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[kevin547n]

Sometimes known as the replacement for the famous "Liberty" ship, the 14,000 ton SD14 general cargo ships are found under many different names and flags in most of the world's ports and all of the high seas. The designation "SD14" denotes "Shelter Deck 14,000 tons". The shelter deck is the second or tween deck in the cargo spaces and, when the ship is loaded down to her plimsoll line, she displaces 14,000 tons.
By the mid 1960s, there remained some 700 Liberty and other war-built cargo ships still trading. Even the youngest were 20 years old and the question of a replacement was exercising the minds of ship owners and builders around the world. the emergence of bulk carriers and container ships pointed to the end of the "shelter Deck" design which had been used with little alteration since the turn of the century. Many felt that this design was no obsolete and that the future lay with containerisation.
It was, therefore, something of a surprise when ship builders all over the world unveiled their plans for the "liberty Ship Replacement", almost all of which offered a two-deck vessel of 14,000/15,000 tons deadweight. Doubtless this choice was influenced by the requirements of potential customers. Most of the war-built vessels were, by this time, being operated by Greek ship owners of limited resources to whom these new designs, for a type of vessel with which they were fully experienced and priced at about £1 million with cheap credit facilities, were very attractive.
A total of 30 designs were put forward as the "Liberty Ship Replacement" in the early months of 1966. Of these, the most successful was the SD14, developed by the Sunderland shipbuilders, Austin and Pickersgill. The first SD14 keel was laid on 8th. June 1967. Unusually, this was not at Austin and Pickersgill's own yard, but nearby at that of another Sunderland shipbuilder, Bartram's, who were building the ship under licence. The first ship, named Mimis N. Papalios, was launched on 1st. December 1967. She was also very nearly the first SD14 to be completed. However, Austin and Pickersgill managed to make up the leeway in their own building programme to hand over the first completed SD14, the Nicola, on 14th. February 1968, the Mimis N. Papalios following the next day.
Between 1968 and 1988, a total of 211 SD14s were completed and it is interesting to note that, by 1990, only 10 had been scrapped for commercial reasons, a further three going to the breaker's yard after marine accidents. Of the dozen vessels reported as sunk, at least two fell victim to missile attack during the Iran/Iraq conflict.
Like the original Liberty ships, which many thought would be scrapped as soon as the war was over, the SD14 was not ascribed a very long life by some early critics. Nevertheless, these ships are still in demand in the charter market, with average daily rates of $5,200 for a one-year time contract, and in the second hand market with prices ranging from $2.5m for an early seventies ship to $5.75m. for a newer example.
One guide to the success of the SD14 is to look at the movement of the 211 ships through the second-hand market. Most of the ships now sailing are with only their second owner, a few remaining with their original purchaser. The oldest SD14 in service is the Wave Crest, the vessel which, as the Mimis N. Papalios, missed by one day the distinction of being the first completed ship of her type.

In 1978, while attached to Manchester Docks, George Robinson, a retired Merchant Navy captain, hit on the idea of providing the port fire brigade with an easy-to-build model of the SD14. In this way, the trainee firemen could easily and quickly become familiar with the layout of the ship.
So, originated a 2-foot long, 1:70 scale model kit of the Forward section of the SD14. This first attempt met with such success that kits if the Midships and After sections followed in 1979, the complete model measuring an imposing 7 feet in length. Professional and international recognition followed in 1982 when the model won the "Shipwrights Model Competition" at the Guildhall in London.
Quite apart from sheer size, the kit is remarkable, for it is, in fact, put together in much the same way as the original was in Sunderland. Space here permits no more than a brief glimpse of what awaits the builder of this miniature leviathan.
The instructions, which, for the complete kit, run to about 60 pages, first explain that the model will be built by the dry dock method rather than on the slipway - the difference is clarified.
You then proceed to lay the shell bottom plates of the Forward section to form the double bottom, between the outer surface of the hull and the inner surface of the holds. On the original, the space in between in used for water ballast, necessary to keep the propellor submerged when there is no cargo and to maintain an even keel. This last expression, in such common and, I suspect , often unwitting, usage, is precisely defined.
The building progresses aft as the cargo holds are each constructed with transverse watertight bulkheads, hold pillars and centre line plates. There are even properly runged ladders on which to descend to the bowels of the vessel. In the After section, as well as a cargo hold, there is the engine room together with the propellor shaft tunnel and, by lifting up the after deck house, access is provided to the steering gear flat and the rudder stock.
In the bridge superstructure, containing the crew's accommodation, every cabin is accounted for. The crew's mess room, galley and smoke room are each separately delineated as are the linen locker, baggage room and officers' smoke room to mention but a few. The model also incorporates the correct ventilation trunk ways, the significance of which for cargo handling is explained.
In the course of construction, the instructions are supplemented by sections which explain the actual fabrication of the original, so that, as you work through the model, you learn about the SD14, how it was assembled and how it works.The operation of such components as MacGregor hatch covers, the keelson and camber in the original are fully expounded and you can then reproduce these to scale. Step-by-step diagrams illustrate the sequence of construction.
It is perhaps worth remembering that ships are machines, the largest ever built by man. So it is fascinating to see how this great machine works and to reproduce it in miniature at the same time. The correct nautical terms are used and explained, showing how each part of the ship functions and how the whole design draws on centuries of experience to produce the modern ocean-going vessel. If, like me, you have wondered what exactly is a "Tween Deck" and what is its purpose, you need wonder no more. All is revealed after which you can actually build one.
The kit is printed on 184 A3 sheets of top quality manilla card, there being approximately 4,500 pieces, and the modeller can choose to paint the model with an authentic colour scheme or one of his own choice. The three sections can be fixed together or left dismantled and the aft superstructure can be removed to give a glimpse of the various deck levels inside the hull. naturally, all the cargo hatches open to show the holds.
. The model can be made either for display or, with suitable waterproofing (see "Cutting Remarks" no. 3), can be sailed, there being space for R/C gear.
Although the original SD14 models were all sold out about 10 years ago, Marcle Models, under licence from George Robinson, reissues the SD14 kit. The complete kit, weighing over 17 lbs, is supplied in 6 cartons, complete with a tool kit and costs £280 including worldwide surface mail. The three sections, Forward, Midships and After, are each available separately at £105 each.
Should you decide to have a go, this, the "Non plus ultra of card (and perhaps any other type of) modelling, should keep you busy for about a year.

[kevin547n]

good evening everyone


last week i started this build, this will be my third time in doing so, all previous attempts have failed through one reason or another,


i am on day 8 and here is what has happened so for, 
my man cave was cleaned up, from finished the AL 1/10 stage coach









[size=78%]
my base board need to be 7 feet long to fit the build

ther kit is available in three sections, but cheaper to get them all at the same time



the build is made up as per the real thing
Double bottom floors, all made up now over 6 feet, it takes a bit of time to ensure it is all straigt, completed by end of day two



day 3 saw the double bottom floors longitudinal going in

 then the double bottom floors going in, these keep the distance between the bottom plates and the deck, and provide tanks for ballast water, there would be lots of lumber holes in these to allow the water to move around, and keeping the weight of the real thing down, i have omitted them, they wont be seen


the fwd section is now done



next is the tank top longitudinals, the deck would be fitted to this

this brings me up to date, hopefully you might like me to keep posting updates[/size]

[kevin547n]

good evening everyone


the build continues, now on day 11


lol the centre section seams to go on forever, but its relaxing

[Martin (Admin)]

Awesome!   

Are you cutting out the slots by hand or have you made up some sort of tool, eg. pliers or hole punch, to cut them for you?

[Capt Podge]

Hi there Kevin, hope the build goes well for you this time around - I'd love to have a go at this myself but, sadly, my hands wouldn't stay still long enough... Very frustrating at times. Still, I'm content to watch this one coming together...


Don't know if you've seen the other SD14 build on here https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,49926.msg508715.html#msg508715


... well worth reading anyway.


Ray.

[kevin547n]

Awesome!   

Are you cutting out the slots by hand or have you made up some sort of tool, eg. pliers or hole punch, to cut them for you?

Good evening Martin
by hand, an exacto knife 11 blade and scissors, i never thought about anything else and to be honest i dont think anything else would be faster, after cutting 1000's of them lol

[kevin547n]

Hi there Kevin, hope the build goes well for you this time around - I'd love to have a go at this myself but, sadly, my hands wouldn't stay still long enough... Very frustrating at times. Still, I'm content to watch this one coming together...


Don't know if you've seen the other SD14 build on here https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,49926.msg508715.html#msg508715


... well worth reading anyway.


Ray.

thank you Ray, i think i have seen them all, but will go through the list tomorrow

[kevin547n]

Day 13 centre section double floor frames
good evening everyone
im still ploughing through these double floor frames, hope to complete the tomorrow

[kevin547n]

Good evening everyone
day 17 double floor frames are in and fixed, well about 95% rest will be done when joining the sections
]also started forward section tank tops

[Martin (Admin)]

 
             

[Howard]

Nice to see am not the only mad one making this,
              Regards Howard

[kevin547n]

good evening everyone

day 25 of the build

all of the double bottom floor frames are now in
over the easter weekend i hope to have the floor on with the exception of the viewing area (exposed) as part of the cutaway
today the miships section was added to the stern, now the project is about 5 foot long
the forward is slowly being built up, i have done this for a reason, i will soone be able to change from one part of the build to another to avoid repetitive jobs

[Capt Podge]

Hiya Kevin, just looking in on your progress and finding it quite fascinating.
Thanks for the updates.


Ray.

[kevin547n]

Hiya Kevin, just looking in on your progress and finding it quite fascinating.
Thanks for the updates.


Ray.

Thank you Ray

[kevin547n]

good evening everyone


i am am now on day 30 of the build, and today got the engine room bulkheads made up



[size=78%]

[/size]shaft tunnel[size=78%]




[/size]

[Martin (Admin)]

What happened here, it looks bent.... or is it just an optical illusion?

[kevin547n]

What happened here, it looks bent.... or is it just an optical illusion?

def an optical illusion, the engine room deck level decreases aft

[kevin547n]

What happened here, it looks bent.... or is it just an optical illusion?

def an optical illusion, the engine room deck level decreases aft

[Howard]

Martin if you looks at my SD14 build you will see the engine room floor rises up just in front and back down at the stern Kevin  you doing a great job mate a health problem has put mine on hold at the moment but hope to restart some time later this year Kevin I'll think you may catch with me by then.
           Regards  Howard.

[kevin547n]

Martin if you looks at my SD14 build you will see the engine room floor rises up just in front and back down at the stern Kevin  you doing a great job mate a health problem has put mine on hold at the moment but hope to restart some time later this year Kevin I'll think you may catch with me by then.
           Regards  Howard.

Howard its not a race,
But i would like to complete this within the year
i have other projects to get on with and new ones to start
i would like to do the linkspan 1/96 Norland, but to fund that i may, just may sell the 1/200 Titanic and mk1 KA set, then again i may just buy it anyway, and pick up at the Warwick show in November, if its on

[Howard]

Hi Kevin,
 think i have been doing mine for 7years now off and on LinkSpan guy is a great bloke and him and his dad made a SD14  years ago and has been a great help to me.
 Regards Howard.

[SteamboatPhil]

Hi Kevin, Warwick is definitely on and Carl from Linkspan is a mine of information, loving the build, Howard how is yours coming along 

[kevin547n]

Good evening everyone
thank you for comments and like
day 34 box girders and crocodile clips
the after peak has been fitted and stands up quite well on its own, however the more support i can give it the safer it is
the box girders are now starting to line it all up, no glue has been used since the last post
i have no intention of passing the forward engine room bulkhead for a while with intentions of staying with the after part of the build

 

[kevin547n]

Hi Kevin,
 think i have been doing mine for 7years now off and on LinkSpan guy is a great bloke and him and his dad made a SD14  years ago and has been a great help to me.
 Regards Howard.

a linkspan would certainly go with my collection

[kevin547n]

Hi Kevin, Warwick is definitely on and Carl from Linkspan is a mine of information, loving the build, Howard how is yours coming along 

it will perhaps be my only day out alone this year, no dog and no wife