Steam Launch Borkum by neptune - Krick - 1/12 scale - with steam engine built from Stuart Turner cas [COMPLETED BUILD]

Joined
May 25, 2017
Messages
3,201
Points
688

Location
Australia.
I would like to re post this build log on SOS forum, I started building this kit and engine a couple of years ago and I am still working on it, hope you enjoy.



G'day all, I am building a Steam launch kit made by Krick, it is the Borkum 1/12 scale, it has an ABS hull, and all the rest is wood so I hope it is OK in this section of the build logs.


I am installing a steam engine, it is built from a Stuart Turner casting set along with various brass bar and brass and steel rod,
I have all ways wanted to build one of these and I must say that if any model engineers look at this log please understand it is my first and probably only attempt at this.

on approximately the second page of this log I start building the launch.




1.jpg
This shows what comes in the casting set.



2.jpg
This is how I set up to machine the Standard, the main upright piece that holds and guides the con rod, the piston and also the pot that goes on top.
the dowell was a really tight fit and with the use of the live centre suported the standard.




3.jpg
machining the feet of the standard, ( I can hear all the real machinists screaming in agony )




4.jpg
machining the seat of the standard



5.jpg
The sole plate and box bed as supplied




6.jpg
This is called the sole plate and is shown after machining and the holes have been drilled and tapped
and also the seats for the bearings have been filed.



7.jpg
Checking the bearings against seat.

.
.
 
Last edited:
.



8.jpg
The pot or clynder as supplied, next to it are the brass for the piston and the steel for the eccentric sheave





9.jpg
The pot after boring and machining.




10.jpg
The pot after milling the start of the steam channels.
also shows the drilling and tapping, in the background you can see the lid.




11.jpg
In the process of turning the piston, mostly they just had three oil rings turned, but some had a larger groove
in which was embedded a cord soaked in graphite. The piston will be cut off where the wide channel is.




12.jpg
checking for fit



13.jpg
This is after the steam ways have been drilled and the piston finished and fitted to its rod.



14.jpg
the piston, rod and small end after maching and fitting to-gether.




.
 
Last edited:
Next up is the crankshaft,



17.jpg
they give you a piece of steel bar that has to be cut in two for
making the sides, I cut it in two and soft soldered them to-gether for drilling the holes for the shafts
to go through.
the pic shows the bar marked out for drilling.




18.jpg
they give you one length of steel rod to cut the shafts out of,
So I cut the small shaft first and turned the ends down to size,
Then what is left goes through the larger holes in one length and is set in place,
they give you two options, either Silver solder or lock tite,
I chose to use Loc tite and as an added precaution drilled through the bar and shaft and fixed a brass pin through
you can see it in the pics.
24 hours later after the loc tite has set I cut the middle piece out leaving the crankshaft as per the pic.



.
 
Last edited:
These first three pics show the material provided for the big end and the small end

19.jpg


.
20.jpg


.
21.jpg







22.jpg
Boring out for the Eccentric Sheave.


23.jpg
This shows the Eccentric sheave strap and the big end bearings after machining



24.jpg
another view




25.jpg
crank shaft with big end bolted on


26.jpg
another view




27.jpg
and bolted in place through the bearings and onto the sole plate and box bed with the machined standard in the background.



.
 
Last edited:
28.jpg
Turning the valve adjusting rod, a follower rest would have been handy, but I had to make do with
drilling the end and using the live centre.



29.jpg
Tapping the valve slide adjusting plate, its just a mall plate thats sits in the valve adjusting assembly.



30.jpg
This piece of brass was approx 1/2 inch long, I have drilled and tapped it 5ba,
you can see it after machining in the next pic.



31.jpg
the finished valve rod, it has been threaded 5ba on each end, and the connecting
link above after machining.



32.jpg
How they will be connected together



33.jpg
The engine bolted to-gether temporarily to make sure everything fits



Still have a ways to go yet, thanks for looking,
best regards John.
 
Last edited:
34.jpg
A drawing showing the exploded view of the engine



35.jpg
The top and bottom cylinder covers, the one on the left is the bottom cover showing the underneath, these were turned from a piece of cast iron approx 1 1/2 inches long and just over the finished dia size.



36.jpg
Shows the bottom cover, this one has a longer length and it has a hole drilled and threaded for the valve gland nut which is sitting next to it, which was turned out of brass, in the bottom of the cover there has been drilled a small hole for the con rod to go through, when assembled packing is inserted into hole surrounding the rod and then the screw is tightened to compress the packing material to help keep in the steam.



37.jpg
shows the nut in place.


38.jpg
close up of the top of the standard




39.jpg
shows the rod going through with the piston attached




40.jpg
Top cover sitting in place



41.jpg
overall view



.
 
Last edited:
42.jpg
This shows the internal workings of the Valve Chest



43.jpg
Shows the rod in place and the plate above waiting to be put in place


44.jpg
The valve plate in position


45.jpg
The plate pushed up showing the lower opening



46.jpg
The plate in the down position showing the upper opening,




47.jpg
shows the eccentric strap and rod just held in position, luckily at the moment everything seems to move Ok, fingers crossed.



.
 
Last edited:
48.jpg
I have now received my Krick kit of the Borkum Steam Launch,
The box as delivered.



49.jpg
another view



50.jpg
These pics how the laser cut parts, they are very cleanly cut and the ply looks very good quality


51.jpg
another view


52.jpg
This and the next pic show the parts removed from the sheets, they just dropped out.






53.jpg





54.jpg
They include the parts to make a stand



55.jpg


.56.jpg


.57.jpg


.58.jpg
The strip wood was very good as well.

.
 
Last edited:
59.jpg
These first three pics show the ABS hull, which is trimmed compltely to shape and very cleanly moulded.


.60.jpg


.61.jpg


.62.jpg
The running gear includes the Skeg, prop, shaft and tube along with some sundry
brass items. The Prop will be polished before fitting.



63.jpg
The sheet of plans which are 1-1 for the model.



.
 
Last edited:
Hi John,

Great job, missed this one in your signature listing.
I have been sailing with this model, my father is a fanatic model steamer, mainly trains, but builded this some 10-15 years ago with a gas fired boiler and we sailed it with radio control.
Must be lots of fun to build your own running steam engine and mix wood and iron working on the same project.
Enjoy.

regs Maarten.
 
G'day Maarten, sorry I'm late replying, it must have been fun sailing her on steam, I'm having mine to run on electric but to look like steam, cuts out all the fuss with having to get the boiler checked every year, thanks for dropping in,

Best regards John.
 
Hi john, have read this right, you are building a steam engine, doing some amazing metalworking, but when you fit it to the Launch it will run using an electric motor. I realise you probably need a Boiler and Engine steam pressure test but it would be a pity not to see that engine run under it's own steam (pun intended),

Cheers Andy
 
G'day Andy, its not only getting the boiler checked each year but also the cost of buying one, approx $1000, and I cannot justify that expense for the number of times I will sail her on the pond, the main thing I wanted was to build one of these Stuart Turner engines, I've built a fake boiler witch will have a smoke make installed, so when on the pond it will look just like steam, thanks for dropping by,

best regards John.
 
64.jpg
I bought some additional accessories, steam gauge, although I will not have the model running on steam for reasons mentioned earlier on in the log, I wanted to make up a dummy Boiler and wanted it to look the part.


65.jpg
next are two check valves which I will use for the water gauge on the boiler.



66.jpg
The brass funnel which only cost me $10, not worth making one.


67.jpg
A box of 1/12 scale tools


68.jpg
Ships wheel and cordage which came with the kit


69.jpg
Painting the engine


70.jpg
The painted wheel
 
Last edited:
71.jpg
Drilled the holes for the Prop shaft and Rudder tubes



72.jpg
The rudder tube with reinforcing pieces


73.jpg
Skeg attached


74.jpg
Stand assembled

75.jpg
Skeg with Rudder post



76.jpg
Rudder post supports attached


77.jpg
The parts for the rudder


78.jpg
Shows the notches I put on the rudder post to give the Araldite epoxy glue something to grip on


79.jpg
Checking the alignment of the skeg and rudder post



.
 
Last edited:
80.jpg
Rear of stern bulkhead glued and clamped


81.jpg
Front of the stern bulkhead


82.jpg
The Bow bulkhead assembled, all of these parts went together with the minimum of sanding.


83.jpg
The bow bulkhead glued in place on the under side of the deck piece, I added some support pieces for extra security.


84.jpg
Another view which also shows the Tabs glued in place to support the coaming that goes around the inside.



85.jpg
With the Camber of the deck I had trouble holding the bulkhead to the deck because of the lack of anything to fasten to so I made a small slit on each side of the bulkhead so I could get a grip with the clamps.


85.jpg
Close up of the slit with the clamps.







.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top