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[ScottW]

An outfit here in US which I have used in past carries the brand but not any of the 1/72 scale boats at present, https://www.loyalhannadockyard.com/MFM%20HEADER.htm

[Alan52]

Hi Scott


The box it came in is quite small. 17” x 9” x 3” and there is hardly any weight to it. I would say 2 or 3lbs. Not sure what that would cost to post to America. I would have thought that the 20% vat we pay would be taken off of the price. Your stockiest in the US might be able to order it for you

[Alan52]

Hi Rich


Thanks for the tip. I have now cleaned it up as best I can and it doesn’t look to bad. I may decide to weather it later so that would sort it, but grateful for your help.


Thanks
Alan

[JimG]

Just as a bit of info the Slipway steam drifter is a bit of a mix between a drifter and trawler. It's missing the gallows so is not quite a trawler and importantly it is missing the steam capstan that was essential on a drifter for  pulling the nets ( with a total length of several hundred yards it would be very hard work to pull them by hand.) The steam capstans went back to the earlier sailing drifters as the only powered machine on board.

Jim

[ScottW]

I would say 2 or 3lbs. Not sure what that would cost to post to America.

Julie in Surrey and I have mailed various things including books and model trains both ways between Surrey and Missouri: it recently cost just over $40 to send a 2lb book first class from here to there in a minimum allowable dimension 4 inch deep box.

Modeling is currently being financed off Social Security Disability and unlike those people you hear gossip about I've not yet figured out how to get rich off that income.

I would absolutely love to build their 1/72 scale series, Puffer, Drifter, and somewhere I think I've seen a 1/72 tug, to go with my supposed 1/72 scale rubberband powered balsa submarines but there is only the one of me and health is a bit inconvenient.

Wish Mountfleet's product listings were more open and up-front about what boat is what scale, https://www.mountfleetmodels.co.uk/the-range/ A few boats give scale up front but all the rest are a rather irritating buried treasure adventure.

[Alan52]

Hi Scott


Sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately postage charges these days are astronomical when sending or buying from overseas. Have you thought about converting 1/72nd plastic kits. I had a Linburg tug years ago that I converted to RC. I have seen motor and prop shaft with propeller set up on Ali express for not a lot of money. I bought my servo off of EBay they are quite cheap.There is a lot of cheap stuff from china, but I know some of it gets a slating.


No one asks for disability and people that make comments are lucky they are not in the same situation.Not sure what your welfare system is like in America but you deserve some help.


Best wishes
Alan

[Alan52]

Hi Jim


Thanks for the information.


I shall do a bit more research before I build the kit.


Best wishes
Alan

[Alan52]

Progress a bit slow this week.

As before made a tray for the batteries to sit in and also added some ballast. Now I have made a removable tray to sit over the top of the battery tray.I have connected the steam module to the speed controller and these now sit on the tray along with the receiver. The Micro Steam Whistle arrived from the component shop today and this will be fitted to an Action Electronics P69 micro switcher. They told me that a new version of this is due in next week, so I have put one on order. Still not sure about fitting a smoke unit yet though.

Just fitted the main deck and waiting for everything to dry. Hopefully once that is dry, I can fit the rear deck.

[Alan52]

Decks fitted and hatch cover finished. Speaker installed under the hatch. Not to keen on the colour of the hatch cover, but it's the best I could find. Still a fare bit to do.

[ScottW]

Oh, just leave the hatch cover out in the sun and salt spray for a couple years and that will mellow the hue.

[Alan52]

Might just stain it

[Alan52]

Bit more progress today. Made the railings and connected everything up. Needed to tidy up the wiring as it's all over the place, but it all works
Also treated myself to a portable airbrush. Normally use rattle can's but thought I would give this a try. It's from a company called Neat & Handy. Based in America , but have a warehouse in the UK. The revues seem pretty good and for the amount of stuff I will use it for, it,s enough.

https://www.neatandhandy.com/products/premium-airbrush-for-hobbies-crafts?currency=GBP (Admin)

 

[Capt Podge]

Ooh, I like the look of that little gizmo - I'll have to have a look later - thank you for sharing. 


Ray.

[ScottW]

Ahh, airbrush brings to mind something I was going to say about that brand-new-bright hatch cover but decided to not say since it was unknown whether you had one.

If it were me wanting to tone down the hue ...

I'd mist it with a thinned coat of a light olive color so as to suggest sun fading/bleaching.
(Assuming such a thing is even possible in the rainy British Isles)

[Alan52]

Hi Scott




Yes that was one of the reason’s I bought it

[Phil22]

You're making another great job of this one too Alan! What type of coupling is that for the motor?
I'm also interested in that smoke unit  . Following along and looking forward to your next updates. =)

[Alan52]

Hi Phil


The coupling is as supplied with the kit. It’s rubber tube. The motor has (for solar power) written on it so I would suspect it’s used with some sort of garden object. However it runs very smoothly. I have just received the steam whistle from the Component shop. Just waiting for the switcher unit from them to make it switchable from the transmitter. Still not sure about the smoke unit Phil. Been looking for a while but most searches come up with the type fitted to OO scale trains. Someone mentioned that Grupner did one, but most require 6v and I am running 4.8v.


Waiting for some figures to arrive from Modelu, who put a post up recently. The boat looks to clean at the moment, so may get a dose of weathering when finished.


Thanks for your comments Phil. Much appreciated.


Alan

[Alan52]

Figures came today from Modelu.
They put a post on the forum introducing their range of figures. The figures are 3D printed and come attached to a frame, which is very easy to remove. They show the figures painted and unpainted on their site, which is helpful. Mine are 1/72nd scale, but their range goes from 1/148 right up to 1/10th scale. Mine cost £4.50, but price obviously goes on the scale size. Really impressed with the detail and quality.

[RST]

Hi Alan,

Build looks great.

I'm not knocking action electronics but their steam simulator outwardly looks quite large in a model this size -especially so if a separate switcher is needed also.  Mike at modelradioworkshop makes the little twin "toot" (puffer) steam whistle I have in my puffer.  The PCB is similar to a large postage stamp, probably about same weight of a 20p piece and fed straight from Rx channel using 4.8v compared to Action saying they need 6v+.

For smoke units it might have been me in PM:  I've used the little Seuthe 6v smoke units before (Gaugemaster / Robbe / Grupner re-brands etc).  I didn't have any problem running them off less than 6v (model railways dont run constant voltage either).  My little 14" TID type tug had one fitted in a funnel made, if a recall from an old solder tube.  I used the "popping" fluid rather than the contstant smoking one.  But for my 1:48 puffer now I'm all out of weight that far up abve waterline and the funnel was printed from PLA which has quite a low glass transition temperature so deforms much more easily with temperature so my spare unit is saved for some other rainy day.

Rich

[ScottW]

The figures are 3D printed and come attached to a frame, which is very easy to remove. ... Really impressed with the detail and quality.

3D printing has been a huge benefit to having figures for scale models. Other bits too, even entire model kits, but especially beneficial for having figures.
Some years back it was hilarious on a scale model tank and airplane forum to see members talking about whether 3D printing would ever be of use to the scale model hobby when miniatures gamers; sci-fi modelers; 1800s model railroaders; narrow-gauge model railroaders; garden railway modelers, had already been using it for a couple years.
Step outside the box and cross pollinate, mate, cross pollinate.

[Alan52]

Hi Rich




Thanks for the info on modelradioworkshop. Never heard of them, but will have a look. I am still not sure about the smoke unit. I think at this scale it’s probably not worth the bother. Modelboatbits do a very nice smoke unit for £35. This unit would be ideal, but to big for this scale boat.


I have loaded the boat with lead  tyre balance weights and it’s near the waterline, but may need a bit more. Action are bringing out a replacement micro switcher soon. Surprisingly there is still a fare bit of space still left in there.


Thanks again for the information.


Alan

[Alan52]

A bit more progress. Finished the rear steps and grab rails. Rear deck fittings attached and rear box and pips. I have weathered the deck and also the main hatch. It's toned down the deck quite a bit. Also assembled the winch. Just needs painting and fixing in place.








 

[ScottW]

And she keeps on coming together quite nicely. 

[Alan52]

Thanks Scott

Just starting to weather it down a bit. Every time I think its nearly there I find more stuff in the box

[ScottW]

Every time I think its nearly there I find more stuff in the box

Do ya think they might have inadvertently got some role playing gamer's 'box of holding'?