Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Working Vessels => Topic started by: typhoon on March 09, 2008, 06:53:30 pm

Title: westbourne tug
Post by: typhoon on March 09, 2008, 06:53:30 pm

hello everyone
thimking of building the caldercraft tug westbourne. has anyone built or seen one on the water. im going smaller, getting fed up lifting the bigger stuff and my space is getting smaller. any advice iand information would be appreciated.

Title: Re: westbourne tug
Post by: ads90 on February 17, 2016, 02:44:51 pm

I know this is an old thread but there is little information on the Caldercraft Tug 'Westbourne'. It is from their mini-fleet series and was discontinued some years ago. I managed to purchase an un-opened kit about 18 months ago and have just completed my Westbourne. It makes up as a lovely model and I have built mine for radio control too. I don't know why they discontinued it - it had over 300 white metal parts/ ply superstructure and decking and a glass fibre hull, so perhaps too costly to keep it going.
The Tug is only about 27.5 inches long but reasonably light compared to my other hefty boats so much easier to lug around. Apart from the bath it has not yet been on the water.
Attached is a photo of the completed tug.

Title: Re: westbourne tug
Post by: Capt Podge on February 17, 2016, 02:51:53 pm

Well, she certainly looks the business ADS - hope she sails well for you and for years to come.

Regards,

Ray.

Title: Re: westbourne tug
Post by: Netleyned on February 17, 2016, 04:59:47 pm

What a lovely little tug :-))
Well done Ads :-))

Ned

Title: Re: westbourne tug
Post by: Channel on February 19, 2016, 06:59:41 pm

This is a great kit, the last build that my late Grandfather tackled. Wish they re-introduced it. It could make a nice conversion to many other small steam tugs also.

Title: Re: westbourne tug
Post by: ads90 on February 19, 2016, 08:57:42 pm

Thanks for the comments Gents. Yes, it is a great little tug and the actual one has a fascinating wartime history.
Like most Caldercraft kits it has its faults and the drawings have small issues with them but on the whole I like their kits and working at 1:48 scale instead of 1:25 / 1:24 had its challenges with hand eye co-ordination - how the guys who work in much smaller detail do it, I don't know.
Alan