The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

mogogear · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 3:55 am Post subject:

Tis been a while since I have revisited "Peggy Sue" I have quite decided that she will remain PeggySue and that she will be a Tug... much like the Bowman ones/ Since she is a kit boat of unknown age and missing her front deck and rear I have been busy drawing up plans for them. A small mast in her foredeck- a small copper pilot house that sits on the front of the boiler, a front bumper of some kind of design and a rear deck... Drawings later......

I received my much awaited smokestack cap from John Moore / Bogstandard for my largest Boat 2. It inspired me , with out lathe nor drill press to see how creative I could be. A shopping I went and after a couple of trips to various marine stores, hardware stores I chanced upon some normal plumbing fitting thats turned out well for the cost and abilities at hand. Total cost was $2.95.

So here is my stack - BEFORE-

My stack on Peggy is 3/4" copper pipe, I found some copper flanges that are to be soldered in place with a loose nut on the pipe side to attach to a threaded brass fitting. So it inserted into the 3/4" pipe -hand in glove- It looked pretty good just inserted into the stack,

but I also found a brass version that had some small ridges on its male end, that if ground or filed off would insert into the copper cap I found. So I put the copper flange in a vise and hacksawed the flange off. Leaving the tube portion.

I then ground off the ridges on the brass version and drove it on the remaining copper flange.

And now inserted, what had a pretty nice , and modest improvement for the top of the stack to a "mediumly" nice improvement

So here is the final insert cap

and here is my Peggy and DIY version, next to Johns version on the "Skookumchuck" ....yeah - I know thats a mouthful

I forgot to add that prior to the stack addition - I did VHT Balck the firebox after wire brushing with the Dremel.... So nice and black again!!

I also have been reading up on cold gun blues and the gun magazines really recommend a brand not seen before- OXPHO-BLUE- ) Oh Reid!!!) so I will test it out on this nicely oxidized boiler around the lower stack...
Off to test paint samples for touch up on the Snipe!!
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regards,

Mo

This week I are Bishop Lord Mo, the Antique of Bismorton Shropcake

mogogear · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:40 am Post subject:

After the smoke stack "poor mans cap" _ I got to thinking about the eventual style of this kit boat-- I did find a ebay auction of a "unmade" version of this boat and the seller was willing to copy the instructions and send them to me-!! More good karma!! I can't wait to see them and share them here as well--
BTW- this Boat was a kit from Modeen-- oddly enough the maker of the twin cylinder engine I have in my biggest project boat --#2-- small world..

Ok -back on subject- The raked angle of the stack and some old advertisements from the Bowman circle website of old Bowman boats that featured a TUG got me inspired to style this boat after the tug with a few very "true to the period" type artistic license additions...( read that as low tech ) I mean it is my boat and I don't need three boats all looking like Snipe

So I addin't stuff that weren't here before!

The inspiration

So I got to drawing a simple sheet metal "tin toy type" pilot house to adorn the Tug's boiler. I mean, the Bowmans have a nice polished heat shield- Soooo How about a pilot house that helps ward off drafts and chimneys the heat a little but slows it down a little as it exits?!!

I will Just some fold light weight sheet metal..no soldering Tin toy style !!

So here are the final drawings and then it was off to find....carbon paper .. a harder task than I thought in the 21 century!!

And a $.55 piece of zinc coated tin for roof flashing at Home Depot- and I had myself a very cheap "prototype!!"

This was after tracing the diagrams onto the sheet metal- cutting out with basic hand tools like a pair of snips, a hacksaw- a little use of a Dremel to clean up the corners and a drill for the side portholes( liberal use of files also!!)

I actually was pleased that I had thought out almost all the obstacles ahead - a couple of small ones snuck up on me - but all in all - it fits nicely and the brass grommets will also do well!! Success!!

So here we are before the Pilot house:

Now with the new addition in place -- "Captain- where's the Captain?"

There will be also a short front mast or whatever you call a pole with no sail that will screw in towards the bow. The "pole" will actually be the retainer for the front wind screen that will be more flat than bowed ( like the Bowman). The front-most tab on top of the pilot house will have a small screw on female brass finial from a lamp supply shop -( like a horn or light or what have you. The brass tones compliment the brass / copperstack cap, steam lines etc. Since the copper boiler is so nicely blackened ( it is patina not soot!!) and will stay that way---- Black Copper...........Eureka! I had another brainstorm-

In one of our dear Reid's explorations about patina's, boilers , meatl and lots of experimentation with oxidizers and such I was intrigued. Bubba also injected a great Japanese website that really goes into detail on how to make copper look a million different colors. I read it for hours... blues , greens, browns all with no paint to keep up with atop the hot boiler- !! It will be very natural --OK - organic if you will!- and the brass/ copper theme with a natural wood hull --the plan is coming together!

So now my head was really swimming- this "OK"prototype" was just that.. it ois a spring board for the next version. I would make the pilot house out of sheet copper, do some patina effects- as opposed to painting it and then add in the brass portholes to tie it all together..!!!!

I am psyched!! I bought the copper today- carboned on the pattern and in a few days I will get a shot of copper cladding up-top!! The front windscreen will also be copper!! Off to the shop!!

Ciao
_________________
regards,

Mo

This week I are Bishop Lord Mo, the Antique of Bismorton Shropcake

Nick · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:49 am Post subject:

I love the pilot house, a great touch.

I can't wait to see the progress you make on this one.

mogogear · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:04 am Post subject:

Thanks Nick -it just seems to fit-- dumb luck on my part....
_________________
regards,

Mo

This week I are Bishop Lord Mo, the Antique of Bismorton Shropcake

Stitch · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:39 am Post subject:

Nice one, mate. I have enjoying following your additions for this boat:D

Les · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:40 am Post subject:

That looks great, a inkeeping addition which enhances the whole boat. Well done.

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tmuir · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:44 am Post subject:

I like your prototype cabin, I'm interested to see how the copper ends up looking after you treat it as I'm the anti Sandy man and I hate polishing so if you can find a finish that looks good and doesn't need polishing you've won me over.

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MooseMan · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:36 am Post subject:

Greg you're cooking with gas now mate! She's going to be gorgeous.

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duncandumpertruck · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:22 am Post subject:

I do like the wheelhouse! Looks a little like an old steam whaler. Very fitting for the boat. Has this been identified as a production model boat or is it a scratchbuilt?

johnreid · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:54 am Post subject:

Wow! That is shaping up nicely one to be proud of.

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mogogear · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject:

Steve_S · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:57 pm Post subject:

Great stuff... very inventive!

johnreid · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:24 pm Post subject:

Do you have a scanner Mo?

hint hint
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mogogear · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject:

Oh sure! You want a copy of the instructions that come on the Modeen model?
_________________
regards,

Mo

This week I are Bishop Lord Mo, the Antique of Bismorton Shropcake

mogogear · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:52 am Post subject:

Ok- The New Pilot House is now done in copper!! I actually took my time and the softer copper was easier to work with-- That is a classic "Win /Win"

I also added the front window this time- remember that all I am using is basic hand tools- tin snips, files, a vise , drill press, a flat crimp plier and steel wool.

So here the old and new pilot house pose together.

On deck...

And solo...

After the photo shoot - I whisked it away for a hot ammonia bath!!

where it will soak for a couple of days- then I will see what kind of color is developing... It could then go for a variety of other "spa" treatments like "sawdust wrap with ammonia" and then some "hot torch" work outs... some light fine steel wool

and then get some nice shiney brass portholes and a brass finial on the front top roof.. a crown if you may..
_________________
regards,

Mo

This week I are Bishop Lord Mo, the Antique of Bismorton Shropcake