That's a good idea Mark as long as you are sure about having a watertight seal. It's always worth having as much access to 'the works' as possible as you never know what may go wrong.
Good luck, you are doing well.

All the best, Nerys

Thanks for all the info and help ,was looking at Howes advert last night .
I am going to make the whole deck with the superstructure lift off to give better access,will put another stringer in on each side and deck will fit in place with dowels fitted to existing stringers to deck ,will fit a neoprene gasket later to keep it watertight.
Cheers Marky .
Nearly forgot ordered propshaft and rudder from banggood.👍

Marky you can always use the old trick of two micro switches operating from a servo to switch between the power batteries - giving you two speeds - not sure how you get reverse - sure Martin or Doug can produce a wiring diagram - that would save a few bob - keep the costs down..........Means you have to have two identical low voltage packs though.........

As regards motors - have found lots in better halfs dead hairdryers - plenty of life left in the motors (usually 385 type)- old printers (not the modern types) . A trip to the local dump yields a surprising amount of useful items - you can always make a 2nd trip to discard the leftovers when you have extracted the motors etc. Old Fridges are a source of thin copper tube - no end to what you can find. Workers are usually friendly & helpful too I found when in the UK..........

Agree with Martin Marky - get a minimum 4 channel - the VERY limited range of most of the Chinese type can be very frustrating and put you off RC - plus they don't usually have any speed control........simply forward & reverse.......
Howes always have a lot of RC sets on special - but make sure its one with a decent range . Ask at the time of purchase - dealers are honest and will tell if its limited range like the old T5 & T7's although a lot of model boaters like them...........They are usually OK as long as you don't sail almost out of sight.........
When you want to use it in another boat you can simply transfer the receiver + ESC and get another servo - they are cheap these days. Or if you are feeling flush you can buy another receiver etc as well.

Looking at the Howes Models advert in MB special 2019 they have 4 channel Transmitter plus Receiver starting at +-40quid (not sure of range - its a new Planet type) - mtronics esc's at 20quid - servos at 5quid...........
Their site is fairly user friendly and the prices seem to be good. others to try would be would be The Model Dockyard and Cornwall Model Boats . Hobby King is cheap too - but delivery can take a while unless its from the "UK" warehouse - mixed up deliveries are not unheard of either.........

Hi Marky,
Some of these Chinese ready to run boats have a circuit board that acts as a receiver and electronic speed controller.
Also the range that you have is quite short.

I personally would purchase a decent four channel transmitter receiver package, that way you could also operate some lighting.
Obviously more channels if you want to get more things working.

Martin555.

Doug ,or anyone elsemy friend has an old ready to run Chinese speed boat ,would the radio and receiver do for my build? He said there both working .
List of basic needs .
Propshaft,couplings and prop ,rudder and servo ,motor ,power source.is there anything else?.
Cheers Marky

Good on ya Marky 👍
Re Prop: single screw ships were usually RH.
What are you considering for the RC fit?
Remember; If in doubt ASK! Someone here will surely be able to advise 😊
Cheers, Doug 😎

Sorry for not replying sooner, been having internet problems and its still acting up,am going for it ,am making a list of what I need and hope Santa 🎅 will be Good to me ,I have a few 6v motorbike batteries in the shed that I thought I might use .
A question ,should the propeller be RH or LH ? or does it not matter .
Cheers Marky

Agreed Nerys👍
A good case for some hefty SLA batteries; payload instead of ballast 😉

Marky; If you are going RC, which I sincerely hope you will, DO IT NOW!!
Looking at the build article I noticed that the builder actually fitted the motor and shaft to the hull base before he even fitted the frames!
So do it now before you start skinning the hull, unless you've got very long thin fingers and thumb😁
I would also plan where to put battery and electronics trays at this stage, taking into account hatch access and balance.
So far so very good👍
Cheers, Doug 😎

Looking back at your early pictures, I'm seeing how deep this ship is and think that she will need a fair amount of ballast. I built a Dutch coaster with similar proportions a while ago and was surprised how much ballast was required. Still think you are building a really nice pre WW2 three island cargo ship. Wish today's ships were anywhere near as attractive!

Cheers, Nerys

Marky, Have you given any thought about the power source, ie, LiPo or LSA...? both have their pro's and con's

'Just doing my job' was the most common reply I received when chatting with the chaps. Some of them were so affected they couldn't (still) bring themselves to speak about it. Some interviews I carried out were 'audienced' by their family members because it was the first time they had heard it as well. Years on, and I'm still in regular touch with them. A shame it was only Russia that awarded them medals in gratitude...

I knew Frank, the barge skipper quite well, we were friends for some years until our paths diverged too much. He had been badly burnt, face and upper limbs and spent a long time in hospital and ended up marrying his nurse. Despite having lost fingers and parts of fingers, he was a brilliant mechanic and frequently did car repairs for me and practically rebuilt a scooter for my sister. I also remember him buying a bubble car and, with his wife, and neither of them were exactly small, driving down to the south of France for a holiday. He was a character if ever there was one.

With humiliation, Nerys

That must have been quite a conversation. Before I moved, I lived quite close to the local RNA and two of the veterans from the old Shiny were veryhelpful relating their experiences (both on and off-ship) What struck me the most was the fact that they were very 'matter of fact' about it; that they were just doing what they were supposed to do... quite humbling really in this generation of snowflakes.

I met two of the crew of HMS Sheffield who served on her on the Arctic Convoy run. One, I believe he was a P.O. later became an instructor on the Training Ship Arethusa and the other, a Marine was badly burnt in an air attack, but survived, and I met him when he was skipper of a Thames Sailing Barge in the fifties.

Cheers,
Nerys

It's no wonder they were given the 'Order of the Blue Nose', Nerys... Even Churchill remarked that they were the "worst journey in the world"... whether or not they engaged the forces from across, above, and below, that were determined to prevent them from completing the journey, or just spent the journey chipping the ice off so the ships didn't capsize!

Hello Marky. Guilty as charged, lol

Peter ,Are you the Author of the excellent book about Edinburgh/Turnhouse Airport? my dad had a copy ,it may still be in the house somewhere.
Cheers Marky

I visited those waters around North Norway on a voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes on an 11000 ton Cruise Ferry in early spring, the area was pretty bleak and to have the Luftwaffe and German Navy doing their best to eliminate you as well must have been horrifying. However I was interested to learn that the people of Kirkenes, in Norway, look upon Murmansk as their local big city where they can find all the theatres, restaurants, shopping etc not available in their own town.

Exactly, marky. I wrote a book about the convoys some years ago, after talking to many of the veterans of those sailings (sadly most have since crossed the bar) and some of the recollections they came out with made my jaw drop.

These brave men had to put up with the most horrendous conditions ,I had a friend Alas no longer with us)who used to do the Murmansk run in piece time and he said that it was terrible so what it was like during wartime is just unimaginable .
Cheers Marky

One of the worst maritime disasters of the Second World War; the men on the ships that comprised PQ17 not only had to ensure the horrendous weather conditions, but later learned that they were in fact the bait in a bid to lure the German Pocket Battleship ‘Tirpitz’ out of her safe haven. Despite being given the order to 'Scatter', out of a total of thirty-five ships in the convoy, only eleven reached Arkhangelsk.

Re -Plenty of space (registered tonnage😉) to pack goodies in Mark👍-he Dichloromethane is waiting patiently on the shelf 😉
Surely you're not contemplating using that nasty stuff Doug, -dangerous in so many ways (as apposed to BromochloroDIFLOUROmethane (Halon 1211) which was brilliant for fire fighting till the greenies stopped it,- ozone layer etc.
JB

Yes, I thought I could see similarities but this model will have your mark on it (joke). I think she will make a good RC model and are pleased that you should be considering that.

Cheers, Nerys

Hi Nery's, I am using the plans from model boat January 2019 as the basics . I've never done rc before and should reall dive in and have a go.

Hi Marky, Nice roomy hull, plenty of space for essential cargo to war torn Russia!! Reminds me of the plans for a puffer in Model Boat a few months ago. Think you are doing well with the superstructure, looks very good. Do hope she will be RC and not a static. Looking forward to your continued posts.

Cheers , Nerys

Doug ,May bite the bullet and deviate away from static ,with any luck templates I made for the decks were accurate 😅 proof of the pudding will be tomorrow when I test fit them.

Thanks Marky. Looking forward to seeing the completed ship.

39x6!?😮
Plenty of space (registered tonnage😉) to pack goodies in Mark👍
Or will she be another static ? 🤔🤔
Whatever, great subject, keep her away from my U25 though 💥
Unusual to start on the decks in such detail before the hull is finished!
I would be afraid that the main deck wouldn't fit properly leading to --> 'Bodging under the bulwarks'😮 Measure twice or thrice, cut once 😊
Wishing you w/t seams and flush decks🤞
Cheers, Doug 😎
PS Now that Elsrickle has shown me the way to make my boat davits work I'll have to get on with finishing the lifeboats for HMS Hotspur😉 The Dichloromethane is waiting patiently on the shelf 😉

Nipped out through the frost and measured the frames the ship is 39" long with a beam of 6"".
Cheers Marky

Marky,
Very nice indeed.
Love the wooden deck.
I will definitely be following this build log.

Martin555.

Will post the dimensions tomorrow to cold to nip out to the shed for a tape measure.

That's a great idea Marky. I will be very interested to watch your progress. There's something about the ordinary merchant ship of that era that I find attractive. My father was in tramp ships and similar during the pre war years so I do have a personal interest especially as my mother and I would spend a few days on his ship whenever he was in a UK port. Also, I have visited the museum and memorial at North Cape in Norway which commemorates the Arctic convoys and in particular PQ17 and the Battle of North Cape.

Cheers, Nerys

Hi Marky,

Great details, On the wood work!

Cheers, Ed

Looks interesting.
What are the completed measurements.

I second Mr Fleets comments. Superb workmanship.
She is going to look something special when completed.👍

Excellente Mark 👍
Each superstructure 'chunk' is a fine model in itself!
I envy you guys who can do such accurate woodwork.
Encore, Encore 😀
Cheers, Doug 😎

Hi Marky I am in a similar position re RC (first boat), but I've read all the books and really its not that complicated as modern RC seems to be made easy by the manufacturers, just make sure you count the number of channels you will need, I'm not sure I did! but we will see.

Well Marky, You can guarantee that you will get a lot of help from the good members of this site.

Go for it Marky.

Martin555.

Martin, I have just sent away for a book about rc for the novice.

Hi Marky,
That is looking really good.
It is definitely a totally different and unusual way to build but it is working out great.

Have you decided to make it radio controlled ?

Martin555.

Virgin have just started laying cables in our area so may give it a try once their finished.👍

If you can get Virgin in your area, give it a try. I get 213 Mb/s almost constantly. Just tested across wifi at 140 Mb/s.

Hi Marky,

All internet providers claim, Super fast internet connection!
What a joke!

Cheers, Ed

Nice Marky,
Looking good.

Martin555.

I think you might get away with straightening the tube but I have doubts about the shaft. It will be difficult to get straight enough to avoid vibration at the speeds we turn them at. Sorry to be depressing,☹️ Good idea about enlarging the rudder though.😊

Martin now you mention it I could probably solder another brass sheet onto the rudder to enlarge it ,am going to take the prop shaft into my old work to see if they can push a piece of bar the right diameter through it to straighten it and also try and straighten the inner shaft ,it was just so annoying after the wait.
Cheers Marky👍

I am glad you'r parts arrived, but sorry to hear about the damage.
Well it be possible to modify the rudder and straiten the shaft ?

Martin555.

Here's some more inspiration Marky, some more colourful.
Many of the original schemes were only black/grey/white anyway!
Happy dazzling 😁
Cheers, Doug 😎

https://www.pinterest.de/pin/135741376238614786/

http://www.scari.org/razzle-dazzle.too.html

Thanks for more inspiration Doug ,was reading that although there are many pictures of dazzle ships they are only in Black and white or sepia most of the colourful images are from the original paint designs.
Cheers Marky.

Hi Mark,
Good idea👍
Here's some more inspiration😉

https://io9.gizmodo.com/an-illustrated-history-of-unbelievably-camouflaged-ship-

"Everyone else seems to be too far away............. "
I'm soooo alone, oh woe is me 😭
Know the feeling Red 😉
Except here, amongst kindred spirits👍
"You'll never walk alone!" 😊
Cheers, Doug 😎

Tried cutting by hand ,murder just trying to get two the same and I don't really have the patience 😁.
Was nice to the people I used to manage in my previous life when I worked at the art college and they are quite happy to do me wee favours like laser cutting ,3D printing and as much scrap wood as I can use .
Cheers Marky

Nice one Marky - laser cutting those type of pieces is a doddle - nightmare by hand ! Would also do that sort of thing for other modellers on our Laser - if there were any here now - other than the ones I'm trying to encourage...........
Everyone else seems to be too far away.............

So you should be getting on apace now Marky,
Chop chop!😊
晚安 😎

Hi Marky,

I see I'm not the only one.
That uses Chopsticks for a mast!👍
Your model is coming along nicely!

Cheers, Ed

Good work Marky, she is coming along nicely.
Keep it up.

Martin555.

Thanks for all the help and ideas that will keep me bumbling about and out of mischief for a while.

Cheers Marky👍

Thanks for the idea of litho plate,will take a wee trip into the art college where I worked before retirement they have a printing department and see what I can scrounge.
Cheers Marky👍

Good ideas Pete - Marky various sizes of cheap wheels available at haberdashers - don't try and use better half's one - could lead to a lot of domestic upheaval - they work well on thin card too - 160gm or so - card not that expensive either - cereal boxes a bit thick and tend to disintegrate quickly when wet - always worried about water seeping in and dislodging the contact or epoxy type glue you use for sticking the plastic.....

Waterproof white glue works well with card on wood hulls - (dont get too wet - use a dryish brush to apply the glue) - then a coat of dope or thin undercoat waterproofs pretty well before painting......Thick will tend to hide the rivet effect.

All the above comes from learning the hard way......

Used plastic plating successfully on GRP/ Vac-formed ABS or Polystyrene hulls with solvent type glue - worked OK but don't over-wet as the rivets disappear - guess how that was found out......

If you have got access to litho plate Marky, have a go with that, used it on a destroyer of mine, it cuts with scissors, and glues easy with Cyno (CA.)😐
btw, you can also put on rivets with a punch wheel dead easy...
Cheers, Pete

Thanks for that Martin ,thought about using the ice cream tubs and using Tomas's roller idea for doing the rivets.
Cheers Marky👍

Hi Marky,
If you are planning to make you'r model RC then i would plate the hull with ice cream tub plastic.
But if you decide to use cereal boxes i would use the smoothest side on the outside.

Martin555.