Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[gribeauval]

After a visit to Cornwall for a few days earlier this year I talked myself into building the earlier of the Falmouth Severn Class Lifeboats, RNLB The Will  17-02, for a friend utilising a Speedline semi kit he had stashed away in his loft for several years.

First thing to sort out was the bow thruster as a commercial one of the correct size was horrendously expensive. On the full size boat this is 400mm in diameter, in 1/12th scale this is 33.33333 mm diameter. Handy thing is standard plumbing pipe is 32mm bore so I built one for a great deal less than a commercial item at £80 ish!!

Sections of pipe were fitted into each other and sealed along with a screw cap inspection cover.

A motor was fitted to the screw on cap and a paddle blade added to the motor shaft.

The position for the thruster was plotted onto the hull and BIG holes bored into the hull.

The thruster was then fitted and bonded to the hull.

The tube was shortened and faired into the outside of the hull with the characteristic bulge.

Before going any further the boat was loaded up with ballast and checked out in my test tank.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gyi1nBb7V8U

Now everything works OK it's on with the build.

[CyberBOB]

I've never seen a bow thruster like that.  It is so simple, and works!  Nicely done!


Love the way the side to side motion "sculls" the boat forward.  Reminds me of sailing a dinghy,  and  having the wind drop, so sculling in with the tiller.

[Martin (Admin)]

Yes, very neat!   

[gribeauval]

Next job on the agenda is more holes in the hull!!  This time the slots for the propshafts and the rudder supports. Marked out , drilled and filed to suit the angles needed to get the props in the correct place.
 
 
 

 
 Talking of shafts, the ones provided were full outer tubes which are not cotrrect for a Severn Class Lifeboat so it was mark off where the cut should be then deep breath, fingers crossed and on with the cutting disc.
 
 
 

 
 The bearing from the section removed was carefully knocked out and re-fitted, ensuring it was square and straight, into the shortened outer casing. This plus the A frame shaft support was now ready to fit.
 
 
 

 
 View of the starboard shaft fitted in place in the hull.
 
 
 
 

 
 The rudders were also made using standard brass items with styrene overlays to give the correct shape and size.
 
 
 

 
 The shaft, supports and rudders in place ready to add the bilge keels.
 
 
 

 
 Quick view of the brushless beasts that will power this brute!! The mounts were a pair I aquired a while ago for brushed 900 size motors and the mounting holes were the correct spacing for these monsters.
 
 
 
 

[gribeauval]

The bilge keels have now been fitted onto the underside of the hull. This was done by gluing brass pins into the keels, passing them through the hull, bening them over and sealing with grp mat and resin on the inside as well as bedding them on a layer of methacrylate adhesive (Stabilit Express). When all this had cured the joint was faired in with body filler.

Whilst all this resin was setting one of my smaller drawings of the stern of the Severn was scanned, resized and printed at 1/12th scale.

Using this full size drawing the positions for the exhausts and trim tab rams and hydraulic pipe recesses were plotted out onto the stern of the hull, little bit of a geometrical nightmare to get it all in the correct relationship but a good eraser helps!

Once again , pluck up courage, cross your fingers and drill the holes out!

The main engine exhaust recesses have been fitted and sealed into the transom.

Next will be to make the exhausts, rams and trim tabs. 

[gribeauval]

A good rummage through the bits box has produced enough styrene tubes of the correct diameters and other bits to make the exhausts.

The two main engine exhausts have also been fitted with tubes to allow simulated exhaust cooling water to be pumped out of them as well as hinged covers. The three smaller ones are for the crankcase breathers and the generating set exhaust.

Exhausts in place on the transom.

The base plates for the rams have also been made from styrene sheet along with the hydraulic connections recesses.

All the plates have now been fixed and sealed in place on the transom and given a quick coat of primer.

Rams and trim tabs (non-working) next.

[gribeauval]

Next few bits have been made.

First off the assembly line are the rams for the trim tabs. These are again sliding fit styrene tubes with added wire to represent the hydraulic lines.

View of the rams temporarily in position on the transom to allow measuring for the push rods.

Next off the building board are the trim tabs (non-working), again made from styrene sheet.

The tabs have been bonded to the transom in a neutral position. The rams and pushrods are still removable at this stage and will be refitted after the hull is painted.

Next job will be the boring primer, rub down, primer, rub down etc (x4) before the top coats (X3) and the varnish (x2).

[boat captain]

Hi

How do you propose simulating the cooling  water and exhaust.

[gribeauval]

Hi

How do you propose simulating the cooling  water and exhaust.

small pump and smoker as I have done before.

[captain bligh]

Going to turn out a beauty when finished looking at the build so far  Would love to build a Severn class myself and as I'm on the Penlee lifeboat seems apt !

[craggle]

Can I ask where your drawings came from?

I have the three sheets from the RNLI but they look a lot more detailed than those.

Cheers

Craig.

[gribeauval]

Can I ask where your drawings came from?

I have the three sheets from the RNLI but they look a lot more detailed than those.

Cheers

Craig.

I collect original lifeboat drawings and over the years have amassed many detail drawings for several of the older classes. My Arun collection fills three box files.


Mike

[craggle]

Wow, sounds like quite a collection. Very useful for model building.


Craig.

[Starspider]

Great work very nice transom
colin

[Perkasaman2]

This will be a very big model at almost 56 inches long when completed.

[gribeauval]

After a conversation with the final owner of the model earlier this week I have plugged in the Apprentice and set him off building.
This time it's the wheelhouse shell, but as neither of us likes working with the grp tops, it's going to be done in 2mm MDF.


First thing was to cut and erect the rear wheelhouse walls as everything is measured from there.

The sides were plotted from the GA drawings and cut out ready to fit.

The sides of the rear extensions were also added.

Both sides glued up ready for next stage.

Inner sides of the rear boxes made and added. All the joints will be reinforced with square section timber on the insides of all the joints.

Rear exterior wall, box tops and false roof added.

After the glue has hardened off the edges have been smoother down ready to start building at the other end shortly.

[Rottweiler]

Oooh I like it!!! Not a lot,but a whole lot!!
Taking shape very nicely.Thank you both!!
Mick F

[gribeauval]

I went away to Dorset with my wife for a short break and upon my return today I find that the Apprentice has been very busy.

[Rottweiler]

coming along there nicely young sir!
Keep up the good work!
Mick F

[gribeauval]

Link to the folder containing all the pictures from the above posts. let's see how long this type of link lasts.

http://s242.photobucket.com/user/gribeauval/slideshow/Falmouth%20Severn

[Rottweiler]

Its good to see the build as a continuous slide show,although I do like scrolling through the photos and their descriptions also.
Cant wait for the next episode
Mick F