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18 July 2018 at 22:46 #2786
Noel
Participant
@noel26080
Make a Thames lighter to tow
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18 July 2018 at 22:46 #78109
Noel
Participant
@noel26080
As i started talking about this on Today’s boating but thought it better to start a thread here.

I need a roughly 1:20 scale Thames lighter for my river tug to tow. It must be no more than 1m long or it will be a pain to fit in the car.

I have sketched the below general layout and a scale sketch of the bulkhead cross section. The 4mm ply offcuts I have are a bit floppy, but I found some 20x32mm batten in the garage that will make nice longitudinal stiffeners and some other hefty bits of pine for the bulkheads each end of the central box.

Is the cross section feasible or is it too shallow? All the numbers are millimetres.

As Ashley suggested, the size of the barge as above is such that the tug can be stored inside it.
18 July 2018 at 22:49 #78110
Noel
Participant
@noel26080
And not forgetting the general inspiration!
19 July 2018 at 07:58 #78113
Ray Wood 3
Participant
@raywood3
Hi Noel,

I couldn't open your sketch, but this is the drawing I based my barge on, they are normally 80ft long approx.

Regards Ray
19 July 2018 at 10:55 #78120
Noel
Participant
@noel26080
That's better. Not sure what happened to the link there.

Thank you Ray that picture of yours looks generally the same proportions. My only concern with mine was that it was not deep enough for its given beam, but I think your proves I'm probably OK there.

Only other question is should it be narrower at the bilges than the deck? Would be a bit easier to make if the cross section is rectangular.

Noel.

Edited By Noel on 19/07/2018 10:58:29
19 July 2018 at 12:37 #78122
Tony Hadley
Participant
@tonyhadley
Noel,

I've just posted an article from Model Maker magazine, July 1956 in the Vic Smeed thread. It provides information on M.V. Frank Rayner and it's barge which may be of some help with your build project.

The plan for this design is no longer commercially available, but I have a hi-res digital image if it would help.

Edited By Tony Hadley on 19/07/2018 12:43:30
19 July 2018 at 13:02 #78124
Ray Wood 3
Participant
@raywood3
Hi Noel,

Yes I think they are slightly wider at deck level, looking at this one, I didn't bother and made mine slab sided

Regards Ray
19 July 2018 at 13:44 #78125
Noel
Participant
@noel26080
Thanks.

That Frank Rayner is very much narrower in proportions than the lighter, but it is straight sided.

So based on that and Rays one I'm going to make it based around a straight sided box!

There's so many different types of lighter anyway so guess I have quite free artistic license, but I wanted to start off with something that is at least the right proportions!

Noel.
19 July 2018 at 14:29 #78127
Chris Fellows
Participant
@chrisfellows72943
Hi Noel – I guess that weight isn't a problem as you probably need some ballast anyway and there is no motor etc. so for extra strength you could always glue 2 layers of ply together. Most of the centre is cut out anyway.

One of my current builds uses 3mm ply for the frames and they were somewhat warped and flimsy. Not a problem though as once all the stringers are in place the structure will be strong and rigid. Just needed some additional squaring up and clamping whilst the glue set.

Chris
19 July 2018 at 19:42 #78130
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Noel. Do not let "mission creep" happen to this barge,. It is simply something to add interest to the tug…..

Ashley
19 July 2018 at 21:11 #78134
Chris Fellows
Participant
@chrisfellows72943
Then again, if a thing's worth doing……..!
20 July 2018 at 09:06 #78140
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
….its worth doing quickly so Noel can build a REALLY DECENT boat…….
20 July 2018 at 15:26 #78149
Noel
Participant
@noel26080
REALLY DECENT, but just a lighter. No other bits to be added apart from tow bollards and paint!

The mission creep can come later
20 July 2018 at 21:17 #78151
David Marks 2
Participant
@davidmarks2
Have a look at this plan. The hull length is about 30 inches. I used the plan as a basis a for a model houseboat, based on a former Thames lighter. Many were purchased and converted to other uses. I used to visit a company base adjacent to Chertsey Bridge on the Thames which had two converted lighters, one was the canteen and the other a store.

**LINK**
31 August 2018 at 18:35 #78654
Noel
Participant
@noel26080
After being on holiday and then gathering materials I have now made some progress.

Ashley has very kindly spent some time cutting my plywood and other parts to size on his bandsaw – so I have nice square consistent edges. Thank you Ashley! This has made it glue together very easily so far.

I have the basic box and the foredeck in place. It is very robust indeed. Next is to add a stiffener for the bow to fit to and then template the flat front and wraparound skin for the bow.

Edited By Noel on 31/08/2018 18:36:48
31 August 2018 at 21:47 #78658
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Noel. I have an idea on how to make the template for the bow pieces very easily. First I think you need that stiffener, and then the other bow bits can be made.

Be there Sunday, or call me tomorrow am, wont take 5 mins to make the stiffeners and explain about the template bit.

Ashley
1 September 2018 at 19:28 #78663
Noel
Participant
@noel26080
I think I will be there Sunday yes.

This is what I have so far. There is a batten to support the tow bollard that will be fitted on the foredeck.

Then I have added a strip of ply glued to the curve of the bow, to give the skin ply something to glue to. The bow stiffener is to be cut to length then glued in. Once that’s in I can template with cardboard.

What you think?
7 September 2018 at 08:50 #78808
Noel
Participant
@noel26080
Now done prepared to template the bow front:

Could not work out how to run a pencil round the edge and keep it perpendicular to the foredeck and the right length as it worked its way round the curve. So I clamped a laser pointer to my square and then shone that just over the edge. I could then mark out a line of dots on the cardboard, which I can cut to!
7 September 2018 at 12:25 #78812
Chris Fellows
Participant
@chrisfellows72943
Clever stuff Noel. Where would we be without some of these modern techie gismos!

Chris
7 September 2018 at 16:45 #78814
Noel
Participant
@noel26080
It is also somewhat cheaper than a professional laser square or level!
8 September 2018 at 17:12 #78824
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
I suggested simply drilling a hole in a small block of wood to take a pencil and running that around the top, but OH NO…Noel has gone all high-tec….

Ashley

Be ready two weeks Sunday then eh Noel??
10 September 2018 at 13:50 #78844
Noel
Participant
@noel26080
Its basically the same idea as the pencil through a block of wood, but solves the problem of the pencil thickness.

It might be ready in two months not sure about weeks!
21 September 2018 at 11:02 #78990
Noel
Participant
@noel26080
Getting on with this. Need to sand the stern section to final shape, then ready for skinning with 0.8mm ply.

Added a big bit of pine plank to act as a keel inside to stiffen it as it’s going to have to support a lot of ballast.

Tug fits inside nicely for storage. But it is big!
21 September 2018 at 17:31 #78994
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Tim. Don't forget you will not see it all once its in the water.

My HMS London is also looking a bit big, and much bigger than the card model. They are roughly the same size of course, but the card one is a waterline rendition whereas the ply one has the rest of it hanging underneath.

Ashley
26 September 2018 at 08:37 #79082
Noel
Participant
@noel26080
Good point, I think to start it will have a load of real shingle to see how it sits. Thing is it’s going to be a fair mass to tow.

Now have the plywood round bow and stern so it is looking more finished now. Coming and a few bollards on deck then I will seal it.
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