Barbara H Sternwheel Towboat Scratch Build

[DavidESP]

Hello all. It's been awhile since I have posted here, but I have been occupied with preparing this model.

The Barbara H is a sternwheel towboat built is 1923 and is still navigating the Ohio River. Here is a link to the website for the actual boat: Barbara H .

I saw some pictures on the net and eventually found the homepage. After exchanging e-mails with the owner and Captain of the boat, and gathering what information there was, I started the design. The only plans for the craft are a single page of deck plans in DFX created by the owner. To build the model, I based everything on pictures, the deck plan and dimensions provided by the owner.

The model will be in 1:96 scale, which gives me an overall length of 12 inches. I plan on having the forward and side doors to the engineroom open with complete engineroom equipment. The pilot house will also have transparent windows and a complete interior including the pot bellied stove. The after spaces, will not be open.

First I created elevations and clean deck plans:


And then started laying out the parts for the hull:


Next came the cutting out and fitting of the hull and the skin:


Today, I built a test version of the main engine:


Next is to due the final of the engine and continue with the engineroom equipment:

[Ron40]

Now this is what I call an excellent example of scratch design
an building all in one package. This one to keep an eye on.
Thanks for sharing this exceptional thread....Ron

[Knife]

Looks like a nice design, I look forward to future photos of the build.

[John Wagenseil]

More info about this and other steam boats still on the Ohio River.
Are you planning on making a complete set of models of surviving boats?


Marietta, OH | steamboats.org

And a page on river boat modeling resources:

http://www.steamboats.org/steamboat-model-building.html

I look forward to seeing a design and build of an almost near by historical boat.

[DavidESP]

Thanks all.
John, thanks for the links, as I had not posted them and for anybody who is interested in these types of craft, they are great. Steve, the owner/captain of the Barbara H provided me with those and more. I have his second boat, the Loretta Howard, in mind for another model, but that's a ways down the road.

Fair winds and following seas.

[Royaloakmin]

This is a nice model of the first gas powered towboat. Engine looks good, David.

[Zathros]

That is freakin' awesome! I love Stern Wheelers!! Great pick too.

[DavidESP]

Thanks Fred and Zathros.

Fred, this engine is the one installed in the 40's, the Fairbanks-Morse 160 hp 4 cylinder model. The 5th cylinder is the air compressor. To reverse the paddlewheel, you disengage the clutch, stop the engine and restart it backwards, so lots of compressed air is needed.

Today I finished drawing the engineroom equipment I believe. Anything I missed can be easily added if needed.

Here's a picture of the engine block on the base and the rest of the parts:


And here are a couple closeups of the engine so far:


That's it for today friends. I keep plugging away on it tomorrow.

[Royaloakmin]

The early gassers tend to be neglected by us coal-loving types, but they can be very interesting. Will you possibly make her available later?

[DavidESP]

Fred, what you say is very true. It is fairly easy to find info and plans for the older coal burners, both side and stern wheelers, but the gas and diesel powered boats just worked until they gave out and disappeared.

As far as a release of the model, I really don't design with that in mind. If anybody wants to give them a try, I will gladly pass on my drawings and such in PDF, but in many cases, the parts aren't numbered and there are no instructions except the picture I post in the Forum. I scratch build using Autosketch and my imagination. If you would like a copy of this one and the other modern towboat I did, you are very welcome to them. In fact I put together a refueling barge to be pushed by the last build.

Thanks again for the interest.

David