One of my latest projects, involved modifications to a Brand New - R/C Towboat Kit, that was recently introduced.    Maybe you've heard of "Phil Pace" and his fine kit source, called Vac-U-Boats?    But if you haven't, below I've included his Direct = Web Link, inside in his Logo! ..... So Check him out - Guys!!!

    Cause Phil's model kits are designed for "Novice Builders", as well as the Purist, whom wants to have a little fun, building some rather unusual subjects ..... And that's all I'm gonna say!    Except you'll be shocked at what he's been cooking up - in his workshop!    Cause Ole Phil - does lots more than just scale model = Tugs & Towboats!!!! ...  So go take a look at his website you'll quickly see what I mean about - Unusual Subjects.    And be sure if you contact him about your next project, to say hello for me .... Cause his kits and his highly detailed work ethic's, are some of the finest - I've seen yet in manufactured kits ..... NO BRAG = Jest FACT! 

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Project Vac-U-Towboat!

Modifying a "Single Screw" - Kit, into a Twin Screw, using extra = Vac-U-Formed Parts, And Scratch Building Methods Explained on this Website

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The Kit - Right Out Of The Box, From Vac-U-Boat!

    As I said = Phil Pace - just recently released this new "Generic Towboat Kit", in his unique kit production system, using "Vac-U-Formed" plastic parts.    And basically all you do is, trim the parts to proper fit, then paint and assemble them by following the instructions    Its So easy, "A Cave Man - can doit! ... if I can borrow a phrase from a well known TV commercial.    Because its just that simple to create this neat lil single screw towboat, which includes in the kit, the Dc Motor, all the Drive Shaft Parts, Rudders & Steering Fittings, The Decals and a whole lot more!    Ya just gotta go see what Phil - includes in his fine kits, to appreciate his work and its quality and his close attention to details.    Oh yeah - did I mention the kit also includes 2 - Flanking & a One Stern Rudder with the R/C linkage for Duel Steering?    "Yep! .... This kit is just like real towboat - only I wanted it to do - A Lot = MORE.    Thus the reason I decided to take Phil's great lil fun kit, and sorta add a few extra goodies to it, so it would be even More Realistic! .... Want Proof - OK, read below and see for yourself.... 

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    Here's the Proof! .... The M/V "Patsy Coleman", just one of many "Single Screw" vessels in the Crounse Corporation - Fleet.      These towboats are used to push coal in their contract towing business and have set the standard for others to follow.    "Doing what looks - almost  impossible, by shove'n massive tows with only a single - main engine.    Obviously you  better be good-at doing this sorta thing, if that one main engine - Ever Dies! ..... "Well Let's - just say, the results ain't gonna be Perty!" .... And Crounse has always been very particular how their boats are cared for, so they don't have much engine trouble with their boats!

    CROUNSE = has been in business since about 1948 and their 1st new towboats were all built as single screws, by St. Louis ship.    And Crounse liked these boats - So Much, they bought the design copyrights to those plans from SLS - as I call St. Louis Ship.     And just recently in the last few years, they contracted Jeffboat Shipyards at Jeffersonville Ind. to build them several new vessels.    The neat thing about this, was these new boats all used the old single screw - plans concept, but improved it by widening the hull to allow for the new boats to be built as Twin Screws!    Ever heard the Ole Saying - If it ain't Broke, DON'T FIX IT! ..... Well those old SLS Plans, certainly weren't outdated i their basic designs, so why change it - if it still works, and that's just what Crounse did. stay with the old design, but modernized it slighty to meet present day - Needs.    

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    Here's = More Proof!... Launched in 1993 by Jeffboat Shipbuilding, the M/V Debbie Sharp is a twin screw, designed from old Crounse - owned plans concepts.    With a wider hull, but keeping its original plans designs- looks.   "Who Says - Things Gotta Change, and I think Herman T. Pott, founder of SLS would be proud to know his boats are still leading the way in todays - inland river boat designs, even in traditions set way back in his earlly boat building years are still pushing with the best modern designs of today.    So you see how this model Kit - Phil Pace has created - really does have realistic details, even a purist would have to admire in Generic Model - Kits.    And when Phil started producing these kits, I had already had ordered the very first - 2 kits from his production.    My reason - being, naturally to build one kit, and keep the other as a "Collective" for possible future auction = on Ebay" someday, when I'm old and gray haired ... LOL!    It should bring a hefty price for an original "Phil Pace - Kit". that's never been out of its box.    And now that I've completed the modifications to my 2nd kitl, ole Phil ( "Bless his pea pick'un Heart! ), was inspired to create a whole new towboat kit.    Only this time, its gonna be a Twin screw version, and he used my method of building this hull, as modified "Twin Screw", to create his new kit from ......... "Now Ain't that a kick in the HEAD!"

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     Using an extra - pre ordered - Hull from Phil Pace at Vac-U-Boat, plus additions parts to create a twin screw - 2nd driveshaft, 2 motors and a double order of Rudder Fittings and all the usual stuff needed for building a twin screw, meaning Duel = Exhaust Stacks too!    I chopped the stern tunnel hull - plate, from one plastic hull, then married it into the other plastic hull, which created a twin screw - hull.    Basically this involved some careful measurements, and some cutting to fit the two stern tunnel hull plates, into the rest of the hull, then gluing them in place and lots of putty filling, sanding and smoothing the area out before paints were applied.    And after I was satisfied with the results, I used some plastic - strips to reinforce the area - inside the hull, to insure it wouldn't crack under towing stress.    Cause this sucker's gonna be shove'n = Hard, on barges and I don't like hull leaks!

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     As you can see, the above hull,  looks great, despite how horribly its stern was chopped-Up and modified by this old River Rat.    And the rest of this kit, followed Phil's - Kit Instructions, except where Duel Items - had to be arranged = In, or On the hull and structures.    The results.... "Well, You tell Me?    Cause it turned out pretty darn nice - I think, plus I even detailed the inside of the Helm and added working -  Deck & Nav - Lights too.    Those are are thanks to a couple dozen small = LED's, slightly reshaped to depict - Guard or Deck Lights.    Plus Super bright - LED's, used inside the Spot Lights.    And Yeah - "They look real, just like Zenon Spotlights shining with a bright blue-ish hue = At Night!"    And I added additional details like = Crewmen, Life Boat, Deck Clutter and more to make this lil model - Come Alive!

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    How'd It turn Out? ..... "You Tell Me!" .... Cause I'm to busy playing with my new r/c Towboat, respectfully named of course = the M/V "Philip W. Pace" after its kit designer.    And I should also point out, this model has one of Phil's Newest Idea's......A new - Magnetic Barge Coupling Device inside it!    It's actuated by an additional servo, used to pull a magnet - inline with the bow plate to draw a metal plate attached to a barge - To It, and hold it = Firmly.    And when ya wanna - Knock Loose, as they say in towboat terms, when removing tow lines to let a barge go.    Ya just flip the servo control and it swings the magnet - away from the bow plate, and releases the barge from the towboats grasp .... "Neat Huh!"     Alright Student River Pilots, lets get our barges lashed together and do some serious = TOW WORK!

What's Next?

An All New Set of 1/48 Scale - Hopper Barges! ... Maybe with Lids too!!!!

    Right Now = I'm Doing Modifications to my Workshop!    This due to my wheelchair which makes its own unique problems to solve in the shop.    So I'm modifying the shop to allow me to work more easily from my wheelchair, and also give me better storage for my models & barges.    And while doing this work, I'll be building all new Hopper Barges = Yeah - 15 of them 50" long Critters with 8 3/4" Widths and 3 inch drafts all fiberglassed to seal them tight! ..... And I have a few Surprises In store for those that like my work and my project ideas.    And you'll See Them - RIGHT HERE! .... So Stand By For More, providing my health don't go to POT!.... LOL!

I'll Post More - Later, So Check Back Often 

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Last Updated On 12/27/07 . With Fueled By

Email Old River Bill