The Edmund Gardener was Liverpool pilot boat number 2 and is preserved in the Liverpool dock complex.
I have made this model some years ago but decided to do another one, learning from some mistakes made in the first one. I spent a day on-board and have a plethora of photos and a full set of plans so should not be a problem. Other commitments now will slow down the build as I usually knock a model up in a few months. I hate making the hulls from scratch but here goes.
Photo 1 shows the keel and hull formers taken from the plans.
Photo 2 shows one of the bulkheads in place.
Photo 3 shows all the bulkheads in place on the keel
Photo 4 shows the inter bulkhead supports put in place
1/8" ply was used for keel and bulkheads. The skeleton was covered with cheap masking tape, then fiberglass tissue, final fill with car body filler and endless sanding, but now ready for primer paint.

Most photos self explanatory.
The last photo shows that all the workings have been completed at this stage.
The Pilots Boarding station were cut out on last model but as these shipped water in heavy weather I decided not to put cut outs and they are just surface detail and totally waterproof. Hull covered with masking tape followed by fiberglass tissue and then car body filler to finish; all ready to paint now.

I decided to have a go at riveted plating on this model. Pinched a special tool from the wife which is used in sewing. As the teeth were too close together I removed every other tooth on the wheel. ( I will have to get her another new one!).
The finished effect on ordinary paper seemed OK. Just a matter of sticking them on now.

I am using a speed controller without BEC which I had in stock so not wishing to have receiver batteries I have added a 5 volt regulator easily obtained from Maplins for a few coppers. The 12volt motor battery is fed through the regulator to give a stable 5volt for the reciever

Ok now server problems resolved

Decided to take a break from the hull construction and make the davits which are quite a complicated affair. There are two types of boats on the Edmund Gardner. Lifeboats and Jolly Boats.Both of which have different davits.
I made plastic templates for the various parts and on the last model made of the Pilot Boat I got copies made on a CNC machine in plastic. I don't have access to the CNC now so these templates were used as masters for moulds and the parts were made in hard white metal, (pewter).
I suppose I could have made them all separately in plastic but Steve at Scale Hobbies Skelmersdale offered to mould them for me. The photo shows the plastic masters with the number required on each part.

For those of you who do not know what she looks like please see attached photo of the real thing in the Canning Dock within the Albert Dock complex at Liverpool part of the Maritime museum collection

Back to work on the hull and painting together with the portholes, pilots boarding station and anchor ports completed. Yes the white line really was that broad.
Wording on the sides, bow and stern yet to-do and work can commence on the superstructure.

Photo 1- shows my method of lettering on the Pilot Boat, there is a free program called "Open Office Draw" for the computer and with this I can compose and print out lettering of any colour on any coloured background. The waterline marks and the other lettering can be done at minimum cost if you have a PC and printer.
Photo 2- shows the waterline markings and the Pilot lettering.
Photo 3- shows how the superstructure is progressing and the deck planking.
Photo 4- shows the stern lettering, very easy if you use this method to get it on the curve.

Waterline depth markings,(look closely at the bow waterline) notice dual colours on lettering and background also set at an angle,very small Roman numerals; all can be achieved with free program on PC "Open Office Draw".
I hope to get it on the water this week to check, stability propulsion and ballast issues. Lets hope the weather is OK.
Its got a large 7Ah jelly battery and a Swedish 5 pole motor about same size as a 540. No BEC on speed controller so a Maplin 7805 regulator used to give BEC avoiding the use of receiver batteries. 2.4Ghz Radio Link 4 ch set up.

I still haven't had a chance to get the boat in the water yet to try stability, set the ballast and try propulsion
and steering, so I have cracked on with construction.
The top bridge cabin has been completed. The rails are being made from split pins from Display Models in Northumberland. These are set up in a metre length of wooden batten and four wire rails threaded through. These are then super-glued and removed from the batten and sprayed white. Lengths are cut off to suit and fitted to the hull.
I will soon need a lot of bits and pieces in the form of bollards, fairleads, pump wheels, life boats, jolly boats, companionways; etc. etc. I am hoping to get these from the Haydock Model Boat Convention in a couple of weeks.

Well she has been in the water and the ballast sorted out. Speed controller (escp) was no good in astern so have ordered a different one to try out from China on Ebay.
Started on the two large lifeboats.
Photo 1 shows the originals on the ship itself.
Photo 2 I got these from Haydock a couple of weeks ago and fitted with a soft wood support from stem to stern.
Photo 3 Covered top with black linen sticky duct tape.
Photo 4 Fitted small triangle tie gussets and painted the cover with matt green to match the orginals.
The davits are in place on the deck so can now start fitting the lifeboats.