I'm about to set off on new project (Colonial Sudan) and am keen to include at least one of the iconic Nile Paddle Steamers if possible.   I've had a good look around but can't find anything suitably small.   I don't suppose anyone has found anything that might work ?   Thank you.    Phil

It is not TINY... it is not TINY at all... but wonderful job by REVEILLE (Daniel Hodgson). Of course it is in my collection for OMDURMAN... LOL

I actually think Baccus should do one on his colonial range in resin... but Peter has his own priorities!

Could not resist to post because I searched for it soooooooooooo long.

Wish you success.

Thank you - that is very impressive !   I might have to attempt a scratchbuild (although the end result will be an ugly second cousin to this fine example).

Phil

Are you looking for a side paddle steamer, such as Bordein, or the rear paddle Tamai class? For use with 6mm figures?

Robert

I spent a long time trying to find such with no joy so ended up scratchbuilding a small fleet from balsa (complete with Baccus figures using colonial range gatlings and some WW1 Middle East British vickers as proxis for maxims)

The only model i found was a printable model from myminifactory.com if you have access to a 3d printer (link below I hope!) but its true 285th scale so is a bit too large to do say Ombdurman with several gunboats as the ships scale covers too great a foot print for a reasonable figure ground scale alongside if you want to fight large actions with lots of regiments. I agree it woud be great if somebody did a decent suitably "downsized" model. Irregular do do a metal model but its very basic / generic and you'll probably get a better result scratch building and can at least tweak the footprint to look more realistic and have several gunboats at either ends of your infantry line ala Kitchener

https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-1-285-6mm-british-nile-gunboat-melik-1896-285-gb-1-190776

I would be really interested if you do manage to find anything suitable as I would defintely add a few to the Nile gunboat fleet if i could find anything suitable as my scratchbuilt efforts being balsa are a bit brittle / already bear the signs of action!

I am working on a Tamai class gunboat, to be 3D printed. What size would be ideal? The current 1/285 scale length is 9 cm. The good thing with STL files is that they can be resized...

Thank you for the MyMiniFactory reference. Melik was a screw propeller driven gunboat but she is a fine model.

Robert

Thank you for the additional help with this.   To answer the questions:

monk2002uk.   This would be for use with either 6mm or 10mm figures (haven't finalised this yet).   Happy to use a smaller size/scale with larger figures if 10mm.   Bordein or Tamai class ?   Just checked and definitely the Tamai (although how such a thing stays upright is beyond me !).

The 3D print would be very interesting.   9cm sounds fine as I plan to just use a single example (although the usual wargamers megalomania may inevitably follow !).   If you do complete the design and were interested in making it available, I would certainly want to make a contribution to the paddle steamer officers' mess...

jimbob1.    "...scratchbuilding from balsa..."   I've seen some excellent examples in an old 2011 Wargames Illustrated Sudan Special (issue 280) that sound similar.   Looks as though Robert is creating something that might interest you.

Thank you,    Phil

Thanks, Phil.

I will go with the standard 1/285 dimensions for now. The upper deck will be removeable, which helps with printing too. The files will be made available on Thingiverse, so you can download when they are ready and use them if you have access to a printer.

Robert

Sounds excellent (and very gracious of you Robert).   Looking forward to seeing this.    Phil

Robert

You are of course correct that the Sultan class were twin screw (note to self to properly read the thread before letting my enthusiasm for all things Sudan campaign get the better of me!) but at the time it was the only model of any Nile gunboat I could find so very interested in your project. The Melik model is lovely but being a lot bigger class than the Tamai its about 14cm long so I cant fit too many on my 8 foot table if I also want a decent land force. Being smaller the Tamai at 9cm sounds ideal - indeed I scratch built some Sultans and Tamais to that same footprint for just that reason as a compromise between historical accuracy and my desire for a few gunboats at either end of the line when i refought Ombdurman. Agree with Phil - very good of you to make this available - there's definitely a shortage of models in this period and i'd happily make a contribution for such.

Best Jim