Topic: 3 Lifeboat builds, What goes into a model kit. (Read 463604 times)

tt1 · « **Reply #550 on:** May 02, 2012, 01:15:34 am »

By 'eck Neil the speed of your progress still amazes me, got a spare mug of whatever your on?

Credit to you mate, keep it coming - most enjoyable and very enlightening. Regards, Tony.

Neil · « **Reply #551 on:** May 02, 2012, 08:43:28 am »

I'm not that speedy Tony....

these fittings, and all the other ones that I have to go on the boats have been made and cast over the last few years......I'm a fake really..........in the immortal words of Valerie Singleton....."here's one I made earlier", lol

essex2visuvesi · « **Reply #552 on:** May 02, 2012, 09:44:50 am »

Quote from: Neil on May 02, 2012, 08:43:28 am

I'm not that speedy Tony....

these fittings, and all the other ones that I have to go on the boats have been made and cast over the last few years......I'm a fake really..........in the immortal words of Valerie Singleton....."here's one I made earlier", lol

Now Im devastated... I had visions of you up untill all hours manically casting, muttering to yourself

Neil · « **Reply #553 on:** May 02, 2012, 09:19:06 pm »

a few more of those "made earler " fittings now painted up and readtyfor sticking onto the jigsaw puzzle.

Neil · « **Reply #554 on:** May 03, 2012, 08:25:02 pm »

Well, I decided to get away from the painting of fittings this afternoon and get down to some "decorative" woodwork for a change, and so decided to make the rope bins for the "Smuts".

This consisted of a framework at deck level to attach the sides too...I doubt wether this was anything like a feature on the real boats as no positive photo is available of the bins at deck level but to aid the structure I have used a little modellers liscense or the thing wouldn't have stood a chance of remaining together. For the base I used some mahogany strip of 6 x 3mm and for the uprights some 3 x 3mm mahogany. For the rails I used some 4 x 2mm obeche that I had cut many years ago for some reason or other.

I started off by glueing the rectangular frame ( mitred at the corners) onto a piece of 1/64th ply to hold it all together, and left to set under a 12v battery.

Whilst these were setting(using quick grab aliphatic resin) I set about making the sides using the mahogany and obeshe strip........these were also left to set for an hour or so.

To fit the sides via the uprights to the bottom frames I cut recess slots into the frame for the uprights to glue into, before leaving them to set in the upright position.

Next was to glue the end rails in place to make the whole construction rigid.

A capping rail was glued to the top of the uppermost rail and left to set.

Tomorrow there will be a section cut out of the rope bin on the inner sides next to where the cowl vents go for access to the bins and the rope inside.
Finally they'll be sanded and stained teak in colour before varnishing.

Neil · « **Reply #555 on:** May 04, 2012, 07:06:40 pm »

The rope bins have now been trimmed up to fit the curvature of the cabin , sanded and pvarnished with a teak coloured varnish.......

I think it might need a couple more coats, but will let this one dry first.

The access sections to the bins have also been cut out where they sit next to the cowl vents.

Rottweiler · « **Reply #556 on:** May 04, 2012, 07:21:32 pm »

Going back to your metal plate Neil,someone mentioned wartime bombing could have been a factor? I am not sure if you meant the yard was in Teignmouth Devon,or Tynemouth? If it was in Devon,It is more than certain that it did get bombed,as German Aircraft just followed the river to get to Exeter,so some bombs would have been dropped early by mistake. It is the 70th anniversary today of the start of the German raids on Exeter,which suffered 18 air raids continuously,with great damage.
If the yard was Tynemouth,then sorry for wasting time, but it may be information for your many readers.
Keep posting your amazing work ( you will have to have time off for the Bank Holiday!
Mick

Neil · « **Reply #557 on:** May 04, 2012, 08:23:09 pm »

Hi Mick..........yes it was from the Boatyard of Morgan Giles in Teignmouth, Devon..so could have been as she was delivered in the summer, but having said that it was delivered in the august of 1945 so the war in europe was all but over with the Luftwaffe completely stuffed by then....so unless it was damaged much earlier, the mystery remains, and I can't find a date on the plans, which usually signifies that it was either close to being built or in build process.

as for bank holidays.....what are they, lol

Neil · « **Reply #558 on:** May 05, 2012, 09:22:31 pm »

I have now come to the stage where I have to make the stands for my boats so that I can protect the hulls once I have painted them this week.
I have to admit that of all the models I have ever built, no two stands have ever been made the same way, or have ever looked the same.
However the best stand that I ever made was for a 57" model of the old WW1 HMS Kent, County Class cruiser.
At the time I hadn't a car but had reverted back to my carefree days and was riding a BMW r100s motorcycle.....it had a carrier rack on the rear, and I needed a stand that would sit on that.
It didn't concern me in those younger days that the model would have to sit crosswise across the bike, nor did I count the number of wing mirrors on cars that I took out.....wooops......it was the fact that I could still ride like a maniac and that my model wouldn't slip off the stand.
So I devised a stand that would support the model via rubber straps..............these tended to grip the hull rather than let it slide, and I could go round a bend or roundabout at 45* and the boat would still be there when I got to the lake......more than can be said for many things I carried on my bikes....lol.
Also in all the times I carried the model, the hull never got one scratch from being carried, and the whole stand acted like one huge shock absorber.
So today ( not that I am going to carry these models on a motorcycle, unless I get a Harley donated from some kind benefactor) I decided to make the stands for my lifeboats in a similar way......using pedal cycle innertubes for the rubber supports, and pine for the frames....I also left enough space under neath for the R/C gear, batteries etc, plus the odd tinny or two

.....And I have to say that they look snug and safe cocooned within the frames, to boot.
simple to make, take all the shocks from motoring especially if the boats are put in a trailer for transport and they get there without scratches.....tried and tested in the most hairiest of ways,

irishcarguy · « **Reply #559 on:** May 06, 2012, 01:09:44 am »

Hi Neil your stands are brilliant but I am disappointed that you have not built in space for the beer & jam butties. Seriously though I have now been on the forum one year (how time flies) & your builds have been the year's highlight for me. The amount of information you have given so freely has been the best hands down, once again thank you. Mick B.

Neil · « **Reply #560 on:** May 06, 2012, 10:23:12 am »

Man!!, you are a flatterer of the first order

What you after?

neil.

tt1 · « **Reply #561 on:** May 06, 2012, 03:55:32 pm »

Mick's spot on Neil - don't be embarrassed and rebuff worthy comments. This has been an exceptional build log and a joy to read, the boats ain't bad either

I too like the stands, really ideal for transportation and so much easier than all the faffing to try and make an unnecessary precision fit which are good for showing but not always practical on the move. You've shared an awful lot a long the way in an honest and warts 'an all manner, your skills are a credit to you mate. Will you do yourself a favour when all complete and launched ??? ........................ CLEAN your b----y workshop!

Regards, me.

irishcarguy · « **Reply #562 on:** May 06, 2012, 05:20:35 pm »

Hi Tony, I agree with you 100% & if Neil does not clean up his workshop we should organise a midnight raid & do it for him, what a b---y mess, it is amazing that he can produce such amazing work in that rat hole, LOL. Mick B. PS= your own build Tony is of a very high standard too just in passing.

Rottweiler · « **Reply #563 on:** May 06, 2012, 06:48:42 pm »

Having recently been in Neils workshop, I can assure you it has everything one needs, a TV, a heater, Workbenches and even a drawing board, but best of all it has TWO seats so a guest can have a sit down! ()after a quick dust off of course LOL)You get a choice of tea or coffee as well,and the workshop is in working order,and shall we say organized chaos, with good honest dust and muck ! What more do you want? I think I saw a dustpan and brush as well,but maybe I was dreaming that the next night. The hospitality is 1st class (and he parts with even more free info!)
(and I'm not after anything but if you would like to pass on one of your new builds I will post some more HONEST praise!)
Mick F

Neil · « **Reply #564 on:** May 06, 2012, 08:00:12 pm »

Quote from: tt1 on May 06, 2012, 03:55:32 pm

Mick's spot on Neil - don't be embarrassed and rebuff worthy comments. This has been an exceptional build log and a joy to read, the boats ain't bad either I too like the stands, really ideal for transportation and so much easier than all the faffing to try and make an unnecessary precision fit which are good for showing but not always practical on the move. You've shared an awful lot a long the way in an honest and warts 'an all manner, your skills are a credit to you mate. Will you do yourself a favour when all complete and launched ??? ........................ CLEAN your b----y workshop!

Regards, me.

thanks tony and all, et al......
My wife has been threatening to clean my workshop for years........I just worry at what she might throw away that I might need in about 20 years time,if I can remember it's there...where ever it is,

Neil · « **Reply #565 on:** May 06, 2012, 08:05:23 pm »

Quote from: rottweiler on May 06, 2012, 06:48:42 pm

Having recently been in Neils workshop, I can assure you it has everything one needs, a TV, a heater, Workbenches and even a drawing board, but best of all it has TWO seats so a guest can have a sit down! ()after a quick dust off of course LOL)You get a choice of tea or coffee as well,and the workshop is in working order,and shall we say organized chaos, with good honest dust and muck ! What more do you want? I think I saw a dustpan and brush as well,but maybe I was dreaming that the next night. The hospitality is 1st class (and he parts with even more free info!)
(and I'm not after anything but if you would like to pass on one of your new builds I will post some more HONEST praise!)
Mick F

You're an even bigger creep than Irishguy

...what you after as well,

Actually,some one is already after the Field Marshall and Mrs Smuts........and it is going to be very hard to part with any one of these, unless someone offers me a lot....they have been a part of me and my modelling life now for a good number of years now and it'll be very hard to part with any one of them..

Neil · « **Reply #566 on:** May 06, 2012, 08:16:11 pm »

Anyway, back to reality..and down to some work today ( well last night to be more exact, for the firsat thing.........
I got round to doing another of those little detailing parts.....remember the item on the main mast...the black tube that operated with the mast when upright or folded down. It turns out that (as one mayhem member suggested) it is a conduit for wiring and electrical gear up to the mast head.
I made this from some black silicon tubing, a base fitting which came from the Clyde class lifeboat, and a piece of brass tubing.

And to set it all in place, the tabernackle was fixed onto the cabin top using a thin layer of polyester filler which allowed the tabernackle to set level and without gaps, on to the curvature of the cabin. You can see in the last clse up shot of the tabernackle, the filler oozing out from under the fitting, which was cleaned off as it was going rubbery but not yet set.
It also located into the cabin top using 4 pre fit brass pins that set into pre drilled holes in the cabin. The brass tubing acts as a guide for the silicon tube to slide up and down when the mast is raised and lowered.

Incedentally, Dave Metcalf told me when we were having a chat last night on the phone, that he has passed on the moulds and rights for the Clyde Lifeboat that I built last year to Andy Grigg at Models By Design, so if anyone is wanting that model........a real brute, but will take any weather, then Andy Grigg is the one to see.Good luck to him.

RAAArtyGunner · « **Reply #567 on:** May 06, 2012, 10:10:00 pm »

Quote from: irishcarguy on May 06, 2012, 05:20:35 pm

Hi Tony, I agree with you 100% & if Neil does not clean up his workshop we should organise a midnight raid & do it for him, what a b---y mess, it is amazing that he can produce such amazing work in that rat hole, LOL. Mick B. PS= your own build Tony is of a very high standard too just in passing.

Guys,

Don't you know that if that happens how will he be able to find anything

Norseman · « **Reply #568 on:** May 06, 2012, 10:25:28 pm »

I just like the idea of us all turning up after the pub lets out
and having a big party in the shop (forget the clean up)
I wonder also what Neil's music would be?

In Mick's (Canadian driving) terms most of us only live next door
but we don't meet up.

Dave

Neil · « **Reply #569 on:** May 06, 2012, 10:28:07 pm »

Quote from: raaartygunner on May 06, 2012, 10:10:00 pm

Guys,

Don't you know that if that happens how will he be able to find anything

I can't anyway...........it's got to be an improvement......rock it on lads.......I might find my tin full or 14 ba nuts and bolts if you do,

Today, I began to prepare for spraying the hulls of the three boats in this rat hole, by giving a coat of etching primer, to key into the grp without blooming.

I am by no means anywhere near a decent painter, and tend to muddle through, and I tend to become impatient when painting, but have said to myself, this time, I'll spend some tme and take my time, leaving coats to dry, and rub down with wet and dry well.............ummmmm!!!.

hopefully I'll reach a desired effect that will be pleasing to the eye.

So, I got down to it, and even after the first coat, things didn't go well at all......first I found a small area on the belting of the H F Bailey that was hollow underneath the gell coat, so painting stopped whilst I cut out the gell coat and filled, then sanded down, before giving another coat around the area with primer.

However, on the Mary Stanford, there was an even bigger cockup to cover...........

After spraying up with the coar of etching primer, I was looking at it and watching the preverbial paint to dry when I realised that I hadn't put into the two anchor recesses, the hawse pipes from the anchor/rope recesses to the deck..............so I then had to work that out, using brass tubing, and filler to hold it in place, so after drilling the holes to take the hawse pipe, that was sorted, and after cleaning up the mess created it was back to a covering coat of etching primer.

However, for the opening where the hawse pipe comes through the deck, I used bulwark hawse plates ( moulded for the Clyde lifeboat) as the deck housing surrounds, bedded in with polyester filler, and trimmed up just as it was going off..

Neil · « **Reply #570 on:** May 06, 2012, 10:29:32 pm »

Quote from: Norseman on May 06, 2012, 10:25:28 pm

I just like the idea of us all turning up after the pub lets out
and having a big party in the shop (forget the clean up)
I wonder also what Neil's music would be?

In Mick's (Canadian driving) terms most of us only live next door
but we don't meet up.

Dave

I'm sure I could put a little Pink Floyd on for you guys, and then once mellw and draped over the benches after a few noggins, some simon and garfunkel to sing along to, lol

heritorasphodel · « **Reply #571 on:** May 06, 2012, 10:59:47 pm »

Re your trick with the filler to get a level surface for the mast tabernacle...

I tried to use this on the radar mast on my 47' Watson, having first put down some cling film at Furball's suggestion (so I could remove it again for painting)

VERY bad idea... Not only did the filler refuse to set, but somehow it ate through about 5 or 6 layers of paint that I had beneath it, AND glued the cling film to the ply! So all in all not a good day.

I'm glad it works for someone!

Andrew

essex2visuvesi · « **Reply #572 on:** May 07, 2012, 07:04:18 am »

It appears Neil uses a similar Filing/Storage system as I do. Its called the WIFIF filing system (Where It Falls It's Filed)

Norseman · « **Reply #573 on:** May 07, 2012, 08:53:18 am »

At least Neil's is a working shop.
What a crime to have a pristine workshop/tooling that is unused.

tidied my little shed - everything in it's place - next job was
paint ........... looks like beeping Mars - very fine red dust now lays
absoutley everywhere

Neil · « **Reply #574 on:** May 07, 2012, 10:41:44 am »

Quote from: heritorasphodel on May 06, 2012, 10:59:47 pm

Re your trick with the filler to get a level surface for the mast tabernacle...

I tried to use this on the radar mast on my 47' Watson, having first put down some cling film at Furball's suggestion (so I could remove it again for painting)

VERY bad idea... Not only did the filler refuse to set, but somehow it ate through about 5 or 6 layers of paint that I had beneath it, AND glued the cling film to the ply! So all in all not a good day.

I'm glad it works for someone!

Andrew

Wasn't a trick, Andrew, but then again I wasn't going to remove it once it had set, and never did recomend that to any of the readers of this build!..It is common knowledge that polyester filler is one of the better adhesives around and will stick almost any thing to anything......and you'll note that I also trimmed it up before it went off...........so NOT a bad idea after all!...only bad if you don't know what you are doing with the produce......"a little knowledge (as they say) can be dangerous??"

...didn't mean it really.........

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Author Topic: 3 Lifeboat builds, What goes into a model kit. (Read 463604 times)