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[Tim Logan]

I was wondering how difficult any of you, who are lifeboat experts,  think it would be to convert the Metcalf Alice Upjohn kit to a 37' Oakley such as the Valentine Wyndham-Quin (ON 985) (but ignoring the 6 inch difference in the real boat hull lengths)? I'm primarily wondering about changing the cabin and deck structures. I don't yet have any Oakley plans in my hand so I haven't had a chance to really sort that out for myself. The pictures I have seen seem to show the 37' Oakley hull with what looks like part of a Rother cabin on it - with the coxwain area exposed more to the elements. Do you think the cabin structures are similar enough that it would be worthwhile to take a step further and track down plans for the Oakley?

[JohnD]

Tim, I don't think this is really feasible. The two boats are too different. But Mouldeans (an offshoot of Deans Marine) do an Oakley hull in 1/12th. The best way to do the cabin would be to carve a mould out of solid then find someone with a vacforming machine. Get them to pop out a few in case you bollix the first one! Cutting the slots in the side of the completed moulding would be a bit of a pain and also a research problem as photos seem to show not all the Oakleys were the same. You'd have to source your fittings individually, though Tony Green Steam Models, who have the Rother class kit now, might make you a set if you asked very nicely. While the hulls and cabin tops are very different, many of the fittings were generic. Finally there's the old Frog 1/48 Oakley kit, variously sold by Novo, Alanger, etc, out of production but available s/h, which might be useful as a 3D guide to how it all goes together.

[Tim Logan]

Most helpful - thank you John!

[JohnD]

Glad that is helpful. There's a couple of books I should have mentioned, that is if you don't already have them. "RNLI Motor Lifeboats: A Century of Motor Life Boats" and "Oakley class lifeboats", both by Nicholas Leach. The first is an excellent general survey, the second is a detailed study of the Oakleys and Rothers. Both are well illustrated. There is also "Lifeboat Design and Development" by Eric Fry, which is an earlier general history, not as comprehensive as Leach, but goes right back to the very earliest pulling and sailing boats. Eric Fry was Second Coxswain of the Barry Dock lifeboat, the station being just down the road from where we live, so he had direct experience of the service. All three titles seem to be out of print but come up regularly on ebay uk, though prices vary widely. The week I bought my copy of Leach on the Oakleys, copies in good condition were listed between £75 and £6.99, so you can guess which one I bought.