Next model, Severn Progress?

This topic has 17 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 3 days, 3 hours ago by Stephen Garrad.

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4 July 2026 at 22:16 #128307
Stephen Garrad
Participant
@stephengarrad28964
Ive been thinking about my next model for a while & have decided it is to be the Severn Progress.

She was built in 1931 by Charles Hill and Sons of Bristol as “Progress” for the Severn & Canal Carrying Co. She was later owned by British Waterways & renamed Severn Progress. She spent all her working life as a river tug on the River Severn, the K& A Canal & the Gloucester Sharpness Canal. She is now a floating exhibit at the Waterways Museum at Gloucester, 5 miles from home. She might have had a sister ship Severn Enterprise but Im not sure about that.

Different from previous models I want to do this one as a plank on frame, completely scratch built. Can anyone suggest where I might get plans please.

Thanks

Stephen
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6 July 2026 at 11:15 #128312
Ray Wood 3
Participant
@raywood3
Hi Stephen,

Finding plans for the actual tug might be a challenge, but as she is close you could have a measure up , I’d suggest a couple of river tugs in the Sarik plans range for the hull shape, is she round bilge or chine , the plans worth a look at are Luembe and Plaudit, you could design the upper superstructure to suit.

Regards Ray
6 July 2026 at 12:13 #128313
Stephen Garrad
Participant
@stephengarrad28964
Hi Ray,

Thanks very much for that. Ive been doing a bit more digging and find that she did in fact have a sister ship, built elsewhere, named Severn Enterprise.

I’ve found a few pictures of Severn Enterprise, very useful couple of the hull, which I dont have for Severn Progress so thats a good start.

I did in fact do that for my puffer Snowflake, bought a fiberglass generic hull from Orion Mouldings, cut it off at deck level and then worked upwards. I’d like to do plank on frame for this one if I can.

Thanks again Ray, I’ll have a look at Sarik.

Stephen
6 July 2026 at 15:56 #128314
Tim Rowe
Participant
@timrowe83142
Hi Stephen

If the boat is out of the water at the museum and you are able to visit you can do quite a good scan of the hull using one of the apps on a smart phone

There is some interesting information here if you haven’t seen this site already. https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/1448/severn-progress
6 July 2026 at 22:00 #128315
Stephen Garrad
Participant
@stephengarrad28964
Hi Tim

Thanks for your interest I have seen that website, all the pictures are of her moored in Gloucester Docks as a floating exhibit at the museum. She is actually moored against the terrace at Wetherspoons so I think I will have to go and do some research!! I’ll certainly be able to take plenty of pictures of the topsides.

Thanks again

Stephen

Ps Do you know of a suitable app that you mention, I’m not too hot with tech but I’ll have a go if I get the chance.
6 July 2026 at 22:34 #128316
Tim Rowe
Participant
@timrowe83142
Hi Stephen

I can’t remember for sure but it could have been Polycam 3D Scanner LiDAR 360.

There are various if you go to the App Store.

Tim
7 July 2026 at 08:13 #128317
Ray Wood 3
Participant
@raywood3
Hello guys,

The hull shape and lines are a dead ringer for Cullamix , smaller obviously and the waterline mark etc 🙂

Regards Ray
7 July 2026 at 09:34 #128318
Stephen Garrad
Participant
@stephengarrad28964
On 7 July 2026 at 08:13 Ray Wood 3 Said:

Hello guys,

The hull shape and lines are a dead ringer for Cullamix , smaller obviously and the waterline mark etc 🙂

Regards Ray

Thanks Ray, I’ll have a look.
7 July 2026 at 09:36 #128319
Stephen Garrad
Participant
@stephengarrad28964
On 6 July 2026 at 22:34 Tim Rowe Said:

Hi Stephen

I can’t remember for sure but it could have been Polycam 3D Scanner LiDAR 360.

There are various if you go to the App Store.

Tim

Thanks Tim, I’ll perhaps have a look, tech is not my best subject but it could be interesting.

Stephen
7 July 2026 at 21:12 #128320
Stephen Garrad
Participant
@stephengarrad28964
Hi Ray,

Doing a search on Cullamix (used to sell that stuff at the builders merchants I managed before I retired) I found a thread from 2019 in which you said:

I’m so glad you like the model, she took 18 months on and off, the drawings available are so good for the detail it makes the build most enjoyable trying to re-create the bits and bobs

If you look in my album “Ray’s Boats” you will see the whole build process for the cutting of the bulkheads to the tug on the water.

Where might I find your album “Rays Boats” please?

Thanks

Stephen

PS Ive found that Cornwall Model Boats do a set of 3 sheets Cullamix plan built on the “bread & butter” system
8 July 2026 at 08:15 #128321
Ray Wood 3
Participant
@raywood3
Hi Stephen,

The change of forum format meant all the old albums were lost ( I think), I built her plank on frame one of probably my best quality builds to date but at 35 lbs was a real chore to lug around !! so I sold her to a club mate at Chantry club they are keen as mustard on tugs, I’m actually drawing up a set of drawing for Cullamix 22″ long as she is a favourite of mine watch this space.

Regards Ray
8 July 2026 at 09:19 #128322
Stephen Garrad
Participant
@stephengarrad28964
Hi Ray, thats a shame the albums were lost. I carried on digging last night & found a link to your build blog for Cullamix so all is not lost. There is a definite similarity between the hulls of Cullamix & the photos of Severn Enterprise.

I found my puffer, Snowflake is quite heavy to lug around at 1/24th so 33″ long so I’m planning on the tug being 1/24 as well so a good bit smaller & lighter. Drawings for a 22″ model so 1/24th would be perfect! keep going!!

I found the plan by Bernard Reeve which appears to be the basis for the Sarik & Cornwall Models plans on Vintage Model Plans.com. That plan appears to have lines to be able to draw frames rather than bread & butter.

Thanks

Stephen
8 July 2026 at 11:03 #128323
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
Stephen,

The plan shows the hull lines which represent the outside surface. The bottom part of the drawing can be used for bread and butter construction as is. The Body plan in the centre of the upper part of the drawing can be used as the basis for frames but you will need to redraw it to allow for the thickness of the planking. If you are using 3mm thick wood then make each body plan section 3mm smaller than on the plan.

Colin
8 July 2026 at 12:21 #128324
Ray Wood 3
Participant
@raywood3
Hi Stephen,

These are my smaller prints of Cullamix at 22″ I used to mark off the fittings as I made them, brilliant drawings from back in the day 🙂

Regards Ray
8 July 2026 at 21:58 #128325
Stephen Garrad
Participant
@stephengarrad28964
On 8 July 2026 at 11:03 Colin Bishop Said:

Stephen,

The plan shows the hull lines which represent the outside surface. The bottom part of the drawing can be used for bread and butter construction as is. The Body plan in the centre of the upper part of the drawing can be used as the basis for frames but you will need to redraw it to allow for the thickness of the planking. If you are using 3mm thick wood then make each body plan section 3mm smaller than on the plan.

Colin

Thanks very much Colin, I haven’t got that far ahead with my thinking yet, but now you mention it I would have needed to sort that when I start cutting so thanks for the tip. I did a Billings Lilla Dan about 300 years ago, well 55 actually, but then the frames were ready cut so I didn’t have to think about that.

Stephen
8 July 2026 at 22:03 #128326
Stephen Garrad
Participant
@stephengarrad28964
Hi Ray, that’s exactly what I need I think, the second picture that is.

Stephen
8 July 2026 at 22:13 #128327
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
Stephen, time spent in thinking things through is never wasted. It can save a whole lot of grief later. It has certainly served me well with the construction of my current Silver Mist model.

Colin
10 July 2026 at 11:23 #128328
Stephen Garrad
Participant
@stephengarrad28964
Very true Colin, in life as well as modelling.

Stephen
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