Hello from Colorado!

I'm planning to scratch build the narrowboat we hired on our 2011 trip on the Kennet & Avon canal, specifically the Axbridge from Anglo-Welsh narrowboats. It was a 65'-long boat with a semi-traditional stern, and other than it being 6'10" wide, that's all the dimensions I have, not thinking to bring a tape measure on our holiday.

http://virtualight.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/axbridge-dimensions.jpg

I plan to make it in 1/32nd scale, or about 2 feet long, if I decide to also make a lock, or 1/24th scale, if I decide to make it radio controlled (although 1/12th scale seems to be more popular for an RC narrowboat).

I would like to get a better handle on the dimensions, however, especially the draft, the hull height, and the stern undercut where sits the propellor. I'd also like some idea the amount of the forward sweep—how much the bow rises.

I’m guessing the height of the boat to be about 6'6" to 6'8", based on interior headroom of 6'4". I’m not too concerned about accuracy, because few in Denver will know the difference, but I don’t want a boat that would be fundamentally unsound. So if you have any suggestions on these dimensions, please chime in.

I should have wrapped the image url as a link: **LINK**

Thanks, Duckie, although I already knew of Riverside Models, your reply prompted me to look further and I saw they have a 1/24th scale kit. That scale would be much easier to display in my house. (I had thought they only sold 1/12th scale models.) I was also interested to see they sold plans only for a 1/12th scale semi kit, that could be scaled down.

Unfortunately I do want to make a specific boat; I want to replicate the upswept bow. And to keep the cost down (I just spent a lot on photo-etched parts for a B-17), I plan to build it slowly. I figured I'd spend a month drawing up the plans, and then buy styrene as needed. It might end up costing more than just buying a kit, but spread out over a long period.

I hope you had a good experience building their kit. I'm very impressed by your Velda and its lovely planters. Your skill is quite impressive. This will be my first attempt at building a boat and actually my first attempt at scratch building, but I thought a narrowboat looked simple enough.

Jennifer

Bob,

That's a good point, and I plan to use wood for those parts of the boat that are made of wood (most of the interior), but a modern-day narrowboat is basically just steel plates welded together. I admit I am tempted to make a vintage narrowboat with rivets, but that would defeat the purpose of recapturing our holiday.

Of course, a wood hull would have much less give that styrene, but I am planning an inner shell and some ribs that should lend some rigidity. I'll also add some filler between the bottom plate and the wood floor. Is that what you meant by feel?

Jennifer

I shall give it some thought, Bob. But I hasten to add that rivets are in my future, both on my B-17 and the Minicraft Titanic I have on the shelf. I suppose I could go super authentic and make my boat out of actual steel.

Jennifer

Bob,

I am that worst sort of modeler—the kind who throws away her work if it does not meet exacting standards. And I mostly build starships. The only one I currently have photos of is the Vulcan Warp Sled from the first Star Trek movie: **LINK**

Although I do have a rather nice San Francisco cable car model that I should photograph and put on my website. I shall do that later today.

Jennifer

PS I was lusting after a 1/72nd scale Jotika HMS Victory, until I converted the price into dollars. I nearly fainted. Starships are much more affordable.

I love the Great Eastern and Brunel. And such a sad tale and the investors it ruined and its very sad end as a floating advertisement.

Now talk about rivets. I've often thought of the model that would be, but to do it justice would be difficult. It would need to be a large scale. I shall explore your book soon, but for now, it's time to move down to the modeling room and resume work on my B-17. I'm building the ball turret and not satisfied with the kit supplied parts, am scratching all but the ball itself.

Jennifer

How odd you should mention the weekly issue model; I only just learned of it. But no, I'm building the 1/48th scale Revell/Monogram B-17G model. I would be too worried that the weekly edition model might go out of business and I would end up with an uncompleted model.

I'm specifically building Thunderbird from the 303rd Bombardment Group based in Molesworth. My father-in-law flew as a bombardier with the 359th Squadron and I know he flew at least one mission on Thunderbird.

Jennifer

I've updated the drawing at my website: **LINK**

There’s now the top plan with a basic room layout. Once I went to the top view, it was obvious I hadn't allowed enough room between the stern and the end of the sidewalls. Looked at this way, it's obvious how exposed to the elements you are. No wonder we got so wet.