Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Working Vessels => Topic started by: Roadrunner on March 07, 2011, 10:14:29 pm
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Normally i wouldn't post a build blog of this magnitude but seeing how this kit is so rare to come across i though it only fair to share this build with everyone.
I have been asked by a good club friend to build this boat knowing little about it, and have spent most of the day goggling info, with little success.
The only real information i have about this boat is what has been supplied via the website.
So here are the details of the boat herself.
S.Y. KOMET was constructed at Bremer Vulcan a.g. Vegesack 543 and launched on the 6-4-1911. (however the kit is named S.M.S Komet)
She was designed and built as a governor's yacht for Deutsche Neu Gunea (German New Guinea).
Komet was built of steel up to the boat deck, the wheelhouse was of Mahogany or steel and panelled in the same, Her GRT was 977 tons.
Her power was from twin steam boilers powering twin triple expansion engines to two screws with a H.P of 1400 giving a top speed of 13 knots. She carried a crew of 160 and was lightly armed with one 37 mm rapid fire cannon and one 8mm machine gun both on pedestal mountings. She was stationed in New Guinea as the German Governors yacht until 11-10-14. When she was taken as a war prize by the Australian navy and taken into service as a packet / patrol boat. She was armed with three 4” guns on pedestal mountings at that time.
She was then renamed H.M.A.S. UNA (one of a kind). After the war she was sold into service as the Pilot boat for the Port Phillip pilot service and renamed AKUNA. She was commissioned in to the R.A.N. as an examination vessel for Port Phillip. In 1943 she was retained until late in WW11.
She was still used as a standby vessel until 1954. She gave long service at this position with a legend for rolling on wet grass. The AKUNA was finally broken up in Melbourne in 1955.
When finished she should look like this...
(http://1.2.3.11/bmi/www.westbourne-model.co.uk/images/Model-Boats/Deans/komet4.jpg)
I would like to request some help with information/ photographs of this vessel if any are out there to aid with the build of this ship.
There is no real time deadline on the build, i have a feeling 6 months should be more then adequate to finish it however with any build time is subject to change depending on what crops up, and at present i have 4 other builds to contend with %% my 1:32 tug (which is has been ongoing for past 6 months now) the newly acquired motor boat from ebay, Graupner's Wiesel & another club members seaport tug conversion, think this lot should keep me busy for the next 2 years {-) {-) {-)
I have collected the kit this evening and must say its very impressive in parts, the model i was told is one of the first to come of the mold there is clearly some age there but i have checked over the GRP hull it is of quite a good quality, with only a few section that will need some work to tidy it up, but it is only a single layer of matting over the gel coat so i think some reinforcement with bulkheads will defiantly be needed, the model is totally upstarted, many many fittings /etched brass parts the attention to detail is incredible.
I will post some photos tomorrow evening when i get all the parts out and so you guys can see what you get for £550!
RR
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Contact Adrian at:-
FLOAT A BOAT, 48c Wantirna Road, Ringwood, VIC, Australia 3134
Phone: 03 9879 2227
Fax: 03 9720 4526
Email: info@floataboat.com.au
website: www.floataboat.com.au which has a downloadable plans catalogue.
He has produced 3 drawings of Akuna 1 and may well have further information.
As usual no commercial connection other than having very good service from them.
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Couldn't wait to do the photo's tomorrow so did them now while i had a few 5 Min's.
The Kit contains a lot of parts hence the big "bottom" box!
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01118Small.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01119Small.jpg)
Next up is the GRP hull, its 1150mm from transom to bow.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01120Small.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01121Small.jpg)
Now we have the fittings, etched brass parts including the running gear, prop shafts, props etc a lot of parts, over 300 alone on the etched brass and a further 200 or so in cast metal.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01124Small.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01123Small.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01122Small.jpg)
We also have printed decks for both levels (one deck sits on top of the gpr superstructure)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01126Small.jpg)
GRP cast Superstructure & vac formed funnels, along with many other vac formed parts, life boats etc also the printed planking for the wheel house, there are also a few sheets of printed styrene sheets for the remains of the superstructure.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01125Small.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01127Small.jpg)
Finally the motors as part of the running gear, two very nice geared motors.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01128Small.jpg)
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I have also uploaded some photo's i have of her when she was renamed H.M.A.S. UNA, funny enough there's more photo's of her as UNA then as either Komet or AKUNA.
These are all the photo's i have so anymore people can locate would be appreciated, many thanks to Brian also i have sent an email just have to wait for a response of further information he may be able to provide.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/300px-HMAS_Una_AWM_H11880Small.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/3893911605_3ed1684daaSmall.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/4472328847_a6461eb36c_zSmall.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/HMAS_Una_AWM_H11880Small.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/4633902434_cc64d650d2_zSmall.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/4473205900_1614fa4955_zSmall.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/4472446369_eaeb4a0dacSmall.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/4472392901_12fef395c1_oSmall.jpg)
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I will follow your construction with great interest, since as Akuna, she was a local icon, although much before my time in Melbourne.
One of our club members is building Akuna II and the number is just up to 4, but what a difference.
See the thread on FCB2 replacement for the Mersey class lifeboat.
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Thanks for your kind comments and encouragement Brian, this type of model is not normally my style, i tend to stick to tug boats, rag & stick, this one is going to be a bit of a chalenge for me, test all those skills i claim to have {-) my only regret at the end of this is that she will have to be returned to her owner, but i'll be sure to be there for the maiden voyage.
To be honest i have never felt so pumped up to do a model like this, i think im going to enjoy the next 6 months, and i hope everyone else does too!
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Well its started so no going back now! over the next few days i will be studying the instruction booklet & plan, the booklet is very extensive with over 60 pages of B&W printed text and photo's showing construction techniques.
Just to give the doubter out there that this kit i have is one of the first batch take a look at the front page of the instruction booklet.
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A fascinating project, Roadrunner. :-))
Looking forward to following the progress of this build!
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Here is a rather nice picture of her: http://www.seatheships.org.uk/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/22135/title/una/cat/522
A member of our group purchased this hull on its own and is far from impressed with the quality or the price he was expected to pay. As with all these kits it pays to measure thrice and cut once, even then I would leave an ample margin in case you have missed something.
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Thanks guys looking forward to this one, it will take me a few weeks to prepare the research material i require to do an outstanding job, in the mean time i have a small project to do while i collect so this thread will be slow progress until end of April.
Thanks for the photo Liverbudgie another one to my collection, it all helps believe me!
As with your friend and his experience with his hull, its unfortunate in his case that its not up to usual standard, this kit is 9 years old but yet in excellent condition as im sure you will all see. Being one of the first runs of the mold its likely this kit was highly scrutinized on quality before being sent out, i have checked everything over throughly today and i have found only a few parts that will require a bit of extra work to bring it up to good quality but yet again, cast white metal parts are not always perfect!
As for the price im not sure if £550 was the original price as it is today but i can understand along with everyone else when parting with such an extensive wad of cash you expect top quality and not something half assed.
This would be my first dean's marine kit so i have no basis to compare any other work they produce, but from what i can tell even given this kits age, it is of a quality i would be prepared to part with £550 and be very pleased with what i have received.
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Well its started no going back now!
Last few days have been quite interesting to say the least and to put it bluntly this kits causing me to work twice as hard to correct all the parts!
Yup the parts are really that bad, all the resin cast parts will need a ton or work to get rid of the defects and air holes in the castings, and the same for the white metal parts (bangs head against the deck)
Anyhow.. lets get started.
First up im throwing the work instructions out of the window until i hit the superstructure, frankly its very vague and honestly i'm tired of deciphering typos, and not being able to match up parts to the written instructions ( bangs head against the deck Again!)
Honestly its not that hard to work out how to put this thing together without the written plan, just more of a pain in my butt!
Im sure you guys are getting the idea that this kits ...umm... not the best quality ever put out there, i can only hope that its been improved on since this once came out of the mould. <*<
Ok enough yapping and moaning here's what i have done in the past week..
Starting at the stern of the boat at the moment, first up the easy task of drilling out the rudder post and fitting a 5mm brass tube for the rudder to work in.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01160.jpg)
Next up was to drill out the prop shaft holes, the A frame holes and the keel hole at the stern, the large hole in the stern was in filled with body filler to keep the boat water tight..
Now before anyone asks what was that hole for?, the answer is simple, the original props were quite large and the tips of the props used to slip gap instead of grinding up the hull, don't ask me why they didn't fit smaller props i have no idea!
I have also cleaned up the white metal A frames and glued in place along with fitting the prop shafts, which have not only been fitting in with P38 i have also glassed them as the hull is very flimsy and thin i doubt the hull would handle the the props and motors unless these sections were reinforced. I have also fitted a keel strip up the motor bulkhead.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01159.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01162.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01161.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01163.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01157.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01158.jpg)
Well that all I have done in the past few days, I'll update again soon once i get a bit further with the cleaning up of parts etc...
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No photo's today guys and gals, sorry, camera battery's are dead from the weekends sailing trip, but just an update on what work has been done since my last post,
Not a lot really... at this point in the build things slow down as many know due to the planning steps and construction of parts off the bench to continue with the build such as jigs and cleaning up parts, however the progress made has been vital, the battery tray and motor bulk head has been fitted into place using 4mm marine ply and currently the deck support beams are being held in place with 50 odd clamps while the glue dries! (photos tomorrow) the deck supports are becoming a long job as many parts been tapering to the hull shape to keep the deck flat to the edges of the hull so many dry fits before glueing commences and i still have the cross-members to construct and fit, the kit supplies a limited amount of strip wood for this part of construction and unfortunately the wood is not my usual material for such an important structural part, its 4mm balsa strip! Although the balsa will be strong enough once the deck is mounted in place with a hefty amount of wood glue, i would have preferred Obeche or ramin {:-{ but it should do the job, if not i will have time to look at reinforcement before it becomes to late.
At the same time as the deck supports being constructed the Bowsprit has also been constructed and tapered on the lathe from 6mm at the base to 4.2 at the tip to take the white metal Rings, which are part of the rigging arrangement. With the bowsprit in place this model goes from 5 1/2 foot to 6' with little effort. The bowsprit i have yet to decide on the fixer for it, whether it be fixed or removable. As this is a commissioned build i expect i will permanently mounted into the hull and construct a storage box for the whole model for transportation allowing for the model to be removed from the box with out damaging it during normal use and transportation, obviously if a collision happens little that can be done but remove the part and replace, so i may look into mounting the bowsprit in a brass tube with a split pin lock for easy removal for such accidents.
My next jobs are to construct the mounting point for the geared motors and a electronics mounting board, and some ballast compartments. once all these parts are done, it becomes a simple job of cleaning up the hull for painting and starting construction on the superstructure.
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Photo's as promised, the battery tray which is big enough to hold a 12v 7ah battery which will be the power source for the boat and the start of the deck frame work in construction.
The white coating on the wooden parts is simple gloss paint which will help protect the surface of the wood in conjunction with the sanding sealer.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01207.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01208.jpg)
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The quality of your kit was the same for the two I built, HMS Nubian and Solebay. For the money I think the quality is appalling. I would not recommend a Deans kit to anyone without lengthy words of warning. Be hopeful though the kit does come out OK in the end (well Nubian is not a very good sea boat), but this is in spite of Deans not because of them!
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I have to agree there i would be very hesitant to purchase a kit from dean's marines with my own cash given the state of the parts so far, you will see vastly more when i get to the fittings and fixtures later on. I am not fond of white metal fittings as it is but of all the kits i have done over the years these fittings are diabolical compared to others. My Tug build comes with over 200 white metal parts and its literally a case of sanding down the mould lines and the parts are good to go, these however need the air holes filled a lot of the detail is being obscured with the poor moulding, i can foresee my engraving bits for the dremel being worn out by the end of this.
Don't get me wrong this boat will be a beautiful example of an early period ship but surely a kit shouldn't be this frustrating to construct, through lack of care for a better word.
I suppose the month of not building her when i was doing a seaport tug conversion put me in good stead for finding out information and more detailed photo's of her which although on the hull is relatively useless, come the superstructure it will be a great aid.
One part on the hull that has sparked my curiosity is the so called 'wash ports' along the side of the hull, at first look its not clear how these wash ports would have worked being so far down the hull, i was under the impression that there would have been a drainage system on the outside of the deck which channelled water from the deck and out of the hull with out it pouring over the sides, infact what i have found out is how heavily armed she was for a yacht, these so called wash ports were in-fact gun apertures for cannons of a type (I have yet to find out the exact type of gun's that were in place) she also supports front and rear deck guns of an unknown calibre. Im not sure if these guns were fitted later when she was known as the Akuna or she was fitted with this weaponry during construction due to her placement or if the Germans knew there was a war brewing 4 years later. i will have to look further into this before fitting the gunnery to make sure the model is accurate as the Komet rather then the Akuna.
If anyone knows any thing about her armaments i would be interested to hear from you, please feel free to post on the thread or pm me.
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Today I have been finishing off the basic tapered bowsprit to a semi finished state ready for a painting, reason for that i have constructed the bowsprit so early on in the build is that as its is a detachable part for transportation I needed to created a sleeve to hold it in place which I cannot fit once the deck is down fully, oh and I was bored waiting for the glue to dry and didn't fancy doing the washing up this morning!
Well its gone something like this...
Take a 6mm dowel at 20cm length and tapered. The last 17.5 mm from 6mm diameter to 4.5 the 25mm that is not tapered is the part stuck in the hull in its sleeve.
Now after cleaning up the 2 white metal rings for the bowsprit I had to create 4 loops at the far end which will take the rigging, which is attached at 4 places one each side of the hull one up the mast and the bottom is attached bulkhead just under the bowsprit extension platform.
The loops were created out of 1mm brass rod a simple job of wrapping the brass around a 3mm tube and twisting of the end.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01209.jpg)
Then do the same to the other side to create a double loop with a 4mm flat in the centre, 2 of these are required to give me the 4 loops needed.
The two pieces of brass tube are to become the capping to hold the brass rings in place.
Now to put the parts together, I could have chosen to drill a set of holes in the bowsprit and looped the brass wire with out the need for my method but it leaves little adjustment later on. My method is simple, cut 2 grooves down the end of the mast at the smallest end.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01211.jpg)
Next slide the first of the brass rings into place, not glue yet as it will pull it forward to lock in the brass loops later...
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01213.jpg)
Then down one grove slide the first set of loops to meet the brass ring,
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01214.jpg)
Next slide the 2nd set of loops down the other groove,
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01215.jpg)
Next add the capping ring on the tip and compress together and add a drop of super-glue.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01216.jpg)
I finally snipped the end off and filled it with some epoxy putty and sanded flat to finish off the tip, job done!
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01219.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01217.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01218.jpg)
The bowsprit is fully detachable at this point just for the photo's it is in place to give you some idea of what it looks like.
More tomorrow when I will attempt to finish the deck support frames.
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A member of our model boat group here in N Z has built the kit but unfortunately he is holidaying in the U K for the next couple of months so I cant ask him for any tips. I do remember that he too was not very flattering about the quality of the fittings and he also found the model a little tender when sailing unless it was ballasted down to below the usual waterline. He also found some of the superstructure, mast etc was easily damaged. Never the less it is a lovely looking subject and it would be great to see one ballasted with a nice little steam plant! Cheers, Ian.
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No chance of a steam plant going in the model as its a commission piece he wants it electric driven so keeping to the plan so to speak.
Th stability of the model in the water will be one of those bath tests, i have serious doubts how she will sail with a bit of wind, so much sits above the water she will get blown over unless i can bring enough weight into her but yet i don't wish to to go below the true waterline {:-{ I will be adding 2 stability fins along the hull I'm thinking about 24" long 1/2" depth out of the hull, should do the job of keeping her stable although this is not on the build plan its something extra to add to ensure she sails without to much list or roll, watch out for that in a few days time.
I've not done much this morning only drilled out the port holes then had to give up as the wife is working today so i have to pick the kids up from school so little time for building until tomorrow now, such is life eh!
Mind you its given me enough time today to search up the material i need for my Type 22 Frigate build project (building the HMS Cumberland in 1:96th 60" long, either as winter project or spring next year)
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Instead of ruining the looks when out of the water with "Wings", at this point in time you could bond into the keel a couple of threaded bushes to attach an underslung counter balance for sailing. You could then use them for fastening the boat to a stand for land display.
Regards Ian.
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That's not a bad idea Ian, you know what they say 1lb of lead on the outside is worth 2lb on the inside! i will look into that method further, but the hull has the makings for the 'wing's in the gel coat which i can only assume the original has them? god knows really this kits a nightmare as it is so working out what it should and shouldn't have is ongoing research! if anything i may just build in some threaded collects for optional weight on the keel should sea trials not go as planned better at this point then once the hulls painted and finished!
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When I wrote underslung, I really meant on spacer rods, not close bolted to the keel. By suspending the weight further below the keel line, you don't have to increase the weight, you're increasing the length of the rolling couple.
Same system is used on "Scale" sailing ships.
Regards Ian
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If the superstructure grp mouldings are heavy you might like to consider using them as patterns and replacing them with balsa structures faced with thin ply which would reduce topweight considerably. When I built by Deans SY Medea I replaced the styrene main deck with ply at half the weight with no loss of strength.
Colin
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Nice point Colin but it ain't gonna happen, if i had to live with the model i would be more concerned but i don't so won't give myself extra headaches with re-building parts, the superstructure is not heavy its a single lay GRP 2 part cabin and a 1mm styrene ( needs cutting out) wheel house on the life boat deck, its going to be more of a 3.5 foot block section that will catch the wind I expect, i will most likely do a sea trial once the hull is to a finished, before painting state to see how she behaves and make changed to fix issues that crop up.
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Well I haven't posted in a few days with my progress so i'm going to catch up now before I forget what i have done.
Well the first thing i have done after my last post was to finish the Bowsprit to a finished state, painted etc, only thing missing is a bit of rope work on the tip, but thats a final detail to add last during the finishing stages of the entire build.
Bowsprit has been painted satin black, the rings and tip white, and sealed with a gloss coat.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01223.jpg)
To go with the bowsprit i came across a issue with reliability of attaching and detaching the bowsprit over time with the original white metal shackles that fit on the hulls sides and at the waterline. the parts are clearly not up to scratch and no where near strong enough to take a few years punishment so have perfected my skills in silver soldering and created 3 new ones from brass.
They are over size but a good 2mm in hight from the base but i will be locating them from the inside of the hull and creating a fake plate for the external so they look correct, reason for locating them inside the hull is purely for strength, making these parts very robust.
Well using 6mm brass strips cut to 10mm lengths and Silver soldered them together, then taken a file and shaped them (remeber there over size but won't look over size once mounted inside the hull).
You can see by the photo's the original white metal part to the new brass shackles.
Rough cut
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01221.jpg)
Finished outcome
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01222.jpg)
Next job after that was the clean up the rudder, its had a coat of primer to show up and bits i have missed, there are still a few bits to clean up but its now vastly better then originally moulded, i have also created a brass skeg to hold the base of the rudder using 6mm brass strip.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01230.jpg)
My next job was the fit in a motor mounting plate and motor mounts, Plate is 4mm ply, and the motor mounts are 38mm tool clamps (which are ideal for 555 - 600 size motors)
I have also finished the deck support frame work and drilled out all 82 Port holes to 8mm ready to take the 10mm brass portholes.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01227.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01225.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01224.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01226.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01229.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01228.jpg)
Only thing left to fit inside the hull is the rudder servo support tray and the electrical components (esc's etc) tray. once they are in place i will seal the hull and paint the insides black, as this will stop light shining through the hull ( as its quite thin) which will allow the port holes to be illuminated throughout the boat.
Then move onto the deck work (gluing and sealing the gaps)
Keep watch I think all that will be one big post rather then a few smaller ones.
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Hi Roadrunner
A nice looking build :-) I'm building the Dean's HMS Dreadnought and was also not very impressed with the fittings also they had simplified the superstructure and it doesn't look right or match the drawing in the anatomy of the ship book >>:-( So I'm building all the superstructure form scratch now :-)
Thanks Dave:)
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Good luck Dave with yours! The superstructure on this one is not quite right either, some of the windows and one of the doors are in the wrong place which will need re-locating, there is also one part of the rear cabin section that is totally wrong which i will have to re-build that section, i know why its wrong, as the build plans want me to cut notches in the section to fit in the base funnel but there really is no need as the base is covers by two huge vents either side so i have no idea why they hashed it up in the first place, and it can't be due to the section being removable to get access, once the lifeboat deck is glued to both parts you can't separate them. God only knows what they were smoking when they built this, but hell i want some i might actually get more work done! :D
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With mine I don't know if they ever looked at the plans of the real ship!!!!! :o
Or they were smoking something really strong LOL {-) {-)
The only trouble is the it cost £ 612 and that was 7 years ago.
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7 year build!? if I'm still doing this one in 7 months ( mind you i have dedicated 1 year to the project) I think someone's gotta shoot deans marines for making crap kits! surly by now people have complained about this quality issue they are knocking out?? my advice to anyone who's interested in buying a kit from them... think twice and then build one from scratch! cos I bet it will be half the construction time in the long run, and you will get value for money! >>:-(
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Hi Roadrunner
I like your idea with the tool clips. :-))
Bang goes the Deans advertising to support the site. <:(
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I like your idea with the tool clips. :-))
The tool clip idea is one of my fondest ideas /discoverers and a very simple and quick method for holding motors in place, also quick to get them out in reduced working space once the deck in on, im sure many here can say of the hassle it is trying to remove the screws from some mounts once the models finished, there are other methods, such as the body filler moulded mounts held with rubber bands, but in this case i went for a method that is simple to use, and won't cost a great deal of time or effort afterwards to do maintenance.
Bang goes the Deans advertising to support the site. <:(
I'm giving an Honest build log, which if it upsets deans marines then they only have themselves to blame and should make more effort in there quality control department.
By the statements of a few others just in this log, i'm not the only one who finds the price of these models for the quality received very poor indeed!
Some of these kits cost a small fortune and you would expect better quality parts for your cash wouldn't you?
These kits do make beautiful models no doubt about it, but the amount of extra work or re-construction needed to get them to that state is the skill of the modeller rather then the skill of the manufacture, when really, people buy kits to have a nice model that is 'straightforward' to build and not a nightmare!
Deans marine are free to post a comment if they like, I welcome there opinion on there quality or an explanation why they feel what they produce is good enough.
Oh and I also would like to know why some kit manufactures think its acceptable to put 'cast white metal props' in there kits instead of supplying plastic or brass ones?! everyone knows white metal sucks and as a prop .... pfft waste of material and time!
Sorry for the long moan but the truth sometimes needs stating to these company's!
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Why do you think I prefer to scratch build? ok2
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I'd also like to hear Dean's excuses for such poor quality. Compare this with the quality of Sirmar fittings! Deans should have bought out Sirmar for the tooling and expertise, its a shame that Sirmar that went to the wall as they are missed.
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Come on chaps, play nicely for heavens sake!
Forums like this are being ruined by members who like nothing better than moaning about boat manufacturers and slagging off their products >>:-( I for one have no interest in following this thread if this continues....
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Forums like this are here to voice the opinions of the people who buy these products, good or bad, its the biggest customer review on the planet, what your not intrested that you may waste hundreds of pounds on a product that you have to remake most of the parts, when you could have saved a small fortune starting from scratch in the first place?
Believe me i don't buy anything with out checking the customer reviews first!
You don't have to like my opinions or others, but they are ours to state, and for you to respect them even if you don't agree!
Im giving an honest log with all the trial and tribulations. And what i write on my blog is up to me as long as it valid and does not violate the terms of the forum.
I for one have no interest in following this thread if this continues....
If thats the way you feel then no loss on my account, jog on matie, but im sure i can save a few head & heartaches for future builders :-))
As far as im concerned that should be the end of this little spat on my blog tyvm... <*<
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Hi, I will be watching this build with interest as I have built this model and was very happy with it, may be some things may not be to the best of standard but you will have to spend on more items and time to get it to your satisfaction. when I show the Komet people do not know What it is so really getting it to look like the real thing is not such a needed thing as long as you are happy with it. There was a picture in model boats magazine of my Komet in the January 2011 issue at the Alfold show.
With regards sailing her yes she does lean :o when the wind is blowing and I was thinking of fitting a detachable keel,
I have lead shot for ballast as deep into the hull as possible and for power two 6 volt lead batteries very heavy model.
I would like to thank you for the pictures of her and I can see that the Komet had ratlines which the plans do not show so still some work to do. :-))
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Thanks Stuart, yes i saw the model in the jan 2011 it was the Portsmouth mbc Stand, is a very nice model, you can see the work thats gone into it even being such a small photo.
Im not to worried about the state of the parts as they will all get cleaned up and some as you see already re-built, its just so frustrating to have to spend all that time fiddling around with parts that could have been avoided. Never mind im sure my bad mood will pass once i get some sleep {-)
I have quite a few more photo's that are not on the forum if your interested please send me a pm with your email i will be happy to send them to you, but if you also have any photos i may not have i would be interested in acquiring yours it all helps as you well know! its easier to make alterations sooner rather then later, i have found the plans to be quite inaccurate in some places which is why im glad i stood back for the first month and spent time looking up photo's and information about her rather then rushing in and start head banging later!
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Come on chaps, play nicely for heavens sake!
Forums like this are being ruined by members who like nothing better than moaning about boat manufacturers and slagging off their products >>:-( I for one have no interest in following this thread if this continues....
What is different about the comments on here as opposed to say a poor kit Review in a Magazine.
I for one value the commets and experiences of all builders whether they are positive or negative the main point is that they be accurate, after all a spade is still a spade.
Regrettably these days with no constructive feedback producers/manufactures can't improve on their product as we don't voice our opinions/experiences.
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What is different about the comments on here as opposed to say a poor kit Review in a Magazine.
I for one value the commets and experiences of all builders whether they are positive or negative the main point is that they be accurate, after all a spade is still a spade.
Regrettably these days with no constructive feedback producers/manufactures can't improve on their product as we don't voice our opinions/experiences.
Thanks RaaArty i have to agree with you, no feed back then no improvements its up to us as consumers to let the issues be known for corrections to take place, i don't like whining about issues but im not the only one to have experienced issues like this with kits and its certainly worth telling the truth in these matters, not everyone has the experiences to fix the problems that crop up sometimes, with these kits so to avoid disappointment its easier to say this is what's wrong, this is how it was corrected, if they are not able to do that then they either do the kit to the best of there ability's and live with it, or not buy it until they have the skills to do the job properly or to a better standard, which ever they wish to obtain.
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Rather than ranting and moaning on here to other modellers, isn't it far better to mention any issues to the manufacturer directly? I'm all for progress with regards to improving kits, but mentioning of faults on forums such as this only encourages a free for all gang up! I for one have found Dean's Marine to be extremely helpful and hugely informative on any matters relating to their kits.
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Ron Dean is a Forum member so he probably gets more honest feed back this way
Customer complaints can get smoothed over (or ignored) before anyone in top
management gets to know of a problem.
Ned
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Rather than ranting and moaning on here to other modellers, isn't it far better to mention any issues to the manufacturer directly? I'm all for progress with regards to improving kits, but mentioning of faults on forums such as this only encourages a free for all gang up! I for one have found Dean's Marine to be extremely helpful and hugely informative on any matters relating to their kits.
In Short NO, where will that get me? simple answer no where, the odds of receiving replacement parts that are of better quality are slim to none given that they will be out of the same tooling so I'm still stuck with the original problem. The manufacture are not likely to spend money on replacing the tooling they have at cost.
Then i have the hassle of all the phone calls, possible issues with waiting for parts i need.
At the end of the day I have the ability's to fix the issues I have found, so its far easier to just fix them rather then wasting my time getting the supplier to fix them, as I'm not going to see any benefits as i won't buy a kit from them after this, trust me on that.
I'm not posting my blog to 'mollycoddle' the manufactures by saying ''oh the kits is of good quality, the fittings need a little bit of work to clean up bla bla bla'' frankly because its not,
I'ld rather not endorse sale's for them based on my ability's to make there kit look good, if they want more sales, simply fix the issues that I and many others point out to them and if it has to be through a public forum then so be it, complaints over a phone can be as Netleyned Says 'Ignored'.
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Well said, Roadrunner.
I had a similar gripe about the Deans MHS Amethyst kit that I built. The finished model looks good, but could have looked so much better if the original parts and instructions had been of better quality (and all there).
Unfortunately I don't have the skills to remake complex or detailed parts in order to cover up the inadequacy of the manufacture, so I'm stuck with something that's not quite right. I shan't be recommending or buying another Deans kit, which is a shame, as I was really looking forward to building some of their extensive range.
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I have to agree with Spook & Roadrunner.
I have similar problems with my Slipway 'AZIZ'. Unfortunately, due to health issues I am/was not able to complain. The last time I did I spent 4 days in hospital!
The best I can say is that the only decent parts are the etched brass fittings & that the only reason there are so many outstanding models out there, is due entirely to the skills of the modellers.
I, for one, do not think I will never buy another kit. They are all grossly overpriced. When you add together the cost of materials plus a couple of hours labour, they are a rip off.
I shall only scratch build from plans in future.
Regards Al
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I wont comment on my experience with deans kits but as it has been opened up to kits in general I have recently read a build of a Martin Howe's and baylis kit in which the builder did not have a good thing to say about a single part in it and over about 40 pages of a build called it for everything he even disliked the prop I think and all the fittings, but mainly that there where not enough instructions, well a full sized plan and 30 pages of step by step plus a load of colour A4 pictures is more than most people put in kits, so there is no pleasing some people I think they expect model boats to fit together like there Airfix models did when they where young.
me I found nothing wrong with any of the MHB kits (except price)
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well a full sized plan and 30 pages of step by step plus a load of colour A4 pictures is more than most people put in kits, so there is no pleasing some people I think they expect model boats to fit together like there Airfix models did when they where young.
me I found nothing wrong with any of the MHB kits (except price)
The kit is supposed to supply two plans, side profile and top in full size. I only have the top plan, so I have to guess where the majority of things go! The 40 page manual is so full of typo's spelling mistakes, and errors in parts, dimension and materials to use I have now designated it to the toilet as extra paper just in case i run out. No pleasing some eh!
But thanks guys for your support im not pleased to hear that many of you have the same issues with these kits but im glad im not alone in these matters, hopfully we can call this kit moaning to a close (for now) and move on a bit with the build, mind you i say a bit cos i will most likely start moaning again shortly :}
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Well a little update on progress this week, not a great deal to be honest, having been busy with the kids since the wife has just changed jobs so its a bit up and down in our house till it settles.
But I have taken a few photos of some part to show the quality that's being knocked out, some are not so bad others are awful.
The Prop... what's the point!?
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01281640x480.jpg)
The cowls are pretty bad lots of flashing of the moulding, and a lot of air gaps which will need filling, even the vents faces are pitted or have chunks taken out all around.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01283640x480.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01282640x480.jpg)
The life boat arms are just as bad a lot of flashing around the, which will need serious cleaning up many are bend out of shape which is not to big a deal but for something that was secured in a flat case shows the lack of care when packing them up! I think I may re-make them from brass as they are fitted to the top lifeboat deck and run through to touch the main deck, as the whole superstructure is removable I feel it prudent to make them stronger to withstand the punishment they may come under.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01280640x480.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01279640x480.jpg)
Finally...The white metal rudder linkage.... Unusable and a waste of time in construction.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01274640x480.jpg)
So instead i bent some 6mm strip brass into a U shape with a long arm, two nuts and a bolt to lock to the rudder post and a drop of glue just to make sure it does not give.. there are other methods for a rudder arm but this one has always served me well in the past.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01276640x480.jpg)
Then I mounted the servo pretty simple job.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01277640x480.jpg)
Ok for those who like videos ... I'm going to attempt to get this one working.... bare with me this forum hates my photos and videos normally! (well i fiddled with it for quite some time trying to get the vid to work in the forum .. not having any of it , anyone know how to do that?)
So here's a link to the vid of the rudder working if anyone interested.http://youtu.be/se7-Uikb9mc (http://youtu.be/se7-Uikb9mc)
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Evening lad's been a bit busy today building the Anchor Windlass, forgot to take a photo though {:-{ never mind something to do tomorrow.
I have a few more photo's of the Original Komet for you tonight for those who love the prosperity & history of ships.
The first is of her coming into port just after being captured by the Australian.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/4633677870_8e1ddcce58.jpg)
The second apparently was taken when she was being unloaded after being captured from the Germans in 1914 at an Australian port.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/300px-HMAS_Una1_AWM_H11880.jpg)
Now im unsure if the descriptions of the photo's is accurate but being so little info out there i will have to take what i read as fact until corrected. So appoligys there if the facts are not right after all we are talking 98 years ago now.
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I've located some more history of the komet over the past few days, so i will C&P the story as its not written by me. Should keep some of you busy for 20 mins or so {-)
The capture of the Komet: Neville Threlfall
(Published in Una Voce, March 2004)
In the second of Dick Doyle’s interesting articles about the Witu Islands (Una Voce, September 2003), he raises the subject of the German naval vessel SMS Komet (not Comet) and whether she was towed back to Germany during World War 1. The answer is No, as the vessel was captured by the Australians a few weeks after German New Guinea’s Acting Governor surrendered to the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force. The story of her movements after the outbreak of the war, and of her capture, are told in both volumes IX and X of the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918, The Royal Australian Navy by AW Jose and The Australians at Rabaul by SS Mackenzie.
The Komet was not built as a naval vessel, and was classed as a yacht of 977 tons displacement, serving as the administrative vessel within German New Guinea. When war broke out on 4 August 1914 Acting Governor Haber was using the Komet to visit settlements on the mainland of New Guinea (Kaiser Wilhelmsland). News of the war was received by the Komet’s wireless; Haber hurried back to Rabaul and landed at Matupit on 14 August. Australian warships had already entered Simpson Harbour on a brief raid, so the Komet was sent away at once, to a bay she had used as an anchorage before, on the north coast of New Britain west of the Willaumez Peninsula. This bay her crew had unofficially named ‘Komethafen’. For a few days she dodged about between Komethafen, the Witu Islands and points on the northwest coast of New Britain, then came back to Massawa Bay on the north coast of the Gazelle Peninsula and was commissioned into the German Navy. From there she went north to Angaur in the Palau Islands (part of Germany’s Micronesian possessions), but later came south, calling at Durour Island and at Peterhaven in the Witu’s before hiding again in Komethafen on 4 October.
Meanwhile the commander of the ANMEF, Colonel Holmes, was anxious to seize the Komet, as under the surrender terms of 17 September all property of the German administration was to come under his control. But Haber insisted that as the Komet had been commissioned into the German Navy, she was no longer the property of the colonial government, and he did not know where she was. A British trader, Stephen Whiteman, a long-term resident of German New Guinea, knew from his contacts with the New Guineans that the missing vessel often used Komethafen as an anchorage, and told Holmes that she would probably be found there. A smaller German government vessel, the Nusa, which had been seized at Kavieng, was hastily fitted with a naval 12-pounder gun and sent to Komethafen with a detachment of soldiers aboard. They took Whiteman as an interpreter, and a Japanese shipowner, Komine, who knew the area, also went with them.
By 10 October 1914 the Nusa was near Komethafen, and learned from local villagers that Komet was indeed at anchor there. At dawn next morning the Nusa steamed into the bay, taking the Komet’s crew completely by surprise. Her captain was halfway through his morning shave when the leaders of the Australian expedition boarded his ship! So the Komet was captured without a shot being fired; escorted to Rabaul by the Nusa, she was there commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy as HMAS Una. After a refit at Garden Island naval Dockyard in Sydney Harbour, she served the Australian administrators of German New Guinea for the rest of the war.
The Komet story: Ken Humphreys
Dick Doyle mentioned the German gunboat Komet in his September 2003 article on Witu. Her history during and after 1914 is of some interest. The Komet was a 1438 ton (cf Bulolo 6267t) steam yacht delivered in August 1911 to the Governor of German New Guinea. She replaced the Seestern which had disappeared in June 1909 when returning to Herbertshohe after maintenance in Brisbane.
On 20 July 1914 Acting Governor Dr Haber departed Rabaul on the Komet for Morobe where a station inspection and a short patrol was planned. At the time the OIC Morobe was Hans Klink of Klinki Pine fame. Haber disembarked at Morobe on the 22nd and the Komet was sent to Madang calling at Finschhafen mission enroute to pick up any outward mail. At Madang the Komet would also collect mail for Finschhafen and Morobe that was expected off the Austral-Japan Line Coblenz which had departed Sydney on 25 July with ETA Madang of 4 August. The Coblenz duly arrived at 7am on the 4th. Then on the night of the 5th August prior to 8.50pm the Komet wireless watch started to pick up Morse fragments of telegrams being repeatedly broadcast from Nauru. There were two telegrams that came through loud and clear commencing at 9.10pm:
OK OK GOVERNMENT No. 1
PLANET RABAUL – NAURU – FOR GOVERNOR ENGLAND 4 AUGUST WAR DECLARED
DISTRICT OFFICE KBN (Nauru call sign)
The Planet was the Naval survey vessel working in Simpsonhafen but Nauru did not know that the New Guinea Bita Paka wireless had been receiving since mid July so was able to receive the telegrams. Bita Paka was not able to transmit until 8 August at a weak 8kw which caused Yap to instruct the operators to repeat all words three times. The second telegram was:
GOVERNMENT No. 2
FROM BERLIN NEWS NEWS FOR GOVERNOR RABAUL NAURU NAURU GOVERNMENT No. 2/14 WAR WAR WITH ENGLAND FRANCE RUSSIA CONFIRMED TELEGRAM END OF TELEGRAM
CENTRAL KBN
As it turned out Port Moresby VIG wireless did not learn of the war until 7 August. During the next few days while returning to Morobe the Komet ran long wireless watches monitoring the frantic coded messages between Yap and the East Asia Squadron commandeered by Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee. However care was still taken to jot down Sydney copra prices broadcast to Port Moresby via Townsville VIT.
After collecting Dr Haber at Morobe the Komet arrived Matupit at 3.45am on the 14th where she loaded 15 tons of coal at Hernsheims, then headed for Komethafen which was not in the Witu/French Islands but in Eleonara Bay sited between Wilson and Rudiger Points, just west of the Willaumez Peninsula. Colonel Holmes of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF) which was to occupy Rabaul on 12 September thought Komethafen was Tawanakus Bay but that was well to the east of the Willaumez Peninsula near Open Bay. Having arrived at Komethafen on 15 August the Komet laid low until the 27th when she steamed for Witu then Augaur where she coaled the mailboat Prinz Eitel Frederick, now converted to an Auxiliary Cruiser. The Komet bunker had been topped up on the 19th with 250 tons off the Neu Guinea Kompagnie 450t Siar. Then the Komet went on to Palau, then down to Western Island west of Manus for some unknown reason, and home to Komethafen on 4 October.
At dawn on 11 October ANMEF troops on board the 64t steam pinnace Nusa captured the Komet without a shot being fired. It is recorded that the Komet crew were completely surprised, but surely the sound of the Nusa's wood fired engine would have been heard well before she came upon the Komet. The Komet crew consisted of Captain Moeller, five German officers and 52 New Guinea seamen. Moeller was married to the daughter of Lt-General Wylde of the British Army who was visiting Rabaul when war broke out: thus arguably the sole British General to attain the status of a paroled POW in WW1, though only for five weeks. Wouldn’t he have some stories when he returned to the regimental mess!
The Komet departed Rabaul on 17 October for Sydney where she was refitted and armed then commissioned on 17 November as the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) sloop HMAS Una. Surprisingly her 280 ton bunker capacity was not enlarged in the refit. She served in the RAN until paid off on 23 August 1919, but was re-commissioned on 27 April 1920 to serve as the official yacht for the inspection of the Australian fleet in Port Philip Bay by the Prince of Wales. Paid off again on 30 June 1920 she was mothballed in Sydney. On 27 January 1925 she was sold to Captain Rose of the Williamstown Pilot Office and renamed Akuna. She remained in the pilot service until 1953: subsequent fate unknown.
A footnote to the Komet story is that on 12 May 1915 Colonel J. Paton of ANMEF HQ Staff was court-martialled in Sydney on a charge of looting cutlery from the Komet. He admitted taking the items in a belief he had a right to mementoes. The court found him not guilty and he was honourably acquitted, a verdict that displeased WM (Billy) Hughes, the Federal Attorney-General. The incident did not affect Paton’s career as he ended the war as Major General Paton. One other footnote of interest is the fate of the German Kaiser’s yacht Hohenzollern, illustrated on the colonial postage stamps from around 1900. The last information heard was that it was a gambling den in international waters off the American eastern seaboard around 1930?
The German Yacht Komet: Robin Hyde
Following up Dick Doyle’s query in the last issue of Una Voce (Sept. 2003, No. 3, p. 33), Dick recounted that the German gunboat Comet (more usually, Komet) was hidden at Witu Island at the start of WW I, and that he had been told it was subsequently towed back to Germany during the War. He asked for further details as, he noted later, he found that hard to believe.
The wartime history of the small ship (977 tons) is partly told in Chapter 8, ‘The capture of the Komet’, in MacKenzie, S. S. (1934). The Australians at Rabaul: The Capture and Administration of the German Possessions in the Southern Pacific. Volume X Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918. Sydney, Angus and Robertson, pp. 127-137. The Komet was in fact the German Governor’s new administrative yacht that managed to evade the Australian fleet that headed to Rabaul in early August 1914. In September, from the Pelew Islands in Micronesia, the Komet headed for Peterhaven on Witu Island, where it remained between at least 29 September and 4 October 1914. (The Komet’s movements between July-October 1914 are apparently described more fully in Vol. IX of the Official History, Chapter 4). It then crossed to the northern coast of West New Britain, and hid just west of Talasea.
After news of the Komet’s presence reached Rabaul, the armed yacht Nusa (two guns, a 3-pounder, and a 12 pounder), under Commdr J.M.Jackson, with a small infantry force plus machine-gun under Lt-Col Paton, was directed to search for and capture the Komet. The Komet was taken by surprise and surrendered on 11 October near Talasea. An account on the Paton website describes Paton boarding "the Komet brandishing a revolver and took the ship by surprise, finding the captain shaving in his cabin. The entire crew of 57 then surrendered to Paton and the ship was taken to Rabaul and then Sydney as a prize." It also reports that Paton and other officers were subsequently court martialled, but acquitted, for souveniring items from the Komet!
MacKenzie cites Jackson’s own account for the major role played by Komine (Isokichi), a leading Japanese businessman resident in Rabaul, in the search for and capture of the Komet. For a more detailed account, from Komine’s perspective, readers should consult the most interesting paper by Hiromitsu Iwamoto (1996. “The impact of World War I on Japanese settlers in Papua New Guinea, 1914-1918”. South Pacific Study, 16(2), 143-174). According to a note to the excellent photograph of the Komet included in MacKenzie’s account (there is also a photograph of her in Frigates, Photofile No. 6), the ship was subsequently armed and commissioned as HMAS Una and stationed in New Guinea waters. At the end of 1918 the Una was sent to Darwin after a "rebellion" against Administrator Gilruth.
Following the war, the Una was apparently sold into service as the pilot boat for the Port Phillip pilot service (renamed as the Akuna), and gave long service at this position with a "legend for rolling on wet grass"(?): she was finally broken up in Melbourne in 1955. However the source of the latter information (which sells model kits of the original ship, and includes technical details), also includes some other undocumented information about possible periods in Sydney and England. This however seems unlikely since the anchor of the Komet is now a memorial on the lawn of the foreshore reserve, Weroona Parade, at Queenscliff, Barwon, in Victoria. According to the official description (Victorian Memorials Database, Region Barwon, Record 30):
The anchor of the German yacht Komet set at an angle in a concrete slab with a signboard attached which reads: 'Borough of Queenscliffe. This anchor was forged in Hamburg in 1911 for the German New Guinea Administrator's yacht Komet. The yacht was captured in New Guinea by Australian forces in 1914 to become H.M.A.S. Una - the Port Phillip Pilot Service acquired the vessel in 1925 and renamed her Akuna. She saw service in Victoria from 1925 to 1954. Her wheel is installed in Wyuna, donated by the Port Phillip Pilot Service'.
While this summary leaves a few loose ends, it doesn’t appear that the Komet was towed back to Germany during the War.
[/i]
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Ok boys less of the history now onwards with the build!
Yesterday i finished the windlass, and taken photo's today just to reduce handling time waiting for the lacquer to dry.
Took me quite some time to get the parts to go together needless to say the parts took a lot of work to get right, the other issue i had is that some parts were missing so i was reduced to 'make it up', the finished outcome of the windlass is not a perfect scale replica but it looks the part better now then it originally did, i have also weathered it some what, as this is a part of the ship that is constantly working being part of the anchors ( since its a hydraulic anchor windlass) having a perfect paint finish is total unrealistic, this is a working model after all! well i hope you like the outcome as much as i do.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01285640x480.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01284640x480.jpg)
Now before anyone asks why I'm doing some things ass about face in regards to deck fittings, i have little choice, before i can do the decking I have to make up all the deck fittings so I can fit the new planked deck around these item's.
Now next up on my list of things for the deck is the front 'Hatch' this hatch sits between the windlass and the cargo/sail winch. I have decided as this section of the boat is very open its unlikely that a lot of damage can occur so have decided to make this hatch the on/off switch compartment for the lights and main power. This will reduce the need to remove the superstructure for such a simple operation as turning the model on!
Ok so the hatch cover first.. well what a fricking pigs ear this turned out to be.. the hatch is wayyyyy oversize for the deck hole that needed cutting, so simple fit was to pack out the hatch to have a tight fit over the combing. I also had to clean up the hatch fittings as they were in a very poor state, i have also fitted two brass handles on the hatches.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01288640x480.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01289640x480.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01290640x480.jpg)
Next up is the combing it fits over, this combing is actually a box in which the switches sit, so a bit of box construction first. ( oh and two mini on/off switched dry fitted to check finger movement , plenty of room so got lucky with that one)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01286640x480.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01287640x480.jpg)
And the hatch fitting on the combing as a dry fit before mounting it in the boat.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01292640x480.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01293640x480.jpg)
Now to fit it to the deck, the Stanly blade is holding the box in place while I take the photo, clamps would have obscured the work.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01294640x480.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01295640x480.jpg)
Once glue had dried I gave it a few coats of satin black paint just to tidy it up , this also makes life easier later when i put in the white labels for what each switch will do, white against black really stands out.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01298640x480.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01299640x480.jpg)
And finally what the hatch will look like once in place full time, Hatch is not painted yet i will do that at the same time I paint the hull. you can also see where the Anchor windlass sits and that i will have to create a new inlay around it as the original black deck lines do not match up, either sure or angled its a pretty hashed up print, Hence my reason to plank it properly.
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01297640x480.jpg)
(http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b446/Tow_Chief/DSC01296640x480.jpg)
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its unlikely that a lot of damage can occur so have decided to make this hatch the on/off switch compartment for the lights and main power. This will reduce the need to remove the superstructure for such a simple operation as turning the model on!
Food for thought :-)) :-))
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''What on earth are you talking about with regards to cast metal rudder linkage??? These are clearly dinghy davits''
Please reply without quoting huge posts please. :-)
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Quote
''What on earth are you talking about with regards to cast metal rudder linkage??? These are clearly dinghy davits''
Uh Oh................look out..............................INCOMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
C
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I did have a little look at what this was on about. I couldn't find it. Not that bothered really. Just know it's a good model.
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Hi Ali - yes, coming along nicely....RR is doing a grand job.
I think the post I was on about was a little confused with the pictures.......got his davits and pivots mixed up...
C
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Na i didn't, I said the description above each photo, although i did forget the name of the Davits and called them life boat arm's but hey can't get it right all the time!
Just to clear up post 50 i asked martin to edit the post as it was a quote of the photo section which took up so much space for such a tiny comment written. normally i don;t have an issues with quotes with photo's but for a 1 line comment just a waste of space in the log it makes it look so untidy.
Moderated. :kiss:
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Not you RR - was refering to Voyager..... {-) {-)
C
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lol
thanks bud :-)) must be my age playing up now!
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Well i have to share the joke... I asked for the post to be removed and edited.. but Martin thought it prudent to then PM me the post instead to trash my mail box! Martin you crack me up! %%
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Sounds like you are having a night of it!!!!!!!!!!!!
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RR,
It's OK, for us who are down under, the photo description were in the right place appreciate the thought keep at it.
:-)) :-)) :-)) %) %) %) {-) {-) {-)
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¡dn ʎɐʍ ʇɥƃıɹ ǝɥʇ ƃuıǝq dlǝɥ llıʍ ǝƃɐssǝɯ sıɥʇ ʎllnɟǝdoɥ `ʇxǝʇ ʎɯ pɐǝɹ oʇ ǝlqɐ ƃuıǝq ʇou ɥʇnos dǝǝp ǝɥʇ ı sʎnƃ noʎ ʇnoqɐ pǝıɹɹoʍ sɐʍ ı ɹǝuunƃʎʇɹɐɐɐɹ sʞuɐɥʇ
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¡dn ʎɐʍ ʇɥƃıɹ ǝɥʇ ƃuıǝq dlǝɥ llıʍ ǝƃɐssǝɯ sıɥʇ ʎllnɟǝdoɥ `ʇxǝʇ ʎɯ pɐǝɹ oʇ ǝlqɐ ƃuıǝq ʇou ɥʇnos dǝǝp ǝɥʇ ı sʎnƃ noʎ ʇnoqɐ pǝıɹɹoʍ sɐʍ ı ɹǝuunƃʎʇɹɐɐɐɹ sʞuɐɥʇ
O0 O0 O0 {-) {-) {-) %% %% %%
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My view on my titchy iPod was somewhat distorted, so hence why I edited it once I realised my error!
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Na i didn't, I said the description above each photo, poor voyager in his age has mis read my post, Although i did forget the name of the Davits and called them life boat arm's but hey can't get it right all the time!
Just to clear up post 50 i asked martin to edit the post as it was a quote of the photo section which took up so much space for such a tiny comment written. normally i don;t have an issues with quotes with photo's but for a 1 line comment just a waste of space in the log it makes it look so untidy.
That's an age discriminating comment for which you need to apologise!!!!!
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That's an age discriminating comment for which you need to apologise!!!!!
lol don't hold ya breath for it %%
Ok guys I've put the build on hold for a few weeks while i wait for some parts to arrive, being some clear casting resin for the port hole's, the deck planking materials, and quite a few items for the rigging lines, blocks, pullys, turn buckles etc. ( which i'm having custom made for this by a friend)
Im at the point on the hull where i have to finish sticking on the remaining port holes, finish the cargo winches and clean up the hull with the dremel to high light some of the detail within the model such as the hull mouldings (which are ornate) Really until i get the parts i need, not a lot else i can do, so taking a break from the annoyance of it and going to continue with my tug as that project has seen 8 months of neglect and its supposed to be for the 2012 towing comps :((
I will update with a few odds and ends between now and re-starting. I hope not to keep you guys to long on the waiting time but keep watch, as once those parts arrive all hell is going to break loose!
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Hi Roadrunner
looking very nice I really like you switch idea and anchor winch! :-) :-)
Thanks Dave:)
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Thanks Dave much appreciated on the positive comments, I have to build this model baring in mind that the Owner of it is in his 70's and his hands are not what they used to be, ( why im building it in the first place) i want to keep the model as practical as possible with out loosing details that should be there, the front hatch containing the switch's is one of those modifications, the rear hatch i made up as a plug which cover's the rudder servo, and the rudder linkage can be adjusted by another plug which is actually the rudder wheel housing .
There are two central 'stair wells' that sit under the shelter deck which i will make one have a hinged door which will house the charging area so the battery should rarely have to be removed.
There is so much detail within the model regarding Stansion rails ( all 320 of them) the rigging for the masts ( one mast is fitted to the life boat deck not the main deck) it would take 20- 30 mins to de-rig the model just to remove the superstructure to do a job on the inside, my thinking has always been to reduce the superstructure being removed for mediocre jobs that can be avoided to avoid or reduce any damage that can occur.
I mean once the model is out of my hands i really have no say or choice on how its treated (although the owner is a fine scale modeller so understands the concerns of detail model damage) but i would like to think i have done enough to ensure the model stays in a top condition for quite a period of years with very little damage occurring through being 'man handled'
Obviously the model being struck by another boat poses a problem, but that can be resolved by pushing the "xxxxx" in the water {-) O0 O0
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%)Just found this site and read some of the comments re. kit quality and thought you might be interested in my experience with Deans Marine and Komet a couple of years ago. I have built a number of boats, larger and smaller than this, both scratch and kits from a number of manufacturers. I can honestly say that by comparison to anyone else this kit is appalling especially when you consider the cost. The drawings are totally inadequate information wise (apart from the fact that Deans say - don't leave them in sunlight, or they will fade - come on! its 2011 not 1950 - change the way you print them) I contacted 'Float a Boat' in Australia for a decent set when Komet was Akuna and their drawings are properly detailed and even show hull profiles, so you could make the hull yourself and scratch build it which would be easier than paying a furtune for the kit.
The instructions are photocopied sheets clipped together in one corner with so many errors that it is laughable. Some photos are out of focus. The box detailed length and breadth in German (why?) and was wrong anyway. The upper deck plywood had a knot hole in the middle of the planking nearly half an inch across and one of the funnel mouldings had a fault that also had to be replaced, how could quality control have missed that?
Puzzled by the unprofessional approach I contacted Deans to ask if I had received a preproduction kit by mistake as I couldn't imagine anyone actually selling something of such poor quality. No came back the answer, and if I found difficulty with the build it was probably that my skill level was not up to the standard needed for this kit!
Call me old fashioned if you will, but what happened to 'the customer is always right' logic. As a mug who had just paid them a shed load of money their arrogance just about topped off my frustration. Needless to say I will certainly never buy another of their kits and have passed on my experience to all our other model club members.
It actually took me a year to return to the model and carry on with it, many times I resisted the temptation to parcel it back to them as ' not fit for purpose' or 'not of merchantable quality' but in reality I hated the idea of heading down that road when who is to say what is acceptable in a kit. Chuck any old rubbish into a box and stick a fancy label on the front and off you go - no standards, little quality control, poor component identification, poor instructions, I could carry on but isn't it a shame that there are no quality standards, score out of ten, etc. to judge a kit before you buy it. Thankfully there are now websites like this around so with a little sideways research you can get other peoples views on the subject.
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What has happened to Roadrunner?
Just a 'Guest' now on this forum?
Does this mean that we will not hear / read of the successful conclusion to this kit build????????
Hope he is ok....
Carl
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Pm sent..
I closed the blog on the forum for my own reasons sorry to all that followed, as word spoken by a wise man ''Its always the few that spoil it for the many'' or was that star trek? %%
Anyhow people know where I am if they wish to contact me further...
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Think you'll find that was 'To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before' was the Star Trek memorable phraise!
Anyway...
These pics taken at Mayhem weekend at Wickstead park, I was told by the builder that she is completely built from the kit, motors and props as per kit, hull as kit, and no fins, keels, or other bits added.
The weather was terrible and quite a few sinkings over the weekend from what I was told, it did not effect this one at all on both days sailing, even with water running off the top of the bridge lol.
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And here's a couple more I've just found...
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I've more photos if anyone else needs them.
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Are plans available separately? I have just ordered the Yarta steam yacht hull from Kingston Mouldings which comes with a basic drawing but the Komet superstructure might be a nice alternative. Thanks, Ian.
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Very nice indeed. I fancy that kit myself but didn't think I'd get it past the accounts department.
Looks very good on the water.
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I agree - it does look lovely on the water. Deans kits look good when completed. It's such a shame we have to go through all that grief in order to get there.
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Hi Kiwimodeller
As mentioned above, the plans are available from Float a Boat in Melbourne.
Look up their web site and download the plans catalogue.
www.floataboat.com.au
She is there under Pilot Boats as the Akuna.
3 sheets of drawings which were $65 but may have gone up.
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Just checked, it is still the same price.
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Think you'll find that was 'To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before' was the Star Trek memorable phraise!
Anyway...
These pics taken at Mayhem weekend at Wickstead park, I was told by the builder that she is completely built from the kit, motors and props as per kit, hull as kit, and no fins, keels, or other bits added.
The weather was terrible and quite a few sinkings over the weekend from what I was told, it did not effect this one at all on both days sailing, even with water running off the top of the bridge lol.
Wow she look relly lovely on the water!!!!! :-))
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Dear Roadrunner:
Could you send pictures of S.M.S. Komet build? They have been removed form your posts. rescale@aol.com
Regards,
Robert
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At the risk of getting banned/shouted at/shot/what have you..........
Roadrunner no longer frequents this forum....
You can find him here : http://rcmb.forumotion.com/forum
Carl