MV Stability (1949) – F T Everard & Sons

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

I have been lucky enough to be lent a free plan published in Model Shipwright by Jim Pottinger for Stability, she was operated by F T Everard & Sons from Greenhithe, which is very close our Chantry club at Bluewater, During the late 60's I used to cycle over to Greenhithe clutching my Ian Allen ship spotting book to see which ones I could tick off the list.

I have had the drawing enlarged to 1/72nd scale as she maybe part of a Quayside layout on my OO railway in the future (thought Richard would like that ! ) she will be balsa construction, ply for the superstructure and vital stats :- 31" long X 5" beam.

So here we go with the card bulkhead templates ready to start cutting.

Regards Ray

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

1/72nd Coaster – from Jim Pottinger’s Drawing

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Hi.Ray, that’s a nice looking boat, I like Jim’s choice of boats to model and the simplicity of them, and at a size that you can add some detail and still have a boat you can handle.

BTW you say that I am fast out of the blocks😁.

Regards.

Eddie.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Eddie,

The trouble with me is I'm looking/thinking 3-4 models ahead

Found a set of Rob Roy drawings in didn't know I had, sweet little engine, and I think I would give the boiler a shot  PS, I blame Bob for showing us pictures of his steamers !!

I need to get the timber prepared for Nimbus

Regards Ray

 

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 25/06/2021 10:14:01

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

They were smart little ships. Some of them were painted yellow, but I preferred the black ones like Stability – Here is one I built of Speciality. I sailed in the big Frederick T Everard myself in 1962, another yellow one –

Edited By Bob Wilson on 25/06/2021 10:45:11

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Bob,

Yes would have preferred a yellow ship, I recall them being fairly rusty in the 60's

I have most of the Model Shipwright periodicals, but unfortunately not many of the free drawings I think it's fair to say you did you bit to keep the publication afloat for so long with your ship model articles, they are still a great reference source of information.

Regards Ray

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Thanks Ray,

I wrote for them for years, but I think they finally wound it all up after the death of their editor, John Bowen, at the age of 99.

Bob

 

 

Edited By Bob Wilson on 25/06/2021 11:11:36

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Thames River tug SA Everard –

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

Nothing quite like a wet weekend for some cutting and sticking

The bulkheads are cross laminated 1/16" balsa to stop them splitting when cut out with a scalpel , the keel is balsa & obeche with the bow and stern being 1/8th balsa sheet, maybe planking with 3/32 as I have plenty in stock.

Regards Ray

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Ray

I watching your build to see how the build develops using Balsa construction

Wonder how a One Metre Yacht would cope with Balsa?

I may be quicker on the water, being so light

Would it be allowed in the very stringent rules though?

Bob

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Bob,

My friend Eddie in Northants has lent me a set of forms to make Nimbus a IOM design and the rules say that the minimum weight must be 4 Kilos, so no advantage really in using balsa I'm going to use mahogany because it will look great varnished

Regards Ray

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

I completely agree Ray, as this Alan Wyatt hull clearly demonstrates.

 

Edited By Richard Simpson on 28/06/2021 11:29:48

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Ray

Thought so

Bob

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

The on the water weight of my spruce planked IOM is 4500 grams, the bare hull of the balsa one is just on the 1000 grams, add the fin and keel bulb, another 2500 grams, 50 grams for the rudder, that totals 3550 grams giving me 450 grams for the radio, rigging and sails so it should be around the 4000 grams minimum weight.

Regards.

Eddie.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

Pressing on with this build which to be fair is the same as Oldenburg in many ways, so I may not post many more photos !!

Well the frames are erected on the board with the keel in place and a dry run for the stern tube, then balsa planking next

Regards Ray

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Looking good Ray, please keep us informed, every build is different in some way.

Regards.

Eddie.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

While I wasn't watching the football, the planking has come along

My top tip is when building inverted on a board is using a small G cramp puts the hull at a much better angle for planking access, my best investment years ago was 1 metre steel rule which I use for cutting the planks from 3/32" balsa, then plenty of pins and balsa cement and I'm back to being a 12 year old , love the smell of the glue !!

Regards Ray

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Hi. Ray, don’t get too high on that stuff, we don’t want it banned.

See what I mean about different ideas when building?

Regards.

Eddie.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Eddie,

Years ago when we were Aeromodeller's with our balsa cement we just thought it smelled like Pear Drops times may have changed ?

Have decided that the bow & stern will be balsa laminations as those 3/32" planks don't like going round corners !!

Regards Ray

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

Balsa cement, one of the best smelling glues around. Right up there with the original formula contact adhesive Bostick.

I think using balsa is a good idea Ray. There are very few woods as flexible and a little steaming makes it very pliable.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

Stability has progressed and jumped off the building board, 1/2" balsa laminations for the bow & stern and plenty of lightweight filler.

Off to London today for work to look at a refurbishment project in the west end, will be interesting to see if there is anybody on the trains? as maybe like me working at home has become the norm

Regards Ray

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

Love the railway in the background Ray!

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

Not really rushing this build ! but she is sitting in her stand now, with the deck and hatch coamings fitting working towards the stern, the inside of the hull has been lightweight glass clothed between the bulkheads and sealed with water based resin, I will do the outside the same way soon, 2-3 coats and it will be ready for primer after I have cut all the various water ways and anchor hawse openings.

Regards Ray

[geconParticipant @gecon]

I like the look of that hull Ray, as I did Oldenburg. Has a genuine 'ship' shape to it. We want to see photos of the building stages, please.

George

Edited By gecon on 17/07/2021 15:57:31

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Thanks George,

She is actually coming out smaller than I thought at 31" long but that's to suit my ideas for a dockside railway layout eventually

The inside of the hull is glass clothed and painted 2 coats of Humbrol enamel, 380 motor from the spares box, tiny rudder servo retired from an aeroplane, I wanted to get the working parts installed before I put the decks and hatches on access for the battery maybe awkward with the derricks rigged, but still pressing on

M7 passing with local goods train for Richard

Regards Ray

[Author]

Posts