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[gribeauval]

Once again madness has descended upon me!

When visiting the Blackpool show last weekend I picked up a lifeboat from an acquaintance that had been used to make a grp mould and had subsequently been damaged. This was a 1/12th scale model of the biggest class of lifeboats built by the RNLI, the 70ft Clyde Class Lifeboat. Only three of these were built, two in service with the third as a relief boat for the other two. All three are still being used, after they were sold by the RNLI , as either dive or cruising boats. The first two are similar in looks but the third has a much bigger superstructure, this is the one that I have acquired. This will be modelled as 70-003 RNLB City of Bristol. She was originally to be used as a cruising lifeboat with a full time crew in the Bristol Channel area based in Clovelly.

Picture one shows the size of this beast, the tin is a standard bean can to give you some idea of the size of this thing!

Picture two shows the hull with the repaired keel and the remains of the deck/bulwarks removed.

Pictures three and four show the start of fitting new deck support beams to replace the ones missing. You can also see the new grp reinforcement inside the hull to seal up the cracks caused by the keel damage.

Lots of room for batteries and other 'toys' inside the hull and superstructure 

This, along with the Trent build, will keep me busy for a while!!!! 

[fatcat123]

You little blighter! You kept this one quite!

Really looking forward to this build though 

Dan

[DavieTait]

 City of Bristol 70-003 is now called Gemini Explorer and operates out of Buckie doing wildlife/Dolphin spotting trips

[fatcat123]

Good pics!

Cant help notice the Severn i wish to get my hands on :(

Why was it sold out of the RNLI so earlier?

Dan

[DavieTait]

Could she have been the prototype Dan ?

[fatcat123]

Possibly yeah,

Sort of makes sense but sort of doesnt at the same time. You'de think they would have used it for relief. I saw that boat for sale a few years ago for 300k, not much i thought.

Dan

[DavieTait]

Just had a look at the info on trawlerphotos and the Gemini Storm was built as the prototype RNLB Maurice and Joyce Hardy 17-01 (ON1179). Conducted trials 1991-98 and then used for training to 2004. Now used as a diving charter boat.

[fatcat123]

I WANT IT !!!   

Would love a trent more so...

Dan

[DavieTait]

How about Tyne 47-006 only £85k direct from the RNLI

http://www.findafishingboat.com/detail.php?aid=28317

[Lord Bungle]

or a little project http://www.findafishingboat.com/detail.php?aid=22951

[Number 6]

Just had a look at the info on trawlerphotos and the Gemini Storm was built as the prototype RNLB Maurice and Joyce Hardy 17-01 (ON1179). Conducted trials 1991-98 and then used for training to 2004. Now used as a diving charter boat.

She was the prototype Severn Class, the main difference is the flying bridge is much further forward than on production Severns. Saw her in North Wales couple of months ago, there's also an Arun Class ex-RNLI painted all grey that I've seen in Holyhead Harbour quite a few times, I suppose they're ideal as a dive support vessel. Dave. 

[saxon]

Was on the prototype Severn . One of the big differences was it had variable pitch props . They were trying these but as far as i remember they were not responsive enough for some of the work a lifeboat has to do . Ok for training not for service .



john

[gribeauval]

Getting back onto the track of this thread............

The hull has now had its first coat of white primer, earning it the title of Moby Dick.  The 12" long shaft outers have been made and fitted into the hull along with the A frame supports for the prop end of the 22" long inner shafts. With the size of this hull even the 3" diameter props look small. The 'barn door' of a rudder has been fabricated and is now ready for the large bearings to be made and fitted in place. I have also finished fitting the main supports for the new deck.

Also an email to the Heritage section at the RNLI Headquarters in Poole has resulted in the delivery of a CD with some pictures of the City of Bristol when she was in service in the Bristol Channel.

[fatcat123]

Looking good Mike, 

Slightly jelous as always.. keep up the good work.

Dan

[gribeauval]

Next job on the agenda was to sort out the motive power for Moby Dick. After sorting through the motors I have I came across a pair of 24 volt scooter motors, these should turn the 3" props with out any trouble at all (they will turn over on three AA batteries !). Couplings were fitted and they were mounted into the hull on a bed of P38 car filler, to produce cradles that fit the motors and the hull, and aligned with the prop shafts to give the straightest drive line possible. Plastic bags were used to prevent the motors sticking in place !! When set the plastic was removed and the motors clamped in place with straps bent to shape and screwed down to wooden battens epoxied to the hull. To prevent the motors from rotating a layer of rubber strip, cut from an inner tube, is placed between the motors and the straps.

The barn door of a rudder has been finished to shape and mounted at the end of the keel. The lower end has a removable brass bearing to allow withdrawal of the rudder if needed. The inboard end of the rudder tube is supported with blocks and a stiffening plate. The servo mount is made in two parts screwed together to allow for the fitting of a larger servo if it proves necessary. The rudder will operate with two rods in a push/pull configuration to help reduce the strain on the servo.

[gribeauval]

At the bow the hawse pipes for the anchors have been fitted in place. These are made from electrical conduit tuning that happened to be in the workshop and was the correct size. The outer faces were cut, filled and sanded level with the outside face of the anchor recesses.

Once these were done the hull was decked in sections as the curves are a brute to bend on a boat of this size and everything held with both glue and screws.

The hull was then sanded, filled and sanded again before having two grey undercoats and then two coats of colour followed by the first of several coats of varnish. The white line was added using car pinstripe tape, this line is NOT the waterline as the red anti-fouling shows above the water on this boat.

The boat's station has been added and the red upper stripe, below the rubber fender, will be added next then everything above the white line will be gloss varnished and all below will be satin varnished.

[fatcat123]

WOW!

Quite a transformation. I can't wait to see the rest so get building!

Dan 

[gribeauval]

Put the hull in the outdoor test tank today to check how much ballast was required to bring her down to her waterline. I needed nearly all of the gel cells I had in the workshop to reach her design level, a grand total of 35.5 kg !!

After deducting the weight of the rest of the build, superstructure,fittings, control gear etc, the remainder will be translated into working ballast i.e. batteries. This beast should be able to run for a week on one set of fully charged batteries! 

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

Cor   you've got a few batteries there.       

ken

ps        my total weight on the Severn is half a hundred weight.   

[gribeauval]

The low bulkheads that were removed at the beginning of the rebuild have been cleaned up and refitted onto the new deck. The original set had solid blocks of wood at both the stern and keel post positions. This is incorrect as there should be a three roller fairlead at either end. These were fabricated from plasticard and styrene tube. The original blocks are at the rear of the new parts. These new parts were epoxied in place and the bulwarks glued in place along the edge of the deck. The small section at the bow that was missing has been replaced. The recess in the bulwarks for the standard RNLI Fisherman's Anchor along the starboard side has been refitted but on the port side there is no recess as there is no anchor fitted here and the gap will be filled in with a straight section.

[gribeauval]

Finally sorted out how all the panels fit together to produce the large superstructure that was distinctive to 003.  Now just need to sort out the curved and angled wheelhouse front and the side wings.

 

[nhp651]

That's looking good Mike.....will she be ready for a l;ong sail this summer.

[gribeauval]

That's looking good Mike.....will she be ready for a l;ong sail this summer.

Thanks Neil.      I'm hope she will be ready to go pair trawling for Nessie !!!!!

[gribeauval]

The wings on the port and starboard sides of the superstructure have now been made and fitted along with the angled and curved wheelhouse front and the main cabin roof. Just got to finish the windows now!

[gribeauval]

 xx