MOTOR SAILOR LIFEBOAT

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Very nice Neil

The bits and pieces finish it off nicely

Will the models be in a glass case?

They will soon gather dust

Bob

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

the museum model will be, I presume, bob, but the motor sailor will, like my other models, just be left to collect dust, lol.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

they look a lot better once all the scragg ends have been removed.

just be careful though when cutting………… I use nail clippers far easier than scissors as you can get in closer, not to catch any of the grab lines…………….as you cant do a repair, you just have to re-rig the whole side unfortunately………..been there, done that, got the t shirt as they say!!!

in a few minutes, I'm going to start rigging both masts on the motor sailor and the single main mast on the sailing lifeboat.

 

 

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 11/05/2020 14:34:07

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 11/05/2020 14:35:06

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

WELL!!!………I AM MENTALLY KNACKERED!!!.

Started work on the motor sailor at around 16.00 hours this afternoon and but for a short break of 30 minutes around 20.30 to make tea for us I finished the jobs that I had set myself to do at 00.23 this morning.

first job was to grind the lugs on the brass drop keel thinner so that it would fit into the keel slot in the hum with the uphaul rope to fit without jamming. job done!

next, was to make link fittings between bulwark tops and turnbuckles/bottle screws for the rigging.

then to attach the shroud lines to the top and bottom blocks.

and finally rig them all together………that alone took nearly 7 hours………..and still one boat to do…………

so!!!! eany meany miney mo, which of the beers has got to go!!

silly question really……….I feel like both of them to give me a good nights sleep!…….don't need to get up too early tomorrow.

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 12/05/2020 01:10:04

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Neil,

They are looking great, I like all the details 😄 are you in a rush to complete them ?? with the way your driving yourself are you enjoying the builds !

To be honest I'd drink the beers first 👍

Regards Ray

 

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 12/05/2020 07:33:21

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Neil

Coming along at a goodly pace for some reason and working late too?

Better take it easy now, the Battle has been won

Look after yourself, Neil

Bob

[david taylorParticipant @davidtaylor]

hi neil,

i see you are still burning your self out building your lifeboats, they are fantastic. but like all mine they are stuck in boxes with no where to display them our sail them, we are still in lock down in wales unlike you. have you got your golf clubs out

keep your self safe

david taylor

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Posted by Ray Wood 2 on 12/05/2020 07:31:56:

Hi Neil,

They are looking great, I like all the details 😄 are you in a rush to complete them ?? with the way your driving yourself are you enjoying the builds !

To be honest I'd drink the beers first 👍

Regards Ray

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 12/05/2020 07:33:21

i'm thoroughly enjoying the builds Ray, and as always with my models I have usually collected or made all the fittings long before I actually build the main object……….most of the fittings have been hanging around for a few months. and as I get closer to finish the more excited I get.

I have always though been in a time limited area with these two, as the motor sailor with the two masts was hopefully going to be ready for the end of this month, so I could get in 4 weeks sailing practice of a p[basically] yacht before our charity sail in aid of the RNLI with 4 guys and 4 model lifeboats on the 27th june…………but that has now been cancelled until the same date next summer because of Covid19………….but no point in prolonging the build or the momentum and hopefully they will be ready by the end of the month.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Posted by Bob Abell on 12/05/2020 07:40:27:

Hi Neil

Coming along at a goodly pace for some reason and working late too?

Better take it easy now, the Battle has been won

Look after yourself, Neil

Bob

cheers Bob, the battle is never over till the fat lady sings, lol………..or in my place, the fat man……….all that beer………..bought a bottle of Australian red for tonight, and then got a text from Blood Transfusion reminding me of my 3 monthly donation tomorrow lunch time………cant really give my 3 monthly pint of O neg with a froth on it, lol.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Posted by david taylor on 12/05/2020 11:21:45:

hi neil,

i see you are still burning your self out building your lifeboats, they are fantastic. but like all mine they are stuck in boxes with no where to display them our sail them, we are still in lock down in wales unlike you. have you got your golf clubs out

keep your self safe

david taylor

only ever played one round of golf in my life David….when in Ozz our school had a grudge match with Canberra High School staff/teachers, and our lot were short of a player………..they asked me if I would play to uphold the honour of Campbell High School who had won the last 3 years.

I reluctantly agreed and we all set off in 4's…..

I can now say, I was a genius at the game and single handedly won the match out right……………………for the other school…….

I scored 96 for my 9 hole round, and as we were going on actual points over the teams……my colossal score won the day for Canberra High……………but not to be caught out……..I didn't pay for a beer at the doo all night courtesy of Canberra High teachers, lol.

Campbell High never asked me again to play golf for them…….but my name went down in folk law I believe, lol.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Nice golfing story Neil

Nice to see you still have a light hearted sense of humour?

In the meantime……….Don't work too hard

Bob

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

life would be more depressing than it is, if you didn't take it light heartedly, Bob………always look on the bright side of life……..my motto.

anyway……..didn't do too much today as donated blood this afternoon and left me feeling a little tired…..

concentrated on the sailing lifeboat this afternoon and evening.

firstly I rigged the pulley blocks for the "dummy" drop keel; blocks.

Then erected the signalling lamp mast.

then it was the time to pull in the mast shrouds and tether them to the wooden cleats that were made earlier.

finally it was time to attach the main sail to the upper boom and rig it temporarily before I attach the rigging blocks tomorrow, but had enough for tonight. feeling a little tired after donating blood this afternoon so am going to have a beer and watch some TV

[Tim CooperParticipant @timcooper90034]

Neil

You were lucky to be able to give blood, my appointment was cancelled as I am 70. They said they would let me know when I could make another appointment. Normally they are reminding me not to miss as I have one of the less common blood groups.

Tim

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Neil

Can we have a photo with your goodself and the two boats, to get an idea of scale please?

Bob

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Posted by Tim Cooper on 14/05/2020 12:26:32:

Neil

You were lucky to be able to give blood, my appointment was cancelled as I am 70. They said they would let me know when I could make another appointment. Normally they are reminding me not to miss as I have one of the less common blood groups.

Tim

apparently O neg is only 5% of population who have it, and so rare so both I and my two daughters donate, but O neg can be given to any other patient with any other blood group apparently………..I've been giving the old red wine since I was 18 and my first term at UNI……..50 YEARS AGO, LOL.

I would urge anyone to give it, especially during these times of crisis…………and sign up to organ donor as well.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Posted by Bob Abell on 14/05/2020 13:36:37:

Neil

Can we have a photo with your goodself and the two boats, to get an idea of scale please?

Bob

i'll get one organised this afternoon Bob………they are just 36" long though

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

here you go Bob,,,,,,,

 

this should give you an idea of their size……….nice sunny day to give them an airing.

 

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 14/05/2020 15:41:27

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Very nice Neil

You should be justly proud of your efforts

Are you going to fit an authentic scale lifeboat man?

It would be nice, but I can imagine they are difficult to produce, realistic crew members

Thank you Neil. a job well done

Bob

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

 

Thank you Bob, Your comments and all who contribute are much appreciated.

the little figurines are not all that difficult to make, to be honest.

I have actually made a set of figures for each change of lifeboat mans apparel since the cork life vests of the late 1890's through the kapok, the first inflatables to the very presently Helly Hanson attire over the last 12 years.

I started off with the first inflatables when I built my trio of lifeboats together and wanted crew. I gave that set of moulds to a friend who was having mental health problems and wanted to focus his mind on doing something creative, and originals figurines to Dave Metcalf .

then I was asked to make two sets for another person heavily involved in the RNLI…..I converted some figure's that I had converted into the CORK and KAPOK LIFE VESTS and moulded them for the chap, and finally i remoulded some of the spares that I kept for myself into the most modern of Helly Hanson dry suit attire.

the only set I have never done was a set of figurines dating from post inflatable of the 1990's until the Helly Hanson gear came in a couple or so years ago, because Adrian Gosling of Speedline models was already doing a set of that attire, and didn't see the point, and also don't like stepping on other peoples toes with repetitive or similar models.

SO the first two photos below are the guys in Kapok attire that I will be putting on my motor sailor, and the last two shots are of my present figures with the originals for the moulds that I sculpted with milliput.

 

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 14/05/2020 17:08:47

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Wow!…….Who's a fever then?

The painted crews look lovely

To save a lot of hard work, perhaps, just have two standing crew to show the comparative size of the Lifeboat?

Bob

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Hi. Neil, to heck with the crew, it’s nice to see the builder😄.

Really great boats too.

Regards.

Eddie.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

thanks guys, lol……….you know who to avoid now at the next Blackpool show,

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Neil,

Marvellous boats 😄 now here's an angle ? On the river Medway at the bottom of our road we have a converted lifeboat Dowager of London which is a Dunkirk little ship, she's looking rather sorry for herself and for sale £35k rather out of my price range these days but would make a fine model 😄??

Regards Ray

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Yes she was the famous ROSA WOODD & PHYLISS LUNN , a 41' Watson class lifeboat. like Fleetwoods boat Ann Letitia Russell and the Whitby lifeboat Mary Ann Hepworth. She actually served at Fleetwood as a researtve boat on numerous times whilst our boat was being serviced and is on our name boards as carrying ot service with people saved.

I am absolutely amazed that she sold for 25000 quid, as the Mary ANN Hepworth which is still in absolute original condition and works as a trip boat out of her own port of Whitby can still be bought for just £8500 quid…….the price of a classic car these days.

NOW" THE QUESTION IS;……….what would you rather buy, this one at 25000 quid

or this much sounder boat with BOT certificates for carrying up to 24 passengers for £8500. quid…………….I know which I would rather have,

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

and Ray, there is a kit available that I designed and developed, which allows you to build that very class of boat, and which is now and has been available through Metcalf Mouldings since 1999.

and these two photos are of my original prototype model kit as built  by myself in 1995.

 

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 15/05/2020 03:30:17

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 15/05/2020 03:32:03

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