One of my aims with my modeling was to build the 3 ships that I served my apprentice on in early 50’s. one being the S S Ivybank a liberty ship.
When in Melbourne 5 or 6 years ago I purchased a copy of General Arrangement Drawings also the Hull Lines Drawing of the General Liberty Ship to scale of 1-96.
I intended to scratch build the model some time in future.
March/ April 2009 I was goggling to find as much information on liberty ships when I came across the Deans City of Ely.
Looking on Deans web site I found 2 liberty ships, City of Ely and the Hudson Gate price difference of about £30. I emails Deans re difference in price with Deans reply (The Ely has been re-released to modern kit standards hence the price difference)
Thinking that if get a kit I would save a lot of time in building the hull, also I should be able to get items that I would have to scratch build.
I enquired on cost City of Ely kit plus a suitable motor, gearbox, coupling and brass prop.
In May 2009 I ordered the Kit etc and paid me money. Kit arrived early June.
When opening the box I found that the motor gearbox had not been fixed down. Had been moving around in the box on its travels to Australia, had broken open some trays of parts which therefore floating around in box, Also no prop in box.
After some protracted exchanges between myself and Deans all was sorted of sorts. Although the guy I was e mailing did not take to kindly when I said that some of the white metal parts needed a lot of work on to make them suitable for use.
Like others on this site, my opinion of the Kit is that it is very disappointing.
The Fiberglas hull I had approximate 10Kgs sitting on the timber keel in resin for a week, it still had a 5mm hollow in bottom which I have since filled with styrene sheet and car body filler.
I would say that 75% of the white metal parts are useless or incorrect. The plastic cowl vents fell apart in my hand. 2 of the 3 masts were not straight. I could go on.
The etched ladders and hand rail stanchions are well done I must say.
I have relied on the G A Drawings for all my building as there are a few discrepancies between the kit and it. I have found that my hull is 8mm too wide and 10mm short.
I have now built about 70% of the model, mostly scratch built or bits obtained from others, at present I am scratch building 10 winches, the Deans one would need to much fettling to make them presentable, but they do not look even close the winches in photos on this forum.
I am well advanced in the build, so if you should need any help in avoiding all the pitfalls in the Liberty ship kit, please contact me at rob.lees@people.net.au
I could put some photos of build if some one could tell me how to make photos smaller and how to past on this site.
Cheers Have a Good Day
Rob