Innehållsförteckning för November 2022 från Model Boats

Way back in August-September 2021 issues of Model Boats I covered the installation of a twin water jet drive in a hull that was to become a coastal Finnish missile boat, Tornio – a model principally designed and built to demonstrate the installation and effectiveness of this type of drive (see Photo 1). Once satisfied the principle worked, my attention then shifted to the construction of the boat’s main superstructure. “I find myself increasingly drawn back to using what was once, during the 1950s and ‘60s, the favoured material for construction of all types of model boats… Its appeal isn’t anything to do with nostalgia – there’s a far more practical rational to it than that.” Finnish focused Although in this, Part 1, I will be explaining how I went…

Flotsam & Jetsam John Parker explains the historical significance of these Australian riverboats, trips on which are a hugely popular tourist attraction today, and the prospects for modellers… The Murray is Australia’s longest river, running 2,508 kilometres westwards from the Australian Alps, where it forms the border between Victoria and New South Wales, and then south-westwards to reach the sea near Goolwa in South Australia. Flowing through much of the country’s fertile farmland, its potential to form an important transport link was obvious as western settlement opened the land up in the 19th century. The river craft that evolved to take advantage of this liquid highway were well adapted to local conditions, and thus unique to this part of the world. Riverboat design The Murray has no sea entry (the…

Letters can either be forwarded via email to editor@modelboats.co.uk or via post to Readers’ Letters, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR Mayflower rescue In the August issue of Model Boats was a letter from Valerie Cummins. Her husband John had built a model of the Mayflower, the ship which conveyed the Plymouth Bretheren across the Atlantic in 1620. John had completed the hull and deck outfit, but declining eyesight precluded him from tackling the rigging. Could anyone help? I wrote in, offering to complete the vessel, and she was brought up to Suffolk on July 26. An entertaining hour or two was spent with John and Valerie. John, long retired, had been an engineer with Napier, and we had long discussions about the Napier Deltic…

You may remember in the September 2022 issue of Model Boats it was announced that resin figure manufacturer ModelU had started producing a range of new figures aimed at the model boat market (see Photo 1). I followed this up in the October 2022 issue with a brief explanation of the company’s manufacturing process, i.e., how real-life figures are scanned in order to create perfectly scaled down replicas, and an overview of the new 3D printed crew figures. So, as ModelU had been kind enough to send me a couple of unpainted sample figures to examine, the next step seemed fairly obvious! I have previously written on the topic of adding figures to model boats (see the November 2021 issue of Model Boats Magazine) but this time around I will…

Ship specifications and timeline LOA: 116 ft 3 ins LBP: 104 ft Moulded breadth: 23ft Engine: Crossley diesel 6-cylinder two-stroke turbocharged 550 BHP Original owners: Putford Enterprises Ltd. Timeline: 1975: Converted to North Sea Standby safety ship, fishing registration cancelled. 1982: Advertised for sale at £60,000 1985: Re-engined 1993: Sold for possible use as restaurant; left Lowestoft on 13 July bound for Sheerness. 1994: Advertised for sale at £50,000 1994: Detained off Cornwall after caught drug smuggling. 1999: Laid up at Falmouth, last seen half sunken and subsequently broken up. This plan illustrates Woodleigh, a near water trawler which was one of a series of similar vessels built by Richards Ironworks Ltd of Lowestoft for a number of owners. Woodleigh, carrying port registration number LT240, was completed in May 1960…

JSC’s latest kit (or perhaps that should more accurately read ‘set’, as it includes not just a single ship but is rather a 4-in-1 package) continues the World War II naval theme nicely. The new kit/set allows the modeller to represent four of the vessels which took part in the famous rescue of over 338,000 Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk between May 26 and 4 June 4, 1940; this mass evacuation being given the designation of Operation Dynamo. The kit is presented in the now familiar A4 booklet format of paper pages for text and templates from quality white card stock used for the colour printed model components. The front cover of this kit is illustrated with an evocative painting by Roy Garget, showing the Medway Queen laden…

Of all the model boats I’ve constructed, it’s the live steam powered models that have given me the most pleasure. Many of the fellow model boat enthusiasts I’ve encountered pondside have expressed real interest, too, but most of their comments tend to be along the lines of “I’d love to build one myself, but I just don’t have the necessary skills or equipment”. This series of articles, then, is intended to dispel such views, even amongst those with little or no boat building experience and/or limited access to tools and workshop facilities. My intention is to show how you can ‘semi scratch build’ a live steamboat, based on the Victorian river launch Laura. If you choose to take up the challenge, the end result will be a radio-controlled model measuring…

The ‘Roller Ship’ As a modeller attracted by the unusual, while recently pondering my next project I came across the Ernest Bazin, a subject even more curious and quirky than my round Ironclad Vitse-Admiral Popov (see the April 2022 edition of Model Boats). Now, if I proposed you build a model of a vessel that was square, with six wheels, a screw and sails, what would you say? I’ll forgive you that one! I, however, was absolutely fascinated by the concept, and decided this was a challenge I just couldn’t overlook. This ‘Roller Ship’ was an unconventional and unsuccessful ship design of the late 19th century, intended to be propelled by means of large wheels. The first and only operational roller ship ever built, the concept for the 280-ton Ernest-Bazin…

Hibernia I am sending you photos of my latest model, Hibernia, a paddle steamer which saw service on the River Tamar from Millbrook to Northcorner (1904-1908). She was delivered for the 1904 season, with a capacity for 366 passengers. She burnt 15 tons of coal per week and was equipped with steam steering gear. She became the first pleasure steamer in Plymouth to boast electric lighting. My model was scratch built plank on frame to 1:43 (G) from a plan courtesy of the National Maritime Museum. I was asked by Saltash Heritage Museum to make this vessel, which will be on display from October this year. JAMES THOMPSON EMAIL She’s magnificent, James! I quickly Googled the Saltash Heritage Museum (https://saltash. org/Saltash-Heritage/museum.html) and, as well as being able to view Hibernia,…