Queensland army mine layer “MINER”

[mick eastParticipant @mickeast46851]

Close to completion of the Miner project I’ve just got a few detail bits to manufacture and fit.  I must admit this is my favourite build so far . I love the way she emits Victorian elegance.  She was built to lay mines in the mouth of the Brisbane River because of the threat of Russian expansion in the pacific but she seemed to spend more time entertaining the elite of Brisbanes society and military leaders up and down the river

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

G’day Mick,

Another lovely job, great to have a back story which motivates the build 🙂

You will soon be in the same boat as me with 40 + boats 🙁

I try to get each one on the water at least once a year !!

Kind Regards

Ray

[Richard SimpsonModerator @richardsimpson88330]

Another lovely clean, neat and tidy build Mick.  And an interesting vessel with such a history.

Can I make one observation, not to be taken as a criticism, but simply something that would look a bit better.  A taper in a mast takes place over quite a length of the mast and is a very gradual thing.  I would normally taper a mast over around a half to two thirds of its total length.  I bought a battery powered plastic lathe for the job so I have a good deal of control over the process, which a friend of mine also uses for making arrows!

If you don’t have access to a lathe I understand it can be a bit trickier to create such a gentle consistent taper but frequent checking for appropriate diameters at specific points should help greatly.  If you compare yours with the photograph you can see what I mean.

Both masts on the Ben Ain are tapered from lower than half their height and the boom is tapered for well over one third the total length from either end.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

Stick the mast in an electric drill and sandpaper but wear a glove it gets hot 🙂

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

My models are usually small enough that a cheap thin long handled artist’s brush will do the job. Nice taper and it is already sealed ready for painting.

Colin

[mick eastParticipant @mickeast46851]

Thanks Richard that’s what I like about this forum constructive criticism at its best . Funny thing is I’ve tapered my other models masts just forgot/ missed this one. Ray that’s the way I’ve done it in the past

[Richard SimpsonModerator @richardsimpson88330]

Mick, forgot to mention, great article in the November edition of Model Boats.  That is exactly the thing the magazine needs as much of as it can get.  It is also all the more useful coming from someone relatively new to the hobby so the readers can see just what can be achieved right from starting out, which might just tempt someone to have a go.

[mick eastParticipant @mickeast46851]

Thanks Richard I  must admit I really enjoyed doing the article to me it felt just like a extension to the hobby .

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