Clyde Puffer Glenaray

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

Well, after much delay, that is me started on my new build. Not much to show in the first photo, other than a GRP hull, one bulkead and a prop shaft, but I have been working on other bits too! This is the Caldercraft Northlight 1/32 kit and I am adapting as I go to more or less resemble the Clyde puffer “Glenaray”. Originally built as a “VIC” for the Admiralty in 1942, she was a carbon copy of the latter Clyde puffers and she soon found herself in that role at the end of hostilities. I have a feeling this will be a long drawn out business, but I will try to update you as I go!

 

 

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Alasdair,

This photo will make Jim & Len cry 🙂  It’s nearly finished !!

Keep us posted, I haven’t built one yet !!

Regards Ray

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

We’ll be known as the puffer forum soon!

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

We can’t help it , they’re such a tempting subject. Equally though, there are some beautiful models of other vessels that people show on here which are much admired.

Come on Ray , time you started one, but don’t build it too fast, you’ll put me to shame at my snails pace.

Jim.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hello Jim

I have a Jim Pottinger drawing for “Raylight” I maybe tempted one day 🙂 free plan in Model Shipwright from back in the day !!

I’m putting together an article for the magazine at the moment for MS Oldenburg one of my builds from a few years ago.

Best Regards Ray

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

Hi folks – yes I have chosen an easier path than building a hull from either wood or tin! All respect to Jim and Len. Puffers are definitely an interesting subject – my favourite mode of transport after paddle steamer!

[Len Morris 2Participant @lenmorris2]

Hi Alasdair,

Your hull kooks great with lots of detail.  Nothing wrong with the path you’ve chosen and it gets you off to a flying start.  I’ll follow your build with interest.

Len. 🙂

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

Absolutely 100% agree, don’t take on a task that you are not going to enjoy doing.  I’ve never built a hull from scratch, apart from a clinker dingy and a lifeboat, as I simply wouldn’t enjoy doing it.  I really enjoy painting, detailing and weathering so the sooner I can get myself to that point the better.

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Hi Alasdair,

As Len says your hull gets you going that bit quicker, and like him, I’ll be following your build as well. Hope you find it as interesting a model to build as I have.

Richard, the detailing lifts things to another level and the painting and weathering gives things that final touch. Always good to get to that point.

Jim.

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

thanks everyone – i am going to shift some rubbing strakes, but yes am pleased with hull detail. Unfortunately the beginning of build coincided with a new job of work, so is probably going to be a slow one!

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

bulkheads and lower deck in. most of electronics taking shape.  Now need to align the motor and get it fixed down, as well as get the prop shaft plstered in.

 

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

That’s the prop shaft, motor and electronics fitted – goes at more than scale speed in the bath! now to start building properly.

 

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

Trying to get as much of the electronics in situ and working before I think about laying the deck down. Smoke unit seems to work – now need to work out the steering gear.

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

The Caldercraft Northlight has good detail on the hull, but not quite accurate around bow and stern, for the puffer I am modeling this on. Have reached a compromise. The port bow is now the look I am after for rubbing strakes!

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

After a bit of lapse, my puffer now has main deck and coamings fitted, a working rudder and quarter deck ready to go on. Now to give some thought to the bulwarks!

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

The way I did mine was to cut up stripwood, first to width, then to the appropriate angle either end and finally a flat across the top.  These were glued in place with metal blocks to hold them perpendicular to the deck.  Then I added small pieces of Evergreen angle to the top and bottom as a supporting bracket.  I found a diagram in one of the CV Waine books and basically followed that.  I should have put a dot of glue on each of the Evergreen brackets as a rivet but didn’t think of it at the time.

 

I did a test shot first.

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

Thanks for the photos of bulwarks, Richard – I will definitely use these as my prototype. I am just getting set about the task now, and may see if decal rivets work for this. If not, I will just use drops of glue.

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

I’ve thought of trying those decal rivets before but never got around to it.  I’ll be interested to see how you get on with them.

[Alasdair AllanParticipant @alasdairallan37423]

Hi Richard – after some experimenting, I got some success out of the “zinge” lines of flexible rubber riveting (designed for warhammer games, I believe). They are reasonably convincing. The other lines of rivets that come as water-float decals are – to use a good Scots word- just too footery. They just come to bits when applied, as far as i can see.  The Zinge ones are not cheap and I will reserve them for use on superstructure. I will in the main be happy enough with drops of cyano gel to represent rivets on the side of hull. Hope that is of help!

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