I would hopefully like to initiate a thought provoking conversation on scale and why people prefer to model in certain scales. Firstly, I think it would be good to have a little watch of this great harbour scene;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7tZHljQh2Q&index=1&list=PLV-RDeC79CD2IE735ZhGr7T5NF0ECAD5G The above video is all at 1:50 scale which is my preferred scale for marine modeling, there are a number of reasons for this, but mainly size of craft. Other factors of course are the level of detail and intricacy of the models and the availability of kits, fixtures and fittings at this scale.
With the ever growing size of vessels 1:50 still seems a sensible scale to work too giving both realistic performance possibilities of models and also realities of scale when looking especially at tug towing competitions. The average size for a sea going cargo ship or tanker is now over 180m in length and at 1:50 this gives a model length of 3.6m which is a manageable size of tow for most clubs. With more and more ULCC & ULCV in the world, vessel lengths of 400m are becoming quite a normal occurrence. Indeed the largest vessel ever, the ULCC Seawise Giant had a length of 458.45m, which even at 1:50 would give a model length of 9.17m or over 30 feet! If you look at a 2m model barge for example this in true terms is giving you a 100m barge which is a reasonable size.
I agree, when you look at a little Damen 1606 tug for example you start to get down to 0.33m or 13 inches things start to get a little fiddly, but I have 4 tugs of this size and under all perfectly capable and all able to tow! Given an average ship handling tug in a major port is now between 28-40m LOA this @ 1:50 gives a model size of 56cm 80cm (<22-31 ½) which I think gives a little something for everyone.
By keeping to a reasonable scale it limits the size of propellers and nozzles which can be fitted and thus the power you can get into the water. I have been involved in tugs all of my life and have never seen a tug tow a ship at scale speeds of over 25 knots! This suggestion would I feel open the tug towing competitions to a far broader base of modelers and allow every boat from a little Garnock right up to an Aziz have a tow on a relatively balanced playing filed and hopefully entice greater participation.
Please do not get me wrong, I have models in 1:12, 1:16, 1:32, 1:48/50 & 1:108 and love them all and they all have their place in the events which I do, for example for a scale steering event scale is not an issue it is more the overall size of the vessel so I often use 1:24 or 1:32, in the bath it is a different matter and I can only use my Lucky XI at 1:108!
George Boyd builds some absolutely stunning models in 1:24, and 1:32 as well as other scales and they look out of this world on the water especially when towing the big 14 SD14 cargo ship, but it of course not every day that you can get these massive tows in the water for pure logistic reasons. My dear friend Ray Malone builds some exquisite models of Canadian tugs which are small and powerful in reality, but he has models of 24 tug so powerful it would easily tow a 50 canal barge!
These are just my thoughts on how a national competition could ever be rebuilt in a sensible manner which would allow more clubs and participants to be involved. It is not meant to offend anyone and comments will be most welcome.