First build MV Arran

[Ian Duthie 1Participant @ianduthie1]

hi, thanks for letting me join this forum. I am new to boat building, but have some woodworking experience. Have just started to have a go at building my first boat with some Ebay plans. Struggling to interpret parts of the plans. Was wondering if anyone else had built this boat before with these plans. The boat is MV Arran.Thanks, Ian

[Ian Duthie 1Participant @ianduthie1]

Advice

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Welcome to the Forum.

I assume you are talking about the 1953 car ferry and not the 1983 one?

Can you tell us who drew the plans – should be a name on the sheets somewhere.

There is more than one set of plans for this ship.

Colin

[Ian Duthie 1Participant @ianduthie1]

Hi Colin, thanks for your reply. The boat is indeed, the 1953 ferry. The plans were drawn by Vic Smeed.

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Ian,

That is a coincidence. I built this model back in the late 1960s. It was a relatively simple build but the plans were not altogether clear in some respects, especially how the vehicle loading and unloading worked. In fact the method was that there was a hoistable platform amidships with two turntables. The ship would come alongside the quay and the platform raised or lowered to the quayside height. Side ramps would then alow cars to be driven onto the turntable in front of which was an opening door leading into the car deck. You can see all this in the Bute article photos (see below) but it isn't detailed on Vic's plans. Cars would drive up to the front of the vehicle deck and then turn round facing aft ready to drive off again at the destination.

One of the sister ships, Bute, was featured some years ago in Model Boats and there is an article and some photos here which you may find helpful.

**LINK**

Vic Smeed's earlier plan was simplified to some extent, particularly in the hull shape, but still makes up into an attractive model. I couldn't afford radio control in those days so mine was free running. The photo below was taken around 1970 at a Surbiton Lagoon Regatta – I was a bit younger then!

Have a look at the Bute article and let us know if there is still anything that remains unclear.

I don't know what you paid for the Arran plan but you might want to consider using the better quality Bute plan instead which you can buy here.

**LINK**

Colin

[Ian Duthie 1Participant @ianduthie1]

Colin, coincidence indeed. Thank you for your reply. Your Arran looks great. Thanks for the info and links, I’ll have a look at Bute. The bit I am struggling with at the moment is the stern block profile, I am finding this part of the plan very difficult to follow. Any pointers?

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

By stern block do you mean the superstructure or the underwater hull?

The Bute model looks different to Arran on the stern deck as the ships were modified to remove the hatch over the after hold between the lift and the deckhouse to give more car space and Bute shows this.

As far as the underwater body is concerned there is a photo on the Bute article of the hull upside down during construction which shows its shape clearly. The lines plans illustrations also show this.

Colin

[Ian Duthie 1Participant @ianduthie1]

Hi, yes the underwater hull. Don’t suppose you still have any pictures of your build, showing the hull? Thanks, Ian

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

No, sorry, it was 50 years ago! You need to use the upturned hull photo of Bute as a guide.

Arran was Denny built and their ships had similar characteristics. There is a view of the Isle of Wight ferries Southsea and Brading here which partially shows the below waterline stern section. You can see the triangular 'transom' below the rubbing strake.

**LINK**

Click on the image of the two ships for a larger version.

It's actually not all that complicated.

Colin

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Ian,

I've just added the original magazine item, from February 1956, on M.V. Arran in the thread 'Vic Smeed's Model Boat Designs', should this be of any help.

Tony

[Ian Duthie 1Participant @ianduthie1]

Thanks everyone, think I’m beginning to get my novice head around this. Made some progress today. Thanks Tony for posting the Vic Smeed article, nice to get some more history and info re MV Arran. All very helpful. Ian

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