Information from Nerys -

In the 1940s and 50s, many traditional Thames Sailing barges were converted into motor barges. This is a model, based on photos and my memory of the 'Nellie'. The sailing barge 'Nellie' was built by Cremers at Hollowshore, Faversham in 1901,. She traded under sail carrying about 90 tons of cargo around the Thames, Medway and Swale until about 1952 and then had the gear taken out, a Chrysler Crown petrol/paraffin motor installed and carried on trading for some years owned by R.Lapthorne & Co of Hoo on the River Medway.. She was eventually sold out of trade and is now privately owned. She has been rerigged with a reduced sailing barge rig without a topsail. My model is based on a 30" barge hull from Dave Watts Mastman.

NOTE More information from Nerys - read on ........

Hi Phil,
I'll just add a little more information to that. I was Nellie's skipper in the mid 50's for a few years. We were based at Hoo on the Medway and carried cargoes around the Medway, Swale, Thames and Colne. Regular trips were such as ballast from Fingringhoe on the Colne to Hoo, sand from Upnor on the Medway to the Ford works at Dagenham, fertilizers from London to Faversham and Queenborough, wheat from London docks to Whitstable and more or less anything that could be carried between ships in the London docks to anywhere in the Estuary. We were paid by the freight. Half the value of the carriage charges going to the owners and the other half to the crew, shared 2/3 for the skipper, 1/3 for the mate, Then fuel and other expenses were divided up similarly.
Nellie, of all the barges I served on was the one I liked best. She was the smallest, but there was just something about her. However as a footnote, in the 1970's I built a forty three foot schooner rigged barge yacht in the same yard as Nellie was built.

RC Sailing :- No 176 " Nellie " visits Buxton

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Known as 'TID's', 182 of these little prefabricated tugs were built in modular units, by several different yards around the U.K. often by women workers. Brent started off as TID 159 and was the very last of her class to be built being completed in 1946.
https://www.steamtugbrent.org/history...

This model belongs to Buxton Model Boat Club member Bob Armstrong.

https://www.steamtugbrent.org/history...

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RC Sailing:- No175 - T.I.D Class Tug

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Model boats and yachting July 2022

RC Sailing:- No174 - Model Yachting July 2022

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Hello everyone, I hope things are absolutely great in your neck of the woods...A great tug like this one being constructed in the local Toluca Lake shipyards, needs a good radar. I have gone with the @indows 95 look. I am also fully committed to adding some wooden IKEA sliding doors, they will be well-balanced, with a "fingertip touch" when I am through. I am following through with similar swung doors on the captain's cabin.

VID 20220821 193617 1

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today WMBC had a 40th year celebration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2VHO 4PVdHY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD071y_nXO E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCDXueyU5xg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2VHO4PVdHY

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD071y_nXOE

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCDXueyU5xg

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40th WMBC 1

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I have begun the process, the Sterling kits living up to its rep, at one point there is some plywood, but mainly it's made from what appear to be second matchsticks...it weighs so little, it is hilarious. I plan on glassing it all over so it will eventually get some strength to her. But she's long and frail in this state...but I love her. Everything appears to be as straight as possibe, no horrible curves or bends. Still got my fingers crossed for her. Peace my friends, happy boating👍🤑😂😎😊😊

FILE210101 202018F

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She is out of Toluca Lake, close to the Pacific Ocean in Southern California. Some of the very best ships came from those yards in Toluca Lake.
My dad made my Mom a great tugboat with this name back in the 1960's. We always had real boats, and the handmade and very detailed model would get pulled out of the dock box to get towed about while the barbeque was burning down. It got lost over the years and I have christened this beautiful ship in tribute to her. The curves on this tugboat are quite handsome and eye-catching from my rather jaundiced point of view. I can't wait to swing the compass, and run the measured mile with her. Peace to all my model boat enthusiast pals!

FILE210114 195711F

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Lighthouse Night 8-14-22

8 14 22 Lighthouse Night 8

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Lighthouse Night 8-14-22

8 14 22 Lighthouse Night 5

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Lighthouse Night 8-14-22

8 14 22 Lighthouse Night 4

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Lighthouse Night

8 8 21 EMYC Event 3

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This is the first of 2 Lighthouse Night events this year 8-14-22

8 14 22 Lighthouse Night 1

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Thought I'd try for another vid to try and improve on the previous efforts. Had another still day and good tide, so went down to the estuary again. Bit of a mission again,- competing with a few 100% boats and the steep slippery ramp. Truck didn't do a lot better than the jeep, and it weighs about twice as much and has a 4x4 rear, but at least it managed to get the boat out of the water. Forgot to take a 2s for the thermostatic fan for the truck motor, so it got a bit hot and faded towards the end. A lot of work for a 550 geared motor !

Still getting used to the new editor so the vid's a bit scrappy. Almost impossible on a weekend to find the right space with no people, but there is not a lot of choice without going for miles. Fun trying to drive 2 vehicles,- truck doesn't have a handbrake like the jeep, so a bit tricky backing down the ramp. Whole outfit is 1.5m long, and weighs around 12kg.

RC HARTLEY JETBOAT LAUNCH AND RETRIEVAL, USING AN AMPHIBIOUS TOW TRUCK

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The other part of the video (from the new camera) Finally found an editing program for it (cost me $40 though!) - I need one for MOV, as for some stupid reason, the makers of the camera use Apple Quicktime MOV which is a pain. Should be set now for editing.

New coupling with the cable ties seemed to hold up well this time, although the throttle end point is set to 80%,- looks scale enough as it is though.(only a 2400mah 3s battery, so not a long run time if you are going flat out- can suck 35-40A!). Pity the launching vid was rubbish, but have the amphitruck sorted with a towbar now, so I'll give it another crack when there is a good day.

RC SEMI SCALE HARLEY CABIN JET BOAT

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Second go at getting a decent launch vid, - tricky when backing in as you have to manage steering, fwd/rev and handbrake together, (plus having to use 2 TXs and 2 cameras. ). Getting slightly better at it. Next time will be launched by the amphitruck, as it's bigger, heavier and has better grip, (and 4x4 rear drive.) Ramp was a bit wet and slippery for the jeep, (would pull it up in the dry ok) I have a 4k vid of the boat from the new camera, but need a new editor for MOV vids.

RC HARTLEY JET LAUNCH 2

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