Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Model Boating => Topic started by: Ralfred on December 12, 2014, 12:45:52 pm
-
hi, just starting my first model for over 50 years {:-{ good old Airfix.
Haven't got a clue so you will have to give me a lot of leeway, as a kid I lived in Runcorn right on the Manchester ship canal, Grandad was a master on one of the canals workboats the MSC Gowy (bucket dredger).
Often when visiting him on the Gowy, a launch would be tied up next in the old key yard, having researched the interweb!! The launch I think was called the MSC Sprite, designated as the chairman's launch she was used as a limo on the canal (can't think of a better description).
I have found a drawing plan and an old picture of her being scrapped, looks like she was converted to a dive boat with ply wood covering the old cabin, a sad ending for a beautiful boat.
Using the plan I have started, here are some pix of the build so far, please remember I am a complete novice.
-
Sprite was one of 3, the others were MSC SYLPH, MSC SYRINX.
-
Hi Tailuk, yes thats correct, have tried to find more pictures of these but to no avail, there is a small amount of info on the net i.e. Builder and basic size but thats all, sorry about the very poor picture, will have to master how big the pictures can be.
-
Is that your build? Looking pretty good if it is!
-
Thanks for that, found a hull on fleabay nearly the right size and shape, managed to get a screen save off the net and with a set of dividers and a steel rule worked out the approx size of the cabins, a few mistakes but its my representation of the boat not a exact copy.
-
Hello Ralfred,
Welcome to the forum. :} You've certainly made a good start. Well done on your build ,so far
Cheers
Ken
-
funnily enough, I have after been scratch building for 50 years, gone back today to the equivalent of an airfix plastic kit.......a little Alanger model lifeboat, and enjoying it immensely.
your model looks great. neil.
-
Hi Ralfred, welcome.
That has the makings of a well proportioned
model.
Ned
-
Thanks for all the comments, it is tricky getting the scale right, couple of cabin sides ended up in the bin.
Have had a go at planking the deck with mixed results, the main planks are mahogany and the infill is med grade balsa, there lies the problem, looked great until I started to sand down, the balsa is way to soft and will tear up easily still in the end taking it very easy and 9 coats of clear varnish it looks good.
-
welcome to this great site, you have made a good start to your build. You will find that any questions you ask on here will receive a good response from the very knowledgable peeps how lurck here. the reason I gave up model boat building years ago was that sites like this didnt exsist and I was on my own, now with the advise readily available on here I feel cconfindent to start again. jenga
-
hello ral i was wondering if you had seen this. www.flickr.com/photos/39245032@N08/7574125932/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/39245032@N08/7574125932/) nice build you have there :-))
-
Thanks for the welcome Jenga, yes a great site with a plethora of knowledge to be had, building one off bikes was my hobby until it's a struggle to lift engines anymore, a mate who builds and sails model boats invited me for a look see and the bug bit, hope you start up again, thanks.
-
Hi Merseyferry, thanks for taking the trouble posting, yes that's ware I got the info and the drawing from, unfortunately you cannot download the drawing as it must be copyrite but I screen saved it and you can get a very poor quality greyscale print, out came to drawing pens and french curves and I redid the drawing sufficiently to get some scale sizes from, you have seen the drawing, is the model anything like drawing?
-
id say your doing great esp 1st build and without proper plans keep up good work :-)) :-)) :-))
-
ral.........if you do a deck like that again........use sycamore in between the mahogany.......similar colour to Balsa, and similar density and grain structure to Mahogany and will sand at the same rate, and the denseness of the grain will give a beautiful lustre to the varnish and the finish of the whole deck....Twig folly supplies it in most sizes. neil.
-
Hi Guys, MF thanks, much apreciated, Neil, thanks for the info, will use sycamore next time, in the end it turned out OK but it could have been a disaster just as easily.
-
For anyone who looks at the Flickr photo in Merseyferry's post (Reply #10), it's part of an interesting album - all sorts of fascinating items, from the Battle of the Falklands to plenty of present-day photos of assorted RNLI boats, and some models, too!
Tom
-
Main deck now glued into place, can start working on the hull fittings now
-
Just spent all afternoon cutting, rebaiting and fitting the deck runners, absolute nightmare >>:-(
-
Working on the stearing gear,
-
I'm making all the above deck steering gear, lights, bollards and sundries out of brass, how do I keep them looking good without having to clean them with brasso?
-
Will have to start using that spell check :embarrassed:
-
Hi
For my brass fittings I use Rustins metal lacquer.
-
Thanks for that Boat captain, I will get myself some of that. :-))
-
Been busy over Christmas, hull is 95% finished and will be by end of play today.
-
Hi,
I am well impressed that's great work for your first build, wish I could make things from brass I'm fine with wood and plastic but metal is another matter. Keep it going.
Cheers,
Peter. :-))
-
Thanks Fastfaz, I have worked on and off with metal for 45 years + and am a time served turner, I have my own benchtop lathe in the workshop, a little Chinese modellers lathe that's a great bit of kit, a lot of people knock these but they will do anything a general workshop center lathe will do only smaller.
Brass is great to work with, turns easily with a high finish.
Bit worried that I have overdone the brass but it is a reprisentation of the directors launch on the ship canal and as such would be a high finish boat.
-
I've a couple of questions I'm sure someone can answer.
The launch that this model is based on is the MSC Sprite, basically a river launch but would on occasion go out to the river Mersey bar. Would this type of launch have an anchor? The drawing I am using does not show one but should there be one?
As above the launch is named "Sprite" on the drawing and is designated with M.S.C. Would this be used on the boats stern or would it be something like M.V. Sprite?
Really need to tone down the deck fittings, the wife came in from work and said very nice! BUT it looks like a t***s handbag, very supportive! but as always quick with a reality check.
-
Hi Ralfred,
Your boat looks good, and should look fantastic when complete and on the water.
How I miss the days when my hands would let me do that sort of detail.
From your location details we may not be far from each other, so, if you have not as
yet water you can use you may be interested in paying us at Gresford Sailing Club
Model Boats at the Flash in Gresford a visit.
Let me know and I will pass on further details and make arrangement's for a visit.
Geoff Jones.
-
Evening Geoff, thanks for the kind offer, I will message you, yes its not easy and my hands are clumsy so I have to take time and care, I'm good with machines and fabricating parts but it still needs care to assemble. Looking around this site some of the builds are staggering in their complexity and beauty, my boat is not in the same league, there are some master model makers within the confines of this site, don't missunderstand I am please with my first build, but look on in awe at some of creations within.
-
Have started to work on the superstructure, temp blocks have been fastened into position to get the cabin height correct and the lower deck and rear cabin doors fitted. Could do with suggestions of what paint to use, I have obtained the Ral code for the hull and would like to match the colour in the superstructure sides with the roof black, I don't really want gloss, what would silk look like?
-
Hi,
You can spend a lot of money on paints! re gloss/satin finish I had some satin finish made up at Jewsons oil based the guy mixed it from a photo that I took with me of the real Tug the Foylegarth and the match and final finish was very good, I thinned the paint down with cellulose thinners and brush painted the superstructure two coats. Only snag is they mix paints in 1 litre cans but as I will use this paint on other tugs not a problem, as I remember it was approx. £18.50 for the litre. When you consider the cost of spray cans its a bargain. The Range sell good quality artists brushes (a must for a good finish) which I really rate. If you want a satin black finish for the cabin I would try sealing the ply first then 600 wet and dry followed by 1200 to remove any fibres/grain sticking up Halfords grey primer then their satin black, I have done this successfully on my tugs just don't try to get the paint on in one go. Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Peter. :-))
-
Thanks for that, had not thought of Jewson's and they have a local depot, with having the RAL code it should be a perfect match, have spent many years scratch building one off bikes, my painting skills are not too bad, allthough this might be a little more challenging than painting petrol tanks, frames and mudguards,
Will use an airbrush due to the size and detail needed, but your idea of Halfords satin black sound perfect
Using the technique you described a good finish can be obtained even using rattle cans, black is the hardest colour to spray as it shows up even the slightest blemish, albeit satin coat is more forgiving so will go for that.
Thanks again for your help Peter.
Cheers: Ralph.
-
Hi Ralph,
You are more than welcome, when I figure out how to post photo's I'll put some of my Tugs on the site. If you have a Leyland paints near to you they are even better I've been experimenting mixing my own colours and my Sun XX1 is being painted in them. The superstructure and wheelhouse have turned out nicely.
Cheers,
Peter.
-
Hi Peter,
Isn't Leyland paint the trade side of Johnson's? Yes there is a store in Chester only 5 miles from me, back to work tomorrow after the Christmas break, "Deep Joy" will give them a visit on my 4 off.
Are you painting you fleet in your own livery? or just you Sun XX1.
Thanks for the info Peter.
Cheers: Ralph.
-
Hi Ralph,
I am going to paint the Sun XX1 in my own colours and see how it turns out as to the Tid, Rosegarth and Norton Cross I think that I may well continue the theme. Only problem would be that the Lowgarth would then be different as it is painted in the original Rea colour scheme. It wouldn't be a major job to repaint the Lowgarth just changing the hull colour above the waterline, watch this space!
You would be more than welcome at our pond in Southport its on Rotten Row the other end (South) from where they hold the Garden show in Victoria Park. If you need any help or advice just get in touch.
Cheers,
Peter.
-
Hi Peter that sounds good, you never know I might take you up on that offer, on my 4 off now so will continue with the build, have decided to skin the superstructure in mahogany plank, then clear varnish it.
looking at an MSC survey launch picture I have found on the net, that seems to be how they were made, cannot remember in detail how she was constructed, its a long long time ago, will post some pictures as I go along.
Cheers: Ralph.
-
Planking the structure now finished, just a little bit of trimming to do then start the clear varnishing.
The brass fittings have now toned down so I will clear lacquer them at the same time.
Found a beautifully model at liverpoolmuseums.org.uk made by a local boat builder, a sales sample to take to prospective clients called the Sea Nymph, go to their web site and have a look.
-
The boats are looks very nice. :-)) :-)) :-))
-
Beautiful model - nice work Sir.
-
Thanks for the kind comments gents, I'm pleased with the build so far but made a big mistake picking mahogany for the deck and superstructure, doesn't scale down very well due to the large grain pattern and will not bend.
Still this is how we learn, by our mistakes. <*<
-
nice boat,i will make my boat this year
-
Thanks Pole, don't forget to keep us informed when you start :-))
-
Just an update, grab rails made and fitted to superstructure, cab has had 4 coats of varnish but needs at least 4 more, need to make a floodlight and horns for wheelhouse.
-
More pics
-
Very nice indeed, you mentioned an anchor earlier, this type of boat would most likely have had a small anchor for mooring in an estuary along with a couple of rond hooks for river bank mooring, but all of these would be stowed in a locker I doubt you would see them when not in use.
-
Thanks for that radiojoe,
Was not sure :-)) still got lots of bits and bobs to make, life rings, rope coils, roll down all weather doors for the wheelhouse and the superstructure still needs more coats of varnish.
-
9/10th complete, just a few mor pix
-
Very impressive
Barrie
-
Hi,
You have done a terrific job on the boat the finish looks superb well done. If she sails as well as hse looks you have cracked it.
Cheers, Peter. :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-))
-
Thanks Fastfaz,
Hope she sails well too, I'm pleased with the result.
Starting to plan the next one whilst I am waiting for the electronics's to arrive, another 1/12 launch but a bit bigger this time around 5'.
I love the old river cruisers and there is a build on another forum "The Lady Jane" she is just the type of boat I like, something like that will suit me, not sure but the plans may still be available, that will make it a bit easier I hope, this time I'm going for a complete scratch build hull and all.
-
All finish ready to sail.