Kootenay Lake Sternwheeler Build

[JeffB]

The late 19th century saw the formation of the Columbia & Kootenay Steam Navigation Company. A fleet of sternwheelers was built for the purpose of navigating the waters of the Columbia River and Kootenay Lake. Robert D. Turner has authored the book "Sternwheelers and Steam Tugs - An illustrated history of the Canadian Pacific Railway's British Columbia Lake and River Service".

I plan to build a steamwheeler based on the plans of the steamer Kokanee in HO scale for the Echo Valley Railroad Guild's layout.

The first part of the build is the research. While the book is my primary reference there is also a website "Sternwheelers of Kootenay Lake" that is useful.

The drawings in the book do not provide enough detail to be a completely accurate model so much of the detail will be based on the available photographs and artistic license. Hence, I hesitate to say that it will be an accurate replica but rather it will be a reasonable facsimile based on the available information.

Enough said for now. The next post will begin my journey.

Jeff Betcher

[Carl_B]

Looking forward to this project Jeff, I'll be along for the ride.

[sgtbob]

Jeff, Nice to see the build string started. I will be following closely.[:-jumprefect][:-jumprefect]

Bob

[jbelwood]

Jeff, I also have Turners book. Your build should be a fascinating post

to follow. You already know of my fascination with these old wooden

ships and how they were built.

John

[dougcoffey1950]

Jeff, I read Turner's books as well and as I was already well along on my layout I decided to lean it towards early BC railroads. Turner has a few more books as well and I believe his book on the Kettle Valley RRs has a drawing of a stern wheeler.

[Ensign]

Hi Jeff! I have some very stern words for you!

It's fantastic that you have started this build thread!

Greg Shinnie

[JeffB]

Thank you Carl, Bob, John, Doug, and Greg. I've been putzing around with this project for two years now and it's about time I made some real progress. The first of my posts will be bringing you up too speed to where I am (which isn't very far).

The first thing to construct is the hull. I used the hull configuration of the Kokanee on page 40 in Turner's book. Using the scale I determined how much larger I needed to make the the hull lines for HO scale. I then lofted the drawings to HO scale.






The drawings of the deck configuration is inside the front and back covers. A useful tool for determining dimensions from these drawings is a set of proportional dividers:



These will be used throughout the build for the superstructure and deck fittings.

Jeff Betcher

[Frederic_Testard]

That's a great project. Railroad and boat transportation near the Kootenay lake was something fascinating, and it's a luck Bob Turner's books have described them for everyone to appreciate them.

I'm looking forward to watch your model.

[Ensign]

Jeff,nice looking shop & workbench you have there!

Wish I had one that looked that organized!

Greg Shinnie

[Frank_Palmer]

I second that Greg, Jeff there's only one thing missing, the mess.

[elwoodblues]

Jeff,

This is going to be a very interesting build, I will be following along.

[sgtbob]

Jeff, I am in shock !!!!!

I will not let my wife see those photos of your neat shop. She thinks all modelers have to

climb over, under, and through piles of tools and scrap to get to their model workbenches.

Bob

[JeffB]

Ok, ok! It's not as neat as it appears. These are staged shots focusing on a small area. Seriously though, Frederic, Greg, Frank, Ron, and Bob, thanks for coming along for the ride.

More to follow,

Jeff

[JeffB]

Once the drawings are lofted to the correct scale it is time to begin hull construction. There are many ways to construct the hull. I chose the bread and butter method which involves drawing the hull lines onto a number of planks which are then shaped according to the lines.

The plans, tools and wood:



The process of marking the hull lines on the wood begins:





Here is one of the pieces of wood marked and ready to be cut:





Stay tuned for the next exciting installment; will the planks glue together as they should or will they mysteriously shuffle themselves during the gluing process ruining hours of intense highly skilled work?

Jeff

[Ensign]

Looking good so far Jeff!

With even more views of your shop,I'm really starting to question if you are a modeler or a wood wright.

Man that looks like a great place to work!

Greg Shinnie