MTB 49

[Michael Cole 8Participant @michaelcole8]

Hi

I have been having a go at making a model of the MTB 49.

Has anyone built this boat.

I have made the hull and made the wheel house, the problem I have is the wheel house on plan is longer than the actual size, also the bow is wider than actual.

Any help would be appreciated.

Kind regards Michael.

[Michael Cole 8Participant @michaelcole8]

Torpedo boat.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Michael

Just so everyone is clear is this the right boat.

If so then try the Vic Smeed design Thorneycroft MTB MM337 link

Paul

 

Edited By Paul T on 13/07/2020 18:43:58

[Michael Cole 8Participant @michaelcole8]

Hi Paul,

Vic Sneed MTB 49 model maker plans service, Watford. Herts Mm337 is the plan which I have had for some years certainly didn't pay any where near the price it is today. ( £12 ).

Cost me a heafty 10 shillings in old money.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Michael

You have had that plan for some time.

Carrying on being clear about your problem, it will help to know where the error is so I hope you don't mind if we ask some basic questions.

Please understand that these questions are not a reflection on your abilities they just help us focus on the problem.

The first obvious question is: did you build the hull, wheelhouse, deck all from the same plan?

Second question is: did you buy any pre-made parts (like the hull)

Paul

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Micheal,

That's a fine design by my favourite designer, Vic Smeed designed some cracking boat, your photos of the hull are good in your album, no problems there 😀

Regards Ray

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 13/07/2020 21:47:05

[Michael Cole 8Participant @michaelcole8]

Hi Paul,

Hull and wheel house and deck built from plan.

I have not bought any pre made parts. I enjoy the challenge of making as much as I can.

I should have said the beam not bow, sorry.

Ray, thanks for your reply.

Kind regards, Mike.

[Charles OatesParticipant @charlesoates31738]

Hi Michael, if I'm understanding correctly, you're saying that the plan isn't accurate regarding the hull and superstructure size. This is not unusual, many plans, especially those drawn a long time ago were simplified. This was often to make building simpler or allow easier access to the inside. Vic dew plans for the average modeler and materials of the day, and darn good they were, but not always a perfect scale representation.

The superstructure won't take much altering, if you have some more accurate pictures etc, the hull will be more difficult, unless you have some experience with the knock on effects of changing a dimension on a curved structure. I've never worried if my hulls aren't fully accurate, but that's a personal choice.

Let us know what you decide, there's plenty of help to be had for the asking.

Charles

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Mike

The reason behind my original question about being specific about MTB 49 as there is a discrepancy between MTB 49 and the photos in your album.

I have copied the photo and highlighted the areas that dont fit with MTB 49, a squat superstructure at the stern and, from this angle, the bow seems to be a different shape.

All the best

Paul

[Michael Cole 8Participant @michaelcole8]

Hi Paul,

The photo you are looking at is the hull of RTTL launch which I have almost finished.

I have not uploaded any photos of the MTB 49 but will do shortly.

Kind regards, Mike.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Mike

Re the photos I presumed that was the case but I thought a little clarification might help the membership. Interesting to see that you use Cascamite Structural, how would you rate its performance?

Back to your problem, there are only two conclusions that can be drawn from this, either you have misread the plans or, more likely, the plans are incorrect.

As Charles pointed out some of the older drawings were 'simplified', although I don't know why they did this as all it did was overcomplicate the build.

It would help if we could see some photos of the plan then we might be able to resolve your problem, to aid us in this, when taking the photos, could you place a ruler on the drawings so that we can establish a predictable scale.

I appreciate that this is a long winded process but in the absence of physically being in the same room as both boat and plan it is the best method to establish the criteria from which we might determine the solution.

Paul

[Michael Cole 8Participant @michaelcole8]

HiHi Paul,

Here are a couple of photos

[Michael Cole 8Participant @michaelcole8]

Hi Paul,

Cascamite is ok works for me except when trying to glue stringers 1/8 X 1/16 around curves when I then use super glue. Pins have a tendency to split stringers.

I'll have a look at using a rule on plan for that photo which I will upload.

Kind regards, Mike.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Mike

Have you seen this website link

The Gloucester & District club link have a nice 49

The chaps on these sites might also have valuable insight into your problem

Paul

Edited By Paul T on 14/07/2020 14:41:47

[Michael Cole 8Participant @michaelcole8]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for the link, I will contact the club.

Kind regards Mike.

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Just a note on scale deviations :

If making an exact (static) scale model from the boatyard's /designers drawings, then you could reduce every linear measurement exactly. It would be pretty tedious and I'll bet that most scale modellers will make a 'compromise' some where.

Even plastic kits aren't exactly to scale, as to reproduce many of the smaller components would simply make them too fragile to handle.

For a working model some compromise is inevitable. Mainly in the hull volume area, most of the ones I've seen make the hull deeper than scale to give it good flotation /performance etc. They may also be slightly more 'beamy' and perhaps length-over-all is stretched a little too.

Enjoy your build (and don't be afraid to compromise a little !).

Dave

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