Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Working Vessels => Topic started by: Tim B. on November 11, 2014, 02:59:23 pm
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Here's a kit that's been hanging around here for about a year, time to build it !
An Opduwer.
What is it ?:
“An opduwer or opdrukker is a small tug- or towboat that was used in the Low Countries ( Belgium and the Netherlands )to push barges on inland waterways. Opduwers were predominantly in use in the first half of the twentieth century. During that time the internal combustion engine got adapted for inland shipping. Earlier, barges were propelled either by sail or by towing from shore by horse or manpower. Fitting an engine and propeller to an existing barge was found cumbersome however. It was easier to construct a small tugboat and use this to propel the existing barge. Opduwers were built between about 1910 to 1940. A large number survive as pleasure craft.”
I got the kit through a friend in Holland who lives very close to the factory, a company called S.M.B.:
http://users.skynet.be/fb746886/smb/index-NL.html
The kit comes with a glass hull, deck, cabin and rear cockpit.
The hull comes with a pre-installed brass stuffing box liner designed to accommodate a 6.5mm stuffing box with 1mm left over to seal it in ( no fussy drilling and filing out the hole ).
The brass skeg, rudder tube and support are already in.
It aint gonna leak.
The glass work is Very nice, a few blemishes that can be easily overcome.
The upper bulwark limit is left to the buyer to measure and even out, that's was done yesterday.
The hull is taped off to protect it during the upcoming work..........
Project Manager II says:
Git Crackin !
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This is gonna be good! :-))
What is the puss cat's name?
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Great start :-)) .
Mark
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Martin, the Cat's name be Lola !
Mark, good to see a Mate from California here ~
I think there are several outfits that sell these kits, the SMB kit is 1:10, a bit over 20 inches LOA.
There is another place in Poland that sells one a bit bigger, ModelMast at 1:5th scale ( maybe a better choice ).
Picture #1 shows an early example ( open ), we see there are Still new one's being made.
These things must be heavy, they ride quite low in the water ~
Our subject in this build will be 100 years old.
Not sure on colors yet, that will be one of the fun parts.
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could paint it black &white after lola.....bill....
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Love the pilothouse - must make the engine fumes a little easier to take. Does take from the wonderful lines a bit.
Tim - where's the update >>:-(
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A paint update ....
Been very lucky on painting weather so advantage has been taken of it.
Got the hull cleaned up, integral brass skeg and rudder support correctly shaped.
This part is very well done, very strong and cast into the hull.
The stuffing box is in as well.
False panel lines and rivets were put on the hull to give it some detail.
Color choices have been interesting, the Folks that have these little Tugs like them multi - colored so there is a wide selection of combinations ~
Only the bottom of the hull is painted up to the rub rail.
An order of styrene shapes have been placed from Phil's Hobbies, should be here in a few days so work can begin on the cabin and deck.
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Nice! so how do you do the rivet and panel detail?
Phill
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Yes Tim - great rivets and the panel lines look good too.
Remarkable job.
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Thanks Mr. May !
Mr. Mermod, I've not got pictures of the creation of the panel lines and rivets, unfortunately the pictures I Did take were too high in density to be posted here ~
If I can find a way to reduce them I may be able to post.
To explain, the panel lines were made by putting two strips of tape on the hull side by side with the desired gap between them to show the panel line, 5 minute glue was applied between the strips of tape, the tape carefully and quickly yarded away to leave a thin line of epoxy ( the panel line ).
When all the lines are done and well set, I then apply tiny wee spots of the same epoxy with ( hopefully ) equal spacing to produce false rivets.
A bit fussy, but better than having a plain looking, featureless hull, Yes ?
Off we go then ~
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So, it seems I have found a way to reduce the density of some pictures that show the making of panel lines and rivets:
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A paint update:
Whew !
Just made it, rain is on the way ~
It's out of the ordinary, but it was Just right for paint today so a rush job was done to get yellow and brown done as well as rivets on the outer bulwarks ( the yellow was done yesterday ).
Pure luck.
The shade of brown was chosen to go with the other colors, several of which are yet to come ( topside ).
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Certainly came out very well... A masking nightmare. 8)
Cheers
ken
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An update !
Servo and stuffing box in, deck on and painted, rudder work complete ...
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another absolute cracker in the making tim......you are a master of weathering and detailing.....................lovely job. neil.
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A few more pictures ...
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Tim, I see that you used MTN paint which is "MTN 94" paint from Montana which is geared towards "street art". How do you like it ?
After bankrupting myself on Duplicolor Platinum spray cans (they gave decent-to-good results when used properly AND with the right "cap"), I've got a few Kobra paint cans. Also "street art" stuff.
I'm still struggling a bit(should be matt but I ended up with some gloss) but I probably have to adjust to the new caps - or reuse older caps. And at 3.20EUR a can fooling around isn't very expensive ...
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Hello My Friend, I like the Montana paint Quite a lot ~
I am fortunate to be near a store called "Blick Art", this is a national chain here in the USA that caters to artists ~
I got this bunch of paint at a 1/2 off sidewalk sale, I bought them out !
Montana Gold has Many Many colours to choose from.
Even at full price, it's worth it to have the Just shade you want on a model you spend a lot of time and money on anyway.
That company sells many different caps for different applications, super fine mist to a near solid stream.
I bought a "grab bag" of caps so I have a wide selection to choose from.
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More good paint luck, the fog broke and we have 34% humidity and 69*, close enough.
Got the coaming installed in the hull, the cabin fits well over it, no water will get in.
Could not establish the deck opening dimensions until cabin was shortened ~
Traced around the cabin, opened up the deck, inner deck braces were a guesstimate of where the cabin outline would be ( got lucky ! )
Modifications and paint on the cabin complete, this version of this Tug required that the cabin be shortened.
Reinforcing material was put in the rear of the cabin, its just a bit thicker than the coming so the rear compartment ( "bucket" ) will just clear the coaming.
Main cabin work complete, time to get portholes ready when paint it well dried.
Next, the pesky job of pre-painting rivets, washers and other small parts before they are installed..........
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:-))
Mark
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Absolutely stunning, and that colour scheme has come out fantastically.
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Nice job Tim!
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An update ~
More good paint weather, took advantage of it.
Many small details done, the exhaust stack and surrounding plate are done, towing bitts, cleats and the black cabin trim is started ( trim is strips of styrene with false rivets then painted black ... )
Real copper rivets were used on the exhaust parts and towing deck ( this deck comes off to get to the steering servo ).
Still a long way to go, gotta get ballast and electrical sorted out and go for swim in the test tank .......
Next project awaits being started.
Spring is Just around the corner !
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A few more pictures ...
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Beautiful! Utterly insane, but beautiful! I love it! Will you be bringing this to Spreckels when done?
-Wes
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Great build, next you will have to do a rake of barges to pull with it.
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Thank You Sir ~
And there's a Grand idea, a Barge !
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b-Iozrt0IA A version from over the border in the Netherlands, not a "Chentilmaan`s Yat" but a worker. Simple barges, dont think I want to know what is in them :embarrassed:
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A small update ~
Been working on more little details, got the porthole surrounds attached to the cabin, made a one - piece bow rail cap ( that took a lot of time ), got most of the forward cabin wall well underway.
This type of Tug has a bulky, simple transmission for changing direction, I dumped out my trusty container of brass junk parts to see if I could make something close ~
I've got no lathe or mill so I have to make do with simple tools.
Doesn't look so good out in the open but it should be OK when installed.
Made the cabin door with a bunch or real copper rivets and brass hinge parts and porthole.
More brass parts for gages and the throttle which may not look just right in scale but it will have to do.
Used some small parts from a brass etched sheet for the name over the cabin door and the manufacturer's name plate.
Starting on the cockpit trim which is strips of styrene with "rivets" of epoxy then painted .
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The balance ~
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brilliant
:-))
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Hallo Gents, here are more pictures, got some much needed "weathering" done, helps knock down the unrealistic glossy finishes .........
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Beautiful Tim. :-))
Made even more beautiful by the west coast sun - now that's weathering.
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Evening Gents ~
Now we've got a proper Captain and the anchor bits are wrapped up as well as some other details ....
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What a jolly little tug! :-))
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Popeye, brilliant :-))
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Certainly looks right but I think a Tintin character would have been more suitable. Of course Snowy the dog on the foredeck barking at the villans %%
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Off to the lake yesterday for the first time, a full success, no leaks !
The Captain is actually Popeye's Pop, Pappy !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-riDTIjowh8
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Must be getting old, should have remembered that popeye was the one without the beard.
Thats one real nice, cute wee boat you have there. Most impressed
:-))