Also, I modified my towboat (about 10 years ago) by implanting rare earth magnets in the tow knees as well as in one end of one of my barges. (Video link below.) To connect, just need to align the two together and go for it. For detaching I need to get the boat going forward to give it momentum, hit reverse then make it do the hula to shake off the barge. (I guess I could add a servo with some small pins through the knees to push the barge away.)

Lew
1. Home page
2. Towboat with magnetics video
https://www.RCFlorida.org/lmb

Lew mentioned the snag boats/barges removed debris from the rivers to protect the boats and barges from incurring damage which is a continuing problem. The rivers are constantly changing in spite of the efforts to contain them.
There are times in high water when a river will scour out the bank on the outside radius of a bend causing the bank to collapse into the river trees and all. Occasionally, a tree will become a "sleeper" also known as a "hull inspector". Over time the current strips the leaves and small branches off the trunk leaving it semi floating facing downstream with the roots getting fetched up on the river bottom. These "sleepers" may move farther out into the stream and be bobbing gently in the current or just barely under water. The "hull inspectors" are difficult to see particularly at night when the surface disturbance caused by their presence is hard to see. When a tow runs over them they occasionally act as spears or javelins trying to pierce the hull of a barge or towboat - hence "hull inspector" .

Another phenomenon that can happen occasionally is hearing - on a perfectly cloudless bluebird day - a rhythmic subtle roll of thunder. We had been working a daymark and looking down river towards the sound saw a tow pushing a float of empty barges upstream. The noise persisted as they drew past our position and we suspected the pilot was a little out of the channel, but knew he had enough water to cut the corner a little. What we finally figured out was the towboat wheels with all of their power was pulling water out from under the barges causing them to ground out occasionally. Being empty they acted like sounding chambers and rumbled like distant thunder.

Lew

I have used the stretch thread too for what I believe was radio antenna that ran from the bow to stern of the Vosper 1/35 Italeri kit.

I also used it for the bow hand hold and on any part that need to be removed but appear taunt when reinstalled on the vessel.

Over time, these elastic threads have lost some of their shape causing sagging. But they are a “easily?” replaced.

Rubber bands work well in connecting tugs, towboats, barges, etc. together. A while back I started making my line using small elastic cord usually found in sewing sections of stores. White is common but recently found it in colors at the location Dollar Tree store.

I also started using elastic cord for my tanks to fasten carry along item to the tank. Tie one end, stretch it a bit then tie the other end. Keeps things in place with not having to worry about making the line the correct length.

Lew

Thank you all!
Lew, the "people" are generally pretty helpful - there's a couple slackers, but they don't eat much and since I provide room and board, their maintenance is pretty low.
Chug, Ron, and Chum, the checks are in the mail!😉😊😊Thank You.
"Nonesuch" and "Asset #1" are part of "The River Supply Company" which is just some imaginary community and time from another world a lifetime ago.
A couple of random explanations from the photos Ron posted:
In the next-to-last photo of the barge crewman waving, there's a differential from a model A Ford model kit to his right. It's "driven" by an electric motor within the box which is connected to the pinion by a chain and sprocket. When the crewmen brake one side or the other the opposite side turns the winch head which theoretically raises the whip or topping lift by tailing on the line or lowers (by surging the line).
The second story in that set of photos is the calf on the head of the towboat. The skipper volunteered to haul the calf up river to a farm for a 4H kid that will raise it for a county fair in a year or two. That's fiction....a true story is a cattle farmer that lives on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River, but also owns land on the Indiana side of the river. In the late spring he hired an outfit like "RSC" to bring a flat up to his KY property and he'd drive part of the herd onto the flat for a trip across the river to his other holdings in Indiana for summer grazing. In the fall, they reverse the procedure and bring them back to KY. He said the "ferry trip" cost half what it would to truck the cattle.

Roy, "Snag" barges and boats - to remove debris from waterways to prevent damaging other boats, etc.

Stevedownunder, I put a single shaft on all 4 of the Springers that I have built. The reason is I follow the Springer rules just in case we decide to run them in competition. This includes motor size, prop diameter, rudder size, under hull shape, etc. They turn pretty good, especially for a single shaft boat. Has one would reason, it still has to be moving forward for it to turn.

Lew

Having seen Black Shoe’s work up close & personal I can confirm that he is worthy of all the praise herein plus! He is truly a craftsman who builds incredibly interesting models in great detail.

What I look for are not only the details but also the quality. I've seen a number of models with details but sub-standard work. Mr. Shoe must pay those miniature figures a lot of money to attain that. It is hard to imagine that big fingers can do that.

Lew

Ronald,

What really stands out to me in these photos are the ratlines.
The spacing looks very consistent, and the alignment across the shrouds is nicely maintained, which isn’t easy to achieve at this scale.

The tension appears well balanced too—no sagging or uneven lines—and the overall geometry follows the rake of the mast very naturally.
The attachment points look clean, and the scale thickness of both the shrouds and ratlines feels right.

It all comes together to give the rigging a very convincing, structural look.
A really well-executed piece of detail work.
😎

The hidden details of Blackshoe’s models are often overlooked unless you take the time to zoom in on the views.

Here you can see the Rubberband he refers to that keeps the barge nestled to the pusher tug.

Did you spot the calf? The driftwood collected and placed on deck? Or the various ropes and bumpers. And how about the squared rungs of the rat ladder leading up the mast. Those neatly tied knots on each rung!

I like those “Springers” they make me smile.

Hi Lew. there was a reference to a 'Snag' barge would also be a construction or rescue barge?
Roy

Nice little Springer Lew,

Looks like you fitted a single prop shaft and I am guessing a single rudder, how does the manoverabillity compare with the very manoverable river tug in a previous video?

Cheers,
Stephen.

Thanks for the photos Black Shoe,
I have never seen this sort of rudder arraingment before, you learn something every day.
Your tug and barge look just right as do the other models you have.

Cheers,
Stephen.

I think that most people don't realize the importance of the towboats in the United States. (I'm sure that a few of you do.)

There is a massive amount of items transported on the eastern rivers, with a lot of it going outside of the United States. These huge tows being pushed by towboats are the cheapest way of transporting these type of goods. Much cheaper than trucks trains etc. I don't know what the percentage of the goods transported by towboats and barges are, but it has to be a lot.

So the design of the tow boats have to take into a lot of requirements, depth of the rivers, size/capacity of the locks, wind and weather, navigation hazards, loading and unloading piers, refueling, etc.

Towboats can be found almost anywhere in the United states. In this area of Florida, Tampa is the largest seaport. Tow boats here don't usually have multiple barges, I have seen them used to move fuel barges to the cruise ships. Smaller towboats are usually used for moving construction barges, mostly for bridge building and repair.

This trickles down to the smallest sizes, many about the size equivalent to the rc model Springer tugs. They are often moved about on trailers towed by semis. One that I modeled (see link below) after actually traveled by truck less than 50 yards from the pond we run our model boats in. It was launched into the larger lake adjacent to the park along with some barges.

Lew

rcflorida.org/lmb/lmbs3/ https://share.google/lMPPFJSpUURlWdl2E

Black Shoe:
What a nice couple of models. Eyecandy for riverboats fan.
Rubber bands? What a great idea. I love it.
😎

Hi Stephen,
Here's a couple images of "Nonesuch". It's an old model, probably 10-12 years old, but has been reliable and easy to launch/retrieve which at my age is a factor as to "who goes sailing".
One thing that I have learned with our towboat models - which isn't scale, - but has proven valuable is to use heavy rubber bands to make up a tow. The rivers are virtually waveless so there's virtually no "rough water" to deal with. On open ponds our models are subject to wakes from other boats, breeze waves, and since we can't scale water or wind, the conditions would be considered severe in the 1:1 world. If we made up our tows with line (cables) too tight with no give it wouldn't take much to rip out cleats and bitts.

Lew:
Rowboat Joe’s Inland River Model has been one of my favorite sites for many years now.

It’s a fantastic resource, especially for newcomers, with plenty to learn and explore.
I had another look recently and it really continues to be a very well put together and helpful website.
😎

Hi Black Shoe,

Any chance of seeing a photo of the underside of your model for the uneducated like me.

Cheers,
Stephen.

So much to consider with the REAL long "tows". Speed, current, wind (that's one if the reasons for those little flag on the lead barge) channel navigation, other boats and tows are all in the mix. Every once in a while accidents happen.

I would love to find an area where running an rc towboat is a challenge. Or ponds are too big and the ditches are dried up with Florida's drought.

Lew

Try these links on "Towboat Joe"...

Towboat Joe's Inland River Models https://share.google/2jUgoIJrxAhYmfn0v

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2084286-TowBoat-Joes-and-Old-River-Bills-Plans-post-here

Lew

Hi Chum,
I have used semi balanced rudders when I could get away with them. One reason is to lessen the stress on the servo particularly when there's more than one rudder in the system. The wash pressure against the portion of the rudder ahead of the post takes a percentage of the load against the after part lightening stresses a little, without sacrificing any of the turning abilities.

In answer to your pivoting question, The center of a pivot is a variable depending on what has to be done. Rounding a tight bend the pilot may hold the head of his tow steady while moving the towboat in an arc around the head as though the lead barges were pinned to the bottom, then power ahead once the tow is lined up on the next leg of the river. This makes the head the pivot point.
In another case, the towboat may want to break out some barges from a fleeted tow. Once faced up to the subject barges the pilot may use the wheels and rudders to pivot the barges out of the fleet and the pivot accomplished right at the bow of the towboat in order to disengage the barges from the fleet.

Now a question for all of you who have built towboats. Is the goal of rudder configuration to move the hull’s pivot point forward?

Black Shoe, I’ve never thought about a balanced rudder’s affect on backing. But after a nano second of thinking it makes perfect sense. Gives me an idea to try on a Kort. Have you used balanced rudders on any of your open, single screw boats?

Your rudder setup looks fantastic too, Roy.
You guys are both showing some serious skills!”
😎

Hi all, here is my version. Looks like we opted for the same configuration. I have planned to use 2 off Marx Decaperms with gear box of about 2.5 : 1 reduction on 7.2 volts NiMh batteries. 50mm dia props in Kort nozzles.

I watched the video mentioned as well.
Roy

Black Shoe:
Wow, that’s a really neat rudder setup.
I’m sure the rest of the model is an absolute gem.
😎

I never had a CD of Joe E Brown's towboats, but do have a VHS tape of "Introduction To Workboats". This is a 1994 production of his "Western Rivers Workboats" which has several parts to it. I'll check into copying it if anyone is interested, but not sure if it'd be cost prohibitive.

As for flanking rudders, I only put three forward of the wheels in "Nonesuch", but they're semi balanced which gives almost the same effect as four rudders. One other item that may or may not be of interest is the dynamics involved in rudder performance. The rule of thumb is any angle above 35 degrees tends to decrease the turning ability, and tends to introduce a braking result.
If interested go to Youtube and search "Nonesuch Landing The Snag Barge"

Roy, on my towboat I connected all 6 rudders together running from one servo. The motors run independently. To do it right I should have the flanking rudders on a different servo. However, as you can see in the video the boat fas an excellent turning radius and I am happy with that.

I doubt that the CD is still available after Towboat Joe's passing, however I'll try and look to see if it still is available. I see some of his postings on other websites. That's where I picked up his comments on the American Beauty.

Lew

Hi Lew is that CD still available? If I had known I would have bought one. I was carrying on chatting with him then one day it all stopped!

He went through all the possibilities of connecting the 6 rudders together for operating them. My take is to use standard connections for forward movement. But in reverse use a servo driven by the left/right of the power control stick.

What do you use Lew?

Roy

I remember in one email session Towboat Joe mentioned the original props used in Kort nozzles as close fitting and sharp edges.
These proved to be a problem as a log could jam up the whole lot.

The props were replaced by standard shaped ones as these would take a log into the nozzle and chew it up spitting out the remains and carrying on with no hold ups.

The control room is interestig as the guy at the helm has 2 tiller bars to operate the rudders. I think there is a video of a 'Day on a Towboat' on You Tube.

Roy

Roy

Roy, not my critique but that of Towboat Joe, long since gone. He had a huge website on towboats and barges. I'm glad I was able to get his CD with tons of files on it.
Lew

Hi Lew totally agree with your critique of the kit. I (in UK) tracked down the address of Dumas and got over half the fittings replaced. The wood is crap and I have seen an all plastic s/s model.

The deck with the funnels is a shallow Vee and should be a cambre. I have the first version of the kit with a fibre glass hull, now gone to plastic.
The underwater fittings are expensive, I had a happy week making my own in my workshop / shed.

I think I have posted most of the above before, still have the model on the back burner, 25 years now, it was a present from USA on the weekend of 9/11.

I had some excellent email comms with Towboat Joe, his web site was a mine of information now gone, he passed a while ago now, worried about the cost of medicines in his old age. We are fortunate to have 'free' prescriptions in the U.K. so not a worry.
Roy

I noticed this about the Dumas "American Beauty" on Towboat Joes old site:

Good Points ... The American beauty kits = Hull, is an exact copy of the SLS - Hydrodyne Hull Design and very nicely constructed. And if the models equipped with a 4-channel radio and "Dual Steering", it will operate exactly like its real counterpart. And allows the model to have Dual Engines & Twin Speed = Controls as well.

Bad Points ..... The Kit is not 1.48 scale, but actually 1/55th, so its - odd sized scale means you won't be able to locate scale figures ( Crewmen or Fittings ), to add to its details. The closest scale figures are naturally "Lionel Scale = Train Figures", which are in 1/48 scale and when put on this model - look to large. Bluntly Put .... Lionel Crewmen, if placed on the American Beauty = look like GIANTS. And sadly that makes things = look fake and Way Out Of Proportion!

Another Problem for which Dumas - is well known, is not providing good quality wood in many of their kits! Which means a lot of extra work - is required, just to finish them and for that reason, "We don't recommend Dumas kits = To Beginners!" Or for that matter - Experienced modelers - EITHER!!!! .....Since most builders end up totally replacing all the wood in the kit before they've completed it. And Dumas - American Beauty - FITTINGS, require a lot of extra - work, just to make them realistic looking. Made from lead, and very poor quality molds = I might add, they hardly come close to resembling real fittings. So be prepared and aware of Dumas Kit - Short Falls, before you buy one. Because beginners often get frustrated and give up, before they really get started good - A FACT, proven many times over. And experts have tried to tell Dumas that they're products need - improvement, but the company ignores such complaints. Thus being why many use the phrase - DUMB ASS! ....... Whenever somebody mentions this Kit Manufacture!

*********ALSO*********

The M/V Crimson Glory ( Her Sister Boat ), was built in 1969 by SLS = St. Louis Ship and has the same hull and ratings of the American Beauty. Also equipped with "Kort Nozzles", and also owned by the same company = Artco. Both vessels used nearly - identical shipyard plans, except for some "Windows & Doorway Positions" and some locations of fixtures = Vents & Intakes on her decks.

********************

So it might take some extra work to get it right, but it is still a good looking project!

Lew

I have seen his videos and there are a couple others that I check up on.
Back in the '60's and '70's when I worked on the Ohio and Mississippi, The sister boats "United States" and "America" were the state of the art, and it seemed like there was an Ingram Co. boat around every bend.

Did you ever see the "Marktwained" video? Real towboat captain and goes through everything on his towboat from the engine room, barges, maneuvering - controls, as well as the kitchen (galley), sleeping quarters, etc.
It is amazing to see these towboats twist or pivot a quarter mile of barges on these rivers.
Lew

Once an operator gets the hang of running with the drivelines in American Beauty- straight shafts, independent throttles, Korts, steering and flanking rudders, one can still maneuver a raft of barges effectively.

Steamrod, I don't think so. The configuration between straight shafts and z-drives is quite different. The America Beauty (built 58 years ago) is still pushing barges. Spotted it last year at lock 19 on the live cam installed there.

Lew

My Dumas American Beauty and two barge kits arrived last week and I'm itching to find time to work on them! I've got to find out if American Beauty was up powered to Z drives or not.

Steamrod, I have two Schottle drives ("Z") planned for another towboat but can't get around to it. Had a phone conversation with the captain of a real boat with "Z" drives and he said they were fantastic to operate. Lew

Black Shoe... Going back a few weeks I posted a video on this subject that had a "Push off" between two Dumas "American Beauty" model towboats. That video was 10 years ago.

In your pointing out about the difference in the stacks made me recall that one of the boats was a Dumas kit and the other (the one with an Eagle imprinted and called "Double Eagle") was a scratch build using the Dumas drawings, from different builders. There are a number of differences between the two, not just the stacks.

The first link below is a "push off" between two Springers, about 5 years ago. The second link is my scratch build "M/V David Sizer" showing how the boat is able to make sharp turns using the flanking rudders and individual speed controllers.

Lew

Thanks Lew for the videos. Have put the 3rd. one in my archive. Beautiful boat.
Roy

Agreed, hence the "diesel stack" phrase.
As for the steam smoke, I recall reading some historical accounts of the old wood or coal fired steam driven stern wheelers pushing barges upstream and also having a deck load of cotton bales of their own. These boats would employ watchmen who's responsibility it was to put out any sparks that may have found their way to their own deck load.

Correct Blackshoe! Properly operating diesel engines usually emit very low smoke when running. However, when a tow boat is starting to accelerate with heavy load (just like trucks) if they give it too much throttle there will be some thick black smoke due to an older rich mixture going to the engine.

So in reality a smoke generator for "diesel engines" in a model would not have to run all the time. Steam, however is a different situation.

Lew

Just an observation:
From a scale standpoint using a smoker that operates all the time, and belches copious amounts of smoke out of a modern diesel stack would in real life indicate a "sick" engine. Typically when the engine first starts or is accelerated there would be some visible exhaust, but under a constant load there may be just a hint of smoke as evidenced in these videos.👍
Speed is another scale killer. Fast doesn't necessarily mean accurate. Nit picky perhaps, but it's JMHO.😊

Here are some videos. The first is two model American Beauty towboats at one of our meets:

1. A "Push-off" between two model American Beauties.

2. A real towboat push-off.

3. The American Beauty at work. (Drone Flyover.)

Enjoy!
Lew

(As I write this the M/V American Beauty is northbound on the Illinois River, heading toward Peoria, Ill, USA. She is pushing a "Tow" (string of barges) at 2.7 knots.)

I have a kit from 2001 which has the fibre glass hull. Annoyingly I had made the deck with the funnels as from plans as a shallow V but the reality is a curved deck, not that difficult to do.

All the structure on this deck is soft porous balsa, totally unsuited. The wire included is too thick and there are no stanchions on the lower deck mentioned on the plans which are also not full size.

I have mentioned before that I made all the underwater kit and will stick with that. My intention is to use right stick for the forward rudders and left stick sideways movement for running with the reverse rudders.

The kits for the barges is a joke considering the price charged, I have 2 but not sure what to do with them as they need enormous displacement to suit towing.

Overall the prototype earns its title and from a distance the model hopefully will do the same.
Roy

Just letting everyone know that the Dumas kit #2339 has found a new home with one of our members. Thanks to all who showed interest!
😎

Sad to say mates that the American Beauty seems to be no longer available on any sites.
Mack Products has it on their site, but the phone number is no longer in service, and I understand Rich has Passed, very sad. he was my go to.
Trev

Steamrod, if it was me I would try to replicate what the real towboat (still operating) has for drives. For me "scale" is very desirable.
Lew