Billings African Queen

[Lesco]

I have just obtained a Billings African Queen kit.It is an old one, but for $ 50 I thought I couldn't turn it down. It looks to be complete, with one (big) exception. There are no instructions. I have built a number of scratchbuilds, mostly from Model boats free plans, but they have all been wooden hulls. If I goofed something up I could always grab a new piece of balsa and start over.
I can probably figure out a lot of what is to be done, but it would certainly help to know just where the prop shaft should fit, or where to install the bulkheads in the hull, etc in the ABS hull.
There is one large sheet showing all details on building the boiler and engine (which I probably won't use) and on the other side is a view showing the deck layout. I have to think there should be more than that to help build the kit.
Assuming there should be more drawings or instructions, does anyone have anything I can beg borrow or buy, or suggestions on how to proceed? I have checked the threads on this site, and haven't found a build on this hull. Any help will be appreciated.

[toesup]

There are no instructions.

Assuming there should be more drawings or instructions, does anyone have anything I can beg borrow or buy, or suggestions on how to proceed? I have checked the threads on this site, and haven't found a build on this hull. Any help will be appreciated.

Some info and full size pics here..
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6842.0
and here..
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=9917.0

Have you tried contacting Billings to see what you are missing?..
http://www.billingboats.com/index.html

[steveciambrone]

When I built the African Queen I was kind of shocked at the lack of instructions, they only provided a generic type of instructions for the kit. The same instructions can be downloaded from the Billings website. It is a pretty basic model so by looking at the drawings it can then be assembled.

I built the model so feel free to post questions.

Thanks
Steve

[steamboatmodel]

Just remember, the Steam Engine/Boiler in the film did not drive the boat. The Green box is an engine cover over ether a gas or diesel engine. The Hull is made from Iron strips riveted on frames not wood.
Regards,
Gerald.

[Habanero]

My question is on the Billings model- why the hydrogen and oxygen tanks? Why would those be of use on a steam boat? Does it have something to do with the movie perhaps? Oxygen to stoke the fire maybe? :confused:

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Bogart was probably transporting them to a buyer, before his boat was
commandeered by Hepburn..

[Habanero]

Remember seeing the flick at summer camp 30-odd years ago. Now that I own the model I wanted to rent it but Netflix doesn't even have it :mad:

[amdaylight]

Remember seeing the flick at summer camp 30-odd years ago. Now that I own the model I wanted to rent it but Netflix doesn't even have it :mad:
I just went to Net Flix and found it (http://www.netflix.com/Search?ff2_submit.x=14&v1=African+Queen&ff2_submit.y=18)

Andre
Portland Oregon

[Habanero]

Try putting it in your queue. ;)

[amdaylight]

Try putting it in your queue. ;)

I see what you mean, I wanted Operation Petticoat and it took them 6 months to get it to me. I will have to grill my wife when she gets home and find out what gives with Netflix, she used to work for them in customer service.

Andre

[mfr02]

My question is on the Billings model- why the hydrogen and oxygen tanks? Why would those be of use on a steam boat? Does it have something to do with the movie perhaps? Oxygen to stoke the fire maybe? :confused:
In the course of the film Bogart fixed a broken prop and later used the cylinders as explosive charge carriers when he turned the boat into a torpedo.
If you were operating a mechanical contrivance several hundred miles away from any possible help, having a few bits and pieces with you would seem a good idea.
Classic movie, try to find it on DVD.

[charlie eaton]

In the movie they emptied the cylinders out and packed them with dynamite,made crude contact fuses and sank the German gunboat. That is the only reason for them to be there,damn good story and movie though.

This is my version of the kit,mine was built as a rum runner launch. I did build the fake steam plant as an alternate arrangement.

[amdaylight]

I generally don't put figures on my boats, the figures just don't look right to me, out of scale or just bad proportions. But saying that some how with out Bogart and Hepburn in the model it just would not look right, maybe because with out them it would not be the "African Queen".

Andre

[Lesco]

I’d like to thank all who made suggestions and offered help to my query regarding plans for the Billings African Queen
I tried e-mailing Billings but the first address on their website didn’t work, and so far I haven’t received a reply from their Danish site. There is a list on their site for downloading instructions, but the African Queen isn’t on that list. However, through the local hobby shop we found a site with drawings and measurements that I think will be enough to get me well started on my kit.
I don’t think I will use the dummy steam power, and like the way Charlie Eaton used the hull, but converted it to what he called a rum runner. I hope he won’t mind my copying his ideas. The pictures he posted are a real help.
In the late 1970’s there was a plan published for a 42 inch Steam Tug called the Weymouth.I wonder if anyone remembers it? I built it, and put a Stuart Turner Vi0 engine in it. It ran well, although the only radio control I had was for the steering. The main problem was that if the engine stopped on dead center it stalled. I machined up a Double 10, but all it really did was use up the steam faster (although it didn’t stall). I left it alone for a long time, but recently I started construction of a smaller 2 cylinder engine, called the Borderer, which, although 2 cylinder, has the same total cylinder capacity as the single cylinder V10.I may have it finished in time for this summer’s sailing, and see how it goes.
I realize this last bit is really off topic, but perhaps it will be of interest to some modelers.

[charlie eaton]

Lesco, be my guest and copy my boat all you want. I did stain all the woodwork and haven't made up the cargo of booze as yet. The way the boat is built the center section of the deck is removable for almost the whole lenght of the boat. This makes getting at equipment very easy. I did make an engine cover to hide the 600 size motor. I'll add a couple of pictures to show you. I extended the aft decking forward to cover the rudder servo. The extention on the back of the engine cover is for the ''transmission'' I added a shift lever on that. I have a tiller on the rudder so the boat would be run fron the rear seat.

[bob2fly]

I need the instruction sheets. The Billings web site has many manuals, but not this one, and they have not replied to my email.
Anyone have any ideas on how to get a copy of the manual? I sure would appreciate it.

[boater_dave]

Here are some shots of one example in our club. Built by Gordy Kjer.

Dave

[RC Boat]

I built mine many years ago and as I recall there are no written instructions only 2 sheets that show drawings of how parts are placed, one for the hull and one for the steam engine.

It is a really good sailing boat, I powered mine with a nine volt pancake motor from Radio Shack and 2 six cell NiCad packs (mostly for ballast), and a Rooster ESC. It runs for many hours in that configuration.

The boat is well worth the trouble of building it.

[bikemec]

Flicking through Ebay found these,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Plans-and-Instructions-for-Billing-Boats-African-Queen_W0QQitemZ130337311034QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_T oysGames_ModelKits_ModelKits_JN?hash=item1e58b5893 a

I'm not the seller or related etc... might be of some help

[bob2fly]

I want to thank everyone for their assistance in helping me locate Af Queen manuals. I just purchased the one that was on Ebay for $10.

Billing boats has also emailed me a PDF of the manual as per the below.

Again thanks.

Let the building begin !!
Bob

[bob2fly]

Today Billing Boats emailed me a PDF of the African Queen manual.

So Billing Boats stands behind and supports their products.

[bob2fly]

...........
It is a really good sailing boat, I powered mine with a nine volt pancake motor from Radio Shack and 2 six cell NiCad packs (mostly for ballast), and a Rooster ESC. It runs for many hours in that configuration.

The boat is well worth the trouble of building it.

Your power system looks very interesting. I went to the Radio Shack web site, but am not sure which motor you are referring to.

Could you please supply more motor details.

[Melih PEKOL]

bob,

can you share the pdf manual
I built the AQ about 12 years ago and lost the manual (as usual), buried in somewhere
will be good to keep in archive

mp

[bob2fly]

bob,

can you share the pdf manual
I built the AQ about 12 years ago and lost the manual (as usual), buried in somewhere
will be good to keep in archive

mp

I will try to attach.

[RC Boat]

bob2fly;
I don't see the pancake motor on the Radio Shack site either, but not surprising as I built the African Queen more than 10 years ago. The part has probably been discontinued. The motor that I have is 1 & 3/8ths in diameter and 1/2 inch in width. There are no markings on the case (there may have been a label at one point but it is long gone).

[Melih PEKOL]

bob2fly,

thanks for the pdf
:)

mp

[bob2fly]

The Af. Queen build is coming along fine. But I need recommendations for an electric motor.

I would like to use the same 7.2V 3000mAh NiMH 13oz batteries that I use in my 30 inch long Chris Craft by Pro Boat. The battery (5.4x2x1 inch) fits nicely under the front of the side flooring of the Af. Queen, which I have screwed to the frame. The battery can easily be installed and removed with the side flooring screwed in place.

But the motor for the Chris Craft is 1.5 inches in diameter and 2.5 inches long and is too big to fit under the Af. Queen’s faux engine gear box (the “dome” part #55). So I will need a smaller motor.

I would appreciate any ideas for an electric motor. Also will there be heat issues? Thank you for your input.

[Habanero]

It is a small boat, supposed to be steam and not a pushing tug or speedboat so really does not need a lot of power mine has a very small motor -I run a 7.2 as well- never had heat issues.

Edit: was just told my motor is a 380.