Hello all, I've been on the case of a scratch build from a basic kit, of the Italian harbour tug / fire fighting vessel from Rhard Webbs' plan & styrene pack kit, since last christmas. This will build into a largeish model overall about 33"x13"beam and a draught of 4" or so. It will also have a pair of working fire monitors and should be able to be an effective twin screwed tug. After an initial spurt of enthusiasm teh well known phase 2 of modelling kicked in and the project languished in the shed for a good few months. Now the winter nights are approaching and the time for building is back I'm definitely going to finish this one before the start of next season.
To chronicle the build would take too long and probably bore you, suffice to say the methiod of construction might intrigue some of you. Using full scale plans, you first of alll create template pieces of all the component parts you will need to cut out from the styrene sheet supplied. The first stumbling block arises when you realise the sheet sizes supplied are of insufficient length to complete any othe major hull pieces (4 of) and will necessitate joints. The second point is locating the correct type of solvent to make the suggested paste compound for fixing the styrene together. ( I can give you a telephone number if you need it. ) The 3rd is when the compound paste is so darned gloopy that it goes everywhere. Now I am a reasonably accomplished scratch builder in wood (basic designs but ones that work) and I thought this would be an easy & quick build ! How wrong I was. Now don't get me wrong here the package supplied is excellent value for money and the finished result (to whichever standard you are happy to complete at, will no doubt be well admired at the pondside) and I can recommend it to anyone who can build in styrene. There are a few nasty double curvatures to contend with and not for the faint hearted !
For the kit have a look at http://www.scalemodelboatyard.co.uk/
I'll try and keep you all up to date as I progress this one.
cheers
Jim
To chronicle the build would take too long and probably bore you, suffice to say the methiod of construction might intrigue some of you. Using full scale plans, you first of alll create template pieces of all the component parts you will need to cut out from the styrene sheet supplied. The first stumbling block arises when you realise the sheet sizes supplied are of insufficient length to complete any othe major hull pieces (4 of) and will necessitate joints. The second point is locating the correct type of solvent to make the suggested paste compound for fixing the styrene together. ( I can give you a telephone number if you need it. ) The 3rd is when the compound paste is so darned gloopy that it goes everywhere. Now I am a reasonably accomplished scratch builder in wood (basic designs but ones that work) and I thought this would be an easy & quick build ! How wrong I was. Now don't get me wrong here the package supplied is excellent value for money and the finished result (to whichever standard you are happy to complete at, will no doubt be well admired at the pondside) and I can recommend it to anyone who can build in styrene. There are a few nasty double curvatures to contend with and not for the faint hearted !
For the kit have a look at http://www.scalemodelboatyard.co.uk/
I'll try and keep you all up to date as I progress this one.
cheers
Jim
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