50 ft Thames class lifeboat

phew!!! thank the lord for that, lol

Rivets between deck and cabin and between wings and superstructure IIRC all else welded

Just checked my photos. The Window and door frames are riveted in too, as is the former "sunroof" blank.

spongie wrote:

Rivets between deck and cabin and between wings and superstructure IIRC all else welded

spongie wrote:

Just checked my photos. The Window and door frames are riveted in too, as is the former "sunroof" blank.

Not like a Waveney with multiple rivet lines!

The ones you mention aren't worth doing on the basic mouldings, they can be easily added after as you can then build it with any of the changes througout her active service.

nhp651 wrote:

phew!!! thank the lord for that, lol

was hoping you'd say that Mike, lol.......an easy job once moulded. neil.

Whilst watching paint dry on the hull plug!!  I pondered the moulding of the main cabin and what Neil proposed with regards to the wings. He said he would infill with a removable wood block to enable the rear wings to be moulded with the sides. This would need a big lump of wood or a fiddly lash up of smaller timnbers which would only be a waste. Then a light bulb went off in the old, slow brain and the answer was simples!!  Make the infill from the urethane foam (it's not affected by polyester resins   ) I use for complex bow/stern areas. Gives me something to do and saves Neil a job.

So carving knife out and laminate a big lump with pva glue. This will be left for 24 hours then shaped to fit between the wings.


Again having to wait for glue to dry this time!  I perused the drawings of the early superstructure (Waveney style front end) and it looks nothing like the "as in service" superstructure! A couple of hours, and much muttering of Anglo Saxon oaths, has produced a template of the weirdest shape for the sides of this lump.


Now need to cut out the two sides and then work out the shapes that join them together!! This will be fitted to the first hull I built with the very early bow shape.

you are a star Mike. cheers. neil.

Mike, this build is incredible. Wish I was having a fraction of the success you are.

Made the two sides and sorted out the shapes that hold them together, another bit of juggling in time and space! Much more of this and I qualify as a junior time lord!!!!


The flying bridge area at the rear of the wheelhouse bears no relationship whatsoever to what they built when it went into service.


Now the boat looks like a Waveney on steroids, it would never pass a drugs test!!!!!!

It's a delight to watch your build Mike.

                           

More varnish drying waiting time on the hull plug so more done on the early style boat.

The rear cabin has been made and all the upperworks given two coats of primer followed by the first of the colour coats.




The bow shot shows just how much camber the fore deck of the early style hull had!

I'd have slipped off that in bad weather, lol

Thought you all might like to see BOTH the variants of the Thames side by side.




The head on shot shows the much reduced deck camber at the bows.

Having a day off tomorrow, going to the Kirklees Model Boat Club open day in Batley.  

long day off this mike...


some of us (read me...) have nothing better to do so have been staring at the screen non stop waiting to see an update  

Not many people are crazy enough to want to see holes being cut in the hull and the running gear installed along with the r/c control system as when you've seen it done once you've seen them all!! Also the hull plug just looks the same after every going over with finer grit paper (now using 1000 grit paper).

Much more fun to see what happens when you go to the lake for the primary sea trails.   

My son has been building the 'production version' of the boat alongside my builds and this morning we did something on the lake that was impossible in full size. BOTH versions of the SAME BOAT on the water together!!   


Short video of the trails from this morning.

Hopefully we shall get a chance to see both model and real thing together at some point!

They look good on the water Mike well done.           

Started to add the details to the hull.

First the two foot wells in the deck that allowed the crew to reach people in the water easier. These were covered with a hinged metal grill when not in use and on this model will be dummy ones.

Deck marked up and the top surface removed.


The bottom filled in with a thinner piece of ply.


Painted matt black to give the illusion of depth.


Metal grill cut to size and glued in place flush with the deck surface.

Mike, am I now thinking that the plugs for the moulding are ready for laying up???.

if so what do you wish to do about exchanging them so I can mould...............I will be in Bradford on Monday 11th August after my holiday in Scotland to pick up a new puppy for my daughter.......if it's ready could we meet somewhere around there. neil.

nhp651 wrote:

Mike, am I now thinking that the plugs for the moulding are ready for laying up???.

if so what do you wish to do about exchanging them so I can mould...............I will be in Bradford on Monday 11th August after my holiday in Scotland to pick up a new puppy for my daughter.......if it's ready could we meet somewhere around there. neil.

You are not wrong Neil !

Just giving them a going over with rubbing compound and I was going to sort things out with you this weekend. When are you going away?

If you are in Bradord, it's a big place, then it's only about 15 mins on the M62/M1 to where I live.

Would that mean I could pick the plug and mouldings up at Blackpool show?? 

Mike

Hi Mike.......yes, think I'd have them ready for then. will be in the northern suberbs of Bradford on Monday august 11th around lunch time if that would be ok to you.

neil.

Love it when a plan comes together. Sadly gents it looks like 50-001 may not be saved by us after all so the models will have to be blooming good ;-)

Holiday over and back to work on the boats!

A couple of days heating, bending and burning fingers and the mast has been made and fitted. The helm back support is of the Waveney style as not only did this boat have several bow shapes, superstructure fronts, upper steering positions she also had three styles of back support/guard rails. Talk about standardisation of parts!!



The wind deflector around the top of the wheelhouse has also been made and fitted.



More soon.

Looking really nice Mike.

wow, Mike, that is looking superb............hopefully I will be starting on the moulds later this week........been polishing them but it's hard with the kids off school as they wanna go out.......................been to liddypool this day.......................and so back to school Friday and will get cracking. neil.

Bit further on with the early configuration boat build.

The doors for the wheelhouse and the rear cabin have been made and fitted. Unusually for a boat with orange upper works the doors were white.



The hatch made earlier has been fitted on the forward superstructure and the rope bin under the windows made and fitted. The white box at the front was where the rockets, flare etc were kept.


I have also been bending and brazing steel rods again, this time for the bow pulpit and the stern rails.



She is now looking more and more like a Waveney that's been at the steroids again !!

WOW that's stunning Mike.  

Damien wrote:

WOW that's stunning Mike.  

I wouldn't say stunning Damien, but it's getting there. It will be interesting to see both varients when the modified hull is moulded.


Mike

gribeauval wrote:

Damien wrote:

WOW that's stunning Mike.  

I wouldn't say stunning Damien,
Mike

I WOULD......great stuff ...........and great to see you at work....neil.

Your biased Neil, now get back in the shed and get moulding !!    


Mike

Mike,

Just for informations sake, the white doors were carried over onto the second superstructure, not sure how long for before they were painted orange though.

The exhausts on the stern have been fitted and the numbers for the boat made using Photoshop and waterslide decal paper.


More burnt fingers and bent hot metal has resulted in the rest of the handrails for the boat.

Made and fitted the strips on the superstructures that represent the myriad of bolts that hold them to the deck on the full size boat. Also the air intakes for the engines fitted on both Port and Starboard sides.


The boat name has been added to the rear cabin and is done in one of the early styles without the backing.


At the stern the liferaft has been constructed and fitted onto its quick release mounting.


On the rear face of the main cabin the large tow post has been done, the access steps made, the rest of the handrails bent and fitted, the fire hose holder complete with hose added and the reel for the tow rope put together from bits out of the spares box.


Another general view of the boat as she is this lunchtime.

Looking quite incredible mike,

Love the flying bridge detailing as its coming along.

Decided today to make the stanchions for the deck edge today.

These are not the current ball stanchions used on lifeboats today but are the older "tubes on rods" type. These are made as a "comb like lump" to get the lower tube in the correct place on all the stanchions.

Rods and tubes pinned in place on a heat resistant plate.


After the application of heat and brazing filler rod the result is a metal "comb".


Each section is then cut off with a mini drill and cutting disc, trimmed up and cleaned followed by painting to give a stanchion ready to fit in place.


Rest will be cut free and done tomorrow.

WOW Mike that is certainly dedication to scale 

A bit further on.

A micro servo was modified for constant rotation and placed on the mast.


All the stanchions have now been trimmed, painted, bases made and then fitted onto the deck.


I think that is the last of the finger burning needed on this boat!!

I'm sure your fingers will be pleased Mike It's looking superb Mike. 

More details added without the smell of burning fingers!!.

The back boards for the navigation lights are now in place. When the boat had the revised wheelhouse fitted these were moved up onto the mast.


The lifting plates on the hull have been fitted.


On the fore deck the twin post mooring bitt has been fixed into the deck and the electric winch made and positioned.


The large vent pipes from the rear superstructure have been added as well as the shorter deck vents on either side.



Finally for now the main anchor and its supports have been made and fitted onto the Starboard side fore deck.

Thanks guys.  

Looks like it will make it to Blackpool after all!


Mike

More bits made and fitted onto the boat.

The drains for the two footwells have been fitted in place. These are dummies on this model as the wells are also dummies!


The life rings and their holders are also now in place.


The axe and Danforth anchor have been made and fitted to the front of the rear superstructure.


On the front superstructure the rope locker has now had its cloth cover (real painted cloth!!) fitted in place.


At the stern the removable (to prevent damage in transit) Jack Staff has been made and fitted.


The handrails between the deck edge stanchions are now in place long with the grab ropes on the hull and are all visible on these overall views of the boat as she is at the moment with more work to be done.

Added some more of the fittings.

The window frames and the wipers in place.


The flying bridge position has been fitted out with instruments etc.


One of the crew is now on board.


The container that holds the pyrotechnics on the front of the superstructure now contains the switches for the lighting, radar etc.


Short video 'look around' of the boat as she is currently.

looking brilliant Mike.................I'll crack it with the mould soon. neil.

Spent this afternoon with the smell of burning flesh again!!  This time it was a soldering iron and the wiring of the lights etc to the switches.

All the functions are now operated by the four switches in the pyrotechnics box and a battery pack inside the wheelhouse.


Navigation lights present, correct and working.


Fore deck illumination.


Illumination between wheelhouse and rear cabin.


Searchlight on the bridge is connected to the deck light switch.


Towing floodlight on the rear face of the stern cabin is controlled by its own switch/battery inside the rear cabin.


The radar and flashing blue mast head light are also connected.

Took the Thames to the Blackpool show yesterday as part of the Lifeboat Enthuisiasts Society display. The visitors were interested in her history as an unusual boat, especially when the ones who thought it was a Waveney were enlightened!

On the water she performed well within the confines of the indoor pool and this picture shows her with the Arun (centre) and the Severn (right) that followed her after she left Falmouth to go to Dover.


Short clip taken by my son of her on the water


Click for direct link

That's all for this build, I hope you enjoyed watching her birth as much as I did building her.

Mike

excellent build, sails brilliantly, enjoyed the building  very much

david