After moving back to Edmonds WA from Honolulu, and having a proper woodshop I have begun construction of a 1/32 scale steam powered model of the Army Corps of Engineers W. T. Preston. The keel was laid in February 2011. The model is made out of Alaska cedar, styrene plastic, brass and light birch plywood. I am building from original War Department blueprints for Preston. The boat is a great engineering challenge especially since I am building working winches, deck gear, steam engines. Hope you all enjoy the log.

The first picture is a lithograph of W.T. Preston
#2 Bulkheads being cut from 1/4" plywood, later discarded in favor of built-up buikheads made from Alaska cedar. I cut up very old fencing to make the hull
#3 Precision cutting lumber from fencing
#4 Individual pieces for bulkheads
#5 Lap joint used for bulkheads
#6 Bulkheads glued down to ply bottom. Lateral bracing being glued to top of bulkheads
#7 Overall view of hull
#8 Fir quarter-round used at bilge keel
#9 General framing done. My Springer towboat in background is same scale
#10 Decking being applied, light ply birch
#11 Plastic siding being cut for main cabin. 1ft to 1/4" original plans were photo-enlarged to proper scale, seen under wall being cut
#12 Starboard main cabin wall doors and windows cut

More photos to follow<br type="_moz" />