Coastal Gun Boat of 1900 ish.

Martin's Torpedo Catcher

Steam driven boat

H.M.S. Netherton Inshore Patrol Boat pre WW1

Model Description The hull is similar to the kit African Queen. However. Topside it roughly resembles a Coastal Gun Boat of 1900 ish, Its got twin rudders to facilitate getting at the prop.The left hand thread on the end of the prop. Is usedto electrically crank over the hot bulb [glow plug] 4cc I.C.E. On the water, a scope to the rear of the prop. circulates water around the cylinder head and then discharges it overboard.Performance wise 200cc of methanol will last 15 minuteson 1/3rd throttle. This gives a realistic speed with a good bow wave. Any more throttle and it becomes difficult to control. The stern gets dragged under and the rudders become hypersensitive.

see video clipp above

The model is 10 years old, 3ft long. Twin Screw and powered by 2x540 electric motors via a single solid state 30amp speed controller. The batteries are 4x2volt lead acid cells (4amp in series) It's my only model that performed well first time on the pond. see video clip Martins Destroyer.

Steam plant;- Copper boiler;- with a double pass flue.

Fired from a pressurized petrol tank into a blow lamp burner assembly, Safety valve lifts at 80 p.s.i., Boiler feed pump:- This pumps warm water into the boiler at a variable rate. The pump is electrically driven via a speed controller. Steam engine;- This is a single cylinder double acting engine of 7/8 inch bore x 1 7/8ths inch stroke. The main, big end and trunnion bearings are all on ball races. This single cylinder engine rotation will reverse some times?? The steam plant was bench tested and ran ok at East Park [ see photo ] in the summer of 2006.

Petrol blow lamp needs further work to ensure a finer flame. Boat with steam plant will steam hopefully during Oct.2007.

Model Size : 39" scratch built, Time Taken to Build : 4 months hull was given to me by the late George Netherton. Topside it resembles an inshore patrol boat which would have been driven by a high speed compound steam reciprocating engine. However This vessel is driven by a 10cc glow plug engine. Yes its

engine is a shade oversized as usual ha. ha.. 250 cc of a methanol based fuel will last 10 minutes at ¼ throttle. Any more throttle and its not easy to handle. The prop. thrust is taken on a ball race within the hull and start-up is done using an electric starter via the prop.