Riverboat--Stern or Side-Wheeler, have you built one?

Hi Tom!

Yes! I built the REVELL version of the Robt.E.Lee right after it came out! The Little Paddle boat, The “Southern Belle” is an odd little boat.I think it came actually in three sizes originally. Remember the little Sailing Ships Pyro had? They had her there too!

I think she was then all of three inches long. Then the Medium sized one came out in the twin Kits! Then the larger one. Then she was motorized(Lindberg) then NOT(Pyro) Again! Then she was back nder LindbergAnd for a while as a Life-Like Model. I like that little boat,

There’s so much detail you can do to the large one. The Steam Engine and Drive gear in the engine room. The Quarters up on deck within the cabins and then the Wheelhouse, I did one like that,I think my second one and my neighbor who was a Towboat Captain(Diesel) bugged me till I sold it to him. So now I don’t have one!

NOTE:

I took the Blue Devil(U.S.S.MELVIN-A real Fletcher!) And converted her to a F.R.A.M. Gearing! Took Best in Ships 1977,1978 in two different shows. She disappeared on Dec.03,1982 in the Tornado! I have wanted to recreate that, But, life got in the way! To Me, This is what PYRO, LIFE-LIKE and LINDBERG models are for. Modifying the daylights out of. BECAUSE they are definitely Cheaper! to do this to, than Modifying a Tamiya1/350 Iowa, at what they cost!! That’s why for instance, I started my “Seniors Model Car Building Class” In North Little Rock Community Center, with MONOGRAM’S 57 Chevy-Bel-Air. If you tried, you really couldn’t build a bad model with it! Some of those old folks taught me a thing or two!!

I was looking fo r a model of th Cairo, there weren’t too many of the city class ships built. They found the Cairo and brought it out of the river and were restoring it.

Tanker-Builder,

Thanks for your comments and I agree about Lindberg/Pyro/Life-Like kits being great for the builder to experiment with modifications. I was not aware of the different sizes of the Southern Belle. Do you know if the little Pyro Bohomme Richard kit ever came with ratlines? I was “gifted” an opened kit and there were no ratlines in the kit. I am so sorry that your “Blue Devil” was lost in a tornado. Thank goodness that you came through it. If shipping wasn’t so expensive or if we lived closer I’d gladly give you my built up version. Take care & stay safe.

tjs