1880s Nile Steamboat 1:32 scale

Hi Carl,
It seems that they come in all shapes, in some there is certainly deck space of some sort down there, in others the hole looks like it is low in the bulwarks, perhaps for mooring? I have seen some pics showing portholes over these openings, also have seen them used as a sort of fairlead with a mooring rope running through. Her is a pic of one with sort of both. Hope this is a bit of help. Your doing a great job, looking forward to your continued good work. Jack.

Thanks Jack,
That explanation makes a lot of sense! Thanks again. I appreciate your positive comments on my build. Cheers, Carl
 
I finished the main deck structures and added a set of steps that will run up to the second deck. I won't trim adjust or install the steps to fit until I finish the deck over the main deck cabin. Despite all my measuring the front cabin sides were not level with each other - one side was 2 mm higher than the other, so I had to add a shim. Not a big deal, since I will be covering the upper part of the walls (where the shim is visible) with some decorative trim. I will now start building the cabin for the 2nd deck and figure how I will make and install the funnel. Many of these Nile steamboats seem to have the funnel coming out of a fatter structure (Is this part of the vertical boiler?) visible above the 2nd deck, so I may also do the same. I'm looking around for a piece of broom handle that I might use for this part.

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I finished the main deck structures and added a set of steps that will run up to the second deck. I won't trim adjust or install the steps to fit until I finish the deck over the main deck cabin. Despite all my measuring the front cabin sides were not level with each other - one side was 2 mm higher than the other, so I had to add a shim. Not a big deal, since I will be covering the upper part of the walls (where the shim is visible) with some decorative trim. I will now start building the cabin for the 2nd deck and figure how I will make and install the funnel. Many of these Nile steamboats seem to have the funnel coming out of a fatter structure (Is this part of the vertical boiler?) visible above the 2nd deck, so I may also do the same. I'm looking around for a piece of broom handle that I might use for this part.

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A nice progress, Carl. I suppose that the ‘fatter structure’ is a heat/burning-prevention cover. They where also on the deck of my Lee where passengers are allowed to walk. On your ship it’s on the deck where I can see relaxing chairs.
Regards, Peter
 
Looking great Carleroo. It's not easy making stuff up as you go along but you are doing a very good job. There is probably not a lot of headroom down in the hull but there may be enough for the crew to have some space and a bunk. I don't see any other reason to have those portholes installed. If the holes were open there's a good chance water would get in and sink the ship even on a river.
 
Looking great Carleroo. It's not easy making stuff up as you go along but you are doing a very good job. There is probably not a lot of headroom down in the hull but there may be enough for the crew to have some space and a bunk. I don't see any other reason to have those portholes installed. If the holes were open there's a good chance water would get in and sink the ship even on a river.
Thanks Norgale. I appreciate your feedback. There is some space under the deck and from what I gather from Googling a bit, there is stowage for the anchor chain and possibly other things. I don't think I would want to be crew member spending time down there, especially on those hot Egyptian summer nights!
 
Pushing ahead with the Nile Steamboat. I am close to finishing the cabins, both the main deck and upper deck. Just some assembly and trim to be added. I also drilled some holes for the portholes. I was lucky to have a 3/8" drill bit which almost matched perfectly the aperture of the metric- sized Billing Boats porthole covers that I found at a local hobby shop.

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J'aime beaucoup ce que vous faites, avec en plus la nostalgie d'un super fil... Khartoum.
J'avais admiré les créations du navire dans le film (en français) la "cannoniere du yang-tsé" autrement "Cailloux de sable" et le "San Pablo".
Votre idée de créer le navire de « Gordon Pacha » est inspirante.
 
Merçi pour vos commentaires! Moi aussi, j'aime bien les films historiques dans lesquels les navires jouent une role important. A ce qui concerne le Nile, il y a aussi le film "Mort Sur Le Nile" (roman par Agatha Christie). Et les autres aussi - Caillioux de sable, San Pablo, African Queen (peut-etre moins historique, mais un bon histoire quand même.:)
 
Latest instalment on the build. I ended up replacing the window blinds with some similar wood. This is more to scale. This is from some leftover scribed wood that formed the walls of a 1:48 Garage & Car Repair shop kit. It is clapboard siding, so more suitable for the wooden window blinds on the steamer. I installed the portholes and added a black trim around the hull. In addition I shaped and glued some of the upper decking. One I have added all the deck pieces (2 mm thick basswood), I will cover with planks.

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The 2nd deck is now installed, along with trim and various small pieces here and there to eliminate or hide small cracks. I am now planning on what to use for railings. I was originally going to use Billing Boats' 2 -hole brass stanchions, but given the cost of these, plus international shipping I decided that I would save my money and make my own using thin dowels for the stanchions and posts and very thin styrene or wood strips for the railings. We'll see how that works out. I did something similar on the CR Lamb project and I liked the fact that I could easily glue and bend the various parts.

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Question: I am about to work on the roof of the 2nd deck. It's not clear from the old photos what this is made of - some sort of wood base, but could it be a wooden framing covered with a fabric? The CR Lamb - sternwheeler built in 1904 had a tarpaper type treatment over a wooden subfloor. But my sternwheeler was built about 1880. Did they use tarpaper coverings at that time? The photo seems to suggest a framing with a canvas overlay.Screen Shot 2024-04-03 at 12.55.23 PM.png
 
Another instalment on my Nile Riverboat build. I am pleased at how the railings worked out. I used thin wood dowels from cotton swabs for posts and thin wood strips for the railings. I only installed a few of these - eventually the entire upper deck will have posts and rails. It was easy to work with - easy to paint, easy to glue and easy to bend. I also put together the various walls of the wheelhouse. I won't assemble this until I get the wheel and see how it will fit in. I ordered the wheel from a local hobby shop. In the meantime I started work on some of the smaller bits and pieces, including some furniture and the railings (this time in 1.5 mm brass) for the paddlewheel housings.

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Nice build! Great work. I like the use of solid wood. I had a friend that made a functional Gato class sub out of a fence post. Innovative minds can accomplish amazing things.
 
Thanks. I appreciate your comments. For this project I have tried to use leftovers from previous projects as well as stuff from around the house. I have just finished making the bottom part of the smokestack using a piece of old broom handle (see photos below).

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Not only a ‘like’ but also a reaction: a nice contrast with the black and brass + rivets. By scratch building you can use everything.
Regards, Peter
 
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