Re glues.  I’ve got some PVC deck parts needing to be repaired.  What glue would you recommend and could I use solvent weld adhesive used for pvc waste pipes etc.

As for tools, I would add a razor plane to your list.

Regards

Philip

I will get that magazine out, and give the coffee stirrers a try with very fine Wet and dry.

Strangely it has not peeled all the way around. One side is only a small patch. The other side is the worst, with a larger patch which runs onto the bottom.

Normally I would varnish once I had sprayed both the red and black.  I will just put it…[Read more]

Knives: Stanley knife for heavy cutting and scalpel or fine hobby knife for finer work.

Abrasives: A range of sanding blocks, wet and dry paper or…[Read more]

I’m hoping I can blur the edges with very fine Wet and Dry, the recoat.

We will see.

Tim

It could depend on how long you left the varnish to cure. It dries quickly but can take a while to cure properly and bond with the red oxide. The red oxide is a primer so should provide a good base for the varnish. I suspect there is some incompatibility there.

I tend to use the Hycote (previously Halfords) matt lacquer as a top coat but it…[Read more]

Looks ok except I decide to varnish the red, before starting the to paint the black. On removing the tamiya tape I have lost some of the varnish. Don’t know if I left the tape on too long .

The varnish I used was a Satin polyurethane from Vallejo. Not used before but it says it’s…[Read more]

Frankenboat went very well, considering the weight of the carrier hull ( about 5 by 30 inches) bothered hope for the project. A proper hull will be probably be less than half thexweight of the carrier hull and a better faster shape.

Nice day at ‘t pond. Sunny…[Read more]

On 21 July 2026 at 19:30 Colin Bishop Said:
I think that is what is referred to as a ‘bollard’ test.

Colin

Absolutely Colin, and stand well back while they are being conducted.  Twice over the years I have been on a ship that has broken its ropes as a result of excessive wind when alongside.  Both times ended up with us being adrift!  The thing…[Read more]

He is also happy to take photos of my Silver Shadow when I can get it up to Bushy. I can take decent photos but have used Ashley’s for…[Read more]

I have ordered a…[Read more]

Ashley

As regards the lights, just my own thoughts into the mix…[Read more]

Nice to see you back 🙂 glad you have decided to back to scale modelling of an interesting subject, take plenty of pictures, our editor Lindsey is always interested in articles on scratch building , even if it’s too big to be a free plan.

Kind Regards  Ray

I have made a start on the construction of the model by cutting out all the hull frames.  I developed a method of marking out the shape when I did my Humber Sloop and have used the same method for Spurn.  The hull sections are shown below with the original d…[Read more]

Tim

Colin

Perhaps thinking about more of the same next year might be in order re working spaces etc etc!

Ashley

Would the on/ off abruptness of an led light give the right look?

Ashley

Perhaps a little fan..like the small ones now being sold for hand held use would be advantageous blowing across the work and dispersing said volatiles.

Have been using mitre bond lately. A very thick superglue type glue that comes with a fixing spray. Puff one bit and…[Read more]

Motorising was a bit of a conundrum, as you say lightships usually had no means of propulsion and Spurn was no exception.  I have considered towing it behind my 1:24 scale TID tug, releasing the tow and dropping the anchor but then picking up the tow again would be difficult. N…[Read more]

Are you planning on motorising it and having a decent bright flashing light in the tower?

Not looked it up but were most lightship simply towed into position.  ?

Ooohhh…could be an interesting top for my GP hulls…

Ashley

Last Sundays boating was nice. Had the London out after quite a long absence.

New project identified ( after finishing wots on tne stocks). Cover boat froma 1932…[Read more]

My advice is to join the Dover Model Boat club , plenty of advice there , this forum isn’t very active these days 🙁

The Dover club and members were well represented at the Southern model show at Headcorn last weekend 🙂

Answering your question, Stanley knife, sanding blocks & drills ……

Regards   Ray

after walking the dog round Kernsney Abbey quite a lot over the last year at the weekend, I’ve gotten temped and purchased a Howes complete package based on the Krick Felix.

I’ve not build airfix type model in over 35 years, but have done Warhammer plastic models, so not completely clueless.

the English instructions are a bit bas…[Read more]

I have not been completely id…[Read more]

The Southern Model Show last weekend went well as usual great weather and good displays 🙂

I took some of my fleet to have a float about on the large pond they create with hay bales and a massive plastic liner.

Probably the only show now in the South East 25 + boat clubs there.

Regards  Ray

Like cowl vents, gratings are always a bugbear for scale modellers, particularly in very small…[Read more]

As I showed you the TID, this is her after the paint shop 🙂

She is gas fired with a centre flue boiler and a twin cylinder slide valve engine, performs well but I need to sort out a better solution for the 15 lbs of ballast required !!

Regards Ray

Kevin, good luck with the glassing.  As with many of these things it is all about thinking it through, planning and preparation and having everything in place and ready to hand.

Nice to see so many boats of all shapes and…[Read more]

Our stand looked good as usual but we did not win best stand, which went the Pheonix model boat club.

Trevors massive corvette and the Diamond were impressive on the…[Read more]

Very informative 👍

I hope to glass the hull on Sunday…watch this space!

Finishing and sealing of wooden hulls

Ant 🙂

Just remembered. I spray the hull with 3M Spray Mount, just a light coat, just enough to keep the cloth in place whilst you brush on the thinned down epoxy.

Another of Dave’s tips.

Tim

Should manage to get some progress over the weekend …pics will be updated !

I try to do the bottom in one piece, the sides and transom as separate pieces.

The late Dave Milbourn used to do it one complete piece but I could never manage that trick.

Dave did an article in the magazine some time ago. Not sure it’s available on line anywhere.

One tip I used of Dave’s was to accurately weigh the two parts of the…[Read more]

Few wee holes have been filled and just needs a final sand pre glassing …

And on that I have a question …

I have never used epoxy and matt so should I apply strips as per the original hull sections (so deck to deck vertically)

Or horizontally as the chine flows.

Thankyou in advance

Kevin

Oh you mean this one 🙂

( I didn’t want to be seen showing off !  )

Regards  Ray