Car Float construction
1” thick pink project foam panel was cut to the length and width of the barge. G gauge track was painted and bonded to the board. Foam spacer were added so deck planking would lie just below the rail heads. Square wood pegs were fitted into tight slots cut into the foam with a razor saw and bonded with marine grade epoxy. Similar blocks were recessed into the foam at the corners of the barge to provide reinforcement. 1/8” inch x 5/8” strips of redwood were used for planking boards. Full length planks were scribed with a hack saw blade perpendicular to the plank to represent seams. After the planks were bonded to the hull brads. inserted into the planks to represent fasteners, were left to rust naturally. Gorilla construction adhesive was use at wood to foam joints, but two part epoxy was used at wood to wood joints, like at the corners, mooring cleats, and edges between the deck and the sides. Deck stain was used lightly applied with a paint brush and wiped down with a rag. Small cleats were made by soldering a 1/16” brass rod through the eyes of two 1/16” cotter pins. Details were added to give the barge a working appearance.
Push Boat Constructing
Shaped foam spacers were bonded to the base to give the hull the required freeboard and to provide gently curved deck. The push knees were built up from wood strips and inserted in “T” slots in the foam. The hull was planked like the barge. A paper template was used to construct the paddle wheels. Styrene arms were cut and located against the paper template and the center hub and support rings were bonded in place. Paddles were bonded to the wheels in a foam board tool which held the wheels parallel, evenly spaced, and properly clocked. An axel through the wheel hubs maintained concentricity. The paddle wheel support frame a was cut from polycarbonate sheet using a paper pattern. Telescoping square styrene tubes also made up part of the frames. 1/8” bronze bushings were inserted into oversized holes in the frame. The 1/8” paddle wheel shaft maintained bushing alignment while epoxy was injected around the bearings to match bond alignment.
Cabin and Wheelhouse
The cabin core was a mostly hollow foam box and designed to be removable to provide access to R/C equipment. Doors were built up from strip wood and bonded in place prior to planking the cabin. The cabin was planked similarly to the car float. Opening wheelhouse window slide between the phalanges of styrene "I" beams. Completed window track frames were planked over with strip wood. Doors were fabricated by attaching strip wood to clear plastic panels. Nylon model airplane hinges attach the operable doors to the wheelhouse. The wheel house used wood frame construction to allow for a detailed interior. The utility boat. whistle, and several old Bachmann G scale figures which were used as crew, came from the scrap box. The smoke stack is a modified pop up sprinkler tube and the cook stove chimney is left over from a Pico building The running lights are operational.
R/C Installation
After the boat was exhibited at the County Fair it was retrofit with 2.4 GHz R/C equipment. The battery was located far forward to compensate for the weight of the paddle wheel. A standard electronic speed control regulates the motor and a standard servo controllers the steering. A worm attached to a shaft drives a gear on the paddle wheel. The drive shaft is guided by match bonded bronze bushings and passes through the splash wall. It is driven by an electric motor with a reduction gear set. The triple rudder assembly is attached behind the paddle wheel. It is driven by a flexible link rod passing through a guide tube which is attached to the paddle wheel support structure.
Sea Trials
At the sea trial it was found the stern was low in the water, but the paddle wheel would dig in under power pulling the stern even lower, flooding the equipment bay. Foam strakes were added aft to increase buoyancy at the stern and to act like small keels to reduce side slip when turning or operating in a cross wind. A lip was also added around the equipment bay to prevent water on the deck from flowing in. The push boat is now quite sea worthy. It has more than adequate speed, power and maneuverability, and it’s unique appearance attracts attention whenever it sails.
Негізгі бет RC Stern Wheel River Boat build, Push Boat with Railroad Car Float barge. Garden Railroad steam boat
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