Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => Workbench => "Build Something" Archiv => Topic started by: Eric the Shed on January 06, 2018, 05:43:43 PM
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Afternoon All
Just back from some glorious sunshine in the West Indies and now pondering my build for the BSC competition...
Given my current project is taking me on a trip up the Nile to the Sudan I shall be building the Nile Gunboat Abbas-
Background (courtesy of this link http://thelastdaysofthunderchild.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/colonel-jdh-stewart-of-gunboat-abbas.html (http://thelastdaysofthunderchild.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/colonel-jdh-stewart-of-gunboat-abbas.html))
Some days before the city fell, Colonel John Donald Hamill Stewart took all the remaining westerners in Khartoum aboard a fortified paddle steamer called the Abbas. It was a desperate attempt to run the gauntlet of Manasir tribesmen who were on both sides of the Nile. They got past the most heavily fortified part of the blockade, but they were running low on fuel when the steamer struck a rock close to the Island of Kaniett.
The Abbas paddle steamer was in a desperate situation after stubbornly fighting its way past the most dangerous part of the blockade. Their destination was a place called Dongola and they were still some way off. A little further along the river was a smaller island called Um Dewarmat and an Arab named Sulieman – wad – Gamur invited them to land. They were offered hospitality which they accepted. While they refreshed themselves, Silieman and his tribesmen overpowered the passengers and crew of the Abbas after a brief fight.
There were many civilians among them and all were believed to have been executed including Colonel John Donald Hamill. Not much is known of the fate that befell the unfortunate people of the gunboat Abbas, but their final moments at the hands of Sulieman’s tribesmen must have been very ghastly if their captures were allied or part of Ahmed Al-Mahdi’s Manasir tribesmen.
it was clearly an ill advised action to accept the hospitality of this Arab
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Clearly. Are there any pictures of the Abbas (or even a description)?
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Finally started on my gunboat Abbas
First up I needed some inspiration and came across this Osprey book
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/Nile%20Gunboat/DSC_0312_zpsdhkx3j0e.jpg)
The Abbas itself was a twin paddlesteamer and having read through my book most of the gunboats were about 100ft in length with a beam out to the width of the paddle boards of about 25ft. This gives an approximate scale of 50cm long x 12cm wide. My boat is going to be 46cm long (governed by length of foam core) and slighlty wider (16cm)
A base profile was cut from foamcore
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/Nile%20Gunboat/DSC_0313_zpsnwneu9sr.jpg)
and a second footprint cut (including area for paddleboards) - these were stuck together and the engine room added
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/Nile%20Gunboat/DSC_0314_zpsovoteyi5.jpg)
the next step was to add the wooden lower deck using coffee stirrers
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/Nile%20Gunboat/DSC_0316_zps04mjmeea.jpg)
more soon
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A nice start, mate.
8) 8)
I guess a paddle steamer or tramp freighter has to be on most peoples bucket list.
Another one to tick off when finished.
;)
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Well there is no point in building something I am not going to use... ;)
This is going to be a really simple, cheap, very fast and functional build - having looked at the other entries I fully expect to be near the bottom
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Good start mate! 8)
Knowing you, you’ll have a full fleet by....let’s see my calendar.........2pm?
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Well there is no point in building something I am not going to use... ;)
This is going to be a really simple, cheap, very fast and functional build - having looked at the other entries I fully expect to be near the bottom
With 100% on that, mate.
Gotta get use out of it, oh yes.
;)
I am using the BSC to get me to pull my finger out and get started on the project that I have been planning for ages.
I am not expecting any kind of serious entry either, although I do think most people are entering for the 'spirit' of it, and not really seeing it as any form of serious 'competition'.
:)
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An another ship! I already love this :-*
As for the competition, I will be happy, if I actually finish my build in time lol
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A good start there Giles, and always a useful thing to have in the collection :)
Looking forward to seeing how it progresses. Bon voyages!
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Come back tomorrow for another update - its starting to take shape
Managed to find some bits on ebay that will work for the paddles
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Looking good and very inspiring.
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early morning update for you all
Bottom deck planked and then the second deck added
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/Nile%20Gunboat/DSC_0317_zpsm6ec7ss8.jpg)
This second deck gets planked
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/Nile%20Gunboat/DSC_0318_zpskt5ucbz8.jpg)
I then trimmed the planking on the lower deck and added the sides to the boat (breakfast cereal card)
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/Nile%20Gunboat/DSC_0319_zpslzztmnvx.jpg)
Its now starting to look like something
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/Nile%20Gunboat/DSC_0321_zpswal5m1vc.jpg)
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All those planks!
Interesting stuff that plank trimming bit. I'd probably have fiddled away cutting the planks to size, taking ten times the time for this and getting a poorer result. 8) 8) 8)
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Have you looked at Blotz for paddles ?
They make one of mdf that might work.
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I'm loving this boat build, great stuff!
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Coming on really well Giles. :-* :-*
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Still waiting on materials to arrive - going to be cutting this fine
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Hi Folks
I am withdrawing from the competition - the bits I have been waiting for have only just arrived and there is no way I can finish the build for tomorrow. Good luck all
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Giles,
That's a pity. However I hope that you will finish it slower time and post pictures elsewhere. I really enjoy reading your blog, not least for your phenomenal output as well as some great inspiration.
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What a shame. That’s unfortunate Giles. But I’m sure you’ll finish it in your own time :)
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An image upload problem is ongoing, but is being tackled; BUT due to this issue I decided to extend the deadline by a week, so you may want to reconsider!
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Back in the game.... ;)
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and significant progress made last night....
The main boat is now finished
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/Nile%20Gunboat/DSC_0372_zpswnst9qx5.jpg)
just need to turn my attention to the paddle wheels - these cogs finally arrived (source ebay)
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/Nile%20Gunboat/DSC_0373_zps5nyggirt.jpg)
and I have now started experimenting
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j375/ErictheShed/Nile%20Gunboat/DSC_0378_zpsbjt3saqd.jpg)
more soon
full progress also plotted on the blog
http://shedwars.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/sudan-project-part-13-nile-gunboat-pt1.html (http://shedwars.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/sudan-project-part-13-nile-gunboat-pt1.html)
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Glad to see you back in! It seems been a bit of a rollercoaster! o_o
Looking good! 8)
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Great, inspiring job!!! Cheers!