Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Model Boating => Topic started by: Mach1 on February 09, 2019, 03:50:05 pm
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i am keen to build a model of a Thames river launch similar to the ones the umpires use following the Boat Race. Does any company produce a kit for such a model? I would like it to be about 36 - 40 inches long. If kits are not available there any plans available.
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If you can find an image of the launch you want, it would help. I have just done an image search for Thames Umpires Launch, and there seems to be many of them, and all very different.
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Consuta was the one which was favourite in the old days
https://thames.me.uk/s00930umpire.htm (https://thames.me.uk/s00930umpire.htm)
http://www.consuta.org.uk/workshop/Home.html
or buy a 100 scale one
http://www.stanleyandthomas.co.uk/brokerage/Display_Craft.php?itemID=167 (http://www.stanleyandthomas.co.uk/brokerage/Display_Craft.php?itemID=167)
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Thank you for your help with my enquiry. I will have a look to see what type of launches are used in modern times. I am not looking for an old stream model as this would not be within my capability, but one that I could use with an electric motor.
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I have just located a very nice photo of the type of launch that I want to build, but will have to try and remember how to compress the photo file for attachment.
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You could make a model steam launch, and put an electric motor in it.
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If you email the photo to yourself it will automatically resize, then save it to a “Mayhem Pics” file you will end up with a library of pics that will load to the forum.
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A quick cheat, if you have windows, you can used the snipping tool. Crop the area you want (maybe the whole photo) and then save as a JPEG. These will fit.
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TAMESIS TRUST. MUSEUM http://www.tamesis.org.uk/exhibits.htmlHistoric document collections.
Achive collections of historic books drawings, photos, catalogues and related material.The Heritage Steamboat Trust (part of the Steam Boat Association) have a very large collection of document archives which are currently held in store by four individuals on behalf of the Trust.The HST have agreed to relocate their extensive collection to the Museum. These archives have already been used for various publications by the SBA. The photos here show only a very small part of the SBA archive collection.The Goring and Streatley Historical Society wish to locate their extensive research work covering local River history about the S.E. Saunders boat building works at Streatley, Goring and the nearby old Springfield works (now a nature reserve).We know that several individuals and some local clubs would also like to contribute their own historic collections to the museum for future safe keeping
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/images/2019/02/10/Drawings.jpg) (https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/image/JuBrp) |
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Gosh thank you all for your help. I have resized the photo as you suggested.
What I am after building is a type of launch that they used today rather than a steam launch.
I would like to power it with an electric motor.
The varnish finish on the full size launch looks amazing and I imagine this might be difficult to achieve on a model.
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Your photo looks like it might be a displacement hull rather than a planing type, if so perhaps check on the "Sales" page in the forum, there is a fibreglass hull, 40" for £30 posted by petesubman.
Varnish is all about patience and careful prep. Good luck with the project :-))
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Take a look at https://www.sarikhobbies.com/product/choupette-2/
Although designed as a steam driven model, it could easily be adapted to electric drive. The overall shape is very similar to the boat in your picture and a wood pack is available should you so desire.
Good luck with your project whatever you decide. :-))
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Gosh thank you all for your help. I have resized the photo as you suggested.
What I am after building is a type of launch that they used today rather than a steam launch.
I would like to power it with an electric motor.
The varnish finish on the full size launch looks amazing and I imagine this might be difficult to achieve on a model.
In fact many of the launches which were originally built as steam were later converted to petrol engine power, some of which have now been converted back to steam by enthusiasts
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Just looked through my plans database.
You might also consider Elance and Tytsie both pland available form Sarik.
Cheers
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Interesting topic.
As an ex-rower (used to be captain of my university club) I've raced "tideway" a few times which is the same course as Oxford-Cambridge but opposite directions -and about 780 other crews at the same time! More than once, it was more like the sea than a river.
Just to contribute nothing but say thank you for alerting / sharing me to these boats. As I said -doing "tideway" course, abut a week or two before the boat race it was usually more RIB's and safety boats.
...One time we borrowed an eight from Oxford Uni. My friends brother was in the movie "True Blue". We spent a cpl of hrs that night in the simulated "raceway" where you sit in a concrete boat, there are two water channels either side with your oars dipped into, then finally took their spare boat down the river (no lights we should have) before we landed somewhere and climbed out for loading onto the trailer.
Really interested in the subject -I checked all the links, what great little launches, also read about the one deemed "no good" because of the wash LoL. No surprise existing ones have been converted / coped etc. What a fascninating read I never thought before, thanks.
Rich
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Thank you for the link to the Choupette model.
I have had a look and it sounds perfect for me. Although I know nothing about steam installation I do think this model would look better with it. I might pick up the courage and give it a try. Is it difficult to control the engine speed with radio control. A steam installation will cost me a four figure sum, hope it works.
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Steam is a closed book to me and I wouldn't recommend it to a beginner unless you know a good mentor. You could build the boat for electric drive and then, if you felt the need, modify it for steam. (Once you re-mortgaged your house {-) ).
Best of luck
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The problem with steam would be weight . The umpires launch is a very fine lined craft built to a shallow draught , relatively narrow and lightweight to achieve high speed with minimal wash . The steam plant was also designed with a view to keeping weight down but this you cannot replicate in a plant to model scale . I know this from my Topaz, the hull and superstructure was quite light , about 1.5 kg but with the engine boiler and contents. condenser and fuel tank installed ,weight came up to over 5kg without electrics and batteries . This made freeboard an issue and meant choppy water was a no no . In a shell like an umpires launch the weight would sink it.
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Thank you for your very valuable help. I hadn’t thought about the weight issue. It would have been a disaster if I had installed a steam plant and the model sank straight to the bottom of the pond.
I will install an electric motor. I am looking forward to this project.
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If this is to be your first build, you might consider getting some practice with a simple kit that's relevant to your interest. The Deans marine slipper launch is inexpensive and a good starting point.
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It looks an interesting model. I will have a closer look at it.
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The Dean's Lady Beale launch was reviewed in the May 2011 issue of Model Boats magazine. The review is online and can be seen here:
https://www.modelboats.co.uk/news/article/lady-beale/8026
Certainly worth a look.
Colin
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Thanks for the info,. I will look at it this evening.
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I decided to purchase the 40inch hull that was for sale. It may not be a perfect scale for a Thames Umpires boat, but I am not looking for a totally accurate model just something that will give me pleasure to build and have fun with. I have been looking at lots of photos on the internet of full size umpire boats to give me an idea of how to arrange the inside. I will have many practise goes at planking the deck and trying to achieve the highly polished finish before I attempt it on the model. My previous deck planking experience has been on The Lady Wooes tug and The Boston Typhoon which didn’t need such a glossy finish.
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Choupette is well suited to steam. :-)) Link (https://vimeo.com/22777437)
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I have purchased a 40 inch long yacht hull that I want to build into a Thames Umpires Launch, or something similar. I have purchased the motor and prop shaft but not the rudder. Can anybody advise me as to what size and type of rudder I would need for such a long model. It is my intention to post a description and photos of the build as it progresses. I have only built from kits before, (Lady Wooes tug and Boston Typhoon), so this could turn out to be a breathtaking display of incompetence.
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The rudder would appear to be totally cantilevered out from the transom, lozenge shaped with the top level with water level .
In size I would estimate no more than 500x 500 mm , I guess manouverability low on the priority scale. Owners must always be nervous about others coming too close astern.
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/images/2019/02/18/Final-paint-touchup.jpg) (https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/image/JukGD)
As a point of curiosity , the Saunders built boats appear to have a concave "tunnel" shape bottom from around the prop shaft back to the stern . Presume this was to iron out the boats wake and also allow the prop to run shallower.
(https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/images/2019/02/18/Ulula-2.jpg) (https://www.modelboatmayhemimages.co.uk/image/J02xS)
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I am surprised that the prop is below the bottom of the hull. Would that not make it vulnerable to damage.
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I am surprised that the prop is below the bottom of the hull. Would that not make it vulnerable to damage.
Very ! It's a specific boat for a specific purpose ; charging at high speed down the centre of a rowing course. If you watch the universities boat race on the box you will notice that after the race the launches do not approach the banks but stay well out into the river . It's not just the prop, the rudder is equally vulnerable.
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Yes I see what you mean. They shouldn’t come to any harm on the Thames.
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I have just had my motor, prop shaft and propeller delivered and will study the hull carefully to see how best to install everything.
I am sure that there is no other way that will prevent the propeller from protruding below the bottom of the hull, but the photos that you kindly posted show that to be the case anyway.
As you mention, the full size boats are treated with care for this very reason.
I will post some photos as I progress.
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I have started work on my Umpires Launch and will post a few photos a little later. I have received the mahogany strips that I will be using on the front and rear decks but am not sure how I will be able to get such a glossy varnish finish like the full size boats. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
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The best varnish finish that I have ever achieved was on a full size boat, a fibreglass sailing cruiser. The boat was a cancelled order that we put to one side as our boat show display boat, as such it was cobbled together from various items that were lying about, items like rubbing strakes and hand rails come in pairs and, when one is damaged, the other tended to be put on a rack as a spare. My partner and I sorted through this big stack of mahogany items and found some nice pairs which had been quietly seasoning for years.
Once fitted we were extremely lucky because our very small boat was ready weeks before the larger boats being fitted out on the other side of the factory.
Our last job every night for weeks was to rub down all the woodwork with 400 grade wet and dry (dry) and apply a water-thin coat of traditional (International brand) yacht varnish.
The resulting shine was breathtaking, like glass, and there was a very satisfying side to the situation, The team working on the larger show boat were a bit behind and the weeks of polishing (we compounded and wax-polished the hull as well) on our little jewel were driving the chargehand of the other team crazy. Of course we smiled sweetly and told him that, as we were so far ahead, we were more than happy to help bring his boat up to scratch, he exploded, told us to shove our assistance, etc. all good fun.
So, a long winded way to say, patience, dry, well-seasoned timber, good quality abrasives, good quality brushes, or careful spraying, buy enough finish to complete the job to avoid different batches, more patience, and check out SailorGreg's build log of his Dumas 1930 runabout on the forum. Good luck.
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Gosh thanks for a very interesting and informative response to my enquiry. I have glued a few mahogany strips with black cotton as caulking onto a piece of ply as a tester for the varnish finish before attempting it on my model. I am not at the planking stage yet just thinking ahead.