Topic: Armed Trawler Conversion (Read 8345 times)

Z750Jay · « **on:** June 03, 2015, 08:37:10 am »

Hi all,
Latest build is a conversion of an steam trawler into an armed trawler/whaler so I can have a craft to use in the Portsmouth Model Boat Display Teams WW2 convoy show.

Have aquired a nice steam trawler model which at 43" length will give me at 1/35 scale a hull around 125 feet long. Currently working on the superstructure - I am going to completely replace the origional so I can convert back later

Z750Jay · « **Reply #1 on:** June 03, 2015, 08:43:48 am »

Hopefully from one to the other

TailUK · « **Reply #2 on:** June 03, 2015, 08:51:52 am »

Check out Italeri's Vosper MTB crew figures in 1/35th scale. 2 Officer's and 5 ORs mostly in Wooly jumpers and sea boots. http://www.model-making.eu/products/VOSPER-MTB-CREW.html

Z750Jay · « **Reply #3 on:** June 03, 2015, 09:56:21 am »

They arrived in the post yesterday

Also have a 1/35 40mm Bofors kit sat here as well. Also have some mg's so all I have to worry about is the 12lb deck gun. Was going to scratch build that but might opt for a kit to save time as I will have enough on my plate building the superstructure. Lucky I am loosely basing her on the Kos V / Risor, a Norwegian whaler that was requisitioned by the Royal Norwegian Navy then the Royal Navy. She is the right length and width and there are no photos so I can get away with what I want!

TailUK · « **Reply #4 on:** June 03, 2015, 10:11:30 am »

Drawings of the 12Pdr appear in Lambert's "Allied Coastal Forces" so it wouldn't be too difficult to scratch build it. I've always liked armed trawlers and have often considered Mountfleet's "Sir Lancelot" I'll watch your build with interest.

Z750Jay · « **Reply #5 on:** June 03, 2015, 10:56:44 pm »

Ok, here are a couple of pics of her as she is and with a very rough cardboard mock up of the aft superstructure. Need to remove the mast to site the fwd gun platform.

unbuiltnautilus · « **Reply #6 on:** June 04, 2015, 11:31:47 am »

Ahhh Cardboard! Best modelling material in the world..I have an extensive collection

DavieTait · « **Reply #7 on:** June 04, 2015, 03:09:18 pm »

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152635315930103.1073741827.186764240102&type=3

I put these up over a year ago on Facebook , they'll let you see the various options for fit out of converted trawlers

Z750Jay · « **Reply #8 on:** June 04, 2015, 03:33:18 pm »

Thanks!

Z750Jay · « **Reply #9 on:** June 04, 2015, 06:38:34 pm »

Had a play around with some more mock ups tonight. We have one with a thinner superstructure plus bridge wings and one using the original superstructure but adding wings, a flying bridge and Bofors gun plus depth charge rack to the aft end.
Probably going to go with the last option

DavieTait · « **Reply #10 on:** June 04, 2015, 07:16:51 pm »

there were hundreds of trawlers/drifters taken up for service so you could just do a pick-n-mix of weapons ( not all had depth charges some had the boat aft taken off and a small derrick added for work as anti-submarine net tenders )

Z750Jay · « **Reply #11 on:** June 04, 2015, 07:37:29 pm »

I was going with the anti sub version as that would fit in with the display teams convoy action display.
Apparently the hull is the derived from a Dutch steam trawler (she is a little wider than a UK hull).
Currently she is only 2 channel control but will eventually get blunted up a bit, possibly a smoke charge in the main hold not sure yet.

Z750Jay · « **Reply #12 on:** June 04, 2015, 10:59:54 pm »

"Blunted" ?
I meant blinged up!

ballastanksian · « **Reply #13 on:** June 05, 2015, 12:37:52 am »

It could be a new feature; 'Pimp my Trawler'!

I'll get my coat.....

Z750Jay · « **Reply #14 on:** June 05, 2015, 09:10:18 am »

Z750Jay · « **Reply #15 on:** June 17, 2015, 05:48:20 pm »

Ok here are some bad photos as an update.
She has been very quickly converted ready to take to the water for the display. I will slowly change most of the upper deck for more detailed structures as I build them including the main superstructure

unbuiltnautilus · « **Reply #16 on:** June 18, 2015, 09:15:54 am »

Nice

At that speed, fancy finishing off a tanker

Z750Jay · « **Reply #17 on:** June 18, 2015, 10:08:20 am »

Hardest part is biulding the transport box

Sandy · « **Reply #18 on:** June 20, 2015, 01:41:28 pm »

Nice. Great picture of HMS Ellesmere.

Regarding a 12lbr, what a club member did here is use the 35th scale 25lbr from Tamiya as a basis for a forward gun, plus you get a ready made ready use rack from the limber.

Good luck with your model.

Z750Jay · « **Reply #19 on:** June 21, 2015, 10:58:24 pm »

Here she is at Sumners Pond today and with my bike that she and the 1/16 Sherman got there on

ballastanksian · « **Reply #20 on:** June 22, 2015, 08:38:53 pm »

That is one cool motorcycle mounted, tank carrying supership! She looks very nice on the water; does she sail well?

Z750Jay · « **Reply #21 on:** June 22, 2015, 08:56:37 pm »

Once I got the ballast right she sailed like a dream. Looks good at scale speed plus can go at a good clip when needed.

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Author Topic: Armed Trawler Conversion (Read 8345 times)