Group Scratch Build

Were you thinking of a single ship, or related class?  In ships of that era, why POB?  Why not leave hull construction open to modeler.

Don Stauffer

Were you thinking of a single ship, or related class?  In ships of that era, why POB?  Why not leave hull construction open to modeler.

Don,

I'm not stuck on any particular subject. As I mentioned, I have some preferences, but other than subject type, period, and scale, I'm flexible. Concerning POB (or POF), it's what I do, and for a group build where we're helping each other in progress, it seems to me we should be all on the same track.

But bottom line, lets negotiate.  

Here are representative photos of some of the models for which I have plans. Sorry for the quality; best I can do; this is just to give a idea. There are 4 additional sets of plans I'm not showing here at present, because of the difficulty of editing images representative of the models. I'll get to them later. BTW, I'll send the complete set of any of these to you via email on request.

Calypso

Columbia

 Consul_Pust

Guzelhisar

Hermes

Joffre

Lilka

Strongbow

 USCG Buoy Tender

Some of those look pretty big for 1:35 scale.  If it were an RC model that is one thing. I don't think I'd like to build a non-operating model much bigger than about two feet, though.

One subject I would love to build I am sure you would not have plans for. I have intended for several years to draw my own plans, but I have misplaced my pictures of the craft. It was a general working scow belonging to a company that did construction work around harbors and marinas, and was obviously home-built.

It was built on a barge, had a pilothouse and engine compartment with a small engine.  There was a very small crane, maybe one salvaged from a tow truck but on a simple homemade turntable. Slapped on coat of paint and lots of dents, rust, and weathering!

You're right. My limit is about 36" for static models. I mentioned 1/35 with R/C in mind. I had seen plans for a vessel something like what you describe (barge with a wheelhouse) on a website where some of my plans came from. I just looked at it, and as luck would have it, it's been hacked. You might want to check back on it occasionally to see if it's been fixed.

 http://www.freeshipplans.com/

I will watch with interest.

For the last two years I have taken pictures of a Lake Superior fishing boat, long out of service, but preserved in a park in Two Harbors, MN.  I have done my own scale drawings of smaller ships and cars before, so am familiar with photography to minimize distortion.  My intent is to make scale drawings and then build a model. I believe boat is about 60 feet long, so would make a great model in 1:36, 1:35, or 1:72 scale.  An accompaning placard gives history and major dimensions, so I did not have to get out my tape measure. It is a typical great lakes fisherman, completely enclosed, no open deck. I'll post a couple of pics if anyone interested.

By all means post the photos if you have them. I might be interested in such a subject, but for a vessel that size I would build in 1/12 or 1/20 scale, and POB.  I don't suppose it would matter much if we were to work in different scales, as long as the process & materials were otherwise similar.

bondoman

I will watch with interest.

Bill, How about participating?

I'd like to, but I have never built up a boat hull before. Is the model limited to wood, or could it be plastic? Is the prototype wood always, or do you do POB and then smooth it out to be, or clad it, for a steel hull?

bondoman

I'd like to, but I have never built up a boat hull before. Is the model limited to wood, or could it be plastic? Is the prototype wood always, or do you do POB and then smooth it out to be, or clad it, for a steel hull?

 

Bill, To answer your questions see my log at /forums/t/132734.aspx?PageIndex=1 . The process would be very much like this, and as I mentioned before, I think we should all be on the same or a parallel track with these methods. Don't be concerned about inexperience. Any modeler with your experience should do just fine, and group building is a fine way to get into these methods, where other participants are at hand to give specific help.

OK. Sounds fun. I suppose the thing to do would be a small boat of some sort.

EDIT: I just looked at your build. A VERY small boat. Where is your favorite source for drawings?

http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/NPS_Fir_HAER_Report.pdf

Please look at pages 35-39 and give me your opinion on whether or not there's enough there to build the hull?

bondoman

OK. Sounds fun. I suppose the thing to do would be a small boat of some sort.

EDIT: I just looked at your build. A VERY small boat. Where is your favorite source for drawings?

 

I bought my bunker boat plans from http://www.ebay.com/sch/vergina123/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&_trksid=p3984 . They have many others on CD for $5-7. I've downloaded several others from http://www.freeshipplans.com but as I mentioned previously that site has been hacked and isn't fixed yet, if it ever will be. In short, my favorite site is where I can find them, cheap or free. You can take any of these to Kinko and have them lofted to any scale.

If I built this ship it's 175 feet long. Too big at 1/48 for my purposes, and I like 1/72. Is that a good ship scale? In terms of fittings etc. being available. Otherwise 1/96 but then the details are getting a little finicky.

bondoman

http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/NPS_Fir_HAER_Report.pdf

Please look at pages 35-39 and give me your opinion on whether or not there's enough there to build the hull?

There appears to be more than enough info there, assuming that those plan sheets can be lofted to scale and retain their clarity.

BTW, I have an other plan set for a USCG buoy tender. I can send you a set if you wish, but it's about 12mb of files including many pages of instructions in English and just one plan sheet. which however shows adequate detail for construction,  including all the bulkhead templates.

bondoman

If I built this ship it's 175 feet long. Too big at 1/48 for my purposes, and I like 1/72. Is that a good ship scale? In terms of fittings etc. being available. Otherwise 1/96 but then the details are getting a little finicky.

I'd build it at 1/35 and R/C it but 1/72 is certainly a good scale for a static model, and fittings should be available although no guarantees. It bears mentioning, I'm not a purist when it comes to adhering faithfully to the original. If I can;t get the fitting in 1/39, I'll cheerfully accept 1/35.

The most comprehensive inventory of fittings I've found is at Cornwall Model Boats. You might look there at fittings in that scale.

So would this ship qualify for your GB?

I've been collecting information on her for awhile, because I love lighthouses and go to every one I can. I have no doubt that I will never progress beyond the hull stage, but this would be very fun to do. Former lighthouse tender, now a historic landmark.

USCG "Fir" (WLM-212)

BTW took these pictures on my lunch break a mile from my office last summer. I work right down by the waterfront and go down every time I can to watch the ships come and go. A real blessing.

What would qualify would be largely up to the participants. Don Stauffer has indicated a preference. I've mentioned some of my criteria for a subject. Your buoy tender certainly qualifies. Lets see who else may want to come aboard and try to form a concensus. It's all grist for the mill.

My daughter won't be back home until the end of the month with my modeling stuff, and as I said I still have maybe a month after that to finish my current project, so I would probably be a late starter.

At least one of you wanted to see the Great Lakes fishing boat, so here it is.

I have square on shots from three more directions, but no top-down shot. I'd have to draw planform from the other views, but don't see that as a show stopper. I do intend to do drawings soon, and then build her, probably starting in early 2012.  I would do it as a solid hull (bread & butter, actually) with an cavity in middle to leave one of the doors open.  Would also do the cockpit/bridge as a built up area.

Don,

I for one, find that boat quite without character. I would not be interested in building her, but if your heart is set on it, good luck with it. Also, I might be persuaded to build a bread & butter hull, but reluctantly. POB is really my thing.

I'll shortly post some more candidates for consideration.

Here are pics of 4 more plan sets in my possession. As before, sorry about the quality.

Fireboat

Granit

Kutter

Mistral

As before, I'll send any of these sets to anyone who requests them.

Hi Rich,

Could you please send me the plans for the Calypso?

Thanks

matt

mtarnold@hotmail.com

Rich- is there an approved list?

More importantly, I have the ability to have my folks draw the parts and have my fabricators make them, but I'd rather do it my self. What are the first five tools I have to have?

Watchmann

Hi Rich,

Could you please send me the plans for the Calypso?

Thanks

matt

mtarnold@hotmail.com

They're in the mail (about 3mb of files)

bondoman

Rich- is there an approved list?

More importantly, I have the ability to have my folks draw the parts and have my fabricators make them, but I'd rather do it my self. What are the first five tools I have to have?

Here's a pretty good list from Model Ship World (most of which you probably already have). http://modelshipworld.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=705 . 

I agree with it in general with the following exceptions:

What he shows as the "starter kit" dhould include The Dremel tool, Soldering iron, and Hammer from his "intermediate" list, and the Vernier Caliper from his "advanced" list. I have never used his plank nipper, but I know it''s a handy tool (I may eventualy get one myself). You don't need to buy a keel clamp; if your building board doesn't secure the keel, you can easily make one. You won't be happy with an ordinary vise. If you don't have one, get a Panavise. Also, add to this list one of those "Helping hands" 3rd Hand work holders. He refers to "White Glue" (PVA). I would buy nothing but the best grade of Titebond" because the clamp time is half of other PVAs. I would not use CA glue for anything but the temporary holding of workpieces; it's no good for wood.

Concerning power tools, I get by very nicely with: a 16" scroll saw, a 30"X6" belt/disk sander, and the work station (drill press) attachment 220-01 and the flex shaft attachment 225-01 for the Dremel tool. You're going to make a lot of sawdust, so a shop vac is essential. You may already know that you can source these tools cheaply at CPO or Harbor Freight.

For when I win the lottery I will add a small metal lathe (like unimat), a thickness sander, a 4" table saw, and an airbrush & paint booth, but I get by well enough without them.

I probably forgot something (the mind is the second thing to go).

Rich

Watchmann:

Hi Rich,

Could you please send me the plans for the Calypso?

Thanks

matt

mtarnold@hotmail.com

 

They're in the mail (about 3mb of files)

I got 'em, Rich.  Thanks so much!

matt

I posted a photo before of Strongbow. She represents a British steam tug, sometimes attributed to the John Hardie works in Glascow. However, the records of that enterprise show no such vessel, so it's thought that she's just a model of the type. The plans are model specific, very popular in scratch modeling circles. The plans printed at their current scale will yield a model of about 23" LOA. The scale is 1/75 which makes the RW vessel about 143' long. The plans are annotated in German, but are very clear and complete. I've always wanted to build a paddler; never got a round toit. I'd love to build her at 1/35 and R/C her. What would you think of her as a subject?

Thank you Rich. I have it all except the table saw (I have a full size one) and a good drill press. Or a keel clamp but that sounds kind of optional with a little ingenuity.

I feel pretty confident as far as the bulkhead assembly and keel goes, but I have no idea how to plank the hull. Off to do some research.