Erie Canal Barge

**Johnflys2** · #1 12-19-2011, 01:50 PM

I looked and looked for an Erie canal type barge and only found narrow boats as used in Europe. That left me with the choice of going without or designing one. I have only built card models and don't know the first thing about designing. Thankfully I found a free narrow boat by Gunnar Sillen which gave me some idea of how to lay it out. Using PSP 8 I made a feeble attempt at designing this barge. I have limited space in my wife's china cabinet so it had to be small. In PSP I used 20 pixels per foot and when I printed it was set so 1/16 inch equals a foot. Darn close to Z scale. I have since found some additional information and may make another attempt with needed changes. John

**Vermin_King** · #2 12-19-2011, 02:11 PM

It looks to me like your building experience aided you very well on your project. Looks good.

**Zakopious** · #3 12-19-2011, 05:36 PM

Great model.
I used to go to a bar called "The Barge" when I was a student at Syracuse.

**Johnflys2** · #4 12-19-2011, 05:48 PM

I think it sunk, don't believe it exists any longer. Do you remember Fort Schuyler beer which was bottled in Utica? People who drank it claimed it was canal water. It sure tasted like it. John

**Zakopious** · #5 12-19-2011, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnflys2

I think it sunk, don't believe it exists any longer. Do you remember Fort Schuyler beer which was bottled in Utica? People who drank it claimed it was canal water. It sure tasted like it. John

I was there for the 1968-69 school year (43 years ago).
The Barge was on dry land but decorated like a canal boat on the inside.
I don't remember the beer brand names any more, too many years.
Ken

**Johnflys2** · #6 12-21-2011, 06:17 PM

Sorry about the poor quality of pic, my camera does better in natural light.

The original barge didn't do much for me and still needs much work. The flat roofs were my easy way out so today I did them the right way by arching them as they should be. Although it involved more work it was worth it.
While working in the roof area I changed the color of the hatch on the aft cabin, made the stove pipe smaller and added the sliding hatch on the fore structure which houses the mules. And between the fore structure and bow I added the small access hatch. The hatches for the holds need work and I hope to get to the canal museum tomorrow and get needed info.

For those who don't know. the barges carried four mules in the fore section which was their stable. They worked in six hour shifts, two pulling and two resting. This way they could travel 24 hours a day if the boaters wanted. John

**Miles Linnabery** · #7 12-21-2011, 06:29 PM

Dear John:
looks better, are you going to put its name on stern with home port?
Thanks,
MILES
At 1/250 scale are you going to do a wide water diarama? Personly I would want to work in O scale. you'r brave.

**Johnflys2** · #8 12-21-2011, 09:16 PM

Hi Miles, I'm going to be working on the stern soon. The barge, as you can see, is a water line model and is empty. I wanted the rudder to be partly visible. If I put a name and home port do you really think it will be legible?
I know there were cleats on the barge but I don't know how I can represent them. The ramp is going to be another problem. BTW, I don't feel brave. John

**Johnflys2** · #9 01-01-2012, 12:49 PM

The visit to the canal museum was somewhat helpful but the main man ( curator ) wasn't there. I've been in touch via e-mail and he has answered some of my questions and would like to show me some things that aren't on display. He corrected me and said the structure at the bow is referred to as the stable as that is where the mules are kept and the structure at the stern is called the aft cabin.

Plans are practically nonexistant. Progess is slow, I have raised the hull sides to extent slighly above the deck and have attached rub rails to the hull sides. The tiller post is attached but not visible in the photo. The hull sides have been repainted in PSP to better accept the rub rails.

The test build model has served it's purpose and the second model is under construction.

Constructive criticism is welcome.

John

**Johnflys2** · #10 01-05-2012, 12:19 PM

To give a better appearance in a close up, I'm still trying to improve my building technique. I am not using glue tabs on these models. The fore cabin or stable has been assembled in a slightly different way. On the test build I glued to the end of the card stock and it shows. On the second barge ( Henry Stephon ) I metered the corners on the fore cabin, then glued and have a better fit.
Oh, Miles, I was able to get the boat name and dry dock on the stern and it is legible. When I finish the stern I will snap a pic. John