1924 Diesel tug Craig [Archive]

Footski

Feb 28, 2009, 07:06 AM

I have just ordered a set of plans for this tug and am after as much information about her as I can get.

So far, I know she was designed by J Murray Watts and built by the Craig Brothers Marine Railway Company of Norfolk, Virginia for use in those local waters.

Any information will be gratefully accepted.

Barry

PS. Can't post a picture as the ones I can find are copyrighted..

Tugboat Andy

Feb 28, 2009, 12:34 PM

Hi Footski - could you post a link? :)

toesup

Feb 28, 2009, 12:50 PM

This one?
http://modelplans.steamboats.org/p16-craig.html

I'm assuming you have seen this?..
http://books.google.com/books?id=uhIFOOW4V9sC&pg=PA161&lpg=PA161&dq=1924+Diesel+tug+Craig&source=bl&ots=ANicI2Q1OV&sig=ISplGwQDncarnCO7tbUpLWzbGsA&hl=en&ei=2HipSdCsJ5m0sQO43JjlDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA161,M1

Tugboat Andy

Feb 28, 2009, 01:28 PM

Ah....nice sheer on that one... :cool:

capntroy

Mar 01, 2009, 05:10 AM

John Fryant is a member on this forum, you could see if he has any extra info.

Craig Brothers was bought out by Lyons Shipyard in Norfolk, they're still in business, could be a start there.

Also, Mystic Seaport has her on it's list of named vessels, you can order whatever articles that might have for 50 cents a page.

Footski

Mar 01, 2009, 05:20 AM

toesup,

Yes that is the one..

Thanks but yes I have seen those llinks. capntroy, thanks again ,but have seen that. Mystic Seaport article has no more info than I already have.

Really looking for anything about her time afloat!!

John Fryant

Mar 01, 2009, 11:49 PM

Footski

Mar 02, 2009, 04:14 AM

Footski,

If you find or have found any photos of the Craig tug, could you let me know where you found them? I'd like to have one or more to sell with the plans. Also, if any one builds the model, I'd like to see some photos of it.

Will do John.
I hope to start building her later this year, but have a commission build of a Narrowboat to do first. I have sent you a pm.

P_J_Glor

Mar 04, 2009, 07:32 PM

You might try joining the tug group on Yahoo at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tugboats/ If you put out an inquiry, you may even find yourself communicating with an ex employee of Craig. They are very responsive, and you get some great pictures if you ask for rich-text e-mail notification of posts.

Pete G.

P_J_Glor

Mar 04, 2009, 11:06 PM

You can also do a Research Request through the Steamship Historical Society of America. You can find their on-line Request Form here: http://www.sshsa.org/research/requestform They also cover Diesel powered vessels.

I used them for research in the 1980's and they sent me Xerox copies of a bunch of photos and I could then order the ones I wanted.

Pete G.

Footski

Mar 05, 2009, 01:27 PM

Footski

Apr 05, 2009, 03:37 AM

Well, I have got the model underway. Made up the frames and building board. Planked the hull using 3mm thick balsa planks,and have just started fibreglassing the inside, which is the first time I have ever done this. Once the inside is done, I will sand the hull down and glass the outside.

patmat2350

Apr 05, 2009, 09:07 AM

Very nice! I believe I see a built-up keel and sternpost... and their width relative to the frames creates a "rabbet" to lay the planking into?

And I am curious... now that you have put fiberglass (or just resin?) inside the hull... would you recommend that for others? It seems like a lot of work for an area that stays dry (we hope!)

Footski

Apr 05, 2009, 09:47 AM

Hi Patman, Well spotted. The keel is made up of 2 pieces of 3.2mm liteply and has two 2mm strengtheners glued to it which act as a support for the planking. The internal fibreglass is done because the planking is of balsa wood and so is very soft. Once hardened off I can sand the outside of the hull without the planking flexing, ready to glass the outside, thus getting a very strong and light hull.....well tht's the theory anyway!!

Footski

Apr 08, 2009, 03:08 AM

Well I have now finished sanding the hull and glassed the inside. I have also put the first, "rough" glass on the outside. I have never done any fibreglassing before, but so far it seems okay.

Tugboat Andy

Apr 08, 2009, 09:59 PM

THAT is a beautiful hull! Very nice work. :cool:

I may have to give plank on frame a try after I get through my paper mache phase.

Footski

Apr 11, 2009, 01:31 PM

The hull now has all the fibre glass on it and has been put aside for a few days to cure properly.

HS93

Apr 11, 2009, 08:15 PM

Looking good Mate, I must try a planked hull ,keep up the good work

Peter

avidjeepr

Apr 11, 2009, 10:12 PM

Looking good Footski. :D Keep the pictures coming.

Footski

Apr 20, 2009, 03:13 AM

No pictures to come yet as my fingers are too sore from all that darned sanding.....No body told me it was this difficult to sand....Any way it is coming along slowly. I reckon another two weeks before I get the hull as I want it.......SMOOTH!!!!

more coffee

Apr 20, 2009, 08:30 AM

Footski

Apr 21, 2009, 07:13 AM

I couldnt lay a plank if my life depended on it ..You guy's make it look so easy ..

Did you use "kitty hair" on the hull or Fibreglass cloth ?

If you dont mind could you elaborate on which resin you used ?

I used a coarse fibreglass matting which I found easy to get to the shape of the hull. The resin is a pretty standard polyester type with seperate hardener. Bought in 1 ltr tins, completer with the matting and hardener for only 11 Euros..

Hope this helps..

Footski

May 10, 2009, 06:03 AM

Okay, well at long last I have applied a coat of primer to the hull, simply to highlight any areas with problems. I am quite pleased as it does not look too bad, even though the paint did run in a couple of places, (Clumsy devil), Following a little more filling and another sanding she will be ready to move on.

Habanero

May 10, 2009, 07:10 AM

I wish mine looked that nice.

I was too lazy to sand it that well- it will look good on the water at least.

Footski

May 12, 2009, 06:07 AM

Really galloping along now as I have made up the card template for the deck. Made from 4 pieces of cereal packets...(don't tell the wife as they were not finished with!!).
Next will be to cut this out of thin ply to create a sub deck. Now looking for the running gear..

tigerbay

May 12, 2009, 11:06 AM

Its looking really good Footski
Great job on the hull.

Footski

May 24, 2009, 01:54 PM

Not much work done on the hull, apart from construction of a sub deck, as I have still not decided where to buy my prop and prop shaft from, so I got on with the stand, which has been finished with a little antique finishing oil.

I also started a basic frame for the superstructure, but that is about it for now until I get hold of some more 1mm ply, shaft, prop and some figures...

Footski

May 31, 2009, 10:17 AM

Onto some detail for a change. I have started to build the main superstructure, planked the bulkheads in the galley, made up a workbench and started the stove, which will be finished when I know what type it would be. Also made up a kitchen wall unit, which has to be painted white.

LONGBIKE

May 31, 2009, 11:19 AM

Looking great Footski!
Nice details in the cabin.

Prins Willem

May 31, 2009, 12:22 PM

Excellent job on the hull. In primer it looks almost like it came out of a mold.

Footski

Jun 21, 2009, 01:59 AM

The hull has now been sanded and had a coat of primer. That sanding seemed to take an age. I have added the rubbing strakes, and started work on the superstructure, including some details for the galley.

LONGBIKE

Jun 21, 2009, 11:56 AM

Looking great footski, Going to be a beautiful tug.

Footski

Jun 21, 2009, 03:11 PM

Looking great footski, Going to be a beautiful tug.

Thanks Jeff, From you that is a real compliment!

norgale

Jun 22, 2009, 07:40 PM

Footski you say that you glassed the inside as well as the outside. How did you go about that? I have an American Enterprise to build and I think it could benefit from glass on the inside but isn't that pretty hard to do with the frames ect. in there? Pete

Footski

Jun 23, 2009, 07:33 AM

Pete,

What you do is cut the matting so that it fits between the frames and then apply the resin to it, pushing the matting about till it is where it should be. The frames themselves, just get a couple of coats of the resin.

norgale

Jun 23, 2009, 09:36 AM

OK> Thanks Footski. Seems like a practicle idea to me. Pete

Footski

Jul 12, 2009, 03:17 AM

I have now made up the Navigation Light, whist awaiting delivery of the prop shaft and prop. Made from wooden dowel and rolled up paper, with a 5mm clear LED installed inside. The base unit is made using Brass shim and a short length of brass tubing. I just need to add a couple of small details and the front lens..