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[steve mahoney]

The easiest next item on the list was a toss up between the airconditioning unit, and the liferaft & cradle – so I built them all in tandem.

I had thought that the aircon base (going from a rectangle top to a small circle base, photo 1) would be difficult. A perfect job for my little desk disc sander. Only an afternoon to make, and another to paint. It can be put aside for awhile, and won’t be attached until the final stages.

[steve mahoney]

Same with the life raft and cradle. Some fiddly soldering but nothing too difficult. Although after a couple of days to look at my results (pic 1), I rebuilt the cradle (pic 2). The first attempt was just too chunky/clunky. Looks much better now. This all goes into the box of bits that will be attached later.

[Capt Podge]

That second attempt at the liferaft cradle looks great Steve, sits lovely on the superstructure as well - good job


Cheers,


Ray.

[steve mahoney]

Thanks Ray. These photos are twice the size of the pieces. They look much better in real life.

[steve mahoney]

The Maui has a Seematz 1000w halogen searchlight mounted on the top rail of the flying bridge. A fairly recent addition. This one is styrene, with brass brackets. Went together without any problems. In the box. Easy! I’m on fire!

These Seematz searchlights are usually a pale beige/light caramel colour, although the one on the Maui is all white. Even easier. Smokin’!

[steve mahoney]

The crane was next up.

I had thought that this would be a bit tricky but it turns out that a little strategic thinking beforehand paid off. I drew it up, thought about it, planned out the construction, and was able to knock it out relatively pain-free. Turns out this ‘thinking’ thing works out. Must try it more often.

The all over black paint hides most of the details, and some mistakes. In real life the crane boom is green but I didn’t want to introduce another colour into the model – so no green.

[steve mahoney]

Strangely enough, my theory about doing the easiest stuff first and dodging the hard stuff seems to be working out. Must tell the wife about that. Some of these items, like the crane, which had appeared difficult were much less of a problem than I had imagined.

Hope I haven’t just jinxed it because there’s only the really hard stuff left now: 2 fire monitors, and a very complicated towhook. The bridge deck monitor is a single nozzle with some very complex curves in the piping. The flying bridge monitor also has a foam cannon. No complex piping but lots of flanges and funny angles. Both hard work.

I started with the single monitor first. I tried using copper rod for the wiggly piping (it’s made up from 3 sections) but after some problems soldering it, actually not soldering it was the problem, I went back to good old brass rod. Stick with what you know, Steve.

The pedastal and flanges are styrene. The rest of the components are a mix of styrene, aluminium tubing and brass rod. I’m happy with it. Wasn’t as daunting as imagined. Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?!

[Capt Podge]

Very impressive work you've done with the single monitor Steve and good practice for the dual monitor - getting there...


Cheers,


Ray.

[Martin (Admin)]

That IS impressive work ..... 

[steve mahoney]

Thanks boys.
It's a beautifuf day, just walked the dog and about to hit the bench and start on monitor 2. What could possibly go wrong?

[steve mahoney]

Fire monitor No. 2.

Some of the flanges/ribs/fins/etc are virtually the same as monitor No. 1 so the pedastal section went together without too many problems. Although I had half finished it when I decided that it wasn’t right, binned it, and started again. You always know, deep down, when it’s not right, and there’s only one way to fix it. Saves a lot of coulda/shoulda thinking later on.

Once again it’s a mix of styrene, aluminium tubing, copper wire, brass rod, and some PE brass wheels.

Good progress over the past few weeks. Surprising what you can get done when you put your back into it. Can’t believe I’ve managed to spin this out for 5 years.

[steve mahoney]

When the Maui was new it had 2 Danforth type anchors that were stowed on the outside of the gunwales. Doesn't seem very sensible, or practical but they look pretty cool so I'm having them.

You can buy very nice metal Danforths at the right size but they're expensive and hard to get to NZ. Plus, I'm trying to keep costs down so I decided to make some out of styrene. Fairly straightforward construction the only tricky parts were the tiny U bolts on the shaft.

Overall they turned out OK. The real ones were galvanised iron so the painting was simple – silver with a little bit of black and white added.

Nowadays there are no remnants of this system – no chain brakes, etc, and there is now only a single plow type anchor through the central hawsehole.

I'm undecided as to whether or not I'll added some chain brakes.

[Capt Podge]

That's a really good piece of work on making those anchors from scratch - excellent result


Cheers,


Ray.

[steve mahoney]

Thanks Ray, sometimes it all works out.

[steve mahoney]

Now for the tow hook – the last item, and single most complex thing in the build.

I haven't seen a tow hook like this before – the hook sits up on a complicated pedestal, with quite a few vents, etc, and large guard (photos 1 & 2). It's a strange system that doesn't seem set up for heavy towing.

First step was to make the circular rail for the tow table. I formed a circle with layers of 0.2mm styrene using several drawing templates clamped together to form the circle at the correct diameter. I may have gone about this in completely the wrong way but it turned out OK. I could have got the templates slightly out of alignment and made a dud circle, or worse, could have easily have ruined the circle templates.

The circle/ring was glued onto the pedestal base and clamped in place to try and hold the circle shape. So far so good.The other bits and pieces went together quite easily and the all black paint job hides a lot of the details. Might need a little touch up before final attachment. Could have been a lot worse.

[Trucker]

This is a really lovely build full of ideas on building and solving intricate parts, certainly gives me ideas for my scratch builds, keep the updates coming im following to the end..
well done mate.


Trucker

[steve mahoney]

Thanks Trucker. Nice to know someone's following.
I'm sure most of you already know all of these techniques although I always stumble across them in a very round about way. I seem to have do everything twice (on a good day) when I'm making a boat, so if anyone can avoid making the same mistakes by seeing my cock-ups, great!


More to follow, for sure.

[steve mahoney]

Most of the fun stuff is now out of the way, so it’s time to fix any little mishaps. After 4 years in storage there are a few little scuffs and blemishes on the hull paintwork, and a few items recently knocked off the mast, and I had snapped off 2 of the Voith blades. How did I manage that, they have a protective cage specifically to prevent that! Doh!

The worst problem though was the the circle/loop antenna – which, I now know, is the boat's TV aerial. It took a very slight knock and one of the soldered joints sprang. Trying to re-solder it just made things worse – it disintegrated (photo 1). No worries, I still had the jigs that I had used to make the first one. I mentioned earlier that I always keep them just in case (photo 2). Yep, you know what’s coming now – I had binned them a couple of days ago. Double doh!

Started from scratch again, with a new jig, this time with 0.2mm brass instead of 0.3mm nickel (photo 4). Just as difficult to bend and solder but looks much better with the thinner wire. Took less time than the first one but much longer than it should have. Much cursing, and huffing and puffing involved.

The pieces are quite small and the brass/nickel rod is very rigid and trying to bend it to a tight diameter was fun. Even pinning it in place to solder was tough. Any slight touch would cause the curved brass to fly off like a coiled spring. At that size you’d never find them on the floor or wherever they went. Had to make a few. Again, and then a third time. Triple doh! Happy days!!

And I have to make the stand. Making stands is crucial – but dull – and always left until the last moment. For me, it’s the equivalent of eating broccoli – you know you have to, but it’s never top of the list, or enjoyable. But, if you don’t eat your veggies you can’t have your pudding.

Anyway, that’s done.

[steve mahoney]

I've made/finished pretty much everything that needs to go on the model and now it's just a matter of figuring out which order the pieces are attached.

Before I start that I gave the superstructure one last inspection and found that a few areas needed a little remedial work. Nothing drastic, just some minor fixes, and paint touch-ups.

The tape protecting the windows is now off, and I'm paranoid about marking or damaging the glazing. It's all kid gloves from now on.

[steve mahoney]

The first step of the final assembly was attaching the railings and nav lights that I had made a couple of months back. While I was doing this I realised that a couple of little items had slipped off the ‘to do’ list. Not surprising as the list is a bit chaotic.

Missing were the deck worklights (that sit on the aft railing), a very large gooseneck vent with a complex base for the port stern deck (this will probably be the very last thing attached).

Easily fixed, there are only 2 work lights on the boat, both the same style halogens, one large, one medium for the bow.

And, while I was in the mood: a boathook. Every boat needs a boathook. And, an emergency axe that goes on the companionway.

[steve mahoney]

The funnel turned out to be quite a complex piece, with plenty of equipment that could easily damage, so I attached that first. Hopefully, as it’s in the centre of the boat and far enough from the sides it won’t take any hits.

With funnel and railings all in place the deck equipment can start going on. I started on the flying bridge, with the pelorus/binnacle, the monitor and the searchlight. Everything is a bit tight up there. Yeah, I know – the monitor would only turn to port. That's how it is on the real boat.

I’ll work my way down.

The antennea will go on last as they are easily bent and will be asking for trouble.

[steve mahoney]

Next, down to the bridge deck. Some mushroom vents, the air con unit, life raft and cradle, crane, the smaller fire monitor, life bouy, and lights all ready to be attached. Only the emergency rescue ladder left to make. I wasn't sure I would put this on the model and only decided to include it at the last minute.

The deck equipment has been altered/upgraded over the years and the boat now (when I visited it) has an emergency rescue ladder attached to the starboard bridge deck railing. This was fairly straightforward to make, I printed the pattern onto paper, then just a lot of tiny sections to cut out. A good coat of paint has soaked into the paper and made it quite strong. Stronger than it looks.
 
It needs to be with some of the rough treatment the model has been getting lately. Unintentionally of course, but sometimes I feel like a bull in a china shop: dropping stuff, losing things in plain sight, and generally just doing dumb stuff – on a regular basis. And I don’t even tell you the dumbest stuff. After all these years I’m supposed to be getting better at this.

[Capt Podge]

Ref the ladder - that's actually a clever solution you came up with and all helps to keep top weight down - nice work Steve


Cheers,


Ray.

[steve mahoney]

Thanks Ray.