USCG 36' MLB (Photos of model)

Mighty handsome model, Andy. I especially like the base. (That's not intended to slight the rest of the model!) Too many modelers fail to think about how important such things as the height and spacing of the mounting stanchions can be to the appearance of a finished model. To my eye, at least, you got them just right.

I have one of those kits in my stash, and can confirm what Andy says: no clear parts. But what a grand, fun old kit. Modern modelers can make fun of the quality of those old ITC kits all they want, but the company sure picked some fascinating, worthwhile subjects.

When I was working at the Mariners' Museum, at Newport News, Va., it had one of these boats on public display. It was an absolutely fascinating thing to study; it apparently had hardly been touched since the last time it ran through the surf. I haven't set foot in that museum for quite a few years (never mind why), but I've heard that it recently got rid of many of its Coast Guard-related artifacts. I don't know whether that lifeboat is still there or not.

I have a partcular fondness for the boat that I failed to mention.
My father was OIC at Oak Island (NC) in the mid '60's. I will never forget my ride on the 36'. We had on that day the honor (along with many others) of escorting the NSS Savannah up the Cape Fear River. To a young lad it was a tremendous experience.
Andy

I consulted my father at the time of the build and believe the red is appropriate. I didn't like that particular red and have not used it since. I believe it should be darker.

The engine room is under the center cabin and those bumps may well have been "skylights".

I loss my father earlier this summer and thus my encyclopedia on CG subjects.

Andy

Andy: Nice looking boat! Goes nice with your Lindberg tug!

Thanks guys
Andy

Andy,

Where did your father serve?

I am readying to construct several of these Glencoe kits as part of a project of modelling the no-longer-standing Port Orford Lifeboat Station Boathouse ( http://www.portorfordlifeboatstation.org/boathouse.html ) and your completed model is the first I have come across online. Good Job!

I have done mostly dabbling with model railroading materials, and have decided to recreate with my son a favored place of my childhood life as a sidestep from that hobby.

The lifeboat station was decommissioned in 1970, taken over as a marine research lab by Oregon State University for several years, and then burned by arsonists in the 1978. It was a very sad day when I went down to see the building and saw only ashes.

The station itself ( http://www.portorfordlifeboatstation.org ) has been made into a museum, with one of the lifeboats recently restored and plans for development of the ruined boathouse site.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your fine model! I hope to put my own up for view soon as well (before and afters of the kit, etc.)

The best source of modelling is the original material, right?

A couple of other sites about these fine, unique boats:

http://www.pasty.com/~barbspage/MLB.HTML

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCG_motor_life_boat

This one is in full operating condition, thanks to restoration efforts:
http://www.cg36500.org/

My dad was a career man (26 yerars) and served on small boat stations, boats and ships. He retired as a W-4 Bosn. He even had command of 2 different 83's. The 83's were built out of wood and many of them saw service in the D-Day landings. As for the 36, he told me of a case in which he tested the self righting theory. Fortunately for him and the crew the design worked. He was in Mass. at the time of his service on the 36.

Thanks for the interest,
Andy

I lived on the site of the Port Orford Lifeboat Station in the late 60s when growing up. Our neighbor, Odell Flake, was the chief of the station during and after WWII. My dad would take me over to Mr. Flake's and listen to all the stories of his time in service. He had a vivid memory of his time in service, including the time a small Japanese submarine made it's little reign of terror off the coast doing some bombings.

I was looking over the web the other day and found that one of these unique lifeboats is serving in Hawaii. It was converted over, with a cabin and all, to be a tugboat!

Regarding paint colors - Bob Browning, the Coast Guard Historian, has put up a bunch of Coast Guard painting regulations from different periods (i.e., copies of the original orders) on the Historian's section of the Coast Guard website ( www.uscg.mil ). I'm not sure how much detail those orders contain regarding surfboats, but they're usually pretty thorough - and certainly reliable.

PS Look under "Historic Documents"; locate your era and then length of boat.
Andy

QUOTE: Originally posted by afulcher PS Look under "Historic Documents"; locate your era and then length of boat. Andy

Here's what I dug up, thanks to the Coast Guard Site link.

Main Historical Docs Directory Link:
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/HistDocsIndex.html

Year 1916 Painting Regulations, no pics:
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/USCG_Painting_Regs_1916.html

Year 1923 Painting Regulations, no pics:
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/USCG_Painting_Regs_1923.html

Year 1935 Painting Regulations, no pics:
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/USCG_Painting_Regs_1935.html

Year 1952 Painting Regulations:
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/USCG_Painting_Regs_1952.html
Includes this pic link, with diagram of the boat in question:
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/gifs/1952_FigureF.jpg

Year 1965 Painting Regulations:
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/USCG_Painting_Regs_1965.html

The 1965 regs show no pics for the 36 ft. MLB, but there are a few pic links for diagrams showing similarly sized boats and showing prescribed lettering arrangements for the bow of the craft.

THANKS for da linkies!

An interesting thing about this boat is that it was designed for use without motor power - mounting two masts and oars. The design was later modified for motor power, but the craft still housed the gear for "motorless propulsion" (I assume as back-up in case of engine failureI was browsing the net and found a promotional painting showing the craft in the water with oars and masts, but have yet to see it anywhere else, and of course have lost the link and am going to have to do some dredging.

I have a quandary about the research for my particular project. Regarding boats actually in the station boathouse all I know is that though the Port Orford Lifeboat Station was decommissioned officially in 1970, but my mother who grew up in Port Orford in the 1960s (graduated from High School 1965) never saw the station with boats in service, either in the boathouse or on the ramps outside, though she does recall the interior of the boathouse with its big hoist in the ceiling. Am thinking the boats may have been in the station in the 50s, but don't know of any time more recent for sure yet.

Waiting for my models to arrive in the mail so I can get cracking!