7 Posts
13 Followers
66 Likes
BYMS 2079
This is going to be a long project, never attempted anything smaller than 1:30, so a 1:48 project is going to be fun.
It all started with me finding a copy of Eric Minett's book 'The Coast is Clear: The Story of the BYMS' in a local charity shop. I'd never heard of the British Yard Minesweeper (BYMS) but on reading the book found it very interesting, especially the mine sweeping ahead of the D-Day landings.
I posted about the book on here and nickthesteam very kindly offered me a Sirmar hull, all the plans and some fittings. I've just finished my last large build, the RAF Crash Tender (just waiting for the last few fittings to arrive then I'll get some pics and video of her afloat), so the BYMS came to the top of the project list.
I'd contacted Barry at Sirmar and bought some more fittings and spent a while collecting props, shafts, motors, rudders etc.
I've also been doing a fair bit of research into the BYMS and decided I want to build one that has some sort of local connection. As I'm originally from the East Coast of the UK with family links to the Lowestoft area I found that Minesweeping Flotilla 163 was based at Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth in 1943 and the ships of this flotilla were BYMS 2036, 2040, 2057, 2079, 2080, 2161, 2167, 2194.
Additionally 2079 was one of the first ships in the D-Day Landings and has a very interesting history, so the decision was made to build a model of 2079. The first stage of model building is complete, knowing what will be built!
My purchases included a set of three plans
1 x 1:48 detailed drawing of BYMS 2172 (previously designated as J972 and YMS 172)/BYMS 2253 (previously designated as known YMS 253)
2 x non-scale drawings of the YMS 419. These are very detailed and heavily annotated.
In theory there should be little difference between the American YMS and the BYMS as they were all made in the same shipyards, however I have discovered an issue in both the drawings and the hull moulding.
All the drawings show the topsides end some distance before the transom and that the topsides for BYMS 2253 finish further forward than for other vessels. The hull moulding has the top sides ending before the transom, however various photographs of the majesty of BYMS show the topsides continuing to the transom (including those of BYMS 2079).
I suspect the America BYS had the topsides stopping before the transom, BYMS 2253 has them set further forward but the majority of BYMS had the topsides continue to the transom. The Simar moulding would be fine I was to build a model of BYMS 2172 or BYMS 2253, but as this will be 2079 some additional material will be required.
So, a little bit of topside lengthening is required before the first major job of cutting the scuppers. I'll fit the rudders, shafts and motors first. Can't seeing this being a quick build but I'll update as and when progress is made.
๐ฌ๐ง neilw
2 days ago
5 Posts
4 Followers
29 Likes
1/72 Clyde Puffer
Hi One & All
Back in 1997 I purchased two vacform hull for a 1/72 Clyde Puffer along with the drawings from Sarik (drawing MM1410), as we have been having some bad weather of late and due to their size they started to look like a good boat to start building in the house. (just to keep warm), over the last few weeks I have joined the two halfโs of the hull, fitted the motor and shaft, alone with the deck, I have made a mistake when it comes to fixing the rudder, I should have made some form of fixing that went into the hull, so that the rudder had some were to fasten to, (will sort that out later on in the build) also I need to make some form of support for the shaft as I think it will in time work its way lose, moving on, the stern deck has been started and over half has now been planked.
Fred
๐ฌ๐ง Fred
5 days ago
9 Posts
8 Followers
78 Likes
Custom 12 inch push tug
Hi yโall. I like to keep my bench busy, as building a few hours during the week and sometimes on the weekend helps relax meโฆat 62 Iโm still pushing 45-50 hrs a week at the dealership I work at. Anyway, this is anโฆinteresting build. This started with a kit that was gifted to me by Steve OโConnell , one of our model boat club members. Itโs an odd little Chinese kit of a Danish Tug that was spotted transporting a large gun mount on its aft deck. The kit is set up to carry the gun, and thereโs a promotional video of the gun swiveling and โfiringโ. Anywayโฆthe kit is well made but rather odd. The proportions are off, the model looks as if itโs a little bit of a caricature of the real boat. Also, thereโs no instructions. Zilch. It makes a Billings kits instructions look like War and Peace. Finally, the entire superstructure is comprised of cut brass sheet. Apparently the builder is supposed to fold it into shape and either ca it or solder it together.
Well, she sat in my kit stash for a few months, and after I finished and maidened the Banckert I wanted something a little different, so I decided to customize this kit.
I decided to make her into a mooring/push tug. The kit is nice, fiberglass hull, laser cut and 3D printed plastic, etc., however, Iโm only using the hull, deck, bulwarks and few odds and ends from the supplied parts. The brass is put away, and the comically tiny 4 blade brass prop and Kort nozzle are put aside for another day.
First thing I had to figure out was how much weight can this hull take before sheโs sitting too low? I placed the hull in the sink, and proceeded to add weight till the water came up close to its upper edge, and weโre looking at around 38 ounces. I then proceeded to build up a custom stuffing box of brass tube and Traxxas 4 mm flanged oilite bushings. For power I went with a 36 mm 650kv Zippkits brushless motor, same unit thatโs in my Taucher and KalleโฆI know itโs overkill, but this boat is going to be useful, and Iโm from Texas!! We have people who put V8 engines into riding lawnmowers, so thereโs a precedent of sorts. Static test in the sink with an Astroflight Whattmeter hooked up shows a 2 amp draw at full chat. I like those Zippkits outrunners!!
Once everything under decks was done I added the deck, cut down the bulwarks and made short coamings for the hatch. I then scratched up a simple 2 person cabin from plasticard, and am now working on the push bumper. That will be a shoal buster front upright, with horizontal beams making a โTโ up front, and will have rubber strip inlaid. Once thatโs all done she gets primered and paint, details and the rubber strip laid in. Iโm in this for about 2 and a half weeks of off and on building so far.
Cash
๐บ๐ธ Cashrc
6 days ago
1 Post
4 Followers
18 Likes
Bangkok River Tug
Current build is my take of a generic tug used on the Chao Phraya River in Thailand. Scratchbuilt on an ABS moulding using only photos( no drawings) . These colourful craft work in groups towing several 600 ton barges on the river.I am building a suitable lighter to compliment the tug.
Pix of final ballast test before bonding hull and superstructure and further detailing of fenders, lights etc
๐ฌ๐ง Peewit83
7 days ago
2 Posts
5 Followers
20 Likes
Norstar Kingfisher
Found this 40+ year old kit at local Toy Fair yesterday . Everything seems to be there so looking forward to building in due course
๐ฌ๐ง Peewit83
8 days ago
8 Posts
8 Followers
46 Likes
44' Coast Guard Abomination
So, I have been in the market for a Dumas 44' MLB, I know, not hard to obtain, but I have so many projects, it has been on the back burner for some time. I purchased the plans from Dumas, scaled the frames, and it was like fifth in line to be completed.
SO yesterday, I was trolling FB Market Place, and found what I describe as the Abomination. It was reasonably priced, but 130 miles away, having free time and some overtime cash I decided to make the trek.
I was in the USCG for 24 years and served a tour at a Station that ran 30'. 44' and 52' life boats. so I am familiar with the type.
Here are some pictures. It would seem the builder was skilled, used the Dumas plan, but took quite a few liberties we can all agree.
It is the correct width, and for the most part length is correct as well. There are some interesting things. I will be able to use the chair, and it actually had a working magnetic compass.
It is in the yards now stripped of all the mahogany and deck fittings. Much surgery is required. All but the very fwd Deck, and aft deck need to be removed. No easy task when it was built with 1/4" ply decks. We will have her shipshape in Bristol fashion in no time. She will be the 44356 Yaquina Bay Station to go with my 36503 from the same station.
The bow needs to be shaved, they were stubby, but not that stubby. Deck at pilot house needs to be lifted 4 mm, well deck lowered 30mm. The portholes were a nice touch, but I will fill them.
Two 500 motors, and looks like the shafts are workable. Rudders are in the correct position.
Cheers!
Kevin
๐บ๐ธ KevinH
9 days ago
1 Post
2 Followers
8 Likes
PERKASA NO3 1/24th
This boat is a car boot find all for 20.00 a bargin. luckly I have quite a few of the parts in my boxes its a kit built one out of plywood and Balsa wood, I am going to alter the hull so it has three motors I have three 850 motors I like to use brushed motors it has twin rudders fitted the mid part of the boat is almost there so with few holes to fill and a repaint should be good place to start
๐ฌ๐ง Stephen T
10 days ago
1 Post
7 Followers
15 Likes
Osprey fishing boat
Have taken on this project recently for a gentleman who due to health issues was no longer able to finish this off. He passed it on to a neighbour of his who in turn, contacted our club and the rest so to speak is history. So with that in mind, having sorted out a few pressing matters boat wise, I've put the Ark and steam punk project to one side for the time so that I can concentrate on this. Trying to make a photo blog for the gentleman who started this as not sure what the state of play is regarding his health. So that's the background, now for the build. The hull has been well constructed alongside the start of a wheelhouse and some other deck fittings. I've so far cut out a false deck which I can now start to add the decking with appropriate access to the interior for the rc. Managed to find a spare motor this evening and now lined up with the prop shaft. Hopefully a bit more tomorrow, trying to work around work again .
๐ฌ๐ง Doogle
11 days ago