Hi all,
Well, she is just about finished and ready for her test sail - only the funnel insignia to go on and a few bits of rigging and a bit more touchup of paint:
Im normally a 'grey' builder, but like many modellers, you look for inspiration. The inspiration for this model came from a thread on this Forum called a tug in bad weather - I suggest if you havent watched this you grab yourself a cup of coffee/cuppa/or suitable refreshment
and sit and enjoy.
After watching the video, I knew Ihad a set of plans from the Model Boats magazine May 1983 but I didnt have the magazine at the time with the accompanying articles. For those who may be wishing to build this model, the accompanying article is only one page and literally only one page - 90% of it is actually about the full size vessel and 10% of it suggests that there is no commercial hull available for it, but, there is one for the Seaforth Clansman which is larger - and what the editor of the article suggests is to cut a cross/section out of the Seaforth Clansman's hull, so it is the same size as the Seaforth Conqueror
I suppose its up to the individual.
This particular model is plank on frame built and this is where the problems of the plan really are highlighted: the cross-sectional frames numbers 5,4,3 and 2 are totally the wrong shape. These have to be reduced drastically to maintain the alignment of the propellor shafts in all plains. The other problems with the plans is it could do with a few more structural views of the superstructure at different angles. Having said that, I know that in the model plans handbook, this particular plan is graded as 3 *** (i.e. for the average modellor) I think it should be 4 **** plus because of the lack of information and the amount of exterior research that has to be done.
Having said all of this - personally I think this is a good partner for the model of the Aziz and if someone were to come along with a commercial hull for this vessel - I think they might be on a winner. On the other hand - if some capable person - who I know are on this forum with cad in their computer and are able to re-draw the lines of this hull correctly - with a bit of further information - it would make a suitable build for someone with a little experience in plank on frame building technique.
Apart from all the faults, Ive really enjoyed building this model, and I have received a lot of help on this forum - and anyone wishing to construct a model like this - there is an awful lot of information on this forum. There are several things I would have liked to have done on this model - i.e. construct my own bow thrusters but didnt have the time.
See what you think.
I will see if she sails well on Sunday
Aye
John E
BLUEBIRD