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[gribeauval]

Whilst building the Whitehills lifeboat I was asked to build an early 20th century Scottish wooden steam drifter as well. This boat was owned by the client's family along with another drifter called Lustre Gem BF526. He has paintings of BF 526 but only one part photograph of BF 93 which is the reason he wants a model of the boat.

As people know I mainly build lifeboats so this project was to be new, uncharted territory for me! Plans, lines and pictures of several boats from the period were aqquired and scaled to 1/35th to suit the client. I also bought a copy of 'From tree to sea', the story of building a steam drifter from cutting down the trees to setting off to fish, and was 'hooked' on the boat  . I decided to follow the style of building in the book, with a few diversions to suit modelling concerns, and thus a new build started.

Picture 1: Craigneen crew in harbour with the clients grandfather holding the dog.
Picture 2: Building board prepared and frame positions marked.
Picture 3: Stern post and rudder support glued and pinned to the keel with suppport for propshaft.
Picture 4: Stem post and apron glued/pinned to the keel. 

[gribeauval]

The keel was trimmed to shape at the bows and then erected on the building board ensuring that it was both straight and vertical.

[boatmadman]

You have too much time on your hands - jealous!

Lots of Sottish drifter info here:

http://glennmci.brinkster.net/mcibb/mcibb.html

Ian

[DickyD]

Dont you just hate him Ian. He has you thinking he's struggling flat out with his lifeboat and RTR tug and all the time he has a steam drifter being made in his spare time.

[gribeauval]

You have too much time on your hands - jealous!

No just an abiliity to do more than one build at a time to stop me getting bored with any individual boat!!

Dont you just hate him Ian. He has you thinking he's struggling flat out with his lifeboat and RTR tug and all the time he has a steam drifter being made in his spare time

What's spare time ??  ???

[gribeauval]

All the frames were cut from 4mm ply and assembled at the correct stations, checking that they were vertical and at right angles to the keel. Longitudinal stiffeners were added between the frames to produce a rigid frame. The skeleton was then checked to ensure that the formers were all faired along their length.

[barryfoote]

So far so good.....Reminds me of building my HMS Blandford, except 18 yeras later and she still is not finished...

Can't wait to see more so post regularly...

Barry

[boatmadman]

Tell us something - how do you manage to cut plywood so neatly, without the outer ply skin fracturing?

Ian

[Billyruffian]

Just about perfect timing for me.  I am just finishing the Talacre as Footski can confirm as I have been pestering him for help and advice - which he has given without question and for which I thank him.

After Talacre I am giving steam drifter Formidable as go as a first pof scratch build and again as Ian can confirm I have been picking his brains and again all help given without hesitation.

This forum is a fantastic source of information and has some  fantastic people only too willing to offer help and advice.

Keep the picures coming and be prepared for some pm's 

[gribeauval]

Tell us something - how do you manage to cut plywood so neatly, without the outer ply skin fracturing?

Ian

Simple really, I use fine, good quality blades in the power fretsaw (picture 1) and my hand held jigsaw (picture 2), I cut just outside the marked line and then finish with my belt sander (picture 3) or drum sander in drill press (picture 4) to size. It's just as quick as trying to cut exactly to size and then having to replace a ruined part !!
 

[gribeauval]

As is my usual method I next moved on to plank the deck. This gives me a rigid hull and allows me to take the model off the build board to make hull planking easier. The coamings arouind the holes in the deck are fitted and the short sections of deck planks fitted with thin dark brown paper between to simulate the caulking.

[Billyruffian]

What timber are you using for the keel?  Can't tell if it is just camera shade but is the keel height made up from 2 pieces?

You may guess from my posts that I am a POF virgin so please excuse some of the dumb questions.

[DickyD]

Is this another static model Mike ?

[gribeauval]

What timber are you using for the keel?  Can't tell if it is just camera shade but is the keel height made up from 2 pieces?

You may guess from my posts that I am a POF virgin so please excuse some of the dumb questions.

No question is ever dumb, if you don't ask then never learn ! 

The keel is spruce section and yes it's laminated from sections as shown in the following sketch. The stem and stern are also laminated and pinned to the main keel spar.

[gribeauval]

Is this another static model Mike ?

Yes, static again, but with a few working features thrown in ! 

[gribeauval]

I have finished gluing the deck together and when it has had a day or so to harden it will be cut back to the correct shape and scraped down to remove the caulking that is sticking up between the planks.

[gribeauval]

I got fed up of scraping the deck/caulking smooth so I decided to start on one of the working features I intend to fit into the model, the steam winch. Also it will be easier to position the parts before planking the hull. 

The problem with this type of winch is that the steam engine to drive it is located on top of the winch barrel ! This means that the central portion remains stationary whilst the winding drum rotates.  :-\

After much thought the drum will be loose mounted on a spindle with the engine glued on top. Non-prototypically the drum will be rotated by a small pinion mounted through the deck from a low voltage motor. When the final clutter is added this should not be noticable.

http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/gribeauval/Craigneen/?action=view&current=Steamwinch01.flv

[gribeauval]

The steam capstan is now ready for fitting into the boat. The motor sub unit will be fitted now as when the hull is planked access will be removed to the section it fits in, the capstan barrel and engine will be refitted later.

[gribeauval]

I have finished levelling the deck and fitted the drive unit for the steam capstan. This has been changed to a modified servo to give a better slow scale speed, plus it's quieter!!
The gearing around the bottom will be disgused and enclosed within the capstan base later.  I can now get on with planking the hull !! 

http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/gribeauval/Craigneen/?action=view&current=Steamwinch02.flv

[barryfoote]

Gribeauval,

beautiful work...

Now that other boat that appears in photo....decking 1.....have I not seen it featured in an article somewhere recently? That is also superb.

Refresh my memory.....where did I see it?

Barry

[DickyD]

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8904.0

Whitehills Lifeboat Barry. Where have you been ?

[Bunkerbarge]

Barry, That's the Whitehills Lifeboat, see the build thread now in the Masterclass section.

[DickyD]

Barry, That's the Whitehills Lifeboat, see the build thread now in the Masterclass section.

Thats what I said 

[gribeauval]

Now children, no squabbling !!  This thread is for the steam drifter. 

[barryfoote]

Aha, got you this time Dickyd and Bunkerbargs!!!!! ......Whilst I accept that I have missed the masterclass....It was not there that I saw it........It was HERE......

http://www.modelshipbuilder.com/ebooks/msb-journal/msbjournal-april-2008.pdf

Mike has really done a superb job of it....racked with jealousy I am...

Barry