Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Working Vessels => Topic started by: hama on September 30, 2008, 10:02:16 am
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Hello everybody!
Thought I'd show some pics of my current build, Smit London by Billing Boats. It's a slow build, started a year ago but will eventually get there I guess. About the kit; First laser cut kit for me, I love the nice cuts and that some of the boring cutting out stuff is already done. When I decided on this kit I thought I'd go for the "special edition" version of Smit London. My advice to you, don't do that. It was a little bit more expensive than the Smit Rotterdam for no reason as far as I can see. A different box and a small wooden ball for a Sat com dome is all the difference I can spot. The instructions are a huge dissapointment, I've built two other Billing kits many years ago and had hoped for them to improve. One side of written instructions for this big kit is a little lame I think. BUT, the kit and material is great I think, and it's not meant for beginners anyway so with a little experience and help from fellow forum members it shouldn't be a problem. And the finished model should hopefully be as impressive as the original vessel. I've built the hull and epoxied inside and outside with glassfibre. This was the first time for me and I was a bit nervous about it. Read all the threads I could find on the subject and then just did it one evening. Very messy but the end result was very nice and gave me a very strong hull. For a second I felt like leaving it as shiny and glossy as it was when I had epoxied her, she looked like a wooden yacht! I've fitted my homemade bowthruster and right now I'm fitting propshafts, shaftbearings, korts and rudders. More updates to come hopefully.
Cheers!
Hama.
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Looks great! O0
I know what you mean about another very high cost kit but the "instructions are a huge disappointment."
I think I'll start a topic about that.....
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Thanks Martin!
I think iīll check in on your thread, see you there!
Hama.
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This looks great! Ive always liked these boats.
Does anyone know where to obtain plans for scratch building them?
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Hello Garabaldy!
Check out your own thread in "Model boating". Martin has fixed a link to SMB who does fibreglass hulls in 1:50, 1:75, 1:200 and plans as well! Good luck!
Hama.
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Cheers hama,
I have already emaild SMB to see how much the shipping would cost but im guessing it will be too much which is why im on the look out for plans. A future project, i need to finish my fireboat first.....
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Hi again!
Been working on the "busy end" for a while now. Starting to feel satisfied with it even though it ain't 100%. Modified the korts a little bit as they felt a little soft and week. Made a ring of brass rod that I epoxied to the kort. Seems to work. Enlarged the rudders a bit as the plans show two different sizes. Will also modify them to look a little more scale like. Thats it for now!
Hama.
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Oh boy, did have to dig deep to find this thread! At last some progress, hopefully it won't be a year till next update. :embarrassed:
Hama
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shes looking excellent. cant wait to see her in the wet stuff :-)
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Thanks Gary, seeing her in the water is what keeps me going. Just got to have her sailing this spring. ( fingers crossed )
Hama.
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I intend to install ventilation in this boat, here is the bigger fan. I think I'll have two smaller ones as well. The big one will evacuate and the smaller ones will supply air from the funnels to the aft and the bow section. I might do the other way around as thats probably how it's done on the real thing, I'll decide later.
Have a nice weekend!
Hama.
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Dry fitted the mast to see how it looks. Off to work now so no building for a few days.
Hama
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Hi Hama,
she is looking great, I really like the wood work. By the way, you do the same I'm doing, using fans for cooling down ESC's and so on :-)) :-)) :-)).
Regards
Wilhelm
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Finally got some paint on her! It's not perfect, but it's something to work with. Perhaps I'll rub her down a bit later on and put clear cote over it all? Anyway, for the time being I'm so happy that I've passed this hurdle.
All the best!
Hama.
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OK, Ive done some more painting of decks and so. After the hull paint I rubbed it down slightly and added a clear cote. Now I wonder if I rushed the paint job to much as it hasn't cured properly. If I put a nail on the surface it leaves a mark that later vanish, it's been at least two weeks since I painted her. I used acrylic spray cans. Will it cure eventually or do I have to remove it all? <:(
All the best!
Hama.
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Well finally an update!
The paint didn't cure even after months of wait, so I had to start over. Rubbed it down and let it cure, washed it off and on with new paint. Problems again! On the few millimeters where the bottom paint overlapped the hull paint it reacted. Had to rub the waterline down and on with new paint. Looks OK but not perfect. Also made a mistake when I raised the waterline two millimeters all around instead of marking the new line, on the sloping sides in the stern it looks strange. After putting the decals on I put on a thin clear cote. Then the decals reacted to the paint and got bubbles on them. If that wasn't enough I noticed today that after two weeks, the clearcote on parts of the stern has a reaction. But I can fix that later, not a big deal. The painting of this boat has been a nightmare, and I don't really know why. I've never had these problems before. After all, I'm quite pleased anyway and finally I'm able to move on. Have been busy installing motors and all the RC-equipment. Even had a first bathtub test. All systems worked!
All the best!
Hama
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looks good to me Hama. These things are sent to try us. Nice work. She looks really powerful.
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.............................. Martin has fixed a link to SMB who does fibreglass hulls in 1:50, 1:75, 1:200 and plans as well!
Hama.
Hi, just wondering if SMB might be useful for me but I cant find out who SMB is. Can you give me the full name please ? :-) :-)
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Hi Folks!
S.M.B. you may find on this url:
http://users.skynet.be/fb746886/index-2.html
Greetings from good old germany
Michael
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Hi Folks!
S.M.B. you may find on this url:
http://users.skynet.be/fb746886/index-2.html
Greetings from good old germany
Michael
Thank you very much. Danke sehr viel. Bitte schoen. :-)
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Hi!
One thing I found out during bathtub tests was that I really need other props. Going forward will probably be OK but astern! I guess she will have the stopping distance of a supertanker! I know there are beautiful brass kort props, I'll see if I can raise funds for them as they are a bit expensive. Perhaps get some better plastic ones in the meantime.
Sorted the fixed ballast today, used tire weights. Sea trials are getting closer, only need a extension cable for the steering servo.
All the best!
Hama.
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Hello!
Done some more painting, and painting again! And started on the masts. Bought new props as well, these have a little more blade area than the original ones. The hub was too long so I cut it and put some plastic to the end. Still waiting for first sea trials to test everything including the different propellers.
All the best!
Hama
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Finally got her in the water!
Testruns where mostly a success. Tried both original and new propellers. The pictures are with original props at full speed and thats alright, problem is going astern as it doesn't happen much. With the new props the top speed was a bit too much but that doesn't matter. Maneuverability was much better. Problem was that I thought the motors got too warm on both propellers, I'll probably have to meassure the load on full speed. How do I do that with a amp meter? I choose the SPEED 500E motors buy chance, if anyone could recommend a motor in the same size with low rev and high torque please let me know. There was a small wateringress at the rudders, either from the rudder shafts as they are very close to the waterline, or from the hatch that hasn't been watersealed yet. All in all a good seatrial I think.
Hope you enjoy!
Hama
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Hello!
Took her out for a spin today. I really enjoy sailing this model! I've never had such a big and heavy model before and I love the way she handles, and she runs very silent as well with the direct drive system. I mentioned earlier that the motors were running a bit hot, I bought some lovely fans that are mounted directly on the motors two on each and it works great. You don't really need to go full throttle as I did on the pictures as it is a little bit over the top, but it's good to have the speed if needed. She cruises very nicely with a good wake on just half throttle. As you can see on the pictures I have a little extra buoyancy allowed for all the fittings that are to be mounted.
Hope you enjoy!
Hama
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Hello again!
Got my computer running again after very bad virus, PC-repair, watch out!
Work on the boat proceeds, had to do my third repaint of the upper hull so the decals are gone. This time I used humbrol paint with brush and then a clearcote with spray can, and fingers crossed it seems to work. Also got the waterline fixed and she now has a belt. Adding things every week now and she's beginning to look like a boat. The railings are a bit thin and soft so I think I'll use another method on the remaining and perhaps redo the ones I've made.
Took her for a sail today and it was a bit more wind than I expected, so the lifeboats that aren't glued on yet had to stay ashore!! What a cynical shipping company.
Have a nice weekend!
Hama.
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Hi
I love the boat. It looks great on the water.
thanks mark
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Hi Hama that looks great ,she looks good in the water to.
regards John B
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Hello!
Thanks to both of you!
I'm really enjoying the build now.
All the best.
Hama
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I have just started to build the Rotterdam. (Very slowly). %) I could use as much info as possible, being a bit inexperienced, but I bought this kit second-hand and therefore it was a bit less than shop price. :-))
If I wanted to tow with this model, do I need to mod the recommendations for motors,props etc etc and I presume to reinforce the towing point ? {:-{
Any and all help will be useful. Cheers guys. :-) :-)
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Hello!
Took her out on this lovely day. There ain't that much left to do on her, some more fittings and details and if I could find new name decals of course. In fact, I've started to look for my next project.
All the best!
Hama
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One of the best models i have seen on here for along time :) Nice build :)
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Thanks, I really appreciate it. But you know the pictures hide all the imperfections, even so I am satisfied with her and thats what counts at the end of the day, isn't it?
Have a nice weekend!
Hama
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Took her out today, choppy seas and a strong wind. Lost all lifesaving equipment overboard, all the lifebuoys where stowed away in the lifeboats and they both went overboard and sank!! Silly me that hadn't secured them permanently yet. Just placed an order with my favourite supplier Cornwall modelboats. Anyway, she is a tugboat built for the high seas and she will be tested for it. Good thing is that there where no water at all inside. She also handled strong gusts of wind on the side. Sorry no pics as it was a bit rainy as well. New tests will follow.
All the best!
Hama.
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Hello
all the lifebuoys where stowed away in the lifeboats and they both went overboard and sank!! Silly me that hadn't secured them permanently yet
Mostly silly : the lifebuoys and lifeboats didn't float and just sank :o
It's just for humour, for the rest your Smit London is nice and well built. May I say that your work on the nozzle is right and I'm just surprized you kept the three bladed plastic propellers.
Xtian
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Hello Xtian!
Thanks for your nice comments, feels good coming from a pro like you. ;)
About the propellers, I would love to buy those nice brass kort props but I don't want to spend the money just yet. The props I use are a lot better than the original ones and they do the job.
Last year there was a big story here about lifebuoys on some vessels that had been filled up with rainwater and consequently where too heavy and nearly sank in the water, so quite realistic there! The lifeboats probably would have made it if they only had landed right side up in the water.
All the best!
Hama.
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Hello!
Took her out in a northerly gale today, temp just below zero so it was really cold to take pictures so the quality isn't the best. There was ice on the forward mast and its support lines when I took her back to shore, that's kind of cool I think. I can definitely say that she has past her seaworthiness trials with top marks.
Hope you enjoy!
All the best.
Hama
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Hello
Humm, the life boats are missing ? oups sorry for this sick humour :embarrassed:
You were not so affraid during that sea trial with gale ? Nice pics for our eyes :-)) I love this ocean tug.
Xtian
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Hello X-tian!
Lets say that Iīm happy that I donīt have to work on this boat myself, putting the lifes of the crew on the line. The new lifesaving equipment is delivered but not installed, and if you look closely you will see that there are no doors to the bridge either! >:-o
Have a nice weekend!
Hama
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That's an amazing job that you've made of her Hama,and you know that she can handle virtually anything,well done. :-)) :-))
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Thanks!
Yes she is really capable, looking forward to testing her again.
All the best!
Hama
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Hello!
I have now fitted doors to the the boat, the crew is very happy about this new addition. The wheelhousedoors actually open! Have also added some lifebuoys and the "catwalks" around the bridgewindows among other things.
Hama
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...maneuvering into position.
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Just steaming around to show off!
All the best!
Hama
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This looks great! Ive always liked these boats.
Does anyone know where to obtain plans for scratch building them?
Maybe not quite plans for scratch building, but as I myself always have been inspired by these deap sea salvage tugs
I was most excited when I found the GA plan for download of the Dutch Kustwacht emergency tug vessel WAKER ex SMIT SINGAPORE on a website of the Kustwacht,
so that I reconstructed a hull model from this plan with the hull lofting program DELFTship (DS).
I posted the result in my thread here (http://www.rc-modellbau-schiffe.de/wbb2/thread.php?postid=280128#post280128) and later packaged it into a single archive together with the GA plan and my DS model of WAKER's ETV successor IEVOLI BLACK,
and made it available for download from here (http://www.rc-modellbau-schiffe.de/wbb2/filebase.php?fileid=274&lim=0).
Though my digital models are merely approximations and by no means authoritative they might aid in scratch building a model hull.
A prefabricated GRP hull of SMIT LONDON in 1:50 is also available from Steinhagen Modelltechnik (http://www.steinhagen-modelltechnik.de/htm/smit_london.htm).
But note, that my DS models have nothing in common with this hull and the available plans set from the IG Lloyd because I hadn't used that source when finding the lines.
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Hello
I was most excited when I found the GA plan for download of the Dutch Kustwacht emergency tug vessel WAKER ex SMIT SINGAPORE
I'm sure you know that info but you made a mistake, the Waker is ex-Smit Houston a smaller type 67 meters long than the bigger and more powerful 75 meters long London-Rotterdam and slighty different Singapore.
The Waker (ex-Smit Houston) was sister ship with the Chinese Hua Yan (ex Smit New York)
the Steinhagen Modelltechnik plan is a nice drawing to build a scratch model
Xtian
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Hello again!
Took her for a short sail today.
Done some work on her during the summer, new vent intakes on the back of the funnels for the engines and a new watertight hatch on the aft deck. Will post pictures of that later. Also decided to add working lights, despite that I didnīt plan do from the beginning. Would like to fix a working radar antenna as well.
All the best!
Hama
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looks great in the waves there :-))
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Hi Hama
she looks great breaking throught waves.
john
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Looks very smart indeed. O0 :-))
I must get a round tuit and start on building mine that has been on top of the wardrobe tool cabinet for too long now. :D :D
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Wow! Where did you find that seaway?
Good test for your "new watertight hatch" I think :)
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Thank you all!
She really is a "all weather boat" , and the watertight hatch is just that!
Hama
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Excellent build, Hama ..... well done :-))
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For those of you interested in some video footage of AHTS supply vessel models in a rough model sea habitat
this stream (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=5wnmhK3lK1I&NR=1) was shot in a German swimming bath where they have some kind of wave making device.
Though the artificial bath's swell may not quite be a Pierson-Moskowitz or JONSWAP or any of the other spectra (http://www.wikiwaves.org/Ocean-Wave_Spectra),
which they use in model testing in ocean engineering,I find the stream, especially those parts in slow-mo, quite impressive.
Here's the Making of (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRVIjw8hm1Y) the video, unfortunately only with German audio commentary.
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Thankīs Calypso!
Deadwood, great videos! Looked a lot warmer than when I took my pictures. Really like the slow motion parts, would like to do something like that myself sometime.
All the best to both of you.
Hama
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Hamma i am curious about how you did your waterproof hatch ?
reason im asking is i have the Rotterdam/London kit and will hopefully be starting it soon
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Hello!
Give me a day or two and I'll get some pictures here. Basically I made a plexi/perspex hatch with a rubber seal that is screwed down under the original hatchcover/deckhouse. The hatch over the rudders is also secured by screws and has a rubber seal.
All the best!
Hama
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cool idea and thx :-))
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Thank you for showing us. :-))
Very enjoyable to watch.
Ken
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Hello!
A picture of the hatch under the "winch house" on the aft deck. I stole the idea from someone here or another forum, donīt really remember. It works great, and itīs easy to check if there is something wrong below decks.
Also pictures of my lighting project, not finished yet, front toplight and some more decklights to ad.
All the best!
Hama
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have you changed the motors ?
going to look great when you get rest of lights fitted :-))
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Hello Stormbringer!
I have the same motors that I put in her from the beginning, Graupner 500E. They work great in my opinion and give more than enough speed. I felt they ran a little warm in the beginning so I put on some cooling fans, it worked great. I have a ventilation system that takes air from back of the funnels, over the motors by the motor fans, and out through the big vent on the back of the superstructure with the help of a big fan behind the vent grill. The motors run cold and there is no moist or humidity inside the boat after a run.
All the best!
Hama
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ahhh so that explains the diferance in looks between the motors in the earlier post and now :-))