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[carlmt]

Hi all,
A couple of years ago, my father and I started on an adventure - we wanted to build the George Robinson SD14 card kit, but not for static display.....to sail !!!

Here are a few shots showing how we managed it - and managed to keep to the spirit of the kit and use nearly all the card elements........

First off, the original kit comes in 9 A3 boxes - 3 ship sections: bow, midships & stern.  It is built just like a real ship, but instead of welding sheet steel we are glueing card....

[carlmt]

As we were going to sail her, we needed to build in some extra strength.  We realised that a serious amount of lead was going to be needed to get her down to waterline - and that it would have to be removeable. Therefore, to spread the load, a thin sheet of ply (no thicker than the original card) was laid on the tank-top and two ali bearers were glassed on top to prevent flexing of the hull during lifting operations.  All other structural elements remained as card (except the extreme bow stem - for protection).

[carlmt]

To begin with, and to build in strength, the bow and midships sections were built as one........

All hatchways, ladders, ribs and bearers were built in - even though when finished it is doubtful they can be seen..

Once all the inner structure had been completed, the entire hull was skinned with thin play - again, no thicker than the original card - and sealed with glass tissue and resin...

[pugwash]

Hi Carl an interesting build - I have never seen a card build before - I didn' t realise how much was involved.
Keep the pictures coming.
Geoff

[carlmt]

The ster was built in the same manner as the rest of the ship - but again we needed to substitute the card for ply and balsa where strength was required for sailing.

The propshaft runs through the shaft tunnel, just as in the real ship, and the rudder is scale sized (to date we have had no problems with steerage).  The motor is a beautiful, slow running and quiet unit from Alistair Graham, and sits exactly where the full sized version would be.

[carlmt]

Becoming more like a ship every day!

All the hull is structurally complete - just finish off the skinning, then a start was made on the superstructures..........

[carlmt]

A small model of a Sulzer 5 cylinder was made to cover the electric power-plant.........not too unconvincing methinks!!!!

Then, it was time for paint and fit-out...........cannot understand how she got so rusty just sitting on the slipway!!!

[carlmt]

There is something very satisfying in seeing a model come together with detail and colour - the fitting out didn't take long, and access was maintained to all the cargo hatches as that is where we load the lead!!!!

All the r/c gear is stowed in the main superstucture and the rudder servo is 'direct-drive' mounted to the rudder post and housed in the 'steering flat' on the stern.

[carlmt]

A few shots of the detail...........

At a scale of 1:70, she tops out about 7' long.

[carlmt]

Launching day!!!!!!!!!!

All ready for the water on her launching / carrying / display cradle..........

Then on the water at last!!!!

The project took us the best part of 3 years to complete.  She sails well, but has tremendous momentum!!! You really have to think ahead when planning manouevers.

Our only real fear when sailing is being 'T-Boned' by a 'fast electric'..........constructed the way she is, the damage would be collosal...

But we do enjoy sailing her...........

Hope you enjoyed the 'show'................Dad is now building the Fleetscale HMS Invincible (WWII carrrier) - 8' long......he is gonna need a bigger shed!!!!
Take care
Carl

[derekwarner_decoy]

Thanks for sharing the build  carlmt ....I had no idea that such card construction [of original design] existed to such detail ....brilliant .....Derek

[yorkiej]

There is only one word for it:-  i.e. 'SUPERB'.
I am very jealous of your build, as I have always fancied this kit.
I believe it was first developed, as a model of the actual build, in three sections, to assist with the instruction of firefighters fighting fires and dealing with rescues on ships in dock for repair.
A truly amazing work of art really.
Well (x 50) done to you both.Good luck with the bigger shed !!
 

[allanb131]

This build is a true inspiration to all. She looks absolutely superb on the water.
I am amazed at the clean neat lines you have obtained and to top it a great paint job.
Now that's what I call teamwork.
Well done !!!!!

Allan.

[kiwi]

Brilliant, constructed the way boats should be built
Extremely well done
kiwi

[tugmad]

ABSOLUTELY  LOVELY  well done to you both.

[rathikrishna]

Hai friend..its amazing and unbelievable...oh god...its a nice work...thanks for sharing...

[carlmt]

Thank you all for your kind comments - I will pass them on to dad when I see him next week....................computers are not his forte, and at 71 he is not going to start now!!! So unless I show him these pages, he is unaware!!!

Dad is primarily a card ship modeller, but does produce some 'mean' r/c models........ You may have read a review or two of his in MMM or Model Boats on card model kits  - the latest being the 1:200 Tirpitz.

Here are a couple of his others.............. The Lutzow and Scharnhorst models are 40 years old.
Carl

[nhp651]

that is quite stunning carl.........I have always had a hankering for building one of those, but seeing that, I know it would be quite beyond my ability AND patience, but an absolute credit top you and your dad......simply superb.
neil

[jules64]

Carl

Thank you for sharing this, absolutely brilliant work and a pleasure to see.

Best wishes
Jules

[dreadnought72]

Awesome work! 

I see the "kit" is available through Marcle Models for £280. That (I think) is a really good price, given the amount of effort and time required before completion.

Stunning stuff!

Andy

[Lord Bungle]

Simply Stunning

[pugwash]

Carl Now it is finished I think it looks excellent, a tribute to both you and your dad.
Geoff

[Mike S]

Carl,

Absolutely brilliant, I can remember the 1:1 scale SD14's being built at Austin & Pickersgills, back in the days when the North East actually had a shipbuilding industry. Thanks for the photos, superb project.


Cheers,

Mike

[hama]

Have to agree to all thats been said, absolutely stunning! And she looks so good on the water, must be a thrill to maneuver.
All the best!
Hama.

[Howard Q]

Hi Carimt. I built one of these models many years ago, they are a superb way of understanding the intricacies of ship building, like yourself the model I built cried out to be put in the water. The model I built was constructed entirely of card as per kit, when complete; the outside was covered with several layers of resin and left to dry completely, after that she was treated exactly as you would with a fiberglass hull, like yours she sailed well and looked every part a real ship.
The only problem at the time was transportation, I had to rely on a friend who had an estate car, eventually he sold this and she had to be disposed of, I was amazed at the strength of the model having to take a Stanley knife to dissect it for disposal, just retaining the mechanics and prop for future use,?.
I am at present building a ferry at 7 foot 2 inch, but now have the means to transport it.
Howard Q.