Looks grand jba, picked up the post a bit late.

Nice work sir.

Al

Hi JB,

Looking great!

but what Pete mentioned about the asbestos rope... they also used that to wrap the exhausts of many of the early (WWI and early20's for certain) armoured vehicles.

Rudi

Hi Jean, sorry I'm late on this, but in reguards to the use of asbestos for the boiler, I just can't seem to find any refs. that it was used, especialy concidering it's a 1877 boat.
I know you're well into the build already but....
I've done alot of research while building my tramp steamer/freighter and yes asbestos was used on larger ocean going ships that had bioler rooms, early 1900's - WWI.
The boat you're building dosen't seem to be much larger than 30 or 40 feet long. Most of the refs. I've found of this launch - torpedo size craft would not have had an engine room per say. Most had open air - on deck or slightly recessed into the hold boilers, that is to say not much in the way of an enclosed space for it.
These pics. are of some restored launches, I have some origonals but not clear pics. The first pic. is a model built boiler, the rest a restored launch. The restored launch boiler is actually a boiler from a 1904 steam car, but is stated that it's not much different from one used in boats.
Most of the pics. I've found have the boiler banded in wood [ go figure ] and the actual fire box not insulated at all.
I have read of brick being used, but then again in larger craft.
Sorry for the pic. quality.
Glenn

Jean-Bernard

The post by Cheyenne brings up some good points, the fact that wood was used on smaller craft has already been mentioned and was apparently particulary common on vertical boilers fitted to small boats.

I fully accept that it is possible that asbestos was not used, but due the area of the world that this boat would have operated in, it is more than likely that some form of insulation would have been required, it is also possible that things were done differently in Europe at that time and so it is also possible that asbestos might have been used, it had been known about for thousands of years.

In defence of asbestos (I never believed I would ever say that) I put forward the following information:-

1712:- Chrysotile mined in Russia during the reign of Peter the Great.

1828:- The first known US patent issued for asbestos insulating material used in steam engines.

1853:- Asbestos helmet and jackets worn by Parisian Fire Brigade.

1866:- Moulded lagging material made from waterglass and asbestos.

1870`s :- The "modern" asbestos industry commenced in Canada and Russia, when large deposits of chrysotile were extensively exploited.

1886:- (To late for this boat I admit) Improved asbestos pipe lagging materials, based on 85% magnesia, were developed.

As I have said Asbestos might not have been used.

Jean-Bernard you have the drawings and you will have to decide, one thing is certain with or with out asbestos lagging the model will be to your normal high standard and extremly well made and painted.

In the end what counts is that we enjoy our hobby.





PeteV

Glenn thanks a million for your pics -if only i did have those 3 weeks earlier it could really have lep me to figure out some details -oh well! Those are already belonging preciously on my "reference" DVD. it's not the last boiler I will do I bet
Glenn, WHERE can we see your 3 feet long steamer?!

Pete extra thanks for tyhe historic details!
Actually when you told me about this asbestos/plaster thing i was fairly happy because that gave the opportunity of modeling some extra details (of the crunched kind) on the boiler -and also to imagine the weird colours the rust does on plaster etc.
So well, now she has her crumpled asbestos and I am not going to wipe it away as it looks pretty cool this way!

Since last time I posted about that boat, I came through a few extra details: the most interesting being that she was built by Thornycroft for the Tsar! When the Turkish menace began to be dire, he gave the boat to the Black Sea fleet who hastily transformed her in a PT Boat.

thanks again guys, your help has been much appreciated
JB

Great idea about a reference cd JB. Now I just need a cd organizer. :-)

~Kenny

Hi jba,

Having read Peter and Glenn's posts I'd say you are fine with what you have. The time frame is correct so without hard evidence I'd say either would be OK.

Quote

1866:- Moulded lagging material made from waterglass and asbestos.

1870`s :- The "modern" asbestos industry commenced in Canada and Russia, when large deposits of chrysotile were extensively exploited.

Quote

If by 1866 they were bring in a new improved process then there must have been an older previously used process that should suit your time frame.

Just some thoguht to cheer you up.

Cheers

Al

Thanks Al, anyway i just finished to do the beach ferns a few minutes ago, so well, it's time to pick up the brushes

Kenny when it comes to the weight of references -with all my in progress shots and all the stuff i have been finding on internet, I have 821M for this diorama lying in one folder :-)
i *do* have a big CD case near my computer