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[CarlC]

I am new to model boat building having completed my first build of a small Nordic fishing boat. So I decided to get a working boat secondhand and refurbish it. I was able to get a Slipway's MV Conserver at a very good price. Unfortunately, although it had been very well built originally, a number of modifications had been made that were less than perfect. Mainly, around the mast and upper deck and the addition of new railings along the sides.


So I'm just starting a refurbishment of the boat and hope that the challenges and new skills I learn will serve me well for future builds. The existing boat included lights and a diesel engine sound card. Currently, I want to change the bulb based lights for LEDs and rectify the other cosmetic issues with the craft. Here is is prior to me starting work on it.


   

[Stan]

HI Carl looking good an old model from Model Slipway I have sent you a pm make contact ref L E D  if you wish.


Stan.

[RST]

Last time I passed the original when I was down at my mums one time she was sitting tied up and looked "well used"!  Don't know if she's had any re-paint since as it's been a while.  Looks like you have a decent start to work from anyway.


Rich

[john44]

Hi Carl, the conserver was the first model I built in kit form many years ago I thought it strange that the wheelhouse
was out of centre on the deck, then I realised the deck was a work area where they repaired the Bouys.
It was a joy to build.On my boat I made the mast array removable after I had knocked it off a few times
Have fun with it


John

[CarlC]

My apologies for my tardiness with updates to the restoration, but things have been continuing.


So far the entire electrics in the boat have been rewired and the engine sound and navigation lights are now switchable from the transmitter. The entire superstructure has been rebuilt using the existing parts and the mast has been rebuilt and rewired for LED navigation lights. Its not quite as per the plans as I was working without any and did what I thought, based on the model I purchased, was correct. Later a very kind gentleman on the Mayhem Facebook group, sent me a set of the original plans and construction instructions. So hopefully, the rest will be closer to the original.


The other major part missing was the Hiab Sea Crane. I tried to buy one from the USA but unfortunately they were not able to supply me due to the import/VAT rule changes since January. So I had to come up with a different approach. I found a CAD drawing of a full scale crane (unfortunately not the Hiab), and set about simplifying it, and scaling it down. The photo below of the blue crane was the first prototype and the red version is version one on the boat but I am still refining the 3D model so it may yet change.


I have also stripped the deck of as many of the fittings as I can, so my next job is to repair and repaint the deck and the railings at the rear of the boat. The original lightweight crane at the rear was damaged, so I have built a fairly close approximation in CAD and printed that also, the photo is prior to final detailing. I have also created some SOLAS life rafts and additional mooring bollards, plus I have started to repair the front guard rail. It has been really interesting as styrene sheet is not a material I have worked with before.


Next build day is Wednesday, but I must confess if it is nice I may have to go to the lake and run my little fishing boat.

[Stan]

HI Carlc looking good  keep up the good work.


Stan. [size=78%] [/size]

[CarlC]

Lots of prep work today. Mainly the deck getting it ready for painting but I need to repair the Railings too, which will be returned to the original white. And the 3D printer in churning out the final accessories for the superstructure.


 

[CarlC]

Well, the last week has been a pretty busy time. The restoration is fairly close to being complete and she will have her maiden voyage (for me) next Wednesday.


Progress to date has included fixing the railings, repainting the railings, a full repaint of the deck, painting of the 3d printed parts to replace missing/broken deck fitting. Fitting all of the deck fittings, fitting 3d printed radar and satellite parts to superstructure, adding a bow fender and refitting the rubbing strip. I had to use the original rubbing strip as I couldn't find anywhere with the right size replacement.


There are still a couple of bits to do:


Fit the anchor
Make and fit the mast supports
Possibly add a crew man


This is the first time I have attempted to restore/improve a second hand boat I have purchased, and I know that she isn't perfect, but a great improvement over when I first received her. I have also learnt a lot, so, although she is not at the standard of the builders on the forum, she has been a great experience and I am pretty happy with the result.  Here is how she is looking currently:
 

[RST]

That looks great to me. Absolutely nowt wrong with that effort that I can see!  I don't churn out anything that neat and tidy these days.


Am impressed with the HIAB. After many attempts now I've not managed to get one printed right.  Nowhere near as good as yours.  What printer do you have please?


Rich

[CarlC]

Thanks Rich,


I am using one of the original CR-10S printers. The crane was derived from a full scale 3D model that has over 1000 separate pieces. I simplified it and then printed it as about 20 bits and then assembled it. The piston actuators are stainless steel rod and the hydraulic cables are a bit of old ribbon cable I had knocking about. I'm still working on the CAD files but hope to have it to a releasable version soon. Once I have it sorted, it will go on Thingiverse.

[steve mahoney]

Great work on the crane. It will be very sought after, and appreciated on Thingverse.

[RST]

Hi CarlC, yes and my problem is still printing too much in one go I think.  I had a copy of a C10 but it was just a white elephant so moved on.  That is the most curious thing about mastering printing though, working out how to split into parts which I haven't mastered yet.


Rich

[CarlC]

Hi Rich,


The splitting of parts into printable items is still the thing I struggle with the most. I try to get to a point where I don't need to use too much support material because I am lazy and hate the effort to clean it all up. For the lightweight crane on the rear of the Conserver, I actually cut the model up so all the pieces could be printed flat with no support. The model for that is on Thingiverse (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4874335).


That is what I am doing currently with the main crane, getting it into bits that can be printed flat and stuck together.


Carl

[CarlC]

So she had her maiden voyage yesterday at the Basingstoke Model Boat Club, was initially over ballasted when running a 6v 12AH SLA battery, swapped it for a 6v 7.2AH battery and she was good.


Brief running video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxpOYjGwpQc

[steve mahoney]

Very clever to match the pond colour to the deck colour. 

[justboatonic]

Very nice. I went to buy the Conserver after MSW had re introduced it but found they were not selling it any more. Id literally missed the boat! The Conserver is a nice sized model. Such a shame the company wasnt sold.

[CarlC]

Very clever to match the pond colour to the deck colour. 

Lol yeah, bit of an algae bloom on my local pond lol

[CarlC]

Lol yeah, bit of an algae bloom on my local pond lol

It is such a shame as their kits were so good, I was so lucky to be able to grab a second hand one at a good price, worth all the effort to get it going. It turns within it own length, pretty good for a single screw boat.