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[T33cno]

Hi I'm Andy and I'm building the Billing Smit Rotterdam 478
I believe this is for advanced experts 
I'm managing very well so far and have Very very very many photos since I started a month ago
Does this forum host images or should I link to my own hosting pages.


EDIT
I'm a novice but have good craft skills, aged 59
This is about where I'm at.
QUESTION will I always have to answer the tirade of questions to make a post?

[raflaunches]

Hi and welcome to the forum


Your build looks fantastic for a beginner- I wish I had been that good when I started.
There is a topic regarding how to post a picture, personally I use TinyPic or PhotoBucket to attach pictures.
The questions only last for the first five posts (I believe) to prevent the scammers from getting through to the normal forum.

[T33cno]

Thank you very much Nick for the welcome and the info. I'll try get five posts in pronto before it drives me nuts 
I use a picture hosting website called SmugMug that I pay for so I may as well link all pictures from there as I have no file size or storage limit.
Andy

[T33cno]

On studying the internet before choosing my model I found that there are quite a few refinements in the Billings kit between conception and the present. One notable is the stern being plank on frame rather than a block of crude balsawood to craft into shape


That's 3 

[T33cno]

The last model I completed was as a 15 yr old and was the Aerokits 34" RAF rescue tender. I believe this is now reincarnated along with46" model by Lesro models.That was of course in the 70's and I used electric motor and wet lead acid batteries 
2 channel crystal radio by wee mcgregor I recall.
I sold it when I got the urge for a sports moped

[T33cno]

I have joined Rawdon model boat club as it's only 20 minutes from me with a private lake and a club house.
Meanwhile as my boat is under construction I bought a second hand pre finished Afon Alaw tug which is most impressive in every respect. Awesome power and manoeuvrability

[T33cno]

That's FIVE 

[T33cno]

  Sorted

[raflaunches]

Glad you've no longer going mad!!!
I've just got one of those older Aerokits 34" Fire Boats and must admit they are better than I expected in quality. The newer ones are laser cut items from thicker plywood and I'm amazed how much effort is required to remove the 'burnt' material from the laser cutting. Other than that they slot together exactly like the old ones.

[T33cno]

Had I found them before the tug I would probably have bought one just out of nostalgia but I did think the 46" is better furnished with fittings than the 34"
I may still buy one if I get through this.
I estimated a couple of years when I started this but since revised to June this year as I'm almost past all the bending and planking.
Just two rubbing strips left to fit then I'll be sealing and sanding below the water line moving towards getting it in the bath with all the equipment loaded. Then decks on and upwards

[ballastanksian]

Welcome Andy,

Your build looks impressive so far. Kudos for starting with a plank on frame model  I have not tried this method yet and hope your experience was not a nightmare.

[T33cno]

Hi thank you
I learned very quickly and got massive satisfaction from planking with absolute symmetry.
Billings line drawing of the planked hull is laughable and impossible but I used sense and initiative to very good effect as you I'm sure will agree when I start posting pictures some time soon in a new thread
Meanwhile some pictures where I started
https://techno.smugmug.com/Smitt-Rotterdam/

[T33cno]

[jarvo]

Hi Andy, Welcome to the forum, your statement about Billings instructions are quite typical, might have a lot to do with the language changes. Your second statement about using sense and initiative, you will go far in the modeling world, we all have problems, sometimes i cant see the wood for the trees!!!!!  never fear to ask questions, even if only for confirmation


Regards


Mark

[T33cno]

Thanks Mark

[T33cno]

A picture tonight as is

[ballastanksian]

That is becoming an attractive Model Andy. Are the stern bulwarks a single GRP casting?

[T33cno]

Thanks
No they're plank on frame on the current kit

[T33cno]

Sorry not had time yet to start a build blog but I'm up to here just now.
Next step is a grey primer followed by top coat around the Korts area before gluing the Korts in and further coats of top coats.

[T33cno]

Current gallery of 172 pictures viewable here
https://techno.smugmug.com/Smitt-Rotterdam/

[T33cno]

Weather is stopping me progressing with spray paint so I started refurbing an Afon Alaw I bought ready built.
I bought this so I had something to play with until my Rotty is ready.
I've removed everything internal and refitted it with Action Electronics and mounted everything on Paxolin which is readily available at work.

[T33cno]

What happens with my 25th post? lets see  
Today I managed a coat of red over the filler primer and the colour change has revealed further filling    but no rush I want it right

[T33cno]

   full member 

[Stavros]

Top tip here if you are concerned about indents in the hull and before you start filling give the whole hull a very light mist coat of black matt or satin then rub it down with some wet dry and see exactly where you need to fill.....the black will remain in the hollows and highlight where you need to fill




Dave

[ballastanksian]

She is coming along really nicely, the shapes you have been creating such as the bulb and that triple curve of the stern are quite complex