Topic: RTR Tug rebuild (Read 19229 times)

gribeauval · « **on:** February 25, 2008, 05:18:06 pm »

As a change from building my usual lifeboats I bought one of the Seaport RTR Workboats on ebay last week and decided to rebuild it to look less toylike.

First all the screws and fittings were removed and all the hull interior mouldings, except the ones used for the deck screws, were removed as well as the water ballast tank/pump just leaving the motor and shaft in place. I also cut away all the deck under the superstructure to give maximum access and all the holes in the deck were filled.

The main superstructure had the front glued in place, the wheeelhouse moved forward and the exhaust stacks moved from the sides to the rear. The mast was replaced with one from a Graupner small Lifeboat kit I had lying around and the rear winch replaced with a tow hook.

The whole thing was then sprayed with grey primer ready to start detailing and repainting as well as fitting new servos, radio etc.

offshore1987 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2008, 05:52:11 pm »

Very swish

Looks 10x better :)

What kinda primer did you use?

All the best

DickyD · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2008, 05:55:32 pm »

Very nice, though very surprised to see you do it as your builds tend to be a little more complicated.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:47:26 pm »

Isn't it annoying how easy Gribeauval makes it look!

gribeauval · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2008, 07:17:59 pm »

Quote from: DickyD on February 25, 2008, 05:55:32 pm

Very nice, though very surprised to see you do it as your builds tend to be a little more complicated.

At the moment I am in the middle of a complex 35'6" Self Righting Motor Lifeboat build/research project and I occasionally need a change of pace in building!

This is my equivalent of sitting and twiddling my thumbs

Quote from: offshore1987 on February 25, 2008, 05:52:11 pm

Very swish Looks 10x better :)

What kinda primer did you use?

All the best

I buy the primer at the local Pound Shop, it's cheap and covers very well.

DickyD · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2008, 07:24:23 pm »

Great, my modelling skills are on a par with you twiddling your thumbs. Should I feel upset ?

gribeauval · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2008, 07:33:35 pm »

Quote from: DickyD on February 25, 2008, 07:24:23 pm

Great, my modelling skills are on a par with you twiddling your thumbs. Should I feel upset ?

Only if you want to be Richard!

I look at some other peoples work and think that it's time for me to give up! :(

Mike

DickyD · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2008, 07:39:51 pm »

No Mike I'm not upset, just envious of your modelling skills or should it be shipbuilding skills.
Its a case of each to their own isnt it and I know my limitations.

Any more on your other build ?

gribeauval · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2008, 08:12:59 pm »

Quote from: DickyD on February 25, 2008, 07:39:51 pm

No Mike I'm not upset, just envious of your modelling skills or should it be shipbuilding skills.
Its a case of each to their own isnt it and I know my limitations.
Any more on your other build ?

And I know my limits as well Richard !! Why do you think I only build big models these days ! ::) I just can't seem to deal with small scale scratchbuilds these days.

The lifeboat came about when an gentleman bought the old lifeboat station at Whitehills in Scotland and wanted a model of the boat it was built for to keep in it when its conversion is finished. This is the picture that started the ball rolling. If you are interested I may post the build on the forum.

Red_Hamish · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2008, 08:23:16 pm »

Hello all, Gribevaul you've done it again, excellent stuff to entice people to tackle something different,
Going slightly Off topic, sorry, I'm finding out a lot more about Whitehills as I get older. For all the times I've been there I'd never noticed the old shed's purpose. My family all originate from there or there abouts.

cheers

Jim

DickyD · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2008, 08:35:33 pm »

Go for it Mike, really enjoyed the last one.
Cant have to many builds on here, they have been a bit sparse lately.

Mr Andy · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2008, 11:21:12 pm »

Just stripped my hull the shaft came out no problem, looking at yours you give me inspiration.

Andy.

bigford · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2008, 01:48:39 am »

Mike

in the pic you posted what is the tank looking thing in the boat?

DickyD · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2008, 08:10:59 am »

Quote from: bigford on February 26, 2008, 01:48:39 am

Mike

in the pic you posted what is the tank looking thing in the boat?

If you mean between the stacks, its a liferaft canister. Think Mikes having a lie in.

gribeauval · « **Reply #14 on:** February 26, 2008, 07:54:53 pm »

Quote from: DickyD on February 26, 2008, 08:10:59 am

Quote from: bigford on February 26, 2008, 01:48:39 am
Mike

in the pic you posted what is the tank looking thing in the boat?
If you mean between the stacks, its a liferaft canister. Think Mikes having a lie in.

No, just been busy spraying the hull of the tug and working on the lifeboat.

gribeauval · « **Reply #15 on:** February 27, 2008, 07:24:54 pm »

The tug has now been painted and is ready for naming, detailing and the r/c gear fitting.

gribeauval · « **Reply #16 on:** February 29, 2008, 07:24:56 pm »

Finally named the Tug, chickened out and called it after the wife!! Brownie points are always usefull to modellers.

The tow hook is now bolted to the deck moulding so when towing it will have to rip the deck off to free itself.
The rear deck now needs cluttering up as, at the moment, it looks a little sparse. Also I will keep an eye out for some crew over the weekend. I know I can buy ready made but I enjoy finding and modifiying cheap figures!
Definitly looks a lot different to the staring 'model tug'.

Mike

bosun · « **Reply #17 on:** February 29, 2008, 07:55:06 pm »

That has certainly started the ball rolling for me, just put my order in for one. Cracking job gribeauval.
Bosun

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #18 on:** February 29, 2008, 07:57:32 pm »

MY wife will be most please to see you named the tug after her.....Hang on a minute, how do you know my wife?!?!?!

DickyD · « **Reply #19 on:** February 29, 2008, 08:01:03 pm »

Very nice Mike must get mine finished when I feel up to it.

gribeauval · « **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2008, 02:38:15 pm »

I have finally found time to finish fitting out the tug over the weekend! The large bore fire mains have been fitted to the monitors and the gobeye for controlling the tow rope bolted through the rear deck. The deck was screwed back in place with a spot of grease on the seal to keep out the water, this allows access to the motor/propshaft/steering if needed without destroying anything.

A search through the spares box turned up a servo for the steering and an old servo mounted 'Bob's Board' controller for the motor. The nicads (9.6v and 1700 milliamp wired in parallel) were also found in the spares box and helped a great deal with the ballasting. In the test tank it was tethered to the taps and and left to run at full throttle for 10 mins non stop without getting more than just warm so should be fun when the weather improves out on the lakes!

More clutter will be added over time as well as tyres/fenders when suitable ones turn up.

hama · « **Reply #21 on:** March 27, 2008, 11:30:47 pm »

That looks so good. I am still amazed what can be done to these tugs, no conversion looks like the other. Might try moving my wheelhouse a little bit forward as well. BTW, it is a nice hull, isn't it? I saw a tug called Tai Koo somewhere on the internet, its quite obvious that the designer of the Dicky tug borrowed several details from her such as funnels, mast, wheelhouse, crane etc. Anyway, nice tug you got!!
Hama.

gribeauval · « **Reply #22 on:** April 02, 2008, 11:38:58 am »

I took the tug out for her sea trials this morning. The look on the water is great as is the bow/stern waves when under way. The manouvering is very impressive, both ahead and astern!!

All in all I am very pleased with the final result and will add 'clutter' over time when the mood takes me and I need to 'twiddle my thumbs' again.

http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/gribeauval/?action=view&current=PICT0003.flv

DickyD · « **Reply #23 on:** April 02, 2008, 11:48:45 am »

Looks great Mike. Now youve floated it I suppose you will be getting rid of it ?

gribeauval · « **Reply #24 on:** April 02, 2008, 11:58:43 am »

Quote from: DickyD on April 02, 2008, 11:48:45 am

Looks great Mike. Now youve floated it I suppose you will be getting rid of it ?

Not this time, I built and named it for my wife to dabble with!!

Brownie points are always useful !!

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Author Topic: RTR Tug rebuild (Read 19229 times)

offshore1987

Mr Andy

bigford

hama