Creating Interest in Model Boats

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I think that just about sums it up correctly. I am forever hearing "I could never do that," but what they should really be saying is "I don't want to do that!" But if they carry on wanting others to do any practical work for them, they will have to pay!

Last week, the grill element burned out on the cooker. Quote to get a new one and fit it – £70. Located one on Ebay for £30. Spent 40 minutes trying to figure out how to get old one out. As soon as I discovered how, I ordered a replacement, that arrived the following day. Took only ten minutes to put it in and everything working OK again.

But more important to me was the feeling of satisfaction that I had done it myself. But I often get criticised for doing things myself, and not supporting local tradesmen!

Bob

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

Bob, nearest water to Preston for scale modellers is where Ribble MBC sail, Leyland Priory (from where I'm looking, that's IN Preston), but that's members only. General sailing on a public water happens at Fairhaven, by the Inner Promenade, Lytham. B&FMBC sail there. My members who live in north Preston have a shorter drive (in time) than I do to get there. A few years back, we had an influx of Laser sailers who had been using Preston Dock, but were very unhappy at the state of their boats when they came out.

A while back, an exeptionally helpful club created a data base of sailable waters in the UK, but that seems to have fallen off its perch, probably due to lack of hits combined with a lack of up to date updates.

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I had been looking at the Leyland site online, but didn't particularly want to join a club. I did sail my one and only R/C model at Lytham some years ago – a three-,masted gaff-rigged schooner of my own design, but it is not somewhere I want to go just go for the morning or afternoon. I wondered if R/C was allowed in Preston Dock, but access to the water is limited as the pontoons are only open to yacht and boat owners. I am surprised that a place like Preston does not have some R/C water, as it wouldn't take much, just a low wall on a concrete base filled with water. Probably the green algae would bung up the propellers in the dock.

Bob

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

I don't think model making in general has ever been popular in comparison with say football with my schoolmates 50 years ago ! Enjoy what ever you like making now, we are only here once !! Now we're did I put those plans for HMS Belfast

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

No! Not the Belfast, make a Town class instead, classic design!

Colin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Colin,

Are the Town class better looking ships ? Just that is easy with the real thing up the road

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Much better looking ships Ray.

Belfast as she is now bears little resemblance to her original appearance having been extensively rebuilt in post war years. The original Southampton class were very handsome vessels with a beautifully balanced profile. Google them and you will see.

Colin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Colin,

Yes I'd agree, she has been greatly simplified to her current condition but I have original drawings at 1/96th so 2 cranes & Walrus's which will make her a challenge 6' 4" long

Regards Ray

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Ray. EVERYONE builds a Belfast. Choose another as Colin suggests, or even a Caroline would be good? Ashley

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I wrote a feature article in on Belfast for Model Boats back in 2008. It was an interesting visit although I had been over the ship previously.

Belfast is indeed well documented, especially with the Anatomy of the Ship book. She was an improved Town class but moving the 4 inch magazine to a position forward of the boiler rooms shifted the funnels aft and gave her a very unbalanced profile which ruined her appearance compared to the earlier ships. I remember seeing HMS Sheffield when she was laid up at Portsmouth and she looked really elegant.

Fleetscale do Town class items including a 1:96 Sheffield hull if you don't want to build the hull, probably they would be happy to just sell you the plans if you do!

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop on 28/10/2018 09:33:10

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Thanks Guys

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess ! Think the old girl deserves some respect as she is still here John Haynes sorted me the drawing at 1/192 so having doubled it up I'm ready to start, has to be from scratch with the hull being the big job logistically. The plan maybe a 4-5 year build.

Colin I have your article, Anatomy of a ship & 150 photos

Regards Ray

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 28/10/2018 14:09:31

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

That's quite a project Ray, as it is obviously what you want then more power to your elbow. The liner I am building is no Queen Mary but I like it! As you say, beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder.

Will you build her as built, as repaired after the mining when they put bulges on and stuck the armour belt back on over the top or in post war guise?

Colin

[Byron Rees…(Ron)Participant @byronrees-ron]

Me again,

I don't know how many of you read the Mail on Saturday, but an interesting article from their resident doctor, Dr Max on page 45 called 'Craftiness, Mend yourselves by making things' is worth a look. It's all about man's need to create.

Apparently it has been proved that model making along with similar pastimes can make you feel better, reduce stress and even ensure a longer lifespan, now there's a recruiting slogan.

Ron Rees.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Colin,

She will have the appearance after the repairs & refit November 1942 , I have the David MacGregor plans.

Ron,

I think there is a lot of truth in the article, having a long list of future builds keeps the grey cells planning way ahead, no time to get bored, I,ve been picking up information on Belfast for 3 years so far, Ark Royal after that

Regards Ray

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

Posted by Bob Wilson on 27/10/2018 15:51:07:

I had been looking at the Leyland site online, but didn't particularly want to join a club. I did sail my one and only R/C model at Lytham some years ago – a three-,masted gaff-rigged schooner of my own design, but it is not somewhere I want to go just go for the morning or afternoon. I wondered if R/C was allowed in Preston Dock, but access to the water is limited as the pontoons are only open to yacht and boat owners. I am surprised that a place like Preston does not have some R/C water, as it wouldn't take much, just a low wall on a concrete base filled with water. Probably the green algae would bung up the propellers in the dock.

Bob

Sailing venues are a problem.. They don't just spring into existence, and the owners (usually the local council) need constant education to keep existing ones viable. It is obviously your choice to not support a club, but as an individual, you have volunteered to not have a voice. Ribble have gained a water suitable for their preferred sailing that an individual could not manage (private water), at Fairhaven (public park) we have managed to fend off some of the more stupid developers ideas in the "Lake Masterplan" that would have made a dangerous looking, but safe, lake into a safe looking, but deadly, lake. Again, an individual would not get a look in.

A concrete wall on a base was what was available on St Annes prom in the bandtand area. But a stagnant puddle is not much use, and that one grew a leak somewhere in either the feed or drain, and is now no more.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

We are lucky at Bushy Park to have a really wonderful lake to boat on and I have said it before, the free car park in 50 yards away, loos close and refreshment stall on site. Sadly only a few of use seem to use it. There must be others within easy reach. I see other groups use canals and so on with concrete sides and uninspiring scenery. Luckily Bushy is also a royal park and not quite so subject to the whims of greedy councilors and developers.

It may also be the case that a lot of modellers are only interested in building and not sailing, or at least, not wanting to damage their precious creations. I can understand that (a bit) but then what is the point of it all?

The crowd at bushy is regularly entertained by Crocodiles, Hippos, Men singing in ships, any number of odd craft with and without water squirters, and I know that a lot of them come to see the boats.

Bottom line: If you are not out there, you are not advertising the hobby.

Ashley

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

It is not something that I am all that concerned about, hence not wanting to join a club. In fact I am now on the brink of stopping altogether, although that may prove inmpossibe, but at least out of the public view.

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

That's what you always say Bob

Colin

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

You are undoubtedly an excellent model builder but why be so grumpy and pessimistic about it?

Paul

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Paul

I am not being grumpy about it I guess repairing the damaged model of the barque Gulf Stream has just worn me down! On Saturday I went off to the local ship model society, taking my latest model along, and not even a flicker of interest! The sad fact remains that ship modellers generally do not have much interest in merchant ships. My market has largely disappeared now that I am no longer prepared to risk sending them by courier, even in the UK. Now that the Gulf Stream restoration is complete, I find that I just do not feel inclined to start anything else. Whether this feeling will wear off, or become permanent remains to be seen. I can move over to plan drawing that does not take up much space, as I can keep them in two jig-saw puzzle caddys that I have.

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob. How about trying something else to keep the interest going? Roman triremes, Phoenician galleys, Spanish armada ships…oooh…there are a lot of different boats out there.

Ashley

[David Marks 2Participant @davidmarks2]

A response to the comment made earlier by Ashley. The pond our club use in Orpington is council owned and free to use by anyone, including those that do not pay their Council Tax to the local council i.e. they live in one of the adjoining London Boroughs. However, the club pay a hire fee which allows us to bring our cars to pond side as parking in the local streets is difficult. We also have to pay for Public Liability Insurance and that plus the pond hire means that each pond meeting costs the club around £57 and we have no facilities such as toilets. To me the pond meeting is just a very good social occasion, as I am a builder rather than a sailor. The members help each other out, exchange ideas and resolve (hopefully) problems. As I said in my previous post it is pleasing to actually make ourselves known to the local public and if we manage to generate interest with the younger generation and provide an alternative to "the x box" whatever that is, so much the better. We to have an animal section, i.e. ducks, a swan and an alligator, and until he passed away earlier this year we had a member with a Mississippi stern wheeler, complete with fairy lights, and an eight piece jazz band. This was always welcome addition to our two night sailing sessions per season.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

Ashley might have a good point about changing your subject matter, the old saying of 'a change is as good as a rest' could just what you need to enliven your work.

But choose something that will be a challenge and push your abilities to new heights

The Preussen

The Scandi Singapore

or a piece of obscure maritime history. The last of the bay boats……The Largs Bay

Paul

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

The red one takes ugly to another level

Regards Ray

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Ashley,

Afraid there is no chance of me building trirmarines, Phonecian galleys or Spanish Armada ships, they just don't interest me at all! There are more than enough merchant ships types of all shapes and sizes to keep me going for years if I wanted. My own plan collection (mainly in old technical journals) numbers several thousand plans! I can amuse myself well enough by just reading them. And, of course, there is our tiny maritime publishing empire (Shelterdeck Publishing) that my wife and I set up several years ago that is doing quite well, and needs fresh titles adding all the time. I will not be idle.

Bob

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