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[Engineman]

Gents,
I am searching for the last of the 'legacy' of the 'golden age' of model steam - late eighties-early nineties of the last century - while having in mind the idea to keep 'afloat' what is possible until the trails have not been completely lost yet...
Even such masterpieces of model kits like  VIGILANT, SEEKADETT, TOPAZ, OPAL by MH&B  which were available pretty recently - now could be considered like history-since these are not in production anymore... Only CHIMAERA, FORMIDABLE and LADY JANE by John Hemmens are still survived and kicking somehow... The rest are completely gone. One of those - is the model of SKEANDHU, prototyped from a very attractive steam yacht.
Maybe anybody accidentally ran across/keeping the plans of this boat or even the kit itself - whatever kind of 'remains' are of a big interest. Instead I can offer something similar of the same value-since I'm dealing with model steam boats for more than 20 years... Any kind of assistance on the matter - is very highly appreciated  :)
Kind regards,
Roman
 

 

[rhavrane]

Bonjour Roman,

Are you talking about this boat ? Never seen in France (MH&B are also very rare because very expensive for us).
I hope you will find these plans.
Besides this, you say you are dealing with steam boats for 20 years, I would be interested to see your collection, I have not met yet any  steam passionate in Russia. Are you building steam ice breakers    ?

[pipercub1772]

Hi wanted one of those  kits  or models for a long time , As you say maxwell hemmens  sold the kits many years ago who updated the kit, before that they were sold by a company called OCEAN MODELS who made a  limited edition number they also made  the formidable steam drifter ,skeandu clyde day boat, and yvonne thames tug, I made the formidable many years ago approx 1992 got the kit from westbourne models,basically a g/f hull and a box of wood,I have never seen any come for sale on ebay or on the net but i just missed a unbuilt skeandu kit about 4 years that was advertised in model boat magazine,incidentally the cost of skeandu in 1992 was £235.00 not cheap then,Hope you get lucky,Kind regards Allan.

[Engineman]

Hi gents, sorry for being silent for a quite long time,

Raphael,
That’'s the boat I’m looking for (pls. see below)

As it was mentioned by Allan - this kit was initially produced by OCEAN MODELS (or may be MARVON MODELS?) and then continued by MAXWELL HEMMENS  -  both POF and GRP versions were available, as well as specially designed steam outfit (never managed to see this one). Yes, I am aware about the model of SY Skeandhu which was built by Japanese model steam boat enthusiast…even saw some videos on youtube. This model from Japan is a bit bigger than the model from the kit, thou it could be very probable that the plans that came with the kit were used as basis - while being up-scaled a bit in order to fit SAITO steam plant (which is larger than CATON or even MAX2).
Speaking about my collection – what are you interested in particular? Original drawings, marine steam engines/outfits, models? It would be quite a job - even to describe in short what I do have in my possession  .

And it was quite ridiculous to hear about icebreakers...Why exactly icebreakers?
Thou in some regards you’re right – my hobby interest is linked somehow to the history of shipbuilding in Russia, and the first-in-the world icebreaker was invented and built here (ST PILOT, 1864) as well as the first Arctic – class icebreaker is also Russian invention (YERMAK, 1898). Quite interesting prototypes indeed, but not my cup of coffee…
Maybe you’re aware that the first sea-going torpedo boat was designed and built also in Russia (TB VZRYV (EXPLOSION), 1877, 120 tons, 17 knots) as well as that one of the fastest Thornycroft boats of the era was beaten by Russian SY Mab during the race on the Neva river in far 1874 (16 kn vs 19 kn)…that’s the actual subject of my passion – fast-going steam yachts and torpedo boats of late Victorian/early Edwardian era.
So, since you’ve never met any steam enthusiasts from Russia – probably it’s a good chance to get acquainted with one of those  .


Allan, many thanks for your input,

I’ve heard about OCEAN MODELS but probably it was MARVON MODELS that initiated the production of SY Skeandhu kit…. Just ran across this MARVON MODELS kit one of the internet auctions, but regretfully it was ended…
BTW never heard about Thames tug Yvonne model…was it also steam powered?
As for the mentioned advertisement in Model Boats – I’m also seeking for this Feb 1992 issue…
Once I saw it on e-bay but the price turned out to be pretty unreasonable  .


Cheers,
Roman

[BarryM]

One that's been overlooked. Mountfleet Models' 'Yarta' should make an attractive Build.

Barry M

[BarryM]

CORRECTION - Kingston Mouldings http://www.kingstonmouldings.com/pdyartasteamyacht.htm   NOT Mountfleet.

Barry M

[Engineman]

Thanks for your hint Barry,
My interest is limited to SY Skeandhu only...the hull itself is definitely not an issue, and I can do the job even better than Kingston Mouldings. More to say, the shape of the SY YARTA hull they do produce is looking quite far from the lines of the prototype. I have a big doubt that original lines drawing was used - how it is declared by KM... 

[BarryM]

If you can do better than Kingston Mouldings, perhaps we could see some examples of your work?

Barry M

[Engineman]

Hi Barry,
 

If you can do better than Kingston Mouldings, perhaps we could see some examples of your work?

Perhaps - yes. You could find something here: http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2002.60
Thou these 'examples' are not freshest fresh - hopefully they could give some idea of where we are with GRP hulls and the rest of the stuff... BTW this TB was the last model with the plug made manually, for now we have progressed to fast prototyping technology from 3D models...but that's absolutely different story.
Once the plans for SY Skeandhu would be available for me - you can also expect a chance to see here the reproduced hull of this boat with plating belts etc.
And please, don't get me wrong - the quality itself of GRP hulls from KM is of a very high standard and with a pretty good outer finish. I have managed to play with 'heavy duty' hull of 50ft steam pinnace produced by them.
 
Rgds,
Roman