Why build bigger models?

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9 September 2010 at 17:39 #28291
B B
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@bb42502
Having seen and built boats of diffferent sizes, the question arises of what size should I build a model?

Certain considerations have to be considered before even making a decission of how big to build. The first and most important aspect is that of: How am I going to transport this ship?

The second is: What size ship can I manage to move comfortably on my own?

The third is: How do I launch and retrieve my boat from the water where I am going to sail it?

The fourth is: How deep is the water at the edge and further out in the lake where I am going to sail?

The fifth: Is my car big enough to transport the model?

Being a disabled person who relies on a wheelchair to get around this complicates my problem even more. I build large sized models because I can put on more details and when they sail they react almost like the big ships. Pitching, rolling, being affected by the wind, departing and stopping are part of the sailing adventure the larger models.

Transporting models is a major factor when deciding to build a model. How am I going to move the model aroung my working area when I am building it? who will it fit into the car? This should be able to be done without damaging or major dismanteling the model. The second question is am I able to handle and manouver this model around on my own whilst I am building it and when it is complete will I still be able to move it on my own? Or lastly must I always have somebody to help me when I want to go sailing?

Before building a big ship find out how deep is the water alongside the edge of the lake and even more important is, How deep is the water further out in the lake. Sometimes there are inlets and this could mean changing sandbars and depth of channels. This may demand setting out of small markers to indicate channels and shallow waters so that one knows where one can sail the model safely without grounding. It may mean that if you ahve a boat with a keel or that draws a lot of water then you may also have to invest waders to launch and retrieve the model.

I have over come most of my difficulties by doing the following: I have a light open delivery van, (bakkie) so I am able to transport very large models. Moving them in my house and to the car and waters edge, I used and old push chair undercarriage and it’s handel. I welded a small frame between the wheels and this is where I put the models onto and move them around. In the workshop I tilt the models to turn them around and place them onto the workbench and carry on working.

All my models have their very own transport boxes where they are firmly held in place and this eliminates damaged caused when transporting models.

I am also very fortunate enough that my fellow club mates at Centurion help me with loading and unloading my ships at the lake. ( I can’t wait to get my prosthetic leg so that I can move the models on my own.)

All in all I fancy the bigger models because they just react better inthe water and look more realistic!
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9 September 2010 at 17:39 #3631
B B
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@bb42502
9 September 2010 at 18:32 #28292
neil hp
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@neilhp
you have amazed me…never realised the difficulties that some people have to overcome just in order to sail a model, never mind build one, and can only say I admire what you go through to enjoy what many of us take for granted.

i promise that i’ll try not to moan about my bad back in future when i have to put my boat in the water.

as for building big, yes, there is the point that you can get a lot more detail on your boat, but i build big because of the lake and weather at fleetwood…..if i didn’t, i’d never get to sail becuase 80% of the time it’s too rough to sail small stuff.

neil.
9 September 2010 at 21:09 #28294
Paul Godfrey
Participant
@paulgodfrey14946
Hi guys,

I chose the boat I’m currently building because, at 56″ long, the amount of detailling that can be added is much greater of course than a smaller boat, and I also think it will have more of a ‘wow’ factor than, say, a 3ft boat.

Apart from the logistics of moving the boat, it seems to me that there are three factors involved: The type of boat you like; the scale you prefer; and the size of the model. Choosing two of these would generally determine the third, for example: modern tugs at 1/32nd scale = around 3ft (ish), or: battleships at around 4ft = whatever scale that works out at.

With my boat, I knew how heavy it would eventually be (around 50lbs), but the ‘wow’ factor was everything. Now that it’s progressing, I wondering if the size & weight will deter me from using it as much as my smaller 3ft tug!! Also, I only have a Mitsubishi Colt, and to get the boat in means completely removing the rear seats!!

Paul.
10 September 2010 at 11:13 #28295
Francis Macnaughton
Participant
@francismacnaughton39461
My 1/32nd HMS GLOUCESTER was built that size (4.5m) to give a high enough economical speed to break the Guinness world record for distance in 24 hours. It does need its own trailer though!
10 September 2010 at 12:27 #28298
B B
Participant
@bb42502
A very nice model of the HMS GLOUCESTER. We had aperson at our club who also used a trailer to transport his models. The only problem is that the trailer seems to pass many vibrations from the road suface to the models. He solved this problem by putting in a thick foam matress and then put in the ships. The remaining gaps between them was then also filled out with foam rubber. This worked very well.
10 September 2010 at 19:06 #28300
neil hp
Participant
@neilhp
how many miles did you achieve, francis, and when was that.

neil.
10 September 2010 at 22:26 #28307
Francis Macnaughton
Participant
@francismacnaughton39461
Hi Neil,

121.589 miles in May 2002. Guiness never actually published it in the annual book but I have the certificate. I would be delighted if anyone tried to better it!

Francis
10 September 2010 at 22:37 #28308
neil hp
Participant
@neilhp
that was magnificent……think that’ll stand for a long time, without feer of being beaten.

well done and amazing.

neil.
11 September 2010 at 08:08 #28311
B B
Participant
@bb42502
Very well done. Just goes to show what models can do! Never under estimate the model or its builder.

Bernhard
12 September 2010 at 19:08 #28348
Francis Macnaughton
Participant
@francismacnaughton39461
BB,

All I can say is that it all only worked because I had a lot of help from fellow members of the City of Plymouth MBC. Getting the model from storage to site and then into the water etc was a major evolution each time – I can’t even turn the hull over by myself safely!

There is also the fact that at that sort of scale the amount of detail that you could work in is virtually unending.

If I was starting afresh to break the record I would look at other options such as hulls that split in two.

How big is the largest you can manage yourself?
12 September 2010 at 21:03 #28351
B B
Participant
@bb42502
the largest I have so far is the S A Alphen at 1,81m in legth. she weighs 28kg and is a scale of 1/100. When I still had two legs I could just manage to pick her up and carry her for short distances because the leg just became so painfull that I had to either call for help or put her down.

The Duke of York battleship is the biggest that I have worked on. She is on a scale of 1/96. This ship is being restored, actually a complete rebuild because of neglect, water damage and the commercial plywood used extensively on the superstructure has completely delaminated. Believe it or not I manage to pick the ship (hull alone) up and turn it arond. I have her in a garage stored in a box which can flip open and swing the model right out of the box so that I have access to both sides of the ship.

The J R More tug is the biggest scale that I am building to date at a scale of 1/32. she is approximately 1,5m long and will be about 65cm high from keel to top of the masts.

Moving the ships to the car, to and from the water, I have modified and old push chair on which I welded a frame and the models are put on top of this and are easily moved without having to break ones or another person’s back.
17 September 2010 at 08:40 #28391
David Meier
Participant
@davidmeier28154
Bernard how about posting a bit of info and a picture of your clubs 1000kg towing freighter.

David.
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