Topic: 3 Lifeboat builds, What goes into a model kit. (Read 465892 times)

irishcarguy · « **Reply #400 on:** March 23, 2012, 08:10:51 am »

What can one say bl---y brilliant, thats what. Neil the next best thing to having the forum back up & running is checking out your builds. You don't give yourself enough credit my dear friend. The amount of work output & skill you have shown here is mind boggling & that is all I can say, it has been a pleasure all the way. I should let you know too that my Tamar is sitting in Memphis at the FedEx distribution point & with luck should be here in a day or two & all the bits that will make it go whiz/bang are with it inside the box from ACTion, yes it is from MS. I could not wait any longer on the other source, it may also come yet, if it does I will still take it . Mick B.

Neil · « **Reply #401 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:49:43 am »

you'll enjoy the build, Mick......the MS boat is a good kit......and looks beaut on the water..................glad to see you back on the forum matey.....just off out to the shed now for another coat of varnish, lol

Neil · « **Reply #402 on:** March 23, 2012, 10:53:57 am »

first picture for today....

This is the finish on the paper strip planks that have cladded the six cockpits of the three boats.

It says on the can that after two/three coats to rub down with fine sandpaper and give another coat, but don't think I'll bother.....it's shiney enough.

This, by the way, is H F Bailey's aft cockpit.......and I believe from records that the RNLI hold was the ONLY lifeboat during wartime service to have the words LIFE-BOAT painted on her cockpit to try avoiding being straffed again by German bombers/fighters during WW2.........looks quite the part.

Apparently Henry Blogg took it upon himself,to have the words painted on her after being straffed twice by enemy aircraft.......

Neil · « **Reply #403 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:58:50 pm »

Now here's a puzzler for the classic lifeboat buffs.........and I don't know the answer, that's why I'm putting it out.

It concerns the Field Marshall and Mrs Smuts, and it concerns the black pipe with some odd thing stuck on the top of it, to the starboard side of the main foreward positioned mast, and can be seen just to the left of the fourth man from the left on the bow.......it's the bit that's bracketed to the mast...............What is it, what does it do and what was it made from...........it is only to be seen as far as I can see on the Field Marshal and the sister lifeboat Henry Blogg/Millie Walton.

I contacted the old ( and he is old now) second coxs'n of the Field Marshall, and he can't remember it even being there.

Today I mocked something up in brass tube to the shape shown on the plan, which seams to disappear into the top of the cockpit when the mast is folded down, and when the mast is in the upright position it seams to point into mid space instead of sliding under the cockpit, even though the mast is pivoted correctly............so the only conclusion that I can make is that it was some sort of black rubber hose pipe..........but what is on the top of it and what was it's purpose.....and more to the point where does it go to inside the cabin when the mast is upright..............I am stumped by this one.............and it gives absolutely no clue on the plans.

I thought at first that it was a Morse signalling lamp from what it shows on the plans......but the end shown on the plans has no correlation to that in the picture...........so one scrap piece of bent brass tube.

neil.

Peewee · « **Reply #404 on:** March 23, 2012, 10:39:32 pm »

Hi Neil,
No idea, its also visible in the following picture of the cromer lifeboat http://www.trawlerphotos.co.uk/gallery/showfull.php?photo=139997 though i am sure you already know this picture

Neil · « **Reply #405 on:** March 23, 2012, 10:59:22 pm »

cheers Ian.......... a puzzling one is that.
neil.

heritorasphodel · « **Reply #406 on:** March 24, 2012, 12:00:27 pm »

Furball and I have had a think, and we've got nowhere. At a wild guess it could just be wire trunking, like on the boats with exhaust masts, but then dad pointed out it's a little large. But there is a wire coming out of the top in at least one photo, so it's always a possibility.
We had a look at Nick Leach's book on Cromer and the photographs of Millie Walton/Henry Blogg, and we noticed that it only appears in her service at Cromer. There are photographs of her in Gorleston after a refit in '65 without it, and others of her on relief with it still missing, so it couldn't have been essential.
We'll ask around up at Chatham next time we're there, see if our collective knowledge can come up with anything.

Andrew

Neil · « **Reply #407 on:** March 24, 2012, 12:29:39 pm »

cheers Andrew......that shot of the boat above is actually of the Henry Blogg, and the plans I have are for the field marshall.......so both boats originally ha it, but the old second cox of feild Marshall cannot remember it, althopugh he can remember the colour of the engine casing....Bottle green, later changed to silver grey..........so as you say, it might have been removed, and as I'm not building her as any period, unless I can find whaT IT WAS, MAY LEAVE IT OFF.............I can't find my cromer book at the mo so can't see what it looks like without it.....so, will do a little more research and then decide.
cheers, neil.

Neil · « **Reply #408 on:** March 25, 2012, 10:47:16 pm »

decided to make that trunking with black silicon tubing.......will look for some this week.

Now down to today's progress..........

just a few small jobs the last couple of days...kept getting interupted for one thing or another....you know what wives and kids are like, lol
varnished the masts, got the Samson posts sealed with their top cappings on and began making the back rests for the helmsmen.

Neil · « **Reply #409 on:** March 26, 2012, 08:39:22 am »

Forgot to say about the masts.......they were made in two halves.....the mast itself was spun on the laithe as previously shown, and then the trunk of it which fixes into the tabernacle was cut from Obeche' to the same "square section" timber as the outside diameter of the dowel used for the mast. the two pieces were drilled with a 3mm hole centrally and then a 2.8mm pin was glued into them and the whole thing joined up using 2 part epoxy (the excess glue can be then cut off when dry and the area of overlay on the glue will not be affected when sanding smooth and will take varnish without leaving a whitish area.)

Once set and hardened the mast can be reverse inserted into the laithe and the edge of the trunk adjoining the mast can be faired into the mast using abrasive paper.
I used water based wood stain to "mahoganyise" the masts (and although they were NOT made from mahogany on the actual lifeboats) the three that I am building seam to have that hue of colour about them...........and it looks quite nice to see some stained timber around.............my choice, my preference, and my modellers licence, lol

Neil · « **Reply #410 on:** March 27, 2012, 10:14:54 pm »

it's the little things that now take the time........been working on the sprung hatches the last couple of days inbetween looking after my two young daughters who both have ear infections.......so not much done.............but each little bit that gets put on to the boats gives them that bit more character............it'll get to the point soon when I'll need to paint them alland then stick 'em down........

heritorasphodel · « **Reply #411 on:** March 27, 2012, 11:27:44 pm »

I hate to point it out at such a late stage, but I think the windscreen frame on the H. F. Bailey is wrong. The photographs I have show it in two stages:

When she went into reserve, part of the rear canopy was filled in and she was given a single piece windscreen, which she still has today (the outline of the original cut-out in the canopy is still visible)
But when she was built she had a three piece screen, but the frame for this I think was flush to the edge of the canopy and covered the complete rear edge.

I'll try posting up a couple of photos when I get the chance tomorrow to show you what I mean.

Andrew

Neil · « **Reply #412 on:** March 28, 2012, 08:24:07 am »

Hi Andrew, Now according to the plans, and a little tell tale strip of timber on the aft cockpit top to verify the early position, the shape was as I have done it.........however, it did have two different heights to it, and the height I should have done it too, for war time guise is about twice as high as I have actually done......which I'll rectify by adding a section later....see the photo of the cabin strip.
cheers for the input though.
neil.

Neil · « **Reply #413 on:** March 28, 2012, 09:44:29 am »

However.....I hold my hand up here and now...........I have just noticed the biggest c***up so far on the model...........looking at the planking on the cabin top.............I have planked mine in the wrong diagonal direction.................ceste' la vie'..............I ain't going to change it now...........achieved the best varnished finish in years.........I'll only muck it up if I try doing anything now.............so, how the mighty fall, lol

really though...these builders of the old classics should have got their act together all those years ago..the fore cabin is planked in one diagonal direction and the rear cabin is planked in the other direction.......most confusing to us modellers........very inconsiderate of them,

Mind you, only me and you lot know of my mistake, plus any anorak and rivet counter that comes along............stuffs up my chance of a gold at the Engineering exhibition in January though!,

furball · « **Reply #414 on:** March 28, 2012, 10:18:37 am »

Quote

stuffs up my chance of a gold at the Engineering exhibition in January though

Why?... I suspect you know more about them than any of the judges....

(for info, when we refurbished the canopy on BASP - which is the wrong one anyway - we replanked over the outside with 3mm mahogany, and this planking is at 90 degress to the original. Nobody knows except us!)

Lance

Neil · « **Reply #415 on:** March 28, 2012, 11:46:54 am »

{-)glad I'm not the only one, lol.

Neil · « **Reply #416 on:** March 28, 2012, 06:57:24 pm »

Today was spent making the water tight hatch doors from 3 layers of varying thicknesses of plasticard, white metal and/or resin fittings both new and generic to Anne Letitia Russell, brass rod and a fabric paint aplicater for the rivet heads.

heritorasphodel · « **Reply #417 on:** March 28, 2012, 07:43:05 pm »

This was the photo I was talking about

Cheers,

Andrew

Neil · « **Reply #418 on:** March 28, 2012, 08:57:30 pm »

That's the one Andrew, but the frame comes well forward to the lines of that little piece of strip timber that shows on the H F Bailey as it is today at cromer......it's level with the aft stanchion of the hand rail at it's foremost point, as it shows on the plans.

Neil · « **Reply #419 on:** March 28, 2012, 09:01:20 pm »

Having read what you mean again, I now understand what you are getting at....in that the canopy top in fact took the line of the wind sheild.............not according to the plans or the cross sections that I have.......the canopy followed the line that I built it to, andrew.

CJ1 · « **Reply #420 on:** March 28, 2012, 09:15:28 pm »

Neil,
Earlier in this post, I fear I may have made a disparaging remark about the state of your workshop. Having seen what a brilliant job you are making of these boats, can I take it back please?
humbly, Chris

Neil · « **Reply #421 on:** March 28, 2012, 09:38:37 pm »

Quote from: CJ1 on March 28, 2012, 09:15:28 pm

Neil,
Earlier in this post, I fear I may have made a disparaging remark about the state of your workshop. Having seen what a brilliant job you are making of these boats, can I take it back please?
humbly, Chris

when was that chris??........I astound myself at times that I can even move in the place.........it's a junk shop most of the time and no offense was taken I can assure you.........in fact rather enjoyed the banter..especially from that man Mr Bishop likening it to some tomb or other that I cant spell the name of, in Egypt.........I feel honoured.....maybe in a few hundred years when some poor sob opens it up to the world.they'll find me mummified bent over a bench with a knife and plasticard in my hand........what a way to go,

Rottweiler · « **Reply #422 on:** March 28, 2012, 11:16:48 pm »

Dont forget to wear a new pair of marigolds,to confuse the mummy finders!
Seriously,though my friend,what a superb job you are doing,...and no one can argue with that!
Mick

Neil · « **Reply #423 on:** March 29, 2012, 08:14:29 am »

Quote from: rottweiler on March 28, 2012, 11:16:48 pm

and no one can argue with that!
Mick

I don't need anyone to argue with me, Mick.....I argue with myself most the time.....

Neil · « **Reply #424 on:** April 07, 2012, 09:39:55 pm »

Well, got back from my hols today, and thoroughly enjoyed them, but came across one sad site on thursday...........

Came across this sad looking ex RNLI Arun lifeboat Sir Max Aitken, 52 - 17 in Ramsgate harbour on Thursday, 5/04/2012 looking very forlorn, and with blown Caterpiller engines................and up for sale for offers.............

Sad thing is, that the owner dumped her on the end of the breakwater, so one of the harbour officials told me, and there she lay for nearly 5 months until they moved her to her present berth in the inner harbour where she languishes, with mounting unpaid harbour dues and no engines to move her...........she will be/is up for sale on offers apparently but no one can find her owner..........so what will become of her in those situations is anyones guess........what a crying shame!!!

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Author Topic: 3 Lifeboat builds, What goes into a model kit. (Read 465892 times)