PADDLE STEAMBOAT LUDOVIKA SAILING? Boiler & Burner Test, Oscillating Steam Engine & Feathering Wheel

Part Four !
Is Ludovika Finally Sailing ?

Ludovika is eager to sail... and do so HER way !...
...Or maybe Captain Smith's way: after all, HE is at the wheel !...
Just like an antique steamboat toy (no RC), a skilful hand-setting of the rudder should expectingly bring this little steamer to "circle 'round the pond, and come right back"...
Easier said than done, as we will find out!

A nice unfinished metal Scratch built "bare Hull", with Steam engine and paddle wheels, which I then completed and turned into a small passenger steamer. I named "her"..."Ludovika" !

But an unsuccessful first sailing test (see Part two) meant some work had to be done to the power plant: replacing it's original cute tiny copper Boiler with a slightly larger Brass one .
Steam output then went from "feeble"(just about managing to spin its unloaded engine) to "more than plenty" !.....this time, Paddles will spin, round 'n' round !

The weight of this little steamer was another concern we had since the very beginning... so of course, adding even the most basic metal superstructure to this hull does not help:
now, some of the Portholes, kept open for venting the Boiler Room, are almost flush with the Waterline!...
No more unnecessary weight allowed when sailing!... no passengers on the deck!...
( We'll have to assume they're dining in the Hold !...)

So here we go for some "real" outdoor testing of this little boat!


My inspiration for completing this imaginary little steamer mainly came from the beautiful tiny Steamboat "Kaiser Franz Josef" sailing the Austrian Wolfgangsee.
Kaiser Franz Josef was famous Sissi's husband...and she was the daughter of... Ludovika !
That's why I christened this steamboat "Ludovika" and Why she carries the Bavarian flag!

Overall length: 84cm - 33"
Beam : 11cm - 4 1/4''
Oscillating Cylinder Steam Engine : 1/2" bore x 5/8" stroke - 13x16mm

Thanks for watching!
Peter

Music : Henry Tucker (1826-1882)