SS Archimedes, model steam boat by William Mowll

Screw propulsion was invented by Francis Pettit Smith, who built the first screw-driven steamship, the 232-ton SS Archimedes, in 1839 to demonstrate his invention. His design was compromised by low steam pressure. William Mowll's 1/24 scale model, using a 3D-printed Archimedes screw propeller, shows how the Archimedes could have performed with modern steam power.

[@CanterburyCoxswain-LBE]

To all concerned....'well done'. This was brought to my attention by a very good friend in Germany, with whom I visited Will Mowll last summer. Having seen the actual model there, it is now very nice to see it working on the water. So, thanks Will for your hospitality, and your books have been very good [and inspirational] during the Covid-19 'lockdown'. My regards and admiration, Kim.

[@StuartNeame]

Will Mowll writes: "Hi Kim, Many thanks for your kind comments. Making such a film allows one to put the details of a working ship model into its historical context; and the film's editor Stuart Neame embraced the sub-plot of a gifted amateur struggling to overcome the prejudices of established authority, and the sneers & jealousies of the professionals. Perhaps the most remarkable thing was that Francis Pettit Smith raised the money to actually build the SS Archimedes, and prove to the world the superiority of screw propulsion. It is in many ways a sad tale but it ends well. Thank you too for the generous words you say about my publications- if they have helped to lessen the impact of 'lockdown' and given pleasure at the same time, what could be better? My best wishes for all your endeavours with Model Boats Magazine, and greetings to your many contacts in the world of miniature ships and boats."

[@opreadumitru1]

Hello from Romania Bucureshti /Bucharest Congratulations on your tenacity and perseverance when you were in the process of assembling this scale steam ship model. It's even harder taking into account it's actually a working steam engine involved and the ship model itself has to be balanced while sailing on water.

[@TinkerInTheShop]

A lovely production of a great story. Thank you.

[@gwheyduke]

Very interesting video, well done.

[@piersrr]

Fantastic!

[@MySvestka]

Great video! Thank You :)

[@sixsixthousand-66000]

Stuart Neame, Very good video about this historic subject of the screw propeller. I found the video while searching for any videos in regards to Mr. William Mowll and his ship modeling. I've become acquainted with Mr. Mowll via his books during the recent pandemic shutdown having just picked up his SS Great Britain book 2nd hand just prior and then sourcing the HMS Warrior and HMS Thunderer books from the depths of that huge river of sales Amazon whilst on lock down. It was good to see Mr.Mowll is still "fiddling" with ship models. Your video also helped along with directly answering my questions about whether Mr. Mowll would be embracing the newest technology of 3D printing modeling components visa via the scale archimedes screw propeller itself 3D printed and shown on screen of the design software! A very good video building on some of the information included in Mr. Mowll SS Great Britain book along with expansion of the proof of concept model had there been high pressure boilers available to Smith in the 1830s. Give my best regards to Mr. William Mowll wishing for his best of health in this trying time and that he gets to float many more scale ships in the future. Kindest regards,

[@StuartNeame]

> > Thank you for your acute observations which are much appreciated. It has been a rare privilege for the model-maker to be the first to demonstrate, after so many years, the effectiveness of Smith's design of the Archimedes, and for the film-maker to give some overdue credit to that largely unsung hero, Francis Pettit Smith. > Thank you also for your enquiry about ongoing projects; Will Mowll has recently completed a commissioned model of HMS Defence 1907, a British Armoured Cruiser of the Minatoaur Class. She was sunk with all hands (save one) at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916, and was the last large British naval vessel built with reciprocating engines.

[@wanglydiaplt]

What an interesting tale!

[@duncanread4442]

Grate video. Please do a basic how to for building model boats🙂

[@mcjdubpower]

Gud vid 💯💥👍

[@tonynguyen6482]

Amazing contents right here! Glad I have found your channel! May I repost all videos under your channel name on another website called Ganjing World? Full credits and sources are inclusive, for sure. Thanks!

[@Vene87]

Great video about the history of the screw propeller, but the paddlewheels ain't as bad as you claim in the video, paddle wheels have a lot of advatages over the propeller. Great model of the archimedes.

[@StuartNeame]

Wm Mowll writes: "Please reassure Vene87 that I have the greatest respect for paddle-ships- my first adult scratch built working steam model was of the PS Sirius 1838 and her remarkable history of being the first steamship to cross from the Old World to the New, under continuous steam power, arriving in New York on St George's Day 1838. That story was what brought me into the world of model ships and boats in 1976.

[@Vene87]

​@@StuartNeameyou should make a video about your model of the sirius running on steam.

[@StuartNeame]

@@Vene87 No, we won't be doing that, as that model and history is featured in the opening chapter of William Mowll's book on the "SS Great Britain - the model ship" (Argus Books Ltd 1982). It also appeared on the front cover of Model Boats(UK) April 1978

[@Vene87]

@@StuartNeame alright

[@Skoda130]

Screw this! :-P