One of the largest wooden hull ships, if not the largest. I think there's only one model, in HO, that's ever been built. I've gotten so crazy I'm doing it in both Z and N scales. It's 433' long and 116' wide--a baby aircraft carrier. I'm doing the Z scale for a customer, and it has a zillion parts, and it's nearly 2 feet long, so I'm wondering if there is any interest in a kit? A built-up is going to be more than $6000; a kit in Z would probably be more than $400, and more in N just because of the styrene cutting involved--and have instructions like "Keep the 36 hull braces in order by length, the way they were laid out on the sheet, which may have fallen apart. Use the template to apply them in order from the center to the bow/stern, keeping them square. Now repeat three times." Or, and I'm joking here, "Take the 40 bits and pieces and make a paddlewheel that look like this. Make sure it is not warped, nor warps while the glue sets. Now make a second one." I think this one is for serious modelers only, who can look at it and joke along with me. I do believe these have never been made before. I would compare them to a Triplex, except they were very successful for more than 50 years, with a crossing time of less than 15 minutes.
Thanks! Impressive without doubt. Still don't know if it's buildable. Can't wait to get back to Ohio to try the window walls on the Black Cat cutter, as the Silhouette Cameo won't cut it even at 10X times. But I'd rather not spend 12 hours stuck on I-65 between Nashville and Louisville, or about the same on I-75 between Chattanooga and Lexington. Sheesh! May have to do the window walls in brass. Except for my customer, I'm not sure anyone else wants a boat this big or complicated, or if I want to build another one. The photos show only the initial mockup; I still have to build the real model. Folks don't realize it takes a few iterations to get all the cuts correct, or that it might take me a week just to draw the boat in the first place. I do have to agree it's impressive! If my craziness continues, I think a Nimitz-class carrier might be next.
Wow... the only one of these models I've seen is an HO version of the Solano. I've toyed with the idea in N scale by merging two Lindberg models of the Robert E Lee sidewheeler. The two hulls would have to be cut and spliced together and widened. The ' A' frames and the paddlewheels would probably be too small. However... there are probably enough parts between two kits make the superstructure and all of the sponsons to hold the cantilevered deck. Unfortunately... it would not be a true model of that ship... just a sort-off look alike. I never expected to read that someone would take on such an endeavour... other than you Pete. So far the model looks great.... I don't know how wide an appeal there is for this ship... which literally was in service for only a few years. It would only be a piece that could be justified by being commissioned. Sent from my ALCATEL ONE TOUCH Fierce using Tapatalk
I thought these were in service for quite a while. I honestly didn't realize how complex the models were until I started building the deck supports. The actual design principles are basic--these are huge powered barges--but the details are numerous, to use an understatement. The Solano is more complex than the Contra Costa, as the Solano had walking beam engines in the middle, so the paddlewheels were offset, and the tracks curved around the engines. The CC had the engines in the side houses, which created quite a strain on the hull, I've read. The Solano also had "prettier" details. This is a commissioned piece. I've been stuck in Alabama by the weather and family medical issues, so I started it with only the weak Silhouette Cameo cutter (weak pressure, nice machine!). I won't be able to judge how this will actually cut and build until I get back to Ohio. The small transom windows are something like 0.9 mm x 0.9 mm, which is pushing it for 0.375 mm or 0.5 mm styrene (0.015" or 0.020") I think I've mentioned that I might have to do them in brass. The paddlewheels are also very fiddly bits. Because of them, this is a full hull model, as I can't conceive of a good way to build 3/4ths of a paddlewheel for a waterline model. Yeah, the best way is to build the whole wheel and then slice it, but even I have difficulty doing that. This will be a hoot to finish and paint!
Not impossible, but pretty difficult. I'd farm those details out to the 3D printer folks, or the laser cutters. In 3D, stoney smith and southern n scale, among others, are doing some neat stuff; I've asked them to do a number of details in N and Z and they've come through admirably. I just haven't had anything suitable for laser folks to cut. I also haven't had an aircraft carrier commission, and don't see one coming down anytime soon. The market for these kind of models is pretty much wrapped up by a few firms who have been doing it for decades, and have capabilities far beyond my own. They are also much more expensive for a custom job.
The Solano was built in 1879 by the Central Pacific Rail Road... later becoming part of the Southern Pacific Lines. Contra Costa was built in 1914. It was a bit larger... and as you mentioned the 'A' Frames were moved to better align the four tracks. There are far fewer photos of the Contra Costa than the Solano. I just found some plans for both of the ships and confirmed your findings. I had overlooked the track alignment and would have totally messed up... thank-you! Solano plans: http://cprr.org/Museum/Solano/image...ckg/1890TransactionsArticle/Solano_Plan_1.gif Contra Costa plans: http://cprr.org/Museum/Solano/image...ntraCostaPlans-IntMarineEng_Nov1914 Fig01.gif
Yes, those are some of the plans I used. The articles in the marine architecture journal of the time fill in the details. The Contra Costa was a bit simpler in its detailing.
It is interesting to see the two designs with the Solano offset paddle wheels to clear the walking beam arms that power the shafts of the paddle wheels while on the Costa they are in line, but still suing the walking beam arm to power the paddle wheel shafts. I seem to recall Joe building a model of the Solano or at least starting one.
They are interesting variations on a theme. I wish I had more time to research these kind of stories and write them up. There were some monster beams on these two. On Great Bay in New Hampshire I once stumbled upon a WW I graveyard of unfinished 110' minesweepers, and was amazed at the size of the beams, and their condition after more than 50 years of just sitting there. Today I suspect you cannot find beams of the cross dimensions and lengths used in the 1870s through 1910s. Are there any facilities to cut them?
Pete, I'll be interested in your progress. The Solano and Contra Costa are of local interest to me. Regarding beams, when Bill Gates built his house (late 80's, early 90's ?) he needed 100' beams. Unable to find anyone who could produce them, he ultimately purchased and dismantled a 19th century pier for building materials. I'll try to do some digging, but I wouldn't be surprised if your estimated cost of producing a 21st century Z Contra Costa doesn't equal the cost of the 19th century prototype! Mark
LOL. I think the Solano cost about $425K in 1870's dollars, and the Contra Costa about $550K in 1915 dollars. I may be under by 50% or so--I read the cost while researching the ships but my memory is faulty these days. The CC had a simpler mechanism, and wasn't fitted out like the Solano--the CC was much plainer. I am back in Ohio, and the thousands of small windows do not cut well in 0.020 styrene, so I'm off to explore other ways to produce the distinctive sides. I cannot imagine a large market for this ship no matter how I package or price it. It is just too big for N scale.
Pete, Thanks for the info. Apparently, the Summer 1997 issue from SPTHS has a piece on the ferries and the bridge that replaced it. I want to read it. As a kid, we used to go fishing off Antioch, near where the sister ferry Solano was scuttled, getting there along a road that had these oversized street lights on the telephone poles that were actually the remains of the catenary for the Oakland & Antioch East RR. So your work brings back a lot of memories. Mark
I have explored cutting the windows in Z and N scale. I have not failed; I will just continue exploring.
And, after another day of failure, have submitted all of it to a brass photo etch firm. That also means it will have truly custom brass for the railings, with the distinctive X bracing, railings with closely-spaced stanchions, and better paddlewheel components. This will increase the kit price be about $50, but reduce the built-up cost by much more than $50. I eventually learn when to give it up.
Yes, the Z scale model was finished and delivered in the Spring of 2016. I'm sure I have some photos. I'll have to find them. I'm back in Ohio one last time, and my business is now in Alabama.
