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[rathikrishna]

Goos evening friends...i have a serious problem to overcome..i almost finished my new paddler,the SWAN, but after fixing the paddler wheel i found a problem ,that even with a high RPM, my craft is not taming to go foreward much...so i am asking that the thing , about the depth of the oars in to water...is there any need to dip the oars deep in water..?..or at just surfacing..PLEASE HELP ME...i am losing my sleep...

[tobyker]

If it doesn't work at 100 rpm or less, it ain't going to work at all. I had half inch deep floats on a four inch diameter wheel, and I reckon they need to be 2/3 submerged when the boat is at rest. But show us a picture of the boat in the water, with some idea of size.

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

Hi Rathi

Here is a picture of my Waverley Paddle steamer's paddle wheels.

The best position is for the water to cover one and a half floats deep and to have the bottom paddle vertical. Mine are what is called "Feathering wheels". This means they stay parallel to the water when they are submerged.

If they are fixed and do not feather then as they come out of the water, they are at an angle and cause a drag.

Hope this helps

Ken
 

[rathikrishna]

Sure i will post pics here...and Kenny..its far beyond my reach..i know such systems, as we use in auto mobile wiper assy...but i do not have any high quality working atmosphere here..so i made all my paddles from foam board..its diameter is 6 centimeters and oar in to 2 cms again.it took 3 days and two sleeples nights to compleate..its my dream craft..so i have to finish it...i have wired a steam engine sound generator for it..but..not much in to foreward...ohhh..i will be back with its pictures..

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

Yes. Pictures of the wheel would be nice. I would love to see them.   

Here is a picture of a wheel from the Graupner model of the Glasgow. I know its also a feathering type but it does give an idea of the proportions of the blade to the diameter.

As Tobyker says, it should pull along at a slow speed as it's shifting a lot of water. If the wheels turn too fast then water will fill the  boxes and the speed will not be there.

Ken

[rathikrishna]

ohh nice wheels..Sir i can only post my picture by night...because i am sitting in an internet cafe 30 kms from my home..so i have to go back and take pics...nice i will and i hope i can overcome my problem..Sir i will post a detailed picture here from its making.so if you feel anything wrong never neglect  to advice once...its a request...

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

Glad to help you.

2 sugars in my tea please.   

Ken

[Timo2]

Hi Rathikrishna

    PM send

   Timo2

[rathikrishna]

Thank you friends...for your reff i am posting some pics here..its not in high quality, as i do not know to take pictures in this HD camera. so excuse me once for the less resolutions...

[rathikrishna]

and some more..

[rathikrishna]

its powered by a toy gear box, with a reworked motor for 6 volts.at around 3 volts it spins nicely but my craft is not going to forward, but water sprayed at back, and in to craft.if i increase the speed the splash also increases to a great extent, and craft starts to rotate in its own axis...WHAT CAN I DO...advices please...i cant leave this model as i was keeping this idea for long...

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

I can see the problem.  It's a rear wheeler and it will need many more blades.

In an ideal world the blades must be the width of the ship, but I notice you have the motor positioned between two sets, so this could prove a problem.  The blades are not very high on this type of boat because the water has to come off before it rotates above the top.  see picture 2.

You might also notice the steering in picture 1.

Here are a few pictures to give you the idea.  

Ken

[tobyker]

I defer to Kenny. who probably has more experience than me of sternwheelers, but are you sure the slow speed is slow enough? If it is spraying water everywhere it may be spinning too fast. I had much the same problem with a sidewheeler, until I swapped the insensitive (but I admit over-amp-rated) ESC for a nice cuddly one from you-know-who.
Nice photos, nice workmanship.

[rathikrishna]

Good after noon friends, by last night i overcame this problem,as i researched about it...yes it was same to Tobyker, as it spinned much faster, and the depth was too low,so i repositioned a little lower, and insted of 6 volts i gave only 1.5 volt drycell..result was amazing, and with a mere 1.5 volt drycell, my craft is running much faster than using a 2500 mah 7.2 battery packed one...soo thanks for the great advice and design diagrams, so i need it more as i have a plan to build more stearn wheelers...friends, by listening to my craft i am confused that, is propeller or paddler more efficient..?   i am posting a simple video here for a good reff:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u72ZigOsc4c

[tobyker]

Well done mate - glad things are improved. The Royal Navy built two frigates way back with the same engines/boilers to see if screws or paddles were more efficient - google HMS Rattler and HMS Alecto to get the full story. (it must be on the web somewhere - or maybe someone can post a link.

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

Well done indeed. Lovely job Rathi. I especially liked the imitation drive arms. Nice finish.

Was that a little drum tapping away in time with the spinning?.     

The lack of paddlers today should answer your question.

Ken

[mogogear]

I have to say you have made a wonderful stern-wheeler!! The melodic tapping and imitation pitman arms & shafts are a nice touch!

[rathikrishna]

Good morning Friends..and here the answers..i love so much the puffers and stearn wheelers.so i have compleated many all are stationary scaled. but nowadays i started many for actual rc operation..may be i am a crazy one..because i like to make all types. and the tappping sound is made out of a toy gearbox, with lids from a tooth pick holder and a balm bottle.i have to improve it...and yes the taping will be synchronised with arms as i fix identical speed controller to each motor.so i am wiring a electronic motor differential circuit for it.and also in my work home to make a smoke puffer unit, to puff the smoke out of exhaust funnel..chookk..choookk...

[rathikrishna]

Oh friends..i lost my cinnection here...and i hope my effort may inspire many to make stearnwheelers to play with..

[yanceymp]

sent e-mail to you
 

Myles

[Barry]

A couple of nice looking stern wheel kits seen in Float a Boats shop on my last visit. Not on his website yet - www.floataboat.com.au 

[rathikrishna]

Oh god..how fortunate all you are...ohhh..needed stuffs at hand when in need...ahah....so nice and thanks for the photographs...Barry...god may bless you..