Full Size Printed Plans Scale 1:24 DRAVO TOWBOAT and BARGE suitable for radio control

Full Size Printed Plans
Not a KIT or MODEL no Material

Isn't this a little beauty You could search the world over and not find an easier model boat . . . just right for R/C

DRAVO TOWBOAT and BARGE

Full Size Printed Plan on Five sheets four 38” x 24” and one 28" x 18"

Ten-page article with building notes and photos (Not all Shown)

files are PDF, TIFF and JPEG

Printing………..MAY BE DONE AT A COPY HOUSE

Scale 1:24 (1/2"=1ft)

TOWBOAT

LENGTH 35 1/2 INCHES

BEAM 10 1/4 INCHES

BARGE

LENGTH 36 INCHES

BEAM 9 INCHES

By WALTER A. MUSCIANO

MODEL DRAVO RAM TOWBOAT

You may update running gear and radio

A Pittman Panther 9002 electric motor powers the prototype model by means of two 2" diameter Sterling Nylon propellers via a K&O No. 110 twin gear box. The gears also reduce the revolutions per minute of the propellers. Separate electric motors can be installed, one for each shaft, if desired. A six volt Willard N­T‑6 wet cell battery was used on the prototype model towboat.

Construction begins by tracing the principal components onto the specified sheet balsa following the patterns on the plans. Cut the Main Deck to shape and cement the various pieces together to form the complete deck. Seams are noted on the plans. Note that the forward portion of the Main Deck slopes upwards as shown on the profile view. Next, cut the hull sides, stem, transom, and bulkheads to shape and cement these to the underside of the Main Deck. Hold the wood together with straight pins until the cement is thoroughly dry, then remove them. Notice that the sides are not located at the edge of the deck.

 The large towboats spend much time collecting and delivering one or two barges from their tows to the various docks and landings and, in so doing, lose much time from the scheduled trip. New, smaller towboats have now been developed by the Dravo Corporation, pioneers in river, harbor and coastal transportation. These new craft are able to shuttle the barges between the large towboat‑barge assembly and the docks which are often several miles apart. This job is similar to that of a switch engine in a railroad freight yard.

 We selected this Dravo design, called the "Dravo Ram," instead of the larger type of towboat for three principal reasons; 1) This new smaller type is much more attractive in external appearance than its bigger brothers; 2) Construction is very simple‑the entire model is made from flat sheet balsa because all bends are simple; 3) A larger type of towboat would look peculiar pushing only one or two barges while the "Dravo Ram" is at home pushing from one to six barges. The scale enthusiast will appreciate this because he need only build one or two barges for realism.

 Here are a few facts about the full size "Dravo Ram" and the "Dravo" oil barge which accompanies the towboat in this article. The seventy foot towing vessels are powered with two diesel engines totalling 580 horsepower. The two propellers are enclosed in tube‑like tunnels called "Kort Nozzles" thereby increasing the pushing power and maneuverability which is very important for craft of this type. Conventional smokestacks are not fitted. Instead, the engine exhaust terminates inconspicuously at the pilot house top. Access to all quarters is via internal passages so the crew need not walk outside as on most boats of this type.

 The oil barge we constructed is typical of hundreds built by the Dravo Corporation and used by the many large petroleum companies. These have no propulsion machinery but are often equipped with big pumps which enable them to load and unload without outside help. This pumping equipment is usually enclosed in a house amidships. The length of these barges varies from one to two hundred feet.

 Towboats and barges are familiar sights on our principal inland waterways such as the Mississippi, Ohio, Susquehanna, Missouri and many other rivers of the United States.

 We express our sincere appreciation to Mr. George G. Newhams and the Dravo Corporation for providing photographs and blueprints which helped make this article possible.

 Thank You For Looking