceptive in that like a lot of members in this forum I always have the optimum materials for such projects to hand that most people would have to buy.

The large box in the background of the photos is full of balsa wood. I have had it 20+ years and barely touched it. The pipe is for my steam projects, paint for an Airfix model we are doing and the glue and varnish are being used in my bedroom.

Here are a couple of boats of similar shape:
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?st...p=24&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:88,i:13
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl...sp=18&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0,i:80

Andrew1971

Nice little boat you have there. Keep up the good work

Steamboat Willie · Sea Trials.

Dr Rog and Laddo!
Well done! What a great little vessel that you have wrought from the realms of the scrap (and other ) boxes!
It never ceases to amaze me how put-put boats work so well given their delightful simplicity, and an example such as the one that you have crafted reinforces the simple delights to be had from the realm of simple steam.
Unfortunately they don't go all that fast as Laddo expressed, but speed isn't everything. The fact that you both made it and that it goes so well is the best outcome you could hope for. And by now, I trust Laddo is feeling much better, and contemplating a career as a marine engineer under such expert parental tutaledge!!!
Steamboat Willie.
PS. You are not helping me at all Dr Rog - I am trying to get rid of stuff that I have had for over 30 years and then you come along with a story of how you've had this balsa for 20 years...it just knocks the wind right out of my desire to rationalise!!!!!

Dr. Rog

20+ years, 1989 most probably

Thanks for the nice words, I have plans to have a regatta soon, but I am overloaded with other things at the moment

colin

That is great.Did you get the name form the
album War Of The Worlds ?

Dr. Rog

WWPPBB table - Rog & Michael's build -THUNDERCHILD I

Sea Trials.