Topic: Townsend Thoresen Free Enterprise V / P&O Pride of Hythe - development of a kit. (Read 313078 times)

carlmt · « **Reply #300 on:** January 07, 2015, 11:20:15 pm »

Excellent find there Dave!!!

I have a similar one but with "Townsend Car Ferries - Free Enterprise" written on it. I think they came from the time before Townsend and Thoresen merged. I have quite a few 'souvenirs' from my childhood crossings on these boats - I will take some photos and post them up a little later.

Whilst we were taking our Christmas break with the outlaws in France, I havent been idle. Spent quite a bit of time draughting up the artwork for the etched brass fittings for the kit. Each kit will contain 3 sheets of brasswork for such items as stanchions, handrails, companionways, ladders, ventilation grilles, window frames and a host of other small parts.

These are the pdf images of the artwork as sent to the specialists. There will be one sheet of 0.2mm thick and two sheets of 0.1mm thick - each approximately 300mm x 150mm.

Ferry cross the Mersey · « **Reply #301 on:** January 08, 2015, 07:50:09 am »

Looking good Carl

Will there be an option pack for the motors, esc, etc or will it be static and left up to the modeller?

Thanks Antony

cos918 · « **Reply #302 on:** January 08, 2015, 12:42:36 pm »

hi Carl
looking good . On your hand rail sactions are you going to get them etched with holes in them for the brass wire? It is hard to tell from the photo if they have holes or not?

john

carlmt · « **Reply #303 on:** January 08, 2015, 01:27:12 pm »

Quote from: Ferry cross the Mersey on January 08, 2015, 07:50:09 am

Looking good Carl

Will there be an option pack for the motors, esc, etc or will it be static and left up to the modeller?

Thanks Antony

Thanks Anthony

Options for motors and ESC's will be given, but to keep costs and overheads down (and ultimately the kit price) it will be up to the modeller to purchase these independently. At this stage of the game, we cannot get the motors etc any cheaper than Joe Public so there is no advantage in providing them in the kit. We will make recommendations as to what will work.

What we WILL include, however, are the shafts and props (in brass).

carlmt · « **Reply #304 on:** January 08, 2015, 01:31:48 pm »

Quote from: cos918 on January 08, 2015, 12:42:36 pm

hi Carl
looking good . On your hand rail sactions are you going to get them etched with holes in them for the brass wire? It is hard to tell from the photo if they have holes or not?

john

Hi John,
Yes, the uprights will have holes etched in them for the wire.
I did toy with the idea of having all the railings etched as single piece units (uprights, handrails and intermediate rails), but due to the design of them this wasnt going to work on a flat brass sheet so the uprights and capping handrail are etched seperately and the wire for the intermediate rails will be included in the kit.

The plans will show where each of the uprights is to be fitted - a pair of scale dividers will come in handy here to transfer the data - and have references shown for the upright type and the handrail.

Ferry cross the Mersey · « **Reply #305 on:** January 08, 2015, 04:23:55 pm »

Quote from: carlmt on January 08, 2015, 01:27:12 pm

Thanks Anthony
Options for motors and ESC's will be given, but to keep costs and overheads down (and ultimately the kit price) it will be up to the modeller to purchase these independently. At this stage of the game, we cannot get the motors etc any cheaper than Joe Public so there is no advantage in providing them in the kit. We will make recommendations as to what will work.

What we WILL include, however, are the shafts and props (in brass).

That's all I needed to know being a novice ship builder. Can't wait to get started. Thanks for advice and info Carl.

Antony

cos918 · « **Reply #306 on:** January 11, 2015, 05:44:45 pm »

Hi Carl
just checked the saction on Celestine. They are about 0.4mm . These are fiddley enough to make .

john

carlmt · « **Reply #307 on:** January 13, 2015, 09:30:11 pm »

Have posted these images in answer on another topic here on Mayhem, but just for 'completeness' I will drop them here in the correct place.

These are the test 3D printed parts in Frosted Ultra Detail from Shapeways. The searchlight especially needs a little work on it to make it less fragile!!! The 'walls' of the lamp itself are only 0.2mm thick.

Neil · « **Reply #308 on:** January 13, 2015, 11:24:44 pm »

amazing stuff carl.........those chain cable stoppers are superb.

Ferry cross the Mersey · « **Reply #309 on:** January 24, 2015, 08:33:12 pm »

Hi Carl,

Beaten you to it

(Forum is on a new server and some previous posts have been lost)

Great news about the two prototype hulls, can't wait to see them in a couple of weeks. Keep the updates coming.

Thanks Antony

carlmt · « **Reply #310 on:** January 24, 2015, 08:42:33 pm »

Cheers Anthony

Yes, really looking forward to the arrival of the prototype hulls. Not looking forward to cutting all the windows out though, but hey ho.....that's model boating for you!!!! I cannot expect others to do it if I dont do it myself can I?

With a bit of luck all the etch brasswork will be here soon too. A tad expensive to set up the tooling, but the ongoing costs are sustainable and reasonable so wont push up the cost of the kit.

I really feel that we are getting there with this one now. So much so that I am giving serious consideration to taking a small stand at Warwick this year.

carlmt · « **Reply #311 on:** February 03, 2015, 01:44:33 pm »

The photo etched brasswork has turned up!

Some of it may be a little too delicate for an r/c boat but lets see.......

Just need those hulls now...............

Howard · « **Reply #312 on:** February 03, 2015, 04:41:43 pm »

Carl,
I take my hat off to you its looking great friend.
Regards Howard.

Ferry cross the Mersey · « **Reply #313 on:** February 03, 2015, 10:58:13 pm »

Hi Carl,

I'll have to get my glasses on for these parts

Great update, this is going to one quality kit

Thanks for the update,

Antony

carlmt · « **Reply #314 on:** March 11, 2015, 07:34:09 pm »

Been designing and printing some more 3D fittings for the Free Enterprise V - via Shapeways.

These will all be masters for casting. The cost of producing 3D fittings via an external studio is still quite high to be able to offer the fittings directly in the kit, but the service is ideal for producing accurate masters. I know there are some here who would bemoan the loss of traditional modelling skills, but I, personally, dont have the eyesight to be able to produce accurate enough masters at such a small scale that I would be happy with - believe me, I have tried - through traditional modelling methods. However, I am skilled in using graphics packages on a computer which allows me to produce virtual 3D models with incredible accuracy and detail (down to 0.2mm) which can then be printed and the resultant components used as masters for more traditional resin casting. I do admire those who can build from scratch such small parts......but I have to work within my limitations.

Anyway, here are the latest batch:

Curved staircase between decks at the stern of the ship - will be quite visible on the model:

Bollards:

3 lifeboat davits:

External deck seating which double up as lifejacket lockers:

Liferaft canisters:

Ferry cross the Mersey · « **Reply #315 on:** March 21, 2015, 03:17:08 pm »

Very nice Carl

Keep the updates coming please.

Thanks Antony

Netleyned · « **Reply #316 on:** March 21, 2015, 03:41:50 pm »

You are producing a detailed kit of fittings Carl
I don't think that many kit buyers look at the fittings
supplied and think about how the masters were produced.
Most modellers are more concerned with the quality of the
moulded fittings.

Ned

carlmt · « **Reply #317 on:** March 24, 2015, 11:32:58 pm »

Quick update.........

Had a phone call from the fibreglass fabricator today - result is that I shall be collecting the first hull on Friday afternoon!!

Watch this space..........................

Howard · « **Reply #318 on:** March 25, 2015, 02:54:41 pm »

I hope it,s all you want it to be Carl after all your hard work.
Regards Howard.

carlmt · « **Reply #319 on:** March 27, 2015, 10:24:13 pm »

******* RED LETTER DAY AT LINKSPAN MODELS *******
Today was the day we collected our first hulls for Linkspan Models.

These are the two prototypes of the kit which will build into the Free Enterprise V.

I have to say, our fabricators have done a cracking job. The mould was a 3 piece split mould and extremely well braced with ply. I have been told that it will be good for 100 hulls. This is Ian, the Boss of the fabricating company, who produced the mould and the two hulls for us. Whilst his workforce is generally put to work on the 'run of the mill' stuff for the company, Ian likes to do the fabricating for the models he is asked to do - he is very fastigeous and knowledgable, having produced hulls for some of the UK's leading kit manufacturers:

And here are our two prototype hulls safely tucked up in the Linkspan Models workshop:

We are really pleased with the finish on these hulls. The rubbing strake along the sides is crisp and square, all the 'guides' as to where windows etc. need to be cut out are clear and concise, the fibreglass lay-up is light and fine and the mould lines are very minimal:

Now to cut out all those blessed windows!!!

Howard · « **Reply #320 on:** March 27, 2015, 10:57:50 pm »

Looks like you got what you wanted Carl Bet your a very pleased man tonight, Reward and rightly so for all the hours and hard work.
Regards Howard.

carlmt · « **Reply #321 on:** March 27, 2015, 11:00:37 pm »

Many thanks Howard

Yes, I am quite pleased to be honest with how they have come out after all this time. There are many things I have learnt, and many things I will do differently with the other boats, but for a first attempt I dont think it will be too shabby.

Tug Hercules Fireman · « **Reply #322 on:** March 28, 2015, 03:35:40 am »

The great Anchor Chain Stoppers, are they available for anybody to buy from Shapeways?

If so, what is the name or part #, to look up?

Thank You.

Tug Hercules
Fireman Rick

Ferry cross the Mersey · « **Reply #323 on:** March 28, 2015, 03:59:08 am »

Hi Carl,

Fantastic

You must be delighted with the result of all your hard work. They look superb. I love the unique lines of FEV, can't wait to see further progress.

Thanks Antony

carlmt · « **Reply #324 on:** March 28, 2015, 08:29:39 am »

Quote from: Tug Hercules Fireman on March 28, 2015, 03:35:40 am

The great Anchor Chain Stoppers, are they available for anybody to buy from Shapeways?

If so, what is the name or part #, to look up?

Thank You.

Tug Hercules
Fireman Rick

Rick - I need to make a couple of adjustments on them first, but yes they will be available soon. I will post up a link and notice a little later this weekend. At the moment they are at 1:96. Will you be looking for a different scale?

News:

Author Topic: Townsend Thoresen Free Enterprise V / P&O Pride of Hythe - development of a kit. (Read 313078 times)