14 Posts
14 Followers
85 Likes
Model Slipway RNLI Tamar class lifeboat 1:16 scale
So, after probably over a year of no activity on here, not that I havenโt been building, a couple of members had been in contact to see if I had anything planned. Well, after managing to source an unstarted MS Tamar kit off EBay last year (I wonโt disclose how much!) and having spent a few weeks sourcing the majority of the extras required, I felt ready to startโฆ.
First things first like all model kits, read the manual (itโs thick!) study the plans, read again, more tea and read again, make lists of things to do, things to buy ect then onwards.
First job was to make the holes required for the bow thruster tube in the hull, aided by a template included. I had to make the holes larger than the template as my Raboesch bow thruster has a larger diameter tube. Once, drilled filled and ready to receive, the tube was epoxied in and then braced with liquid steel, solid! The outside was then sanded flush and a little p38 filler saw it all nice and neat ready to move onto the next stage โฆ..
Skydive130
2 years ago
11 Posts
18 Followers
83 Likes
Fairey Huntsman 31 (47โ SLEC kit) build blog
I decided I needed a challenge and a quote from a certain film springs to mind โyour gonna need a bigger boat!โ Well, I think Iโm gonna need a bigger workbench!
Iโve been thinking about doing a big Huntsman for a while and as the Springer tug wasnโt doing it for me I decided to rest the tug for another day and pull the trigger on the large 47โ length Huntsman kit from SLEC. 2 days after ordering the huge box arrived and upon opening I was greeted with that smell of new wood and Slecsโs usually quality mix of laser cut ply, liteply, balsa, hardwood and other types of strip wood. Also included was a sheet of vacform parts, clear acetate for the windows, scaled down simple plan, pictorial instructions, build manual and as an extra, I bought the accessories pack separately.
At the same time I ordered the kit, I ordered some stuff from Hobbyking which I picked up today which including a huge chunk of a motor Turnigy G60 500kv (equivalent to a 61 glow!), 120amp brushless esc, propeller coupling, 18โ propshaft, heavy duty metal gear servo and a few bits from my spares box. I will need other items like a 6S lipo and other bits, but Iโll order those as needed.
Construction wise all Iโve done is dry assembled the bulkheads and side formers and slotted them onto the false deck just for impression, and as you can see, sheโs gonna be huge! Everything is a really nice snug fit and almost self jigging, which is great as it will be vital to build this model square and true, any twists will show up big style!
I shall sand everything properly at the weekend and start gluingโฆโฆ
Skydive130
3 years ago
4 Posts
8 Followers
40 Likes
American river Springer pusher Tug
And now for something different! I know that I suggested my next build would be the Dumas Motor lifeboat 36500, bu a week ago this little gem popped up on Facebook and I just had to hit the buy now button......
So, what we have here is an American River Springer Tug, used for pushing stuff up and down the river. The laser cut kit was a bargain at ยฃ80 inc postage from a very nice guy called Kevin who now owns www.Mastman.co.U.K. Or better still contact him through his Facebook page, search โmastman Model Boatsโ. He has a few limited kits available, I believe are new old stock and once gone they are gone!
What you get is all the quality laser cut plywood parts (no instructions) but all a superb fit and a little trial and error saw the basic model pieced together in about 15minutes. Overall length is about 18โ long by about 8โ beam, I havenโt worked out the scale yet as need to do a little research on the real thing. I believe you get a lot of bang for your buck and ยฃ80 I thought was good value.
The scope here is to add a wealth of scratch built details although these vessels are quite simple in real life. Items on order are a 500 sized brushed motor, 50mm 4 blade prop, steering servo, coupling, esc and a steerable kort nozzle. I shall be adding basic lights and still need to order 2x6v lead acid batteries and propshaft when Iโve worked out what length I need.
Onwards with the start of the build.......
First job was to identify the basic hull components which include the sides, various formers, servo mount, rudder plate, bow and stern pieces. All were given a gentle sand, nothing major as the quality of the wood is so nice and then the basic frame was glued and squared up with Gorrilla waterproof PVA. This was then checked for square and weighted down to set.
Next pieces will be the hull bottom sheet supports x5 and the hull sheet.....
Skydive130
3 years ago
31 Posts
21 Followers
237 Likes
Speedline Models RNLI Shannon Class Lifeboat 1:16 scale
Here we go again! So, this years project and it could well take a while is the Shannon at 1:16th scale. As this is likely to be a considerable investment (the kit cost ยฃ850!) I want to get it right....
I am going to base this on the Lowestoft boat as its close by for photo reference (when lockdown ends) and I like the black hull version better than the white!
Hull length 81cm beam 26cm
Once id sourced the kit, I set about reading as much as possible on the build and thankfully there is a dedicated page on facebook which Ive joined that has as much info as one can absorb by other owners and builders. The first thing to do was junk the included kit jet drives and invest in a pair of Oceanworks 24mm drives and motors from HK which duly arrived within 2 weeks of ordering.
I then set about sourcing all the other bits and pieces over the next couple of months less the batteries which I will get soon (stocks permitting)
The kit has been reproduced from the orginial by Speedline Models who like alot of model companies sadly no longer exist. The kit comprises a GF hull, deck and cabin, bags n bags of resin parts, decals, windows, brass wire and other sundries!! The quality of everything is superb, first class job by Tony on ebay who is involved in the reproduction process.
Apart from the Hamilton drives, ive bought 6 servos which are required for the reverse buckets, trim tabs and nozzels, Turnigy 40a ESC's, Mtroniks Napier diesel sound unit with better quality speaker, radar motor, blu flashing light, lights, switching unit and various other bits and pieces although I am sure there will other requirements as things progress.
The first thing to build was a stand using B&Q PVC piping and lagging to sit the whole thing on ......
Skydive130
3 years ago
33 Posts
11 Followers
260 Likes
Lesro Atlantic 21 RNLI RNLB RIB 1:12 scale
So off we go again....! as promised at the end of my pilot build blog, next up would be the Lesro Atlantic 21 RIB in 1:12 scale.
This model is long discontinued and when one does appear on ebay, prepare to part with over ยฃ200 for a complete kit! There is a guy on ebay selling the moulded parts and a few of the pages from the instruction sheets (not all of them I add) and I hit the buy-now button on one of those as always wanted to build an inflatable RIB. I was very pleased with the quality of the parts supplied, all look to be mouled well as are the vac-form parts, its now just a case of identifying what is what! Whether these are genuine parts from the old lesro moulds or 3rd party, I dont know, but the quality is good enough to not need to question their origin.
I was planning to build this for display only as at 1:12 its not big and will really only be suitable for flat calm conditions. However, I have decided to build it functional, going brushless so we shall see what the final result will be?
The Evenrude dummy motors are shortly to be reproduced by Dave "Mastman" Watts and I have pre-ordered a pair. I have already ordered a Coxswain from DK Figures and plan on only adding the one figure. My motor will be the D2826 1000kv driving a 30mm 3 blade brass prop, 2 or 3S lipo to be decided. I have found one build on another forum that the builder managed to build to functioning Evenrudes but I will stick to the single internal motor as orginally intended by Lesro.
Doug has been kind enough to send me a link to some great photos for the details, but I am really desperate to find a copy of the orginal plans if anyone has a set out there? my main issue will be getting the frame for the self righting airbag right. So, any input as we progress will be appreciated as always, especially when I come to forming the frame parts from 4 and 5mm brass tube.
Skydive130
4 years ago
32 Posts
13 Followers
268 Likes
SLEC/LESRO 35โ Pilot Boat 1:12 scale
Off we go again! First gripe, why doesnโt this website upload pictures in order?
Anyway, we open the box to find a wonderful smell of fresh cut and very good quality birch ply and other wood. I bought the basic kit off eBay as the extra items that can be bought at time of purchase, I.e white metal parts, brass stanchions ect I can make by hand from scratch, cutting down costs. The kit comes with a picture manual and written manual, but sadly no full size plan, not that you need it but useful for working out scale of deck fittings ect. I have bought extra the usual needs, ie motor (going brushless), prop, coupling, propshaft, servo, rudder, along with a few other odds. Still need ESC, lipo, glass cloth (I shall await Hobbyking UK reopening as I can collect as they are 4 miles away!). Paints and other items not to hand will be bought further down the line.
Onto the build! Today Iโve completed the first 2 stages and have set that up to dry solid overnight. So far using aliphatic resin to bond all wood.
My plan is to build this model to represent fairly closely the one pictured. The cabin may have some major surgery as the kit one isnโt that close to the real life one pictured, we shall see were I go with it as time progresses.
Skydive130
4 years ago
30 Posts
13 Followers
274 Likes
โOrcaโ Quints boat from Jaws 1975 (Pat Tritle plan built)
Here are a couple of shots of my โOrcaโ as it nears the point of sealing, painting and weathering. I started this about 6 weeks ago and itโs been built using the plans from Pat Tritle in the USA. Iโm sorry that Iโve not taken many shots of the build as up to a point, most of it was covered by a build thread listed by Pat a few years ago on another forum. I shall include more shots now that we are at the paining and detailing phase as this is were I plan to go overboard!
I used the plans, mainly for the templates of the formers ect and deviated on wood choice where I felt that harder woods would be better than balsa. The hull was glass clothed and resin finished. Most of the superstructure was bass wood, obechi, some mahogany and even some pine! Whilst Pat included some basic detailing on the plans, I have done as much research as possible on the real thing, have watched โJawsโ several times (not hard as itโs still my fave film!), I shall try and replicate as much detail as possible!
Radio choice is a simple 540 sized brushed motor, 45mm brass prop, 15amp Mtroniks ESC, Hobbyking servo for rudder and 6 cell car type Nimh battery. Iโll take photos of the internals at some point.
Iโve built it in such a way that all major parts come apart for painting, rear deck, cabin roof and rear wall, front hatch, flying bridge, mast, all brass railings ect.
All thatโs left to do before painting commences is the final details on the mast, a final shot of her completed before painting and then onwards! All the deck details, I.e, shark cage, O2 bottles, gaffs, spears, chum buckets, barrels, fighting chair, Rod n reel, Shark jaw on flying bridge, and any other details will all be scratch built. About the only commercial items going on are the post holes, nav light boards and search light, My only other issue now is trying and so far failing to find 3 suitable figures to represent Quint, Hope and Brody in 1:14 scale, anyone know of a solution please le5 me know?
Skydive130
4 years ago
28 Posts
2 Followers
98 Likes
Dumas 1203 Coast Guard Lifeboat (RNLI Waveney conversion)
So here we go again! I have decided to give other projects a rest for a time in favour of this little gem. Pick up off eBay for less than ยฃ100 NIB posted, couldnt resist!
Its the Dumas (kit no:1203) 44' Coast Guard Lifeboat. I dont know if this kit is still produced by Dumas and having looked at the Die cutting of the parts, certainly seems like an old kit? However, I love my building and the challenges, so I am sure it will turn out nice at the end. Finished length 33".
I shall be converting this to a RNLI Waveney Class Lifeboat and will possibly go with 44-003 named "Khami" which was based in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, which is local to me here in Suffolk. Sadly very little turns up on this boat via Google, but at some stage may pop out to the Great Yarmouth Lifeboat station and see if I can hunt anymore info on her.
I shall not be using the recommended Dumas running gear for 2 reasons, 1st its a geared set-up (I am going with MFA540 brushed direct drive) and the cost of over ยฃ150!
Photos show the box artwork, plans and the included wood. Last photo shows my electrics less propshafts and props that are on order. Note the Star Wars 3.75" figures that with poetic licence could be painted to represent crew. However, at this point the model is approx 1;16 scale and the figures would be 1:18 scale so maybe too small. There are 1:16 scale lifeboat figures available but pricey?
My one issue at this point is going to battery choice? do I go with a small 6v lead acid or perhaps 2 Tamiya type 7.2v NIMH in series. anyone who has built anything like this may want to advise. LIPO not an option as the Mtroniks ESC do not support LIPO. Space inside the hull may also be an issue?
Another issue is going to be fabricating some propshaft struts for the rear next to the props. There is quite a bit of prop shaft exposed outside the hull, so these would be integral to support and strength of the propshafts. is there anything available off the shelf (they are included in the running gear set, but dont seem to be available on there own) of do I need to fabricate from brass tube and sheet/strip brass?
Skydive130
6 years ago
3 Posts
1 Follower
3 Likes
Palaform Grffin 600 Hovercraft
Hull formers in and setting. Duct finished and primed ready to recieve VW brilliant orange from a Halfords rattle can.
Im scrapping the Depron cabin and making the sides from 1mm ply/2mm balsa lamination for extra strength. Not worried about the extra weight as on Palaforms site you can get a liteply cabin conversion. Infact, Im not too worried about the extra weight that will be added in the build as the manual does state that it maybe required to add extra weight in the form of a battery or similar for on water use in a breeze to prevent the craft flipping over. I shall be saving weight with my motor, esc, lipo combo anyway.
Skydive130
7 years ago