Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Working Vessels => Topic started by: meechingman on February 22, 2016, 12:04:59 am
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As some of you may know, I'm the official historian for the 1960 P K Harris built tug Meeching (hence my username!) as my late father was her skipper for many years. I've published several web pages about her on the Our Newhaven website - www.ournewhaven.org.uk - and have written a book about her, which you'll find at Newhaven Museum. Our Newhaven was contacted a few days ago by Mr Michael Summers, who was looking for a suitable home for a scratch built model of Meeching built by his late father-in-law, Mr F Davies. He wanted it to go to someone connected with the tug, so I offered to keep it 'in the family'. The model was kindly brought down to me today, just three days before the tug's 56th birthday.
There's great attention to detail in the build, and Mr Davies must have worked from photos only, as the only copy of the GA plans was held at Newhaven Museum at the time - it's now here with my master copy of the book. Inside, she will take a bit of updating, from 27MHz AM to 40MHz FM, and the mechanical speed controller will be swapped for a pair of ESCs. Apart from that, she's ready to go. As well as sailing her, I'll make sure that she forms part of Our Newhaven's outside presentations.
As I said, lucky me! :}
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Very nice :-) :-)
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Lucky you indeed very nice model :-))
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What a result! Great looking model.
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Very nice surprise for you O0
I prefer the British Rail livery though (been almost forty years on the railway).
Dave
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I know what you mean, she spent almost 20 years in that livery, but my favourite is the original British Railways black hull, white superstructure, buff funnel with black top. Like this in a photo from 1960. © John Hills.
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A few cosmetic touches were done. I fixed the broken mast, painted black surrounds for the port and starboard lights and added the builder's plate next to the ship's bell. The tyre fenders were unglued from the hull and adjusted to hang above the waterline. Some touch up painting was done, such as gold paint on the ship's bell and the fire monitor, and the towing horses had their end caps added and were painted black. Apart from that, she was in very good order. The final touch was the addition of the Red Duster.
Internally, the electrics were rewired throughout and a 4 channel 2.4GHz radio system installed, complete with twin Viper Micro Marine 10 ESCs. (The intended 40MHz system was abandoned, but that's another 'Westbourne' story. >>:-( ) The Monoperm Super motors were a bit reluctant to fire up at first - dirty contacts on the red reversing switches - but a direct blast from a 6V battery and a bit of jiggling got them going. A bit of lubrication was carried out to the UJs and the steering mechanism.
She went into the bath tonight for a leak test (passed) and minor adjustments to trim. Now she's all ready for her first outing on the lake.
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She does look proper :-))
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She does look proper :-))
A 'Proper Job' without a doubt :-)) :-))
Ned
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A beautiful sunny, calm day at Eastbourne's Princes Park today - just perfect for her first outing. I'm pleased to say that she performed superbly. A good turn of speed, very little heel even when turning at full speed and turns on the spot with one motor ahead, one astern and rudder hard over.
Very pleased indeed. :}
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Looking very good.
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Very nice :-))