Topic: Working on 47ft Watson type lifeboat model hull, how and which tools to use (Read 13043 times)

lifeboatloverjvds · « **on:** January 02, 2013, 09:08:22 pm »

Hello all,

Today, I just signed up for an account and would like to introduce myself. My name is Johan vd Slik, I live in the Netherlands
and my hobbies are model (life) boat modelling. At the moment I have a few questions about working on the hull of the model lifeboat
I want to build.

A long while ago I bought at Models by Design a hull and superstructure of a 47ft Watson lifeboat model. I ordered the necessary
fitting parts too. My wish is to make a model of this kind of a lifeboat and make it RC.

I noticed that the deck was directly bonded to the hull and that the flange on each side is quite big/large. If I should remove too much of it,
then the deck would separate from the deck. But more important this material seems quite difficult to remove and to work with. And I'm
not sure what is/are the best tools to use and how to proceed now.

What kind of methods does other forum members applied to remove the big flange on each side of this modelboat hull ? What kind of tools
did you use for this ?

Can you guide me here a little bit ?

Many thanks in advance.

Greetings,

Johan

Neil · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2013, 09:23:32 pm »

Hi Johan.............I cut down the flange on one of these boats some years ago,

And what I did to elliminate the deck seperating from the hull was to apply to the areas I could fisrt reach, a bandage of grp woven matting ( rather than chop strand matting( and I could get almost to the bow and stern through the deck cut out.

What small areas I couldn't reach I bought some very finly chopped strand matting that I call mush....it's basically sweepings from the floor that has neen "liquidised into very small particles......and this, mished with resin makes a very strong filler.

Paint all this in to the meeting point of the deck and hull on the inside of the boat, and them once done, back fill all around with some more polyester resin.....the flange can then be cut down to within a few millimeters of the hull or as neear as you want it.

best wishes, and good modelling.
neil.

lifeboatloverjvds · « **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2013, 09:56:47 pm »

Hi Neil,

Thanks for your quick reply. That is exactly where I started with, to "paint" the inner-side of the hull close to the bonding with a kind of
some "2 components glue", I don't know if this is the exact correct English translation for these words.

But what other tools did you use for cutting this GRP material ? This material seems quite difficult to remove and to work with ?
It is a sturdy and tough material.

Johan

Neil · « **Reply #3 on:** January 02, 2013, 10:20:03 pm »

once the inner strengthener had cured and left for a day or so, I just used my orninary 1500 watt Jigsaw armed with a diamond toothed grp Bosch jigsaw blade.........cut through the grp like butter............you might have to get them on special order (as I do) from a tool shop, and they are quite expeensive.....cost around £40.00 ( 50 euros equiv) for a pack of 3 blades, but I use them quite often and it makes it worth while, as there's nothing worse than grp for blunting normal metal cutting blades..........having said that you could cut your boat with a metal cutting blade in a jigsaw and then throw the blade away when finished as it would be kaput for cutting anything else.
neil.

lifeboatloverjvds · « **Reply #4 on:** January 02, 2013, 10:39:31 pm »

I think these advices are good to follow up and I will continue with working on my modelboat hull using your suggestions.
Lets see how that will work out !

Neil, many thanks for your input.

Johan

Neil · « **Reply #5 on:** January 02, 2013, 10:56:13 pm »

no problems Johan....that's what the forum is here for...........to share ones experiences good or bad................no good holding back on info when it would help others................I don't find that helpfull to anyone.

all the best and if you need any more info, either ask on here or email me on my profile.
always willing and happy to help.
neil.

Neil · « **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2013, 11:11:53 pm »

Forgot to say Johan...........would you please post some photos and a build log on here of your build.
If you want ( I don't know which boat you are going to base your model of) but I have some good shots of the Illfated Longhope disaster lifeboat TGB taken some years ago, and if you'd like I'll post them on here for you.

neil.

heritorasphodel · « **Reply #7 on:** January 02, 2013, 11:28:18 pm »

I'm putting up some of the reference material that I used on my build, I hope it's of some use.

Andrew

lifeboatloverjvds · « **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2013, 11:32:39 pm »

Hi Neil,

Thanks for that ! I appreciate it !
By the way. I also forgot to tell that this is the second RNLI lifeboat I'm building right now. The first one I got it from eBay UK now 1-2 years
ago I think. A model of a Solent class lifeboat. When I received it It did not look bad after all. But all the time I'm renovating this modelboat.
It took only 1 year to get the desired railing stanchions (from Waverley Models). The former ones where made of wood.
I have to replace the kickingboard as well and then finally put the new railing stanchions in place.
I'm also repainting the superstructure, but I have to repaint it because it looks too red coloured is my opinion.

I have a pic of my Solent class lifeboat which was taken a year ago, it is going to be the RNLB Lady McRobert.

Johan

Neil · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2013, 11:48:09 pm »

it's nice to make contact with lovers of classic RNLI lifeboats from the continent. well done Johan.
I'll resize the photos I have and start posting them tomorrow.
neil.

Neil · « **Reply #10 on:** January 03, 2013, 10:24:28 am »

here you are Johan.
These are photos of the illfated 47' Watson R.N.L.B. TGB.
On 17th March 1969 she was capsized with the loss of all her crew, from the tiny village of Longhope in the Orkney isles. One crew man , Assistant Mechanic James Swanson never being found sadly.

see here for full history of the boat http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/showthread.php?t=2190

Neil · « **Reply #11 on:** January 03, 2013, 10:32:29 am »

second set for you.

Neil · « **Reply #12 on:** January 03, 2013, 10:36:46 am »

and some more.

Neil · « **Reply #13 on:** January 03, 2013, 10:40:30 am »

and a few more for those wanting to build a 47!

vnkiwi · « **Reply #14 on:** January 03, 2013, 10:46:20 am »

superb detail photos.
And look at all those rivets to count.

beautiful
vnkiwi

Neil · « **Reply #15 on:** January 03, 2013, 10:51:15 am »

and the final five shots.

The last two photos have a story behind them.

they are of my daughter at the wheel of the boat, and also going down the w/t hatch into the engine room.
It was a beautiful sunny day that day I took the shots and it was lovely and warm in the museum building
I never told her the story of the TGB, other than it was just a lifeboat I fancied building a model of, or she wouldn't have come aboard with me, but after she had left the boat she told me that she got a strange feeling when she went down into the engine room as though it was very cold with a cold wind blowing and that she felt as though someone had put their hand on her shoulder. she also said that she got the same cold feeling when she was holding the wheel.
I have never forgotten those words from her.

Neil · « **Reply #16 on:** January 03, 2013, 10:55:11 am »

Quote from: vnkiwi on January 03, 2013, 10:46:20 am

superb detail photos.
And look at all those rivets to count.
beautiful
vnkiwi

cheers, Kiwi.......just happy to help other modellers.

neil.

heritorasphodel · « **Reply #17 on:** January 03, 2013, 01:08:12 pm »

Am I right in saying that half of those photos are before restoration, and the others after restoration? That museum got into a lot of trouble with the RNLI when a visitor complained about the state that she was kept in.

Oh, and when she arrived at the museum, she wasn't orange - she was painted red, like our St. Cybi.

Neil · « **Reply #18 on:** January 03, 2013, 02:16:24 pm »

No idea Andrew....

the first batch (of which my daughter was on the last two but not in sequence with the last lot) was taken over 5 years ago......and the last bbatch was taken either 2 or 3 years ago.......I had noticed that she'd been "tarted up" but it wasn't a resto by any means.
neil.

Neil · « **Reply #19 on:** January 03, 2013, 02:18:55 pm »

sorry, hadn't noticed that a Solent had crept in there..was in a rush this morning as the kids wanted to go shopping.............

heritorasphodel · « **Reply #20 on:** January 03, 2013, 02:37:45 pm »

Yeah, we think she and the St. Cybi (our 52 Barnett) were kept afloat for a while, and they deteriorated quite badly as all wooden boats do after a while, even though she was only about 30-odd. A visitor complained, and it prompted the museum to call for volunteers to look after her. They cleaned her up and repainted her a few years ago.

In fact, they might have painted them that red-orange when they arrived there.

Andrew

lifeboatloverjvds · « **Reply #21 on:** January 03, 2013, 03:25:26 pm »

Hi Neil,

Many many thanks for the photos. These are real nice pics ! This would certainly help while building this model !
The name of my 47ft Watson lifeboat I have in mind should be the "Solomon Browne".
A while ago I obtained the documentary named "Cruel Sea""on dvd about the Penlee lifeboat disaster via eBay UK and I must say
it was very impressive. Maybe that is the reason I want to name my model to "Solomon Browne".
You must not forget that every time people risk their lives to rescue other people on sea which are in distress.
I try to keep always that in mind when collecting videos, pictures of (other) lifeboats and while working on my model lifeboat.
Ofcourse I also support the Dutch lifeboat service named as KNRM here in the Netherlands. That is how I can help so that these people
can do their work.

Johan

heritorasphodel · « **Reply #22 on:** January 03, 2013, 04:34:15 pm »

Hi Johan, here's a photo of Solomon Browne I think taken in the early 1970's.

Do you know which period you want to build her?

Andrew

Neil · « **Reply #23 on:** January 03, 2013, 04:37:48 pm »

Rottweiler is the man for photos of the Solomon Browne I would think.

by the way, Johan......I have no objections to you copying and printing your own copies of the photos I posted..they are for all to use.

neil.

lifeboatloverjvds · « **Reply #24 on:** January 03, 2013, 06:45:52 pm »

Hi Neil,

If you want to do that I would realy appreciate it.

Johan

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Author Topic: Working on 47ft Watson type lifeboat model hull, how and which tools to use (Read 13043 times)