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Author Topic: Sun Tug mk25  (Read 12117 times)

gregk9

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Sun Tug mk25
« on: November 12, 2010, 12:55:46 am »








Fitted with a monoperm geared drive motor, twin 6v batteries for a nice lengthy pool visit. operating fire monitors, smoke generator, engine sound, tug horn, radar scanner, full nav and interior lights.
Only down side, it took over 14 months to build from kit !
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Steve. G.
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offshore1987

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2010, 04:50:18 pm »

Nice budy  :-))  my tito neri's 7 years in the making now lol still not got around to finishin it  {-)
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Tug-Kenny RIP

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2010, 09:03:22 pm »


That is a lovely build Greg. She looks very nice. Well done.  :-))

ken


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brianB6

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2010, 09:46:41 pm »

Hi Greg
Where did you get the kit?  and what size is she?
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farrow

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #4 on: November 12, 2010, 10:24:39 pm »

I take it it is the Sun 20/21, my dad went chief engineer with Sun tugs when he came out of the Andrew, his first permenant post was on the Sun 21 and he loved her. She had a funny engine control system, the revs where bridge control but the gear change was manual in the engine room, an my dad would always wait until the engine revs slowed to the correct speed before pushing the button which upset the skipper sometimes, who where mostly ex steam men. I have a Lesro kit to make up and I will fit the tiller on the flying bridge as the 21 had instead of a steering wheel and finish her of as originally painted. Nice boats, I saw the 21 in Gibraltar when she was transferred there late in her life and she could still pull well then.
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toesupwa

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2010, 11:05:45 pm »

I take it it is the Sun 20/21

The Sun XXV and XXVI had a far more rounded out bow (at the bulwarks) than the Sun XXI.

This was taken on my trip on to the Sun XXVI back in Nov '96...

I have a hull and lots of detail pics that one day  :embarrassed: I'll get round to doing the model!..
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farrow

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #6 on: November 15, 2010, 09:28:50 pm »

The poor old 25 appears to be looking sad now, my old man was chief on her as well for some time. When you finish your model I hope you put some pics up, as you say she was a pretty picture in her time.
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gregk9

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2010, 12:28:19 am »

Many thanks for the comments guys, yes this conversion was based on the Lesro MK21 version, so I cant modify the hull, as the kit supplied one is very thin glass fibre, tissue like in places and I had to strengthen all over just to make me feel safe sailing it !
its just over 30 inches long, about a 1:32nd scale I believe. I did have a lot of assistance and guidance from a couple of guys who used to work on them too, so they knew their stuff as to positions of the map table, decca viewer, convector heater in the wheelhouse etc. as i did super details the wheelhouse too, cutting through to the radio  shack, adding the settee's and map table, plus a red led below the glass table to give a "red glow" from the table when dark, plus a green led below the decca viewer tube, so that adds a green hue to the underside of the wheelhouse roof. I added the stairs leading down to the lower deck, adding a blue/white led down there to give the effect of a flourescent light in the companionway too.  yes, the fire monitors are graupner units, as i have no facility to machiine brass units to correct dimensions, but they give a reasonable effect.
It runs on a 6v decaperm motor and can pull any boat in our club for hours on end if need be, the motor plus the 60mm prop just  lets it cruise all day long.

the kit was bought off good old ebay ! someone had purchased it, left it in the garage fior a rainy day and never got round to it, so it was sold on , "clearing someones estate out" shall i say, still in its original box and hardly a packet had been opened, the only things that had been done was the hull bulwark had been over sanded too low, so it caused me soem greif getting the deck height right.
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Steve. G.
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RODDERS

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #8 on: November 21, 2010, 08:49:15 am »

Very very nice Greg! :-)) Im building a xx1 . running a 2;1 drive on the motor. What pitch/size prop is suitable?
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gregk9

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #9 on: November 21, 2010, 01:45:49 pm »

My XX1 kit came with a 60mm brass 3 blade propeller as standard. I used a 3:1 geared motor simply due to the size of the prop, plus wanted the motor to have sufficient reserve torque, should I ever wish to tow a barge, or do some tug competitions with it. A 2:1 geared motor may not bring the rev's down sufficiently for a larger propeller size, not unless you restrict it on batteries and run 6v, whereas mine runs 12v from twin batteries [ 2 x 6v 10amp/hr's].

I would definately recommend a brass propeller, for the diameter, it needs to be strong enough not to flex when under load.
If you need any further info or more pics of my build, I have a complete "sun tug build" on the model tug forum [under classic diesel section]. I have some original drawing plans of a mk21, plus plenty of original pictures if you need any info at all. Plus i was assisted in the detailling [as I said earlier] by a couple of retired employees of Alexander shipping company, based in London/Thames area, working on their fleet of Sun Tug's.
kindly send me a pm if you wish to get more info, no problem Im only too pleased to be able to assist someone else building a similar tug.
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Steve. G.
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gregk9

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Re: Sun Tug build
« Reply #10 on: November 21, 2010, 02:42:59 pm »

What i also did was put some plastic bushes in the wooden rudder support, just incase the wood swells with water and siezes the brass rudder shaft. Something to bear in mind too, whereas if the wood swells against the plastic bush, it still permits the rudder to turn unrestricted.
one pic attached which was of great help is the wheelhouse interior pic. PLEASE noite, it is reversed, so use your pc to revers the image before you set your own wheelhouse up!, someone must of put the negative in for copying in backwards ! but it helped me details my wheelhouse and gave better dimensions and locations of various items too.
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Steve. G.
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farrow

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #11 on: December 11, 2010, 10:06:09 pm »

That photo looks like the 28/29 the two built for the wapping station to work in the upper docks with extra large rudders.
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gregk9

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #12 on: December 11, 2010, 11:55:24 pm »

Thanks for your comment "old dodes" but are you referring to the picture of the wheelhouse or the pics of my acutal model boat?
I tried my best to rework the Lesro kit, but with a mere handful of old black/white photographs to work from and only a reprint of a set of scale plans for a MK21, i did my best to get a "reasonable" representation. Yes, I did alter the dimensions of the rudder, as the original halves supplied in the kit were split and very thin ply, So I made this one from plasticard, so less chance of the wood going rotten in water imersion so to speak. Same goes for the rudder pivots, I inserted plastic bushes in the wooden rudder support, purely to ensure the wood didnt swell in the water and cause the rudder pivot bar to jam, more than likely, too far out in the pool where its too deep to wade out to [ha ha].
I do try to keep within the original "looks" of what I am building, but a little "artistic license" here and there, purely to either make the model more reliable or a "better build", i will do.
Same went for the partition wall between the wheelhouse and radio shack. I cut this out to allow full view of the radio shack, plus added the stairwell leading down to the lower compartments, this, "all" of course is visible when viewed through the wheelhouse windows, so "had to look right".




* these pics were taken during the build, not of the final item *
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Steve. G.
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farrow

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #13 on: December 13, 2010, 11:16:19 pm »

Hi mate I was refering to the wheelhouse, I seemed to remember standing at the front of the 21 wheelhouse looking back at the mate on the wheel and it was bigger than the one in the pic. Mind you that was 47years ago, when my Dad took aboard for a shift. But yes I can guess your problems with the build, but then if she looks like the 25/26 to you who cares, its your pleasure and imagination, if one wants to rivet count most models will have faults. I believe that most of the Sun modern diesel tugs where built by Pollocks of Faversham if that is any help in getting plans. To me Sun tugs where the best of the Gravesend fleets, but I expect others will dispute me as there was great rivaly between Watkins and Sun tugs.
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gregk9

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #14 on: December 13, 2010, 11:33:03 pm »

Thanks for your reply and comment, Dont worry, no offence taken. I had more than enough comment and suggestion whilst i was actually building the tug, as 2 members of, er " a n other forum" who specialise in tugs, actually were crew on board Sun tugs, so i more than enough details to help with the build.
mind you, the photo of the wheelhouse looks like a reverse negative to me, as according to the plans I managed to get from  the builders [Philip & Sons -Dartmouth] show the decca radar viewer and telephone on the opposite side of the wheelhouse, so thats what I built to, simply using the picture image for scale and layout, albeit reverse, from what i can tell.

But I suppose its like a lot of things these days, We are all trying to replicate in model form, things that a lot of people simply took for granted many years ago, afterall, who would of thought so many things would be replicated in detailled model form today.
Yes, i do admit a few people did go out and take photo's of what may of been considered "odd things" many years ago, whereas today, seeing someone take over 100 pictures of a tug in a harbour, would not be given a second glance.

Our models are all the better for those people who took the time to take pictures and we appreciate all the help we can get to help the builds a little easier, or at least fill in the details where manufacturers of the kits fall short or at least "vague".
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Steve. G.
Treasurer & Membership Secretary:  Chasewater Model Boat Club
http://chasewatermbc.blogspot.com/

farrow

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #15 on: December 17, 2010, 10:28:34 pm »

I forgot to say it is nice to see the old Sun tug co painted funnel, there tugs where really well maintained almost to yacht standards. Nice model.
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gregk9

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #16 on: December 17, 2010, 11:32:08 pm »

it took about 5 days of careful sanding and shaping to get the funnel the right shape and profile, then a few more emails of "colour shade samples" to one of the sailors on a sun tug to confirm the funnel colour alone !
Yes, he did tell me that before they sailed away from the dock, they all had to make sure everything was clean and stowed away fully, and likewise after they returned again, all was washed down and cleaned again. :-))

And I have difficulty finding time to polish my own work boots ! [ha ha]. <*<

but I do appreciate thats they took pride in their boats and nothing was left to chance.











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Steve. G.
Treasurer & Membership Secretary:  Chasewater Model Boat Club
http://chasewatermbc.blogspot.com/

farrow

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #17 on: December 19, 2010, 05:49:22 pm »

Yes the funnel looks superb, well worth the effort, what colour is the accomodation paint and it's manufacturer. Only I have a 21 kit to make in my garage and your top colour is the best I have seen to date.
David
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gregk9

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #18 on: December 19, 2010, 06:10:31 pm »

The colours I used on the Sun Tug are Humbrol paints.

The Brown is Humbrol no: 9.

The Funnel is Orange no: 18.

Please dont look at the paint tin lid and go,  " na !" wrong ! - WAIT untill you get it home, give it a good stir then try a sample piece.
I sent a load of colour sample chips to a retired employee before I was lucky enough to drop on this shade.

best of luck with your build, I hope you will put a build blog log on here when you start it, I'd really like to see someone elses build of one of these.

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Steve. G.
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gregk9

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #19 on: December 19, 2010, 11:54:20 pm »

If I can assist with any further details on your Sun tug build, I did take loads of pictures as i actually built the boat, so can let you have as much details as I have.
If you care to check out the link below, this is where my actual build blog started.

http://modeltugforum.com/index.php?topic=2608.0

word of advice, first thing to put in the hull is a length of qwooden dowel rod, along the bottom of the keel and bond in well with some P40 glass fibre filler, just to add a little more rigidity and strength to the hull. the fibreglass hullis rather thin material and cracks easily, be careful, even when sanding the bulwark rail level!



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Steve. G.
Treasurer & Membership Secretary:  Chasewater Model Boat Club
http://chasewatermbc.blogspot.com/

farrow

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #20 on: December 20, 2010, 11:34:34 pm »

Thanks for the info, yes I will let you know how I get on, I have a special interest in this build as it was my old mans boat.
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brianB6

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #21 on: December 21, 2010, 02:26:02 am »

Just to let you know that I have started drawings at 1:35 but it will be a while before they are complete. send me a pm if you are interested.
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farrow

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #22 on: December 21, 2010, 09:56:46 pm »

Thanks Brian, yes I will be interested as there are parts on the Lesra drawing that conflict with my memory of the old girl, such as the flying bridge. I have some photo's of her in Gibraltar under the Liverpool Alexanders colours, must rearch them out, if I find them I will let you know.
David
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gregk9

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #23 on: December 22, 2010, 05:03:50 pm »

I also have a copy of a genuine set of original plans drawn by philip & sons for  WJH Alexander. And depict a  Sun Mk 21.
I can get photocopied and posted to you if you wish "old Dodes", PM me if interested.
they are approx  3ft x 4ft in size and i keep rolled up, not folded so can copy easier and not creased.











* these are just a few images off the actual plans I worked from for my build.
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Steve. G.
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gregk9

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Re: Sun Tug mk25
« Reply #24 on: September 27, 2011, 10:24:07 pm »

Just to add a few more pictures from a superb dusk sailing today.











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Steve. G.
Treasurer & Membership Secretary:  Chasewater Model Boat Club
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