Best bet would be to contact 'Trading Standards' - or the media about Westbourne, they would soon get the matter sorted, but of course there have been so many dissapointments to so many folk.



Jim

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My scramble nets were made by my dear wifey - using the Crochet method, they're very flexible and roll easily, when rolled up they are held in place by a slice of aluminium cigar tube with a slit to release. SWMBO also made a set of lovely fenders incl. bow fender the same way.

Oh yes, and she made the blankets and pillows for the sick bay as well.

Jim

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Tolerance to model making should have been included in the marriage vows!

What a shame, makes one appreciate a good un....
Press on doing the best you can.


Jim

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Can't think why you got into trouble it's pretty simple I found and gave me a very accurate water line datum.

Having found the w/l datum I applied Trimline tape (white) for a perfect straight line, Trimline tape sticks so well it can pull off underlying paint after a couple of weeks to harden off.


Jim

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The dreaded white water line? No, no, here's my method: float the boat in the bath, allow the water to get still then dust the water surface with talc or similar all around the hull.

Carefully lift the hull from the water and the talc will be seen on the hull marking the water line.


Jim

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UPaul, That's a nice boat - and a nice build.... Don't be shy of asking a decent figure for it, it may be a model but even these can reach high build cost figures.

In 2012 I completed my 46" fire boat after some 14 months work and expenditure of near GBP 2,000! Built using a glass hull the rest is scratch built using copies of Vosper drawings, the vessel is complete with wheelhouse instrumentation & furniture, First-Aid room with bunks, blankets & pillows - & F/Aid Cabinet, steps leading up to deck, on-deck equipment includes working rescue ladder, hoist Derek, boat hook, working fire monitors, stowed life rings, working Nav lights, folding mast, scale Hard Suction Hoses and threaded inlet, Tow hook, Rescue Nets, etc. & Many more small parts, Twin electric propulsion with brass scale exhaust outlets..... and on......



Jim
Trying to upload photos but 'drop-down' box covers Submit Changes button!

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Thank you Neil.

Jim

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Thanks Den.

Jim

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HI Den, Thanks for the invite, I don't know the area at all so would be grateful of a postcode reference...

Happy sailing to you for 2016 and on.

Jim

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An absolutely great model - and 6 years of work!

The highest Congratulations.

Jim

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I don't know of a KeilCraft crash tender, the most popular production was the 34" version by Aerokits, long since departed. The model is well suited to modern electric propulsion because of great improvements in batteries and motors.

The number surviving show the popularity of the craft which was made for the emerging market of small Diesel engines in the early 1960's.

Jim

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Neil, The wattage of a model plane heat gun ranges between 300 - 1800w, most model shops have these but if in difficulty try http://www.sussex-model-centre.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=41001

Jim

http://www.sussex-model-centre.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=41001

🔗

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HI Neil,
A domestic hair drier is unlikely to provide enough heat, a DIY hot air gun will most likely give too much heat....
Best job is a hot air gun for use on model aircraft for shrinking coverings, they're not too expensive and will last for years, in fact it was one of my best buys.

NB The 34" FB is just a bit too small for dolls house sized furniture whereas the 46" job being 1" to the foot is just right size.

Press on, you're doing a great job.

Jim

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Removal of the engine block looks tricky if one thinks about chiseling it out but on my 34" that I originally built in 1963 and fitted an ED Sea Otter 3.46 diesel I found that a hot air gun set to V hot and waved around the block got it free within five minutes- without anymore bashing.

I've restored the boat and changed to electric propulsion using Johnson 980 motor... Boat comes 2/3rds out of water to amidships now. Actually I've restored two 34" fireboats and since scratch built the 46" FB but using a fibreglass hull, the 46" job has fitted out wheelhouse, ditto first aid room, working lights and monitors and is powered by two Johnson 980 motors.

Jim

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It's got to be about the place somewhere, they don't scrap such rare articles.


Jim

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If memory serves well the only original full size craft used to be outside on blocks at the Hendon Aircraft Museum, that was in the '80's, they may have housed it inside by now but I can't be certain.

Jim

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The High Speed Launch was basically an inshore rescue craft, to minimise recognition from the air the superstructure and decking would most likely have been a 'sea' colour such as a dark grey.


Jim

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Lot of work on that one, happy building.

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Well done Brian, my proposed 1/12 scale Sunderland has been set back a while due to working currently on 5 metre span glider SF27M - the M denotes motor (retractable electric on pylon), trying for completion by May 2014.

NB: 1/12 scale Sunderland (Palmer) plans (& CNC cut part kit) are available from Belair Kits, Dereham, Norfolk



Jim

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The boat was completed in December 2012, trying to replicate the Meteorite engines was a no-no, there simply was not enough room after fitting micro servos for the water pump and lights and then the 12v 7ah PB battery along with fuses for each motor's esc. initial runs were carried out at Sheringham pool but it was too small to accommodate the boat's speed, otherwise all was ok.
Ships Gear includes the folding stepped casualty boarding ladder, Scrambling Nets, Davit (of course), working lights and monitors, Hard Suction Hoses and complimentary fittings to scale, 2 Suction Wrenches, Foam Tanks, Deck Filling points for Petrol, Water & Foam Compound, Tow Hook, Engine oil tank fillers.
The Sick Bay is furnished with bunks,blankets and pillows, floor standing table with fiddles, drawers below bunks, First Aid Cabinet, hatchway steps. Wheelhouse is fitted with Blumels type wheel, twin throttle controls, instrument panel and Kent Screen.

The wings that caused the delay in completion of the boat were long ago completed and the plane has done many flights and is always ready for good weather windows.

Foolishly perhaps I kept an expenditure log on the 46" Fireboat, some £1300 were spent, and well worth it I think as it is a Museum piece added to my ever growing collection.
Photos? Some I've already uploaded to the site but there are 20 in all best suited to a CD or Stick.

Jim

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Again, very well done! I now have three fireboats, two 34" and one 46", the first 34" I built in1992 originally powered by an ED Sea Otter 3.46 diesel but now converted to electric, 2nd 34" retrieved from the skip for a small price this was just a hull with part superstructure, after stripping it down to bare hull I again chose to go electric installing my favourite Johnson 980, superstructure completely rebuilt with working Nav lights and monitors.

Boat No.3 is the 46" job built on a Kingston Mouldings fibreglass hull; electric powered again but using two Johnson 980 motors, fully working scale monitors, Nav lights, cockpit helm & instrument panel, sick bay with bunks, blankets & pillows, Table, First Aid Cabinet, steps up to mid deck through portholed doors, scale suction hoses & inlet and of course Tow Hook, Davit winch, Casualty Ladder, Scrambling Nets, the list goes on even further. I built the vessel as a as a true (apart from motors) representation of the Vosper built originals.
I'm very much into large scale model building and flying currently having 9 aircraft including my 5 Metre SFS31 Milan. A future planned project will be a 1/12 scale Sunderland to exactly match the 46" Fireboat.
Currently the build project is a 22% scale (10.5 ft span DHC 2 Beaver.

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I too have used Westbourne Models in the past when I was sourcing parts for my Fireboat, I found them most helpful and parts ordered over the phone were received next day... I am aware though, that things have changed, the original owner having gone into retirement with business now handled by one of the sons.
Since or after that time, about three years, I have had no occasion to use their services so cannot vouch for whatever services they now provide.

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Modeltugman, I may be able to help you, I built the Loyal Moderator five years ago and still have it, now I must try to remember where I put the drawings because I never throw anything away...

Jim *phone removed - PM only*

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Yours will be a jolly nice craft when completed, its large however, and with the proper turn of speed it will use up a lot of water space very quickly. My fireboat is a mere 46" propelled by two Johnson 980's on 12v but it fair gobbles up water space and my local pond at Sheringham is completely useless.

Keep up the good work.mdlbt.com/sys_files/graphics/smileys/027.png

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"Gamma' was a sister ship to the well known Massey Shaw fire boat the latter on which I served during the sixties. Both craft did trojan service during WW ll, Fb. Massey Shaw also took part in the Dunkirk Evacuations. Gamma was retired in the mid 50's, the company that bought her removed her pumps and converted her to a Thames Passenger Cruiser whereafter she plied between Greenwich and Westminster Piers for several years.

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HI Tugboat,
If you contact Mike Mayhew at Waverley Models he will be able to make your suction hoses, in fact anything else you require as well.
He has made me a beautiful scale set of hoses for my 46" boat as well as other fittings, he casts them as well!
Mike was one of the original coxwains on 93 and has good information on the boats.

Mine is practically finished now, complete with furnishings in the wheelhouse and sick bay - sort of like a doll's house and complete with working white metal monitors. When its completely finished I'll put some more photos on by blog.

Have fun with your build,
Jim


Mike

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OK - Job done, I had a glitch on my server, thanks folks.

Jim

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Just tried to make my donation ... Result? 'SafarI can't find the server paypal.com'

Next suggestion please

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YES - to a voluntary donation = I'll just reach for my wallet...

Modelboats.com - would cost Circa ?10,000 ?
but I have noticed that we ARE ON IT - the name HAS changed thus:mdlbt.com OR is there a subtle change here? 😊

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New build of 46" Firefloat Mk ll following De-classified Vosper Drawings, photos show 46" cast monitors adapted to work, Rudder servo In fwd ;sick bay' also fwd bilge suction pipe, Sick Bay area as per Vosper dwg,

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