Topic: the "Afric Star" cargo vessel, Alex Thomson (Read 4540 times)

Tug Captain · « **on:** January 10, 2019, 03:28:27 pm »

Hi,
came across an article written by Alex Thomson in which he briefly describe his model of a cargo ship named "Afric >Star".

Does anyone have more information about Mr Thomson, contact details etc and/or about the model of "Afric Star".

The reason for my questions is that this is a possible next build....
Best
Claes

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2019, 03:57:01 pm »

I can't help with information on the model but the Alex Thomson's plans are available from Sarik.
https://www.sarikhobbies.com/product/africa-star-plan-mm1255/
Colin

John W E · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2019, 05:25:02 pm »

hi there, sadly Alex or Sandy Thompson passed away a few years ago - I knew him really, really well. He belonged to Tynemouth Model Boat Club - I think he actually sailed on Afric Star. His great love in life were the Scottish Steamers, such as King George V - plan number MM1231. All I can say he was a real gentleman and a big miss to me.

As Colin says the Afric Star plans are available as per Colin's link.
If you have a look at this link - North East Model Show - look closely and you will see pics of Alex's model of the Australian Star.

https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,34785.0.html

John

Brian60 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2019, 06:13:47 pm »

There is a grp hull available but for the life of me I can't remember who markets it.

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2019, 06:36:21 pm »

Metcalf Mouldings originally produced it. Now listed by Loyalhanna in the USA.
https://www.loyalhannadockyard.com/MMAFRICSTAR.htm
olin

Buccaneer · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2019, 07:19:07 pm »

I recently built the American Scout from a kit by Sterling and am considering making another one as a scratch build. I found Liberty Ship Hulls at 1/96 scale and about 55 in long available from Mouldeans at £76 and Fleetscale at £121. Not quite the same but similar enough I would think and quite reasonably priced. May be worth a look.
John

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2019, 07:33:21 pm »

I think the Afric Star was a rather more sophisticated design than the Liberty ships. If you are going to build a scale model then it is best to get the hull right which is possible if you use Alex Thomson's plans to build it. Othrwise you are just constructing a semi scale approximation.

Colin

Steam Boat Willie · « **Reply #7 on:** January 10, 2019, 08:16:11 pm »

There were actually two Afric Stars, the first of 1929:

http://www.bluestarline.org/afric1.html

and the second of 1974:

http://www.bluestarline.org/afric2.html

The hull form of the first one pre-dates Liberty ships by, at a guess around 10 years, and the second one post-dates liberty ships by a good 30 years. Looking at the plan we are obviously talking about the second one which is a totally different hull shape to a liberty ship, having relatively fine lines, a much lower block coefficient than a liberty ship hull and a distinctive flared bow. All Blue Star Line ships of this period were built for speed as many chilled and refrigerated cargoes were carried as well as the 12 passengers they became famous for. The passenger spaces could put most cruise ships to shame. They were absolutely beautiful ships.

Tug Captain · « **Reply #8 on:** January 11, 2019, 02:31:36 pm »

John W E,

sorry to hear about the loss of your friend Alex Thomson.

Yes, your are right - Alex actually sailed onboard the Afric Star as a deckhand on at least one voyage Between Europe and the US. I just can't find the website where he details the trip - will try to relocate it.

I have also found some photos of a very detailed model of Afric Star made by a John Robertson of Wick, Scotland. Very nice!

I think one can find grp hulls which with some minor modifications could be used when building a model in 1:100 For example Udos Modellwerf and Steinhagen.

My interest in the Afrix Star is partially due to the fact I sailed in this type of classic cargo vessels - some 50 years back...

Claes

Stan · « **Reply #9 on:** January 11, 2019, 03:08:59 pm »

many years ago a glass fibre hull was made for this by a small company in Bury Lancashire Abco sadly no longer in business.

Stan.

Brian60 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 11, 2019, 04:18:14 pm »

Here you go, there is on this site someplace a 60 inch hull....
http://www.modelsbydesign.co.uk/Default.aspx

Plastic - RIP · « **Reply #11 on:** January 11, 2019, 06:16:01 pm »

I had a bare fibreglass hull for an Afric Star - sold it on ebay a couple of years ago.

John W E · « **Reply #12 on:** January 11, 2019, 06:25:03 pm »

Hi there
been going back through some of me 'older' model boats mags and I am back to September 1983 and on the front cover there is a photograph of a guy called Colin Nuttal with his model of the Andalucia Star which was built on a GRP hull by ABCO UK LTD and also from the plans from Model Boats of the Afric Star. Sadly there is no further information on the build in this particular issue of Model Boats but will look further on and I suspect around 1984/85 there may just be a write up of this build.

john

mountfleet · « **Reply #13 on:** January 13, 2019, 09:10:28 am »

Mountfleet Models have a moulding of the Afric Star

Tug Captain · « **Reply #14 on:** January 13, 2019, 11:15:20 am »

Have searched the Mountfleet site but can't find the Afric Star hull. Have looked under both "Kits" and "Hulls" but nada found????
Claes

mountfleet · « **Reply #15 on:** January 13, 2019, 03:25:03 pm »

Unfortunately all our hulls are not on the website.
If you directly send an email I will send over the costing and size
Adam

John W E · « **Reply #16 on:** January 13, 2019, 05:12:10 pm »

hi there, this is getting very frustrating -

- I have already looked through past model boat magazines and I cannot for the life of me find the article. However, doing a bit search on the WEB I have come across this -

https://www.vintagemodelplans.com/products/full-size-printed-plans-for-1-100-scale-reefer-l60-cargo-ship-afric-star

Its an extract from the article (I believe anyway) so I am looking again through my models - unless anyone can pinpoint the magazine - it may even be Marine Modelling but I somehow don't think it is.

John

John W E · « **Reply #17 on:** January 13, 2019, 05:20:12 pm »

well, I have found this and it is part of the article

John W E · « **Reply #18 on:** January 13, 2019, 05:22:13 pm »

and there is a bit more here - looks like a bit missing grrrr

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #19 on:** January 13, 2019, 06:18:06 pm »

Found It!!!

I tracked the plan number down to 1978. I have all the Model Boats issues for that year except November so I looked it up on Magazine Exchange and there it was!

http://magazineexchange.co.uk/cw/model-boats-magazine-november-1978-issue.html

Now you just have to find a copy!

Colin

John W E · « **Reply #20 on:** January 13, 2019, 06:27:41 pm »

thanks for that Colin

I was beginning to doubt meself as I was looking in the 1980s batch of mags - now I have just put my hand on my copy November 1978 and it looks like the only thing missing from the article that I put on earlier is a small drawing of the plan. Now we need to find another copy for Tug Captain

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MODEL-BOATS-Magazine-November-1978-Afric-Star-Cargo-Ship/362510178291?hash=item54674a57f3:g:LaQAAOSwQN1bDIuK:rk:1:pf:0

John

Tug Captain · « **Reply #21 on:** January 14, 2019, 05:19:36 pm »

Adam of Mountfleet,
have tried to contact you via PM and email but no succes sofar...

Claes

mountfleet · « **Reply #22 on:** January 14, 2019, 06:36:25 pm »

I have sent through a response this evening
Adam

hmsantrim · « **Reply #23 on:** January 20, 2019, 12:10:33 am »

Plans for Afric star here

https://www.model-dockyard.com/acatalog/model-boat-magazine-Merchant_Ships.html

Ref: MM1255[/size]

Afric Star: A Blue Star cargo ship, drawn at 60ins. overall length. Plan includes body lines, profile and deck plan, no model construction details are shown
[/size]
[/size] £13.00
[/size]
[/size] Frank

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Author Topic: the "Afric Star" cargo vessel, Alex Thomson (Read 4540 times)