Liverpool class Lifeboat, a Metcalf models kit.

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

I didn't want to push the idea but I think Colin is spot on. I'm really not a great fan of tealights unless they are firmly secured in a suitable housing. Naked flames always seem to be far too risky in the home for me!

I think that is a far better idea Neil.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

yes indeed Richard…….i didn't know arificial ones existed……..but have bought 24 of them for her numerous little houses as well as this one…..we'll all feel safer.

and the little lifeboat house is finished and ready for Christmas day.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

just have to get my oher daughters jewelry box made now, and then i can get full steam ahead with y lifeboat

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

now, back to the lifeboat for a day……..

was going to do more than i did tonight to my Liverpool, and brought it indoors to fit the cross members for the deck suports whilst i watched the Saudi grand prix……

however it was so exciting that the only times i got to glue them in one at a time were when the race was red flagged twice and 5 safety cars………..so what would have been a 20 minute job took me 2.5 hours, lol…

then i drilled and then removed the "lump" of grp and filler from the beltong to make just one of the cut outs in the belting that the later Liverpool twin screws had.

that went much easier than i thought, and so will cut out and file smooth the remaining 17 holes tomorrow.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

ALL 18 holes have now been gut out of the belting on the Liverpool class boat, and just need cleaning up with files.

now you can see just WHY they could not be moulded in to the hull as a production hull.

whilst the cross bearers and th pins holding the bilge keels have been strengthened and waterproofed

 

 

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 06/12/2021 21:56:04

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

and to finish off this evening i have weighted down 2 stringers for the bulwarks and they will be fitted tomorrow.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

OMG …………I have just doubled all of this up on my original blog about the tractor trailor …………i must be loosing the plot, or my marbles somewhere along the way………

anyway just to say i'll be cack on the build after christmas.

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

Take more water with it Neil!

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Posted by Richard Simpson on 24/12/2021 19:41:34:

Take more water with it Neil!

I think i need to, Richard………….or just stick to H2o on its own lol.

anyway……..

I made a new years resolution about 50 years ago……the only one I have ever kept

And that was NEVER to make a new years resolution again, and I have steadfastly kept it …………until tonight!!…………..

when I broke it!

Looking at my Liverpool kit which I havent touched since long before Christmas [in my modelling terms] I decided that after speaking with a modelling mate earlier this afternoon and in a round about message told me to get on with it I decided to be more organised in my life from now on.

So this evening I decided the best way not to make the cock up again like I did with the deck bearers [which I am still Kicking myself about] I found a ring binder folder, some card seperators and punched holes in the three seperated sections and placed the sections in the folder.

Sorted….I now feel confident that I have all the instructions in one place and not scattered around the workshop!

A little tidying of the workshop in the next couple of days to what I had got it into before Christmas, and then work can resume in ernest…..feel better just for doing that, as I will be able to sit down and read them.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

getting back into the build now.

been 17 years sinse i last looked at a fttings set for the liverpool class, and had forgotten how many there were!

amd so i decoded tonight to take each bag out of the box, clean any "flash" that was on any of them twith needle files or abrasive paper and think as to where they go. as with Metcalf models fittings there is and always has been very very little to clean off them as they are so well cast..

i can now get on with the build.

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

Love the ring binder Neil, that's exactly what I do when I am collecting information and instructions. Eventually it will also contain the manual for the speed controllers, motors, instructions for the receivers etc, etc.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Posted by Richard Simpson on 30/12/2021 09:07:44:

Love the ring binder Neil, that's exactly what I do when I am collecting information and instructions. Eventually it will also contain the manual for the speed controllers, motors, instructions for the receivers etc, etc.

not thought of that, but a good idea Richard……..my memory isn't as retentive at my age………but you are right….good thinking. cheers.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Catching up…

i dry fitted the remaining deck support beams and plates for the main cabin cuddy..

next i will put a fillet of P38 between the outer hull deck supports, to secure the franework and also make the hull impregnable from water ingress at that week point…..

just have to measure the correct possition of the stern part of the access hole in the plywood plate from the stern for correct possitioning of the cockpit.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

I am looking at all events, and though i sailed my original prototype of this kit in some heavy weather on Fleetwood boating lake and got no ingress i am leaving nothing to chance and so am installing windscreen washer pumps.

one will be in the bow and one will be in the stern.

i have already decided to put filters on to the pick up tubes to filter out any dust and just want enough pump power to keep the hull dry…………..

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

whilst planning for the modifications i need to make on this special model lifeboat to make ready and watertight for the Windermere Challenge in june i have been pondering about how to make the main hatch below the central cockpit water tight.

And i think i have cracked it.

but this ment taking the rear wall [which would have eventually needed to be done later in the buld at an early stage so that i can ponder inside the recess, and codjetate, [as my father would say].

and now i can sit and get an overall pictire of what i have to do.

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

Not knowing the arrangement Neil but my philosophy, wherever possible, is to follow the constructional arrangement of the real thing. After all it works in full size.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Posted by Richard Simpson on 05/01/2022 22:40:00:

Not knowing the arrangement Neil but my philosophy, wherever possible, is to follow the constructional arrangement of the real thing. After all it works in full size.

normally agree Richard…………..but theres a lot of water in Windermere, and knowing my luck on the 25th June, theres going to be a lot of it swamping my small boat, and i need to get rid if it fast.

i wouldn't build a model in such a way as this any other time as i like to sail even lifeboats on small placid calm lakes but i am building this model to sail on any type of water, [as this might not be the last time it sees rough watter……..so i'm modifying to stay afloat, and to do as long a sail as it can on just 2 sets of batteries…….think thats why its taking me so long.

normally i'd have it half built by now, lol.

anyway……..the motor pumps have been wired up to a 12v supply and tested…think they will drain even a neil size bath tub in record time, never mind a 36" hull should anything go wrong.

tomorrow i have to go on the hunt to a local aeroplane modellers shop for some fuel pump pipe clips

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

So are you looking at creating a completely sealed internal space that could withstand even holding below the surface?

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Posted by Richard Simpson on 06/01/2022 09:00:35:

So are you looking at creating a completely sealed internal space that could withstand even holding below the surface?

basically yes Richard……….but only for the run up windermere…….once that is over, i can revert to the boat just being a normal boat for use on calm waters, lol.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

what is this world coming too!!!

went to the local model shop today in Bispham and the owner came to the locked door, opened it slightly and apologised that he couldn't let me in as he was waiting for the CSI and police to arive……….they had had a burglary, stuff smashed on the floor, just absolutely disgusting.

giving my apologies i went to Halfords for my pipe clips. Nothing there but he had very small zip locks so i bought a pack, came home and locked the silicon piping on to the inlet and outlet pipes from the pumps!..Job done!!!

i can now fit the under first level decks before working on the hull.

[Pete NicholsonParticipant @petenicholson81590]

Hi Neil, seeing your project, and your determination to stop water ingress, as a complete novice I would value your advice regarding prop shaft/tube sealing. Am building an aeronaut diva and having great difficulty as the tube bushes are not aligned ie. shaft will stick on rotation ( not badly but obvious). When I sort this, I am considering pumping the tube full of flexible shaft grease ( lithium based) but would like your opinion of this, versus just regular light oiling? No instructions on this supplied.

hope you don’t mind going off topic.

best regards

Pete.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

the centre section of of the inner deck was added this afternoon, using 2part epoxy, 30 minute setting time, which i gave 90 minute setting before taking the clamps off.

and then i was just about to put the fore deck on and i realised that i hadn't put into the fore frame some reinforcing cross members and filler plates.

you will find these nowhere mentioned in the kit. However as i plan to use a full set of sails for the boat on the Windermere challenge, the scale tabernackle in white metal supplied in the kit might just not be up to the strain that a quite big dipping lug sail and fore sail that my daughter is making for me, and so i have silver soldered a brass tabernackle together, and this will be screwed through the two deck sheets and into support plates that i have added.

And rather than use obeche timber as the underneath support plate, which again might split under the strain, i have used 3 layers of different thickness ply's glued with the strata's going in opposite directions and giving 11 layers of timber in all.

i doubt that will split, but WILL give great strength to the tabernackle, mast and sails if the wind should whip up.

i am leaving nothing to chance.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

finally tonight, i glued in to place the stern section of the deck which i used to hold down using clamps and old batteries [very very usefull for just such jobs.

and then the two fillets to fill in to level the rear edge of the access to the boat.

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

A lot of structural work going into this. I also keep old lead acid batteries for holding down railway track while the glue sets!

I think you might need a couple more knives Neil.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

got some somehere Richard, but my usual plight……cant find them, all brass handled ones, lol.

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