Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: dlancast on March 13, 2011, 01:03:47 am

Title: Newbie
Post by: dlancast on March 13, 2011, 01:03:47 am
Howdy Folks,  Just joined up.  I'm a long term modeler who has been away from the craft while playing with full size boats.  I just retired and am starting a "kit bash" build of a Tramp Steamer, using  Caldercraft's Milford Star.  This will be a static display model, replacing a 4ft schooner sitting on a wall between my living and family rooms.  Always have had a love for the Tramp Steamer look and decided the Milford Star would be a good base line to start with.  Planning on bringing in lots of detail, rust, figurenes, rigging, maybe lights, etc.  Appears this group of good folks has a wealth of knowledge, with some having built the Milford Star.  Just got the kit and have started grinding down the bulkworks extra on the hull.  I'm impressed with the hull and fittings, but instruciton manual is a bit glib.... but for what I'm doing, I'll be able to get by.  Looking forward to working with you'all.

best regards,

Dennis Lancaster
Title: Re: Newbie
Post by: DickyD on March 13, 2011, 03:59:01 am
Hi Dennis did you say instruction manual ? They must have improved the kit since I did mine.

Best of luck with the build and we want plenty of photos as you go.

By the way she is a trawler not a tramp steamer.

My build in case it might be helpful  http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=11732.0
Title: Re: Newbie
Post by: dlancast on March 13, 2011, 11:35:22 pm
Thank you for posting a reply to my intro.  I looked back on your earlier posts of the Milford Star build and just looking at the pictures answered a number of questions.  Awesome and beautiful workmanship sir.  Yes, I am aware that this is a trawler.  I feel that the hull will work nicely as a funky Tramp Steamer.  I have looked into what a Tramp Steamer is, the most typical for the period of the 20's and 30's is the 3 island type and the stern cabin/wheelhouse config. most popular being Venture from the newest King Kong movie.  Really, a Tramp Steamer seems to be whatever you want to make it.  I will be modifying this kit, raising the bullworks midship and at the stern.  Will hang the life boat on davits.  Plan to convert the main fish wells to a proper cargo hatch, install two lifting booms for port and Stbd and utilize that huge steam winch in a more foreward location to provide lifting power.  I plan to suspend a cargo net from one of the booms with a load of boxes and have the cargo hatch open on one side.  I was happy to see that you opened your scuppers, as I plan to do the same.  I am curious just how those swinging scupper hatches worked.. did they swing loose and open as the ship healed or where they manually opened as needed.  If docked, I would think they would be all closed.  Another question is deck camber, I see that the foredeck has camber and the main deck does not.  I will plan to add a touch of camber by bringing that in on the cross stiffeners.  Is your build completed and do you have more pictures?

Thank you again for sharing,  best regards.... Dennis
Title: Re: Newbie
Post by: DickyD on March 14, 2011, 12:12:38 am
Dennis I have used a Milford Star hull for a model of a tramp steamer, it worked out well.

My build.  http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=15465.0

Unfortunately a lot of the photos have gone missing. I still have the originals however so should you want to see them let me know.

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p8/DickyD_photos/Coastal%20Tramp%20Steamer/DSCF2729-Copy.jpg)
Title: Re: Newbie (Tramp Steamer build)
Post by: dlancast on March 14, 2011, 03:52:18 am
Riichard,  There ya go!  So, it does work.... I knew it.  Thanks for the info and pics.  I have planned to extend the bridge deck out to the width of the ship, I also planned to wood in the railing.  Had not considered a flying bridge level.  I only plan to raise the bullwarks at mid ship, then let it dip back down to normal, then bring it back up, hoping to give a hint of a 3 Island Tramp, minus the aft cargo section.  I'm building a static display model and plan to bring in weathering aspects, just fun things to look at.  Folks that come to visit love to look at my models and I sure enjoy building them.  My schooner is an old RC kit of the Emma C. Berry.  I sailed that one for a time and then turned it into static display.  At nearly 4ft, it makes for an impressive "pond" boat.  Boy, the talent on this forum is mind blowing.     Regards,  Dennis