Building a Marine Compound Engine Leak £ 6.95 • (F) The 3" x 5" x 3" compound engine, whose construction is described here, is hardly a model and will drive a boat with a 25' - 35' hull. Despite this, here is an excellent 'primer' for anyone thinking of building a marine compound engine of any size, or any larger marine engine, of whatever configuration Arthur Leak did design his engine so that it was capable of sustained hard work, and could be built on more-or-less standard model engineers' equipment. How he achieved this described in this book based on the Arthur's articles which appeared in Model Engineer in 1982 and 1983, duly amended in the light of subsequent history, with pictures re-scanned (plus extras) and newly laid out. The author assumed that such an engine wouldn't be tackled by a beginner, and took a reasonable level of machining ability for granted, so don't expect the absolute nitty-gritty on machining procedures. The book is clearly of use to any builder of this engine, especially in its descriptions of jigs, but its general words of wisdom and guidance mean it will appeal to builders of any marine engine - or to 'armchair' modellers as something different. 42 A4 format pages. Main drawings. 44 B&W photos. Softcover. Camden (We can supply full drawings and castings for this engine - see ‘Drawings and Castings’ on the Home Page) Add to shopping basket

Reed’s Yacht, Trawler & Launch Engines 1904 • Denholm-Young • SPECIAL PRICE £ 41.95 • (C) For years Steamboats and Modern Steam Launches (see below) has been the steamboaters “bible” amongst available books, but even this refers to REED’S Yacht, Trawler & Launch Engines for a lot of information - and now this has been reprinted IN A LIMITED EDITION. And I have to say that REED’S ......... delivers the goods on steam launch machinery , boilers and propellers in no uncertain fashion, being crammed with detail on the types of engines and boilers used on smaller steam craft during the steam era. There really is probably more information on smaller marine steam plants in this book than you will find anywhere else. Intended for use by steam engineers on-shore and afloat, this is a book anyone interested in marine steam should have. So - if you want the information, don’t delay - order a copy today, as it may not be around for long. At 364 smaller format hardbound pages, plus 8 separate fold-out plates it ain’t cheap, but what cost can you put on priceless knowledge? Boat House Press Add to shopping basket

Steamboats and Modern Steam Launches ed. Durham • SPECIAL PRICE £ 41.95 • (A) This wonderful tome has more technical “meat” on all aspects of steamboating than you will find in any other readily available book; there is a huge amount of information within its pages, and it is fun to read into the bargain. Thirty six years on from its first appearance, Steamboats....... great advantage is that it was edited by a man who had had professional experience of reciprocating marine steam, as had many of the contributors - you get the voice of real experience throughout its 660 pages. Because of its magazine origins, you have to dot about to find specific information. But this can be great fun, as you come across undiscovered gems in the process - and there is an index. If you have the slightest interest in steamboating, you MUST have a copy of this book. The quality is higher than previous editions, and this one has an extra sixteen pages in the shape of a new introductory article by Bill Durham, reviewing what has happened since he first started the magazine. Very heavily illustrated with over 800 photographs, drawings and engravings. Hardbound with gold block cover. Boat House Press Add to shopping basket

Directory of the World’s Steamships Deayton • £19.99 • (A) The criterion for inclusion here is that every vessel must be commercial passenger-carrying, and potentially operational, even if many are not currently in that state. The results fill 384 pages, with boats from small steam launches up to ocean liners, from all around the world; all are described to a greater or lesser extent, and the majority illustrated with B & W photos. The vessels are grouped by country, and region, with Finland and Scandinavia well ahead in both categories. A tremendous reference source. 31 colour photos. Larger format paperback. Tempus Publishing Item Out of Print

From My Old Boat Shop Farmer • SPECIAL PRICE £ 34.65 • (A) Great book for anyone interested in small boat design and building their own boat. Weston Farmer was a boatbuilder and naval architect, turned journalist. This book is a compilation of articles he wrote and contains outline plans & offsets for 50 sail and powered (steam & IC) boats. It also contains a a sight more, notably a good article on propellers. You also have articles on various people and their work, floatational models, rudders, power plants and specific designs. All go back to the days when you built your own boats properly, and lines were considered important for aesthetic reasons as much as for form. And it is intensely readable. If you like smaller boats, you will love this book! 356 pages. Heavily illustrated with drawings, photographs and sketches. Hardbound. Boat House Press Add to shopping basket

Prop Riders Kunz & Holder • £ 14.95 • (C) Interesting look at 60 years of racing hydroplanes from when they largely replaced the stepped-hull boats as the best form for racing boats. The bulk of the extensive coverage is of the American scene, although Canadian, Antipodean and Italian boats and builders are also covered. Must admit I thought we had hydroplane racing in the U.K. but perhaps we just race boats looking very similar! Although essentially a history, there is actually quite a lot of technical detail to be extracted from this book, if you feel like building your own hydroplane in full size or model form - and that is really why this book is here. 156 pages (16 in full colour), around 300 photos and some drawings. Paperback. Devereaux Books Add to shopping basket

Railway Ships and Packet Ports Danielson • £26.00 • (B) This glorious book is effectively a look at the railway and linked marine services around the U.K. from the 1950s to the mid 1980s, concentrating largely on the earlier period. Whilst all the railway services you would expect are included, other ultimately railway owned services not so well known, especially from the East Coast to Scandinavia are also covered, as are services on lakes, ferries, harbour support craft and the docks and ports themselves. And throughout are many, many beautiful shots of classic packet steamers, and their interiors. 136 pages, around 280 B & W photos. Very nice! Hardbound. Twelveheads Press Add to shopping basket

MacBrayne’s Steamers Deayton • £12.99 • (E) For many, many years, if you wanted to move round the West Highlands of Scotland by public transport other than the railways, you travelled by MacBraynes boats and buses, or you didn’t travel. This excellent book looks at the Company’s vessels from inception in 1851 virtually up to the present day. What I particulaly like about it is that it covers not just the famous boats - the Iona, Columba, King George V etc., but also the less glamorous workhorses which provided year round service to outlying and isolated communities. 160 pages. Around 300 B & W photos and other illustrations plus map. Paperback. Tempus Publishing. Item Out of Print

Cosens of Weymouth 1848-1918 Clammer • £29.95 • (A) Very detailed, but readable, history of the first seventy years of a famous name in the annals of sea-going paddle steamers; Cosens may not have been in the top rank, but between Bournemouth and Plymouth they had few long lasting rivals, perhaps helped by the fact that their steamers acted as liberty ships to the Royal Navy at Portland, and as tugs to anything needing a tow, plus they were skilled at pulling ships off the perils of the Dorset coast. This beautifully produced book has a good text, but is full of glorious photos of Victorian and Edwardian paddle steamers in all their glory, as well as many engravings, and other photographs. Maps and a few drawings. 319 pages. Hardbound. Black Dwarf Add to shopping basket

Steamers of Loch Lomond Ransom • £ 7.99 • (G) Nice look at the steamer services on Loch Lomond, and not just the railway steamers, there are steam launches and cargo gabbarts to be found here as well. Of the big steamers, Maid of the Loch features very little, but there are many of Princess May, Prince George and Prince Edward throughout their lives. And there are some photos of the various transport links around the Loch. 48 full page B&W photos. 48 pages. Paperback. Stenlake Publishing Add to shopping basket

British Steam Tugs Thomas • £ 24.95 • (A) Cracking good book covering all British Steam Tugs, including deep sea, from start to finish. Over 1000 steam tugs, 100 builders and 400 owners are covered with plates of tugs from 1822 to 1956 which will be of special interest to modellers. 222 pages, over 90 photos, sketches, funnel colours and 29 colour profiles. Hardbound. Waine Research Add to shopping basket

Steam Coasters and Short Sea Traders Waine • £ 23.95 • (A) The history of the British steam coaster covering building and repairing, engines, early designs, Clyde “Puffers” and the various engine-aft types including the big east coast colliers. Also covers those with engines amidships and coastal tankers.157 pages, 68 plans and 29 colour profiles selected with the model maker in mind, plus 89 black and white sketches and photos. Hardbound. Waine Research. Add to shopping basket

British Ocean Tramps Vol. 1 • Thomas • £ 19.95 • (A) Add to shopping basket

British Ocean Tramps Vol. 2 • Thomas • £ 19.95 • (A) Add to shopping basket These two books define the tramp steamer and look at its construction and builders. Different designs are illustrated with shipyard plans including standard designs from both World Wars. Also covered are cargoes and freight rates, tramps in world events, and wars great and small. Vol. 2 also looks at the Shipping Companies involved in the trade, liveries etc. 158 pages. 48 detailed plans and colour plates. 54 b & w photos, maps and diagrams. Hardbound. Waine Research

The Steam Collier Fleets MacRae & Waine • £ 24.95 • (A) This great book covers the colliers which operated around Britain's coasts, moving the coal, mainly from the North East and South Wales. Details the boats and how they were loaded and unloaded. As always from Waine Research, the comprehensive text is augmented by 100s of detail drawings, paintings and photographs. 226 page hardback. Add to shopping basket

Tacky's Tugs - W.J. Reynolds Ltd of Torpoint Carter • £12.50 • (B) Until their demise in the early 1970s, W.J. Reynolds Ltd. of Torpoint, opposite Plymouth across the River Tamar, not only operated the U.K.'s last fleet of coal-fired steam tugs, they were also one of the last firms in Devon and Cornwall to use heavy horses on a full commercial basis! Clearly an unusual firm, whose history and activities are well told here. 144 pages with 140 illustrations. Paperback. Twelveheads Press Add to shopping basket

The Portishead Coal Boats Winter • £19.95 • (A) Osborn & Wallis Ltd. specialised in the Bristol Channel trade, especially the transport of coal from South Wales, to various power stations in their home city of Bristol. Their fleet and activities expanded together, and by the 1960s they were taking coal to power stations located from Portishead west to Hayle, and serving Welsh ports as far west as Milford Haven, with a fine and mainly modern fleet. Now the boats and the power stations are gone..... The author spent nine years working on the O & W boats and tells of his experiences during this time, as well as providing a readable history of the company and its vessels; this is an excellent addition to books on coastal shipping. 192 pages. Around 250 illustrations, drawings and maps, some in colour. Hardbound. Black Dwarf Add to shopping basket

RNLI Motor Lifeboats Leach • £14.99 • (B) In the pages of this interesting book you will find details of every motor lifeboat built for the RNLI, up to, and including RIBs and Hovercraft. They are described chronologically, so that the developments in design are clear. Loads of B & W photos, and respectable quantities of drawings. 160 page, large format paperback. Landmark Publishing Add to shopping basket

Lake Boats McDonnell • £25.00 • (A) The inland seas of the Great Lakes on the American/Canadian border saw the development of a unique form of bulk carrier for iron ores and coal in particular. Extremely long - older/smaller examples are over 600 feet long, with some newer examples exceeding 1000 feet, these tanker like vessels also had the bridge right forward on the bows, but the machinery and crews quarters largely aft. Now largely converted to 'self-unloaders' a number of these vessels continue to operate and, uniquely, some are still steam powered. This is a lovely large format book of 160 pages, containing around 120 colour photographs, mostly full page, of these vessels, and on them, as they go about their work under all weather conditions. Hardbound. Boston Mills Press Add to shopping basket

The Clyde Puffer McDonald • £ 9.99 • (D) This lovely, and highly recommended book on Puffers is back again. Written by an acknowledged expert on the subject, and one of the few landsmen to sail with the puffermen, there is a huge amount to enjoy in this slim book. 48 pages. 52 photos. Hardbound. Lochar Add to shopping basket

Puffers Hutton • £ 7.99 • (G) Given the interest in them, books on Clyde Puffers are very rare; in fact I believe this is only the third we have had - and nice it is. What you have here are 56 B&W photos, a fair few full page, of Puffers in all their grimy glory from their first appearance in the 1880s on the Forth & Clyde Canal, up to the present with just VIC 32 operational, but with the majority of the pictures dating from the 1930s to the 1960s. The extensive captions are very informative, and give a salutary reminder of just how vulnerable good sea-boats were to disaster on Scotland's west coast. Well done, 48 page, landscape format paperback. Stenlake Publishing Add to shopping basket

Ships for a Nation - John Brown & Company 1847 - 1971 Johnston • £14.99 • (A) Here you have the full history of the various companies which formed John Brown & Company, one of Britain’s most famous shipbuilders, if not the most famous. Renowned for building the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and the QE2, John Brown’s Clydebank yard produced 100s of vessels, often at the cutting edge of technology, up till its closure in the 1970s. This is a glorious book in every way, full of photographs from the company’s archives, with maps, drawings and an excellent text. 368 pages. Paperback.West Dunbartonshire Libraries & Museums Add to shopping basket

Titanic - the Ship Magnificent Vol. 1: Design & Construction Beveridge, Andrews, Hall, Klistorner & Braunschweiger • £50.00 • (A) The Titanic has been the subject of many books, but this, and its companion volume, are certainly the most detailed devoted to the ship itself - want to know about the Morse Lamp and key fitted, the exact details of the ventilators or the lifts? All here in drawings and/or photographs. In essence this volume covers the construction, and the ship itself to the point where she could sail, but hadn't been fitted out. There is a quite unbelievable depth of detail in the 688 large format pages of this book, overflowing with drawings and B&W photos. Hardbound. The History Press Add to shopping basket

Titanic - the Ship Magnificent Vol. 2: Interior Design & Fitting Out Beveridge, Andrews, Hall, Klistorner & Braunschweiger • £50.00 • (A) This slightly thinner volume - only 510 pages, plus 8 of colour illustrations, covers the passenger and crew accommodation in equal amazing detail, down to drawings of door frames, lists of the number of toilets (rather biased to males), the electric baths, bunks, beds, glazing - in fact everything that made the Titanic a luxury liner. Whilst it also is evident in Vol. 1, a considerable number of the photographs in this Volume are actually of rooms and items in Titanic's twin-sister Olympic - not unreasonable as the Olympic was to have a full and useful career. Again overflowing with drawings and B&W photos. Hardbound. The History Press Add to shopping basket

Cox's Navy Booth o £ 19.99 o (C) On mid-Summer's Day 1919, not one of the Royal Navy's better days, the crews of the interned German Fleet scuttled their vessels in Scapa Flow, Orkney. Between 1924 & 1931 a large proportion of these scuttled vessels were salvaged in the biggest salvage operation in history, masterminded by Ernest Cox, a Wolverhampton-born scrap merchant who had no previous experience of marine salvage but who, not knowing the boundaries, and by applying solid common sense and brilliant improvisation, changed marine salvage practice for ever. The 28,000 ton Hindenburg, raised by Cox, remains the largest ship ever salvaged from depth. This extremely readable book tells the whole story of both a remarkable man and his remarkable achievement. 213 pages. 31 B & W illustrations. Hardbound. Pen & Sword Maritime Add to shopping basket

The Canal Builders Burton • £16.99 • (D) Fourth edition of this classic book, first published in 1972, which tells the story of the men involved in the creation of Britain’s canal network, from the promoters and financiers, through the engineers and administrators, to the navvies, contractors and others who actually built the canals. As with any work by Anthony Burton, this is both erudite and readable and, if you haven’t already got a copy, now is your chance to enjoy this book. 192 pages. Around 90 illustrations. Paperback. Tempus Publishing Add to shopping basket

Britain’s Canals A Handbook Corble • £ 9.99 • (F) This is a remarkably good handbook for anyone interested in, or using, Britain’s canals, as it includes history, interesting facts, industrial archaeology, as well as a lot of practical hints and tips for those who use the canals for recreation, mainly on boats, but not forgetting anglers, bird-watchers etc.. 144 very well illustrated pages. Large ‘pocket-book’. Paperback. Tempus Publishing Add to shopping basket

The Illustrated History of Canal & River Navigation Padget-Tomlinson • £14.99 • (A) Complete reworking of a canal ‘classic’ last in print in the early 90s. The bulk of this book is devoted to the history of most of Britain’s canal and river navigations, but other chapters cover waterway engineering, boat building, vessels, carrying, carriers and crew, etc., etc. This is an encylopedic and lovely book, with many of the author’s pen and ink drawings, as well as loads of B & W photos. 404 pages. Over 300 illustrations. Paperback. Landmark Publishing. Add to shopping basket

Diesels for the First Stealth Weapon: Submarine Power 1902-1945 Cummins • £46.95 • (A) See full review in the ‘Stationary Steam, Gas & Petrol Engine’ section; this is the story of the development of the submarine diesel engine. Add to shopping basket

The Blockade Busters Barker • £19.99 • (C) Recommended by a customer, told here is the remarkable story of how George Binney, a British civilian working in neutral Sweden when Norway was overrun by the Germans in 1940, set about running vital cargoes of Swedish ball-bearings and special steels to Britain. This involved going through the blockaded Skagerrak controlled by the German naval and air strength. Despite objections from just about everyone, Binney succeeded in January 1941, with five Norwegian ships getting through - a following attempt was less successful, but there followed almost regular runs with modified motor gunboats. Good stuff! 224 pages. 32 B & W photos. Maps. Hardbound. Pen & Sword Maritime Add to shopping basket

The Glamorganshire and Aberdare Canals Rowson & Wright • Vol. 2 • £ 30.00 • (A) Add to shopping basket

The Inland Waterways Association Blagrove • £12.99 • (F) The IWA must be the most successful of all the British transportation/preservation groups, its large membership have not only campaigned for the saving and reopening of Britain’s canals, they have frequently contributed their labour as well. This largely pictoria book records the history of the IWA and its massive achievements since 1946. 128 pages and approx 200 B & W photos. Paperback. Tempus Publishing Add to shopping basket

Building Model Boats 1905 • Hasluck • £ 7.85 (F) This is a good guide to the building of model steam and sailing vessels - at least how it was done nearly 100 years ago. In fact it is still valuable stuff for the model boat builder and includes hull building from the solid, by “bread & butter” layers and planking on frames, plus rigging and sails for sailing vessels, and engines and boilers for steam models, not forgetting fittings, showcases etc. 160 pages. 168 drawings and illustrations. Paperback. Lindsay Publications. Add to shopping basket

Model Engines and Small Boats 1898 • Hopkins • £ 6.65 • (G) See “Construction Manuals” section; the engines and boilers described in this book are intended for model boats, and the book includes a chapter on hull design and construction. Add to shopping basket

Model Marine Steam Bray • £14.95 • (D) Stan Bray is one of the best writers on model engineering subjects, and here turns his attention to steam engines and boilers that can be used in model boats. As always with Stan, this is good, no-nonsense practical instruction, with numerous drawings and photos of various types of engines and boilers, not forgetting the fittings required, and ideas on firing the boilers. All in a 144 page, large format paperback. Special Interest Model Books Add to shopping basket

Submarines - Models and their Originals Heintze • £ 12.95 • (D) The author looks at 29 different submarine designs, from the first manned vessels through to the present day, and then describes how they could be, or have been, modelled. As a result this book will appeal to both the submarine enthusiast and the submarine modeller; it certainly appeals to me, perhaps because I am not sure I would devote long hours to building a model, and then deliberately send it plunging into the depths! 144 extremely well illustrated pages. Paperback. Traplet Publications Add to shopping basket

Simply Model Submarines ed. Jackson • £12.95 • (D) Revised edition of this fascinating selection of articles on submarine modelling from Marine Modelling International magazine, most concerned with building models of specific prototypes, but some specifically on the different ways of getting them to work, especially dive and surface, materials to us etc..140 heavily illustrated pages. Paperback. Traplet Publications Add to shopping basket

Model Submarine Technology Brüggen • £14.95 • (E) This book goes, in quite considerable detail, into exactly how to power you model, control it, and make it dive - not to mention surface again, plus general design considerations in model submarine making. Given the subject, this is a fascinating book for the armchair modeller, and a useful one for the real modeller. 102 pages, heavily illustrated with photos, drawings and diagrams. Paperback. Traplet Publications Add to shopping basket

Lighthouses of England and Wales Denton & Leach • £19.99 • (B) ‘A complete guide’ to all the lighthouses, large and small, to be found on a journey round the coast of England, Wales and the Channel Islands, starting at Berwick, and ending at Carlisle. In effect a Gazetteer, most of the lights are illustrated with colour photographs. 160 very well produced pages. Large format paperback. Landmark Publishing Add to shopping basket

The Anderton Boat Lift Carden • £19.95 • (A) This book tells the remarkable story of the Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire. Designed by a Victorian genius called Edwin Clark and opened, operating hydraulically, in 1875, it was modified to operate electrically by an Edwardian genius, one J.A. Saner, between 1906 and 1908 with virtually no interruption to its use. Finally closed in 1983 it has now been re-opened after extensive renovation and is, again, being operated by hydraulic power. The full story of this wonderful piece of engineering is very well told here in 180 pages, profusely illustrated with B & W photos, maps, and drawings. Hardbound. Black Dwarf Publications. Add to shopping basket

The Marine Engine Designs of A.A. Leak

3" & 5" x 3" Marine Compound Engine
5" & 7" x 4" Marine Compound Engine
5" x 4" Single Cylinder Engine

Drawings and most castings are available for these large engines, intended for real use, the smaller compound being suitable for 25' - 35' hulls, the larger for 35' - 45' hulls; the single is a possibility for marine use, but is better suited to generating or similar use.

Whilst large, these engines have been designed for machining on relatively small lathes, mills, etc.. They are robust and designed for sustained hard work.

Contact us, or see the "Drawings and Castings" Section

FILMS

Boat Lifts of Europe App 65 mins • DVD £ 16.99 Very good film looking at Boat Lifts in Great Britain, France, Germany and Belgium. Starts with the first lift, at Anderton, then looks at 2 other lifts, in France and Belgium, which use the same principle. Other straight lifts at Henrichenburg in Germany, and the new gigantic lift at Strépy Thieu are also visited, then it’s on to the oddballs - the 1.5 kn long inclined plane at Ronquiere in Belgium and the bizarre lift at Montech in Southern France where a wedge of water is used to get boats up and down the incline. Finally the remarkable Falkirk Wheel is visited and seen in operation. Good technical information on a fascinating subject, all in a well made film. Add to shopping basket

Paddle Steamer Memories App 90 mins • DVD £16.00 Fabulous DVD containing film, some of considerable age, featuring 51 paddle steamers around the whole of the U-K, cruising, or on river crossings. Included are the Cardiff & Bristol Queens, Glen Gower, Jeannie Deans, Lorna Doone, Ravenswood, Sandown, St. Tudno & Golden Eagle, to name but a few. B & W and colour. A veritable feast of delights! Add to shopping basket

Day Trips with P & A Campbell Vol. 1 50 mins • DVD £11.95 Add to shopping basket

Day Trips with P & A Campbell Vol. 2 50 mins • DVD £11.95 Featured in these two very nice films are all the post-war paddle steamers of P & A Campbell of Bristol, except for PS ‘Ravenswood’, plus the motor ships MV ‘Trillo’, MV ‘Vecta’ (‘Westward Ho’) and MV ‘Balmoral’. Vol. 1 tends to be earlier in period, and more concentrated up the Bristol Channel; Vol. 2 includes sailings to Clovelly, PS ‘Glen Gower’ on the South Coast and a sailing to France, the last movements of the PS ‘Bristol Queen’ and much more. A ‘must’ for paddle steamer enthusiasts, or those who remember trips on them. Mixed B & W and colour. Add to shopping basket

Puffer Afloat • 45 mins • DVD £ 14.99 • Add to shopping basket

Puffer Afloat II • 45 min • DVD £ 14.99 Add to shopping basket Shot on trips aboard the last “Puffer” - the ‘VIC32’, the equal stars of this nice film are the Puffer itself and the scenery found along the way. The first film starts at Crinan, goes by the canal to Tarbet, Tighnabruaich, Rothesay and the Isles of Bute, Cumbrae and Arran, If anything the scenery wins in this film, but you do have shots of the ‘VIC32’ on the Crinan Canal and at a few other points, plus scenes in the wheel-house, engine room etc. The second trip goes up Loch Linnie to Corpach, the length of the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness to Inverness and into the Dornoch Firth. It also features 15 minutes or so on the steam train to Mallaig and a short sequence on Loch Sheil. Nice films, not purely marine, but at least you see a real live puffer or, strictly, the next best thing!

Seawards the Great Ships/River Clyde 50 mins • Colour and B & W •  • DVD £ 19.99 Add to shopping basket Seawards the Great Ships is a 30 minute colour film from 1960, and was Scotland's first "Oscar" winner. It describes the work of the Clyde shipyards and the men who worked in them. River Clyde is a B & W film from 1939 and shows working life along this great river from its source to the sea, and the vessels that used it. Two great films on the video, three on the DVD which also includes Glasgow's Docklands, an 11 minutes B & W film from 1956 showing life from the Govan ferry to the Broomielaw, before it all changed.