Hi Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have just started on my first project, a Morcambe Bay Prawner (Nobby) using the Waverley Models GRP hull (44” Loa, 12” beam) and am in need of some advise to give me a bit more confidence. This is my first posting so please be gentle with me!
I have a number of modelling books, and the plans and notes supplied with the hull. I have a copy of L.J .Lloyds book “The Lancashire Nobby” and have found various web site’s that have been helpful (
www.newson.co.uk ,
www.nobbyownersassociation.co.uk ).
However the photos in the notes supplied with the hull have not copied very well and a bit more detail would help me. I am at the stage where I have fitted the deck supports and deck beams.
Has anyone here built one of these or a similar single masted Gaff Cutter and have any build sequence photos that may help me.
Particular points that I need to clarify are
1). What overall weight am I working towards for the finished model and the amount of lead ballast that I will need to add.
2). I would like to fit a folding mast, some suggestions on how other people do this would help. Do I need to step this into the keel as was done on the original boats for example because if so I will need to fit a block on the inside of the keel before I proceed much further.
3). I intend to use a 6V 4Ahr SLA, a Hitec HS785HB sail winch and a Hitec HS325HD rudder servo. I have not worked out the internal arrangement of these yet and how to mount them so any photos of fairly similar models would be really helpful.
4.) I would like to fit polystyrene foam inside the hull in order to try to make the model “unsinkable”. I know this may cause long term problems with hampering the evaporation of any moisture that gets inside the model and am making sure that the internal timber is well treated with wood preserver as I build the model. Once I get some idea of the mass of heavier than water ( lead ballast, battery, electronics, etc) components inside the model, I should I hope be able to calculate if I can get enough foam into the model to keep enough water out to stop it sinking if the worst happens! Is this a sensible train of thought.
Thanks in advance.
BJH.