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[Jumper215]

Hello I'm new here so this is my first post.
I'm a fine scale modeller for my sins and dioramas are my feild of preference. I am currently building a 1/48 scale supermarine Walrus sea plane which I'm hoping to pose in a diorama with a motor launch or tug coming along side with the planes crew onboard however I have not found any kits in my scale for the job. I was wondering if any of the members here could possibly tell me of kits or plans for a 1/48 scale motor launch or tug as I am willing to scratch build if someone is willing to supply me with plans. Thank you for reading.

[TailUK]

A suitable boat would be the RAF 37.5ft Seaplane Tender, designed and introduced in 1931 to service RAF flying boats.  Check out the following.
 http://www.bmpt.org.uk/other_boats_history/Seaplane%20Tenders/ST206a.htm

Use of tenders might have been limited for Walruses/ Sea Otters as the aircraft had retractable landing gear and could easily ramp out of the water.  Tenders may have been used more with the larger types which were harder to get out of the water.  It may be that any small motor or rowed boat could be used for a tender.  Standard Navy 16ft whalers may have been used.

[Netleyned]

Naval whalers were 27 ft long  and could be rowed or sailed.
An open motor boat around 20 ft would more likely to be used.
I used to see crew transfers to Sunderlands in front of my house
and they always used open motorboats not seaplane tenders.
This was the 40's and early 50's at RAF Pembroke Dock.

The Three in one motor whaler joined the RN in the 60's

Ned

[TailUK]

Apologies, 16ft Dinghy, then. 

[PICKETBOAT]

I have in stock vac formed rowing whalers in 1/48th. Also 50 foot steam picket boats. Although ostensibly the latter is a 1900 model it could be easily modified to one of the single funnel picket boats still in use during WW2.


I don't know if anyone has a 1/48th scale kit or plans but how about one of the cuckoo rescue boats. There is one preserved at The Girvan Scottish Maritime Museum. 


Check out:-


http://www.scubadolphins.org.uk/images/Cuckoo/Cuckoo%20Research%20Write%20Up.pdf


Good luck   

[TailUK]

Interesting, I've never seen a British one before!  I'm familiar with the German version only.

[BFSMP]

. There is one preserved at The Girvan Scottish Maritime Museum. 


Check out:-


http://www.scubadolphins.org.uk/images/Cuckoo/Cuckoo%20Research%20Write%20Up.pdf


Good luck

do you not mean the Irvine Maritime museum..........and it's not so well preserved these days. I visited it this spring and it had many holes in it where it had been left to rust and rot from the inside out.

[Netleyned]

Cuckoo was a new one on me also
I knew about Uffa Fox's airborne dinghy
as there were quite a few racing at PD
after the war.
Our yacht club had a summer series racing them.

Ned

[PICKETBOAT]

Yes, very sorry, I meant Irvine museum not Girvan. A long and busy day and my brain is a bit fuzzy!


The preserved one at IRVINE is a bit tatty, but I am not aware of any others preserved. I believe there were many constructed during the war, but only one recorded as ever being actually used by a downed airman for the purpose they were intended.