MOTOR SAILOR LIFEBOAT

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

getting down to the detailing now……

just about finished casting and cleaning the oarlocks for both boats. the last 3 making 10 + 2 spares per boat are in the mould going "off" and will be cleaned up in an hour or so.

but neither these or the stanchions already made will be fitted until the last moment as they are quite liable to get broken whilst I'm fitting other stuff to the interiors of the boats, as they are exposed and fragile.

 

 

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 15/05/2020 19:09:09

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

she looks a little better with the old RNLI Logo on the bow. nearly finished the sailor lifeboat now, and just waiting for a few fittings to come from my mate Dave Metcalf to finish the both boats off.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

 

Started rigging my motor sailor yesterday afternoon and but for a break for tea i gave up at around 02.30 this morning, tired, almost asleep and fingers numb, lol……….got to the stage where everything was in place but untidy.

the motor sailor has now been rigged with modellers artistic licence so that it can sail without servo winches nor little men running around the deck altering the sheets and blocks every time you want to change direction of tack.

I'm sure that a rivet counter or true sailor could drive a bus through the model for rigging mistakes, but it was built for a purpose, and I am sure it will work the way I have set it out……..

and who cares about rivet counters, lol.

I am just waiting for some fisherman's snap swivel links so that I can remove the links I made to the mizzen mast rigging so that the section including the mast can be removed to access the motor battery and rc gear………I'll ponder and sort that once they arrive..

I am happy with it though, and that is all that matters to me.

I reckon it'll take on the best of Fleetwood's or Windermere weather.

 

 

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 17/05/2020 17:21:05

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Looking very nice Neil

The rigging etc is good enough for me, Matey

But don`t like you working these long hours though, it can`t be good for you, even though you are fired up with enthusiasm

Take it easy, Neil

Bob

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

 Thanks for the kind thoughts, but I have always worked long late hours Bob even 30 years ago when I could see the end in site I would at times work through the night until the dawns early light shone through the workshop windows…….

it was the piped up adrenalin that kept me working…….never used machinery though at that time and even now a days, all I use during the finishing section all I use is a small minicraft drill…….

and then on to the next project and start slowly.

but have always been a night owl………best tv is late at night, lol.

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 17/05/2020 23:19:59

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Named and famed.

using BECC Vinyl stick on lettering, the two boats have been given their names and port station names.

 

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 19/05/2020 00:56:08

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Very pretty, Neil…….No, not you, the lettering!

Now then, putting my nit picking hat on……..The grab ropes need some attention?

They don't hang right?

I would use something like Fly Tyers Wax, it makes the rope more manageable

Try it on a sample first

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Like the lettering Neil. So tricky to get right…in-line, spacing..uprightness!

Most tricky thing I have had to do was to put put “Titanic” on the Titanic with 3mm letters…

Ashley

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

I would normally use masking tape to line them all up……but couldn't do it with those because of the belting on the side of the boat.

as for the grab ropes……..they will eventually be "skimmed with a light covering of superglue and will for ever more sit perfectly hung…….but only once I have finished with the build stands.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

my fittings that I needed to complete the two boats arrived in the post this morning from my friend Dave Metcalf.

so tonight I thought i'd be clever to begin with and spend an hour making two brackets so that the anchors would stand upright……………they don't fit after all that work and si they will, like others have to lay flat on the fore most bench.

then I made the small brackets to take the Axe and the hatchet heads which will fit on the fore and aft bulkheads

finally all fittings and brackets were painted in their different respective colours.

by tomorrow evening, these two models will be finished!!, yippppeeee………can then tidy the work shop and get on with the TYNE,

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

So near and yet so far away?

I never realised these old Lifeboats were so well organised, with all the gear attached

Have you got access to a sample close by, Neil?

Take your time, old chap and savour the moment

Well done, Master Builder

Neil

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

thank you Bob, you are so lovely with your comments. a true gentleman………..look forward to seeing you again sometime.

they were quite complex vessels, even just the pulling/sailing boats, but had to be ready, in their day for all things that they could envisage even in the early days of life saving……..and when you consider that the actual organisation, even though originally not called the RNLI, was founded in the Isle of Man in 1824…nearly 200 years ago, the crew were brave, and the boats well built.

on 100 years to 1924 and the motor sailor is what the boats had developed into………..and on 100 years more to 2024[well almost] and this is what the RNLI use now……..a £2,500,000 state of the art water jet drive 25 knot lifeboat.

But nothing is new in the grand scheme of things, because in 1886 the RNLI were using 3 steam powered water jet drive lifeboats to great lifesaving effect……..one being the Duke of Northumberland, based at New Brighton!

the boats shown are the modern Shannon class boats [which I built last year, one as a gift for my friend in Cornwall,] and the nearer one is mine. And the blue one is the City of Glasgow, a steam lifeboat dating to 1890 and is in the cellars of the City of Glasgow museum.

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 21/05/2020 14:33:42

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

well! the final stage of my [almost] nine month build of two sailing lifeboats.

began on September 1st, 2019 and am about to finish them this afternoon/evening, with the final fixing of the fittings shown in the photo!.

And then onto fitting the stanchions and oarlocks on both boats and that is it.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Very nice Neil

Tip of the day……….Add a touch of silver to the large red axes# edges

And two toilet rolls in the roller brackets?

Wash your hands and call it a day!

Bob

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

thanks bob, will remember that tip for next time……..they now very much locked onto the model in their respective places. 

the build of the SAMUEL FLETCHER OF MANCHESTER officially finished at 18.38 hours today 8 months and 21 days after it started.

it is going to be delivered to the commissionaire Steve Williams tomorrow afternoon, obeying social distancing of course.

the reason for the fast delivery is that yesterday whilst in the garden with it, I had a drone flying over my garden and house for some minutes, and this concerned me.

I read later on facebook that there had been a few burglaries in the near area, where drones have been flying over the houses. I don't trust anyone not to make a go at having it.

so tomorrow it will be gone to its new home.

I will finish my motor sailor tonight and hopefully if nice weather tomorrow morning I'll get some photos of the two of them together before Sam Fletch goes on to her new home in Lytham St Annes.

 

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 21/05/2020 19:36:48

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

see what you mean now bob by "roller brackets"………..they are in fact the old brass fire extinguishers with holding brackets for the motor sailor, lol.

think a couple of bog rolls would be taking the P, lol.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Neil

Two lovely models to be proud of

I would have thought that the museum model would look better if the sails were stowed or furled?

Because they are looking like Nora Batties stockings at the moment?

No offence intended, old boy

Bob

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

none taken bob…….

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Difficult to get sails looking right as the weights of cloth are so out of kilter.

I opted for quite taut sails on the London as they were muslin and would not hang at all.

Reading up on things like the Mary Rose, they had very baggy sails which would be a nightmare to try and emulate statically.

Ashley

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

the lifeboat cloths were such heavy materials……needed them for strength and longevity, but in a good blow these li little ones fill out and am sure they will do their job on Windermere next summer.

as for the second boat………

and the motor sailor SIR FITZROY CLAYTON, Fleetwood's lifeboat was finished at around 23.30 last night.

then I sat back looking at her and realised that I hadn't finished either boat at all, as I had forgotten to make the boat hook and gaff for each boat.

so sat forward again, went to the workshop at 23.45, found some dowel and proceeded to make them.

I will fit these when painted blue and white for respective sides of the boats.

and the final shot is handing it over to Steve Williams, the new custodian of the MUSEUM model and one of the trustees of the Samuel Fletcher Trust

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Job done and dusted finally

We hope to see a mention of this historic event on the iPad news etc, shortly?

But we suppose we could blame the Virus lockdown for not seeing a reception committee?

Award yourself a good stiff noggin o` Grog, Neil, for a job well done

Bob

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

thanks Bob……….I will………….but what is iPad news mate……..haven't a clue.

yes, now its a quick tidy up, and throw away the junk and then on to the next model……….might even paint some crew up for my motor sailor inside rather than in the workshop. .

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Nice one Neil.

Chris

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

thanks Chris….……all over bar the shouting as they say

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