1890-1914 TBD Models?

I think some of the card model companies have a few in larger scales. You could use them as templates on plastic sheet and scratchbuild a pretty good one. That's what Jeff Herne says he does, so I'm sure it's a solid tehnique.

I think that scratchbuilding is beyond my skills at this point in time. Thanks for the reply.

I'm pretty sure there's never been a plastic kit for such a vessel, but you might check out the various resin kit manufacturers. I think I remember a 1/350 resin Bainbridge (the "first American destroyer"), and I know Combrig makes several 1/700 Russian torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers from the Russo-Japanese War period. I suspect there are some German ones out there too.

A good place to start is the Steel Navy website ( www.steelnavy.com ), whose home page has links to virtually all the resin manufacturers. If you find one you like, Pacific Front Hobbies is a good place to order it; that firm also has a link on the Steel Navy home page.

Good luck. You're right: they're attractive and historically important ships.

It's not that difficult Dave...really. Get a card model...and instead of cutting the parts from paper, cut them from sheet plastic, using the paper parts as templates. Yes, you'll need to paint it and add fittings, but if you choose a commercially available scale like 1/192 or 1/96 (since the subject is small in size), you'll have no trouble finding hatches, scuttles, portholes, ladders, etc...

Are you looking for something like this?



If you are, this would be a simple scratchbuild, probably a good choice for a first attempt.

Jeff

You could even practice up by building the card model first. If you photcopied or scanned them before you start cutting, you'd still have a template set when you tried the plastic version, not to mention the potential for blowing up or down to a different scale. Card models are fun and a unique challenge ... I destroyed a couple before I got the techniques right.

Does anyone know of any card companies that make kits of the early torpedo boats? I need to scratch a model of the USS Du Pont (TB-7), and if I could find a card model of her (or the Porter), it would save me a lot of grief- no plans that I have been able to find so far.

-Devin

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jeff Herne It's not that difficult Dave...really. Get a card model...and instead of cutting the parts from paper, cut them from sheet plastic, using the paper parts as templates. Yes, you'll need to paint it and add fittings, but if you choose a commercially available scale like 1/192 or 1/96 (since the subject is small in size), you'll have no trouble finding hatches, scuttles, portholes, ladders, etc... Are you looking for something like this? If you are, this would be a simple scratchbuild, probably a good choice for a first attempt. Jeff

Thanks Jeff, yes that is the type of ship that I would like to build. I think that the lines of the old TBD's are just stunning. I actually have a book on TBDs that has 1/96 scale plans which I could use. Well at least I THINK it is 1/96...the plan says 1/8"=1'. I might even buy some card this weekend and just "play" around.

Something to remember with scratchbuilding...don't look at the overall model...it'll discourage you...look at each component of the model in it's basic form...and if you have to, break those components into basic shapes...a funnel a cylinder, a deckhouse a box, etc...chances are, if you can't break a part down into basic shapes, then there's a commercial fitting out there you can use, anchors, davits, cleats, bollards, bitts, liferafts, guns, etc...

If you do the hull, here's some advice...you can use the bread-and-butter method of shaping the hull from wood, or...you can use my method of doing a hull.

Cut your frames from plastic and lay them to a keel strip (like you were going to plank it). Once you have the frames in place, plank the hull with blue painter's tape (3m masking tape). Make sure the hull is sealed up and has no holes...start filling the hull compartments with resin, be sure not to pour too much too fast, as it does release heat that can warp or even melt the plastic frames. Once the hull is filled with resin and it's had a chance to cure, remove the masking tape. Sand the hull, and when the plastic from the frames begins to show through the resin, you've got the proper shape.

Flat sand the deck (if appropriate) and laminate a plastic scribed sheet of grooved plastic if you're doing a wood deck...or...laminate strips of wood to the deck. Then build your ship from there.... it sounds complex, but I was able to do a destroyer hull in 1/192 in about 2-3 hours. It actually took longer to sand the hull, but the results are superb.

I would suggest going to www.digitalnavy.com and downloading one of their free kits, and using that as a template. They actually have a model of V108 online. It's small enough that it can classified as an 'experiment' with minimal expense.

Jeff

Way cool ...

Thanks for all of the great advice Jeff. I really like the way you "cast" you ships in resin....a brillant idea !

Strolling back through the archives I came across this..

No one mentioned it but LoneStar Models makes a resin & white metal USS Winslow (TB-5) in 1:192 scale.

The Winslow was instrumental in the Battle of Cienfuegas during the Spanish-American War. IIRC, one of the few CMOH of the SA war were awarded to one of her crewmen. The kit is split horizontally at the hull allowing for a waterline presentation. The white metal stacks are shallow at the top. I cast copies in resin and bored them out. The one-pounder guns are acceptable as are the torpedo tubes and collapsible boats. You will need to purchase some 1:192 or 1:200 scale railing from an aftermarket supplier to complete the boat. At 45 bux it is a good buy for a unique craft.

were you looking for anything like Velox? if so then there are LOADS of books and references on her...

Deans Marine makes an "F" or Tribal Class from the 1905-1908 period

There is also a Yarrows 125 ft TB by Chylds Hall Model Shipyard There is a review in Range Finder section of September's Model Boat. You might try www.modelboats.co.uk for more information.

Hope this provides you with some leads. If you decided to go the card route then I would suggest Model Boat again as there seems to be a significant number of card models listed in the ads. Card models aren't overly popular in NA but I have seen some very impressive ones.

Usual disclaimers about not having a financial interest in any of the above.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Raverdave I think that scratchbuilding is beyond my skills at this point in time. Thanks for the reply.

Scratchbuilding from sheet styrene is actually easier than I thought it would be, I started out just making tool boxes and such and within a year of using the stuff I'm building complete fire apparatus bodies from scratch. Once you get the basic techniques down the rest is just figuring out how things are put together. It is alot of fun and opens up alot of new builds, I was always an OOB builder now I rarely finish anything without at least a little customization.






These are completely scratchbuilt and I've only been playing with this stuff since a year ago May. Evergreen makes a decent book on scratchbuilding with styrene, if you decide to give it a shot you may find it helpful.

I hope you decide to give it a try its fun, Good Luck.