Model Boat Mayhem

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length.
Pages: [1] 2 3   Go Down

Author Topic: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG  (Read 21438 times)

CGAux26

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 655
  • Location: Deep in the heart of TEXAS (Tomball)
LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« on: November 14, 2010, 02:09:49 am »

Here is the build of my MS Loyal Class tender, working name LOYAL VOLUNTEER.  I purchased this kit in 2001 from Harbor Models in California, but have only worked on it semi-regularly the past two years.  This is my third model boat, the other two being the Springer GINNY D, and the barge HOLLYWOOD BLEVE.

As those who have seen some of my other posts will recall, I have made extensive use of the MEK plus styrene chips glue, as suggested in the MS instructions.  And I have found the MS kit, instructions, drawings, and support to be great. 

At the point my pictures begin I had already sanded the hull, cut out the freeing ports and other bulwark openings and installed the shaft log and rudder.  So these first pictures show the installation of the deck support strips (epoxy) and all the chip clips I could find.  Then the hatch coamings were assembled and glued in.

Logged

CGAux26

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 655
  • Location: Deep in the heart of TEXAS (Tomball)
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2010, 03:25:48 am »

OK, I am back with more.  On the first post I forgot to say I made a motor bed from plywood, painted it, and bedded it in the hull with 3M 4200 marine sealant.  I also installed the shaft log with 4200.

My motor is a Robbe No. 4083 gear motor with 6:1 reduction.  While it is rated for 12 VDC, I have found the boat is much too fast, so I now have 2 6 VDC SLA batteries in parallel powering it. 

I purchased a Prop Shop 4 blade 2.2 X 2.2 inch prop, which was about as big as I thought would fit in the prop opening.  I did a float and handling test early in the build, after which I determined a bow thruster would be needed.  The BT is a Raboesch 108-3.  On an early test run the impeller spun on its shaft, and was replaced with a homemade brass impeller.
Logged

CGAux26

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 655
  • Location: Deep in the heart of TEXAS (Tomball)
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2010, 04:31:55 am »

Here are a couple of pictures of the driveline.  The batteries are mounted on a plywood platform, glued in with 3M 4200, like the motor mount.  These pictures still show the 12 VDC battery, which as I said before has been replaced.  In the second picture you see two Proboat ESC's on the port side.  I am replacing the one for the main motor with a Viper, for better low speed control.  The Proboat that runs the bow thruster will remain.

The next photo shows installation of the bulwarks.  And notice how I modified my pocket square to make sure the bulwarks are vertical.

Then we come to the scriber I cobbled up from scrap wood, to mark the waterline.  It is adjustable up/down and back/forth, and worked well.   Then you see the bottom being painted, with Krylon new dome top paint.  No problems with the red color.  The black paint on the hull worked fine, but I don't recall the brand.

Once the hull was done I painted the deck with green Painters Touch acrylic(?), with a brush.

Next was the deck house.  This is made up of several thick die cut styrene parts.  I put a layer of tape around the deck opening to allow a bit of clearance to the deck house.  Then I dry fit the deck house and blocked the sides in place before applying the MEK glue with a brush.

Enough for tonight.  More tomorrow. O0
Logged

colin-d

  • Guest
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2010, 11:01:12 am »

coming along nicely... i have also built this Model

My Loyal
Logged

Dan2010

  • Guest
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2010, 06:19:34 pm »

CGAux26 your build is coming along nicely  :-)) cant wait to see the rest of it !

Dan
Logged

CGAux26

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 655
  • Location: Deep in the heart of TEXAS (Tomball)
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2010, 08:50:19 pm »

Thanks for the encouragement, guys.  This is easily the most challenging model I have built.

I include the next photo, of the bridge wing support slot in the gunwale, because the instructions only said to slot the gunwale strip to receive the support tab.  By the time I read this the gunwale capping strips were glued on and all was painted.  Ouch!  Being a newbie to this, it took a while to figure out that a thin cutoff wheel in my Dremel would be perfect to cut this slot.

I built the anchor windlass and the cargo handling winch some time earlier, so what you see in the next photos is after they were glued to the deck.  The anchors were left unpainted, to simulate galvanizing.  They are glued into their ports with CA, and held additionally with their chains drawn tight.   I nearly placed the cargo winch too close to the hatch opening, so the hatch cover would not have fit.

Then some time was spent cutting out all the little pieces that make up the deck boxes, life rafts, and ladders.  The halves of the liferaft canisters were best fit by cutting them a bit large, then rubbing the edge down with a piece of 180 grit laid flat on the bench.  These and the funnel halves are from ABS moldings, so they are a bit different from the flat styrene pieces.  The liferaft straps are heavy black sewing thread, contributed by my wife.

Last in this bunch is the repair I had to do on the rudder.  In the early part of the build, back in 2001, I installed the rudder fairing piece to the hull in a crooked position.  This led to a strain on the rudder post (white metal), which fatigued and broke.  Quite a chore getting the mud shoe off the hull.  Then I made up a new rudder post and bottom pin from brass tubing and SS wire, and epoxied it all together.  This time I took care in aligning it all, so it rotated much more freely.

Logged

CGAux26

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 655
  • Location: Deep in the heart of TEXAS (Tomball)
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2010, 09:29:30 pm »

This update should bring me up to date on my build. 

I forgot to mention all the troubles with the new Krylon "Sweet Cream" (yellow) color spray paint used on the main cabin and pilot house.  Maybe because of all the pigment in it, this paint can be sprayed in very thin coats with a minute between passes, for as many passes as you wish.  But even after letting it cure in the warm house for WEEKS, if I tried to do a bit of touch up, the paint would "alligator."  Appeals to Krylon were worthless (follow the directions on the can..., which I had done to the letter).  From all the bi...ing posts on Mayhem and RCGroups, a lot of others have had this problem.  My solution has been to take a part finished with the Krylon spray to my local hardware store and have a quart of latex paint color matched.  I use this with a brush for touchups, and in small places where spray cannot be done.

One other discovery I made was the use of Scotchbrite green pads to dull the styrene and give it a tooth for paint.  This seems equivalent to 600 wet or dry sandpaper, and lasts longer when used wet.  It's best to sand parts before cutting out, particularly for the smaller pieces.

I chose to build the double-walled pilothouse by first erecting the outer panels.  Then I spray painted the outside with yellow and the insides of the inner panels with a light tan.  These were then glued together with my MEK mix.  Window panes of clear plastic were added, with canopy glue, and the windshield wipers were painted and glued with CA.  As with all of this kit, a lot of minor sanding and fitting was necessary.

The mostly finished pilothouse has two blind nuts set in plywood, under the "furniture."  This will allow me to screw it to the top of the main cabin, so it can be removed for lighting wire maintenance.  I also added brass angle stiffeners around the top of the pilothouse walls, to straighten them and to provide a place to add fasteners so the roof is removable, too.

The throttle/gear shift is made from a bit of wooden dowel, brass rod, and beads from a fan pull chain.  The compass is from a small protective cap from a piece of all-thread rod.  The radar and radio are from the kit (radios were much bigger back in the '70's).

I have made up basic navlights for a vessel of this size and type, from LED's and a 2 AA cell battery pack.  It's all mounted under the main cabin, with two switches in a small box by the funnel.  I only made red and green sidelights, masthead, and towing lights (forward and aft), since my soldering skills are minimal.  The yellow aft-facing towing light is not part of the kit, but research said some of the Loyals had them.  So I have made a pole from brass tube that will support the light above the rearmost railing on the cabin roof.  The lights will eventually have brass lanterns over them.

My most recent effort over the last few days has been building the railings around the pilothouse roof.  The kit includes more than enough of the white metal castings for the stanchions, and maybe enough 1/16" brass rod.  I bought more as a CYA, and painted castings and rods before starting to cut and fit.  This is very exacting work, made too difficult by the shaky hands, but it came out well with a little help from my better half.
Logged

Dan2010

  • Guest
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2010, 10:12:39 pm »

well what can i say Dave,.

You model looks stunning .. im not a real fan of the buff yellow but after seeing your build i shell consider it for my 1/48 scale loyal once im done with the 1/24th one..

i cant wait to get my loyal done . seeing your pictures is making me jelous  {-) ..

keep up the good work my friend .  :-)

kind Regards ,

Dan
Logged

fatcat123

  • Guest
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2010, 10:20:06 pm »

yes i have to agree, it looks stunning so far.

I'm getting rather attracted to this kit with the recent increase in various build logs and the few ive seen which are completed.

I might build one some day and no doubt model slipway will make a great job of 'updating' the kit as its currently out of production.

Keep up the good work.

Dan :-))
Logged

soldier151

  • Guest
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #9 on: November 16, 2010, 12:57:33 am »

Hi Dave
What a super build - doubt you'll need any help as you are doing Great!!! keep it up
sent a post to another Loyal Supporter build - might be of interest
Regards Soldier151 - A lifeboat freaky at Killingworth Model Boat Club
Logged

oldiron

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,326
  • Location: Lindsay, Ontario, Canada
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #10 on: November 16, 2010, 03:29:39 am »

Very nice neat, clean build. Well done.

John
Logged

CGAux26

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 655
  • Location: Deep in the heart of TEXAS (Tomball)
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #11 on: December 11, 2010, 12:43:57 am »

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

My latest small accomplishment has been painting and assembling the life rings and strobe lights on their holders.  This must be done before installing the lifelines along the top of the main cabin. 

I am pleased with how I made the white "canvas" loops on the life rings.  I used narrow striping tape, wrapping it around the raised area on each ring.  I CA'd the ends down.  How have others done this?
Logged

tt1

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,752
  • If I only know a little - then I can learn a lot
  • Location: Leicestershire
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #12 on: December 11, 2010, 02:56:35 am »


Hello CGA, I simply painted mine. Going well on the build,  :-))

            Regards, Tony.



Logged

farrow

  • Guest
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #13 on: December 11, 2010, 10:39:41 pm »

Beautiful modeling skills, makes me jealous to look at the pics. But for your interest those plastic type lifebuoys in the mod where not fitted with cloth rings and also only two Man Overboard markers where ever carried, the over two life rings where fitted with a simple small battery operated float light attached by about 2 metres a line. The Smoke markers usually fitted outboard side so when life buoy is thrown they easily pull off their brackets. Sorry if I upset you, but it is better to know now than when you are at a show with your boat. But your construction and paintwork is truly marvelous.
Logged

stew49

  • Guest
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #14 on: January 25, 2011, 10:52:01 am »

Liking your build log, its helping me alot with my build. hope i can make it look somewhere as good as yours.
i got the bow thruster in, thanks for the help on that too.
i might try and put a build log up of my own. :o

  Stewart  :-))
Logged

ralphhager

  • Ralph1937
  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 21
  • Location: Antelope, CA USA
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #15 on: January 25, 2011, 11:36:37 pm »

CGAux26:  You have got a "Beautiful Build" going here, with lots of good tips.

Thanks for Shareing.  From Sacramento CA (also from the Colonies)  Ralph
:-))
Logged

CGAux26

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 655
  • Location: Deep in the heart of TEXAS (Tomball)
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #16 on: January 28, 2011, 07:46:55 pm »

Progress report.  I have added the railings, with their life rings, around the main cabin top.  The aft yellow towing light fixture has been finished and installed, and the light works.  The ladder at the back end of the cabin was glued on.  I made up the screw-on feature for the funnel, so it can be removed for maintenance.
Logged

stew49

  • Guest
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #17 on: January 28, 2011, 11:05:55 pm »

looking very good. keep it up  :-))

 Stewart  :-))
Logged

laurn53

  • Guest
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #18 on: January 29, 2011, 04:23:02 am »

Looking great CGA.

It shouldn't be long before you are on the water by the looks of it !

laurn   :-)) :-))
Logged

CGAux26

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 655
  • Location: Deep in the heart of TEXAS (Tomball)
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #19 on: March 02, 2011, 03:38:04 am »

I am getting down to the very short strokes, as you will see in this set of pictures.  "Jewelry" (ventilators, bollards, spare anchor) has been added around the main deck.  "Furniture" and jewelry (liferaft containers, deck boxes, water tank, binnacle) have been glued onto the cabin and pilothouse roofs.  The mast with its lighting has been installed, and the pilothouse roof and funnel are on for good.

The second picture is of a jig I made to help install the safety bars across the wash ports.  The idea for it came from a Loyal build log by Balders.

Radar, cargo boom, decals, batteries, flags, and ballast yet to go.
Logged

Tugboat Andy

  • Guest
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #20 on: March 02, 2011, 05:23:39 am »

Very nicely done, Dave! :-)) This is a lot of boat. :o
Logged

DickyD

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 9,423
  • www.srcmbc.org.uk
  • Location: Southampton UK
    • SRCMBC
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #21 on: March 02, 2011, 06:31:00 am »

Beautiful  job, well done.  :-))
Logged
Richard Solent Radio Controlled Model Boat Club http://www.srcmbc.org.uk

stew49

  • Guest
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #22 on: March 02, 2011, 11:02:24 am »

like the jig, i was thinking of doing something like that. very good build log. lots to help for a begginer like me.  :-)) :-))

 stewart
Logged

CGAux26

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 655
  • Location: Deep in the heart of TEXAS (Tomball)
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #23 on: March 03, 2011, 01:40:13 am »

A little help, please.  I am at the point of rigging the cargo boom.  The sheaves in the blocks are about 2-3 mm wide, so a line or cord of about that diameter seems appropriate.  As we are likely simulating steel cable, what should be used?  Color?  And where does one find it?
Logged

stew49

  • Guest
Re: LOYAL VOLUNTEER BUILD LOG
« Reply #24 on: March 03, 2011, 11:46:19 am »

Is this the sort of thing?
Logged
Pages: [1] 2 3   Go Up
 

Page created in 0.091 seconds with 22 queries.