old working boats

[Bob Chamberlain]

My chum wants to make a scale model of a working boat for his garden railway.  He's thinking turn of the century (the last one!) and wants to know if they were all 70' or were there shorter ones as well (he can't fit a scale 70' in!).

 

Any info much appreciated!  Thanks,

Bob

[Jen-in-Wellies]

There were shorter boats. 57' narrowboats for through travel over the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and on to the canals of Yorkshire. Also, lots of canals with broad beam boats, over seven feet wide, but shorter than a narowboat. 57' to 60' long, by 14' or so wide on the northern canals and elsewhere.

Also more specialist boats, like ice breakers, or inspection craft could suit turn of the last century and are shorter. Trouble is, these don't look so much like a typical canal boat. A little compression would work. Shorten the length to fit and it will still look like a working narrow boat.

 

[Bob Chamberlain]

Smashing thanks!

[Jen-in-Wellies]

Also, at the turn of the last century, they would almost all be horse drawn. A very few steam powered one on some routes.

See here  for an idea of the sorts of boats and methods.

Edited October 4, 2022 by Jen-in-Wellies

[Tonka]

55 minutes ago, Bob Chamberlain said:

My chum wants to make a scale model of a working boat for his garden railway.  He's thinking turn of the century (the last one!) and wants to know if they were all 70' or were there shorter ones as well (he can't fit a scale 70' in!).

 

Any info much appreciated!  Thanks,

Bob

Loads of different lengths were around in 1999. The end of the last century 

[magnetman]

As suggested an icebreaker would be a nice little boat to do a model of. Usually 25-40ft long I believe.

 

Like this

 

Edited October 4, 2022 by magnetman

[Athy]

59 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Also, at the turn of the last century, they would almost all be horse drawn. A very few steam powered one on some routes.

 

....which leads me to suggest, how about a model of  steam-powered "Gentleman's launch"? Handsome craft, period-appropriate and much shorter.

[Ray T]

This book may be of use, not just for boats.

 

 

Modelling Ports and Inland Waterways: A Guide for Railway Modellers: Amazon.co.uk: Wright, David: 9781785001673: Books

 

What scale is his railway?

Edited October 4, 2022 by Ray T

[Athy]

It occurs to me that if he can't fit a model of a 70 foot boat into his garden, either he's modelling in a very large scale or he has a very small garden.

 

[Ray T]

2 minutes ago, Athy said:

It occurs to me that if he can't fit a model of a 70 foot boat into his garden, either he's modelling in a very large scale or he has a very small garden.

 

 

Just as a guide this model of mine is approx. 34" long, near enough 1:22 scale which is G gauge.

 

G gauge

Model gauge: 45 mm (1.75 in)

Prototype gauge: metre gauge

Scale ratio: 1:22.5

[IanM]

4 hours ago, Bob Chamberlain said:

My chum wants to make a scale model of a working boat for his garden railway.  He's thinking turn of the century (the last one!) and wants to know if they were all 70' or were there shorter ones as well (he can't fit a scale 70' in!).

 

Any info much appreciated!  Thanks,

Bob

 

One thing I would say is get your friend to look at pictures and drawings and pay attention to them.  Lots of people add canals to their model railway but very few actually seem to get them right.

[Ray T]

Not an altogether accurate model but I compromised as one does.

 

More the style of a Cowburn and Cowper boat rather than a Josher!

 

Model as purchased.

Edited October 4, 2022 by Ray T

[Ray T]

Look here as well, a model railway, including canal scene in the hold of a narrowboat.

 

http://hadarford.blogspot.com/

 

https://009society.com/news/hadarford-by-keith-lodge/?v=79cba1185463

Edited October 4, 2022 by Ray T

[Derek R.]

Please don't let your friend make something like this:

http://www.pamelasmusic.co.uk/Library/narrowboat.htm

[Ray T]

2 minutes ago, Derek R. said:

Please don't let your friend make something like this:

http://www.pamelasmusic.co.uk/Library/narrowboat.htm

 

An exhibit from Mad Max?

[Derek R.]

A very vivid imagination.

[Tam & Di]

How they can say:

 "About 3 feet long and full of details and miniature items with amazing detail. All correctly detailed from traditional construction,  painting, rope-work" is beyond me.  🤷‍♂️ 

I can't even see how the model person leaning against the boat fits into the cabin.

 

Tam

Edited October 4, 2022 by Tam & Di

[roland elsdon]

In the second advert picture the tiller is upside down!

[Ray T]

6 minutes ago, Tam & Di said:

How they can say:

 "About 3 feet long and full of details and miniature items with amazing detail. All correctly detailed from traditional construction,  painting, rope-work" is beyond me.  🤷‍♂️ 

I can't even see how the model person leaning against the boat fits into the cabin.

 

Tam

 

I have a man to steer my model.

[Derek R.]

Probably a bit on the big side . . . . Four feet long, and that's just the back cabin and rudder (which I have to alter as I made the ram's head too long).

 

Apologies for the dolls, but it drew customers in.