Returning modeller

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Hi Jim

Certainly the Deluxe Materials one does, much better than superglue in that respect. I've just tried gluing a piece of clear plastic from a food carton and deliberately got some glue on the "window" to see how it dries. Supposed to dry clear in 30 – 60 minutes and I think I read somewhere that you can peel it off from where you don't want it? Strength grows with time.

I'll see how it's performed in a bit.

Deluxe Materials tube is 6" long containing the glue which is 80ml. If you only want a bit and a finer tube might be better to go with Ray's version, though as I said it's good for other things.

Chris

Edited By Chris Fellows on 11/02/2022 16:59:21

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Test piece was stuck fast and where I'd got glue on the "window" I pushed it back with my fingernail. Smears elsewhere I removed with some spit and a finger. Obviously best that you don't get it where you don't want it. Gets my vote.

Chris

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hello Jim,

I brush paint pretty much every thing I build with Humbrol Enamel, I do spray hulls Halfords red oxide for anti fouling, I use a lot of matt paint and seal with oil based Ronseal satin varnish, most models look much better with out shiny/gloss parts, except for Chris's Fairy Marine Gin Palace's

Good quality flat wide brushes are a must and paint last thing in the evening, putting a cardboard box over the job also helps reduces the dust in the air, paint laid on a flat surface can achieve an incredible gloss, if that's what you want ? But your Pilot boat is a working vessel matts & satin finishes would look good

Regards Ray

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

We'll see when I actually get round to painting them!

I must admit I've been torn between spraying or hand painting and may well do a mixture of both.

Chris

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Hi Chris and Ray,

Thanks again.Chris`s demonstration worked well and you can see how well it would work on aircraft cockpits. I`ll have a look on the web over the weekend.

Ray,

you answered something I would have asked later, and that was about a varnish seal. I do have one picture of the real boat looking rather glossy, but to me, the satin finish woiuld be much better.

Hopefully in the next few days I`ll get the oxide rattle can out and see how we go.

Jim.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Jim,

Just to show how well the canopy glue works here is a before and after it sets shots of the cabin glazing on a little Vic Smeed's Poppet, which is nearly ready to take to the sky's in the spring.

Regards Ray

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Hi Chris,

That Poppet is coming along nicely.and the pictures of the canopy glue shows how well it works. Seeing the engine reminds me of one I bought back in the sixties which I think was a Mills 75, though I may well have got the name wrong.

Sprayed the hull at the weekend. Came out better than I thought it would. One or two blemishes but I`ll leave them as it would only cause more problems. The water line is estimated from photo`s so it will be interesting to see where it sits in the water with everything on board. I shall paint the black on the hull and then varnish both colours to seal them.

Regards,

Jim.

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Managed to put some colour on at last.

The hull has been sprayed the usual red oxide rattle can for below the water line and the black section is Humbrol enamel. At the moment both have had one coat of satin varnish applied and will have at least one more.

The deck is also enamel with two coats of matt varnish,

The orange topside has one coat of paint so far and I reckon will need at least two more. I was surprised how much of the grain of the wood showed through, even though it had all been rubbed down and sealed with sand and seal. On the hull that`s not so bad,as most working boats had an air of use about them so I don`t mind that but I`d like to improve the cabin area so I`ll rub it down with 600 and 2000 wet and dry paper in between coats and see what it`s like.

Jim.

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Looking very nice Jim.

I think a bit of wear, here and there, on the cabin adds realism too – door /hatch handles etc,

Just admiring your railway switch panels too – very professional !

Regards,

Dave

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Hi Dave,

Thankyou for the comment. I `m sorry to say this but my switch panels are about as un professional as you could get

The swiches change polarity on the points. The L E D`S indicate turnout ( red ), straight through ( green )

The white bits are plastic rod drilled to take brass rod running inside brass tube, in a straight line,to change the points. As the points are changed, a micro switch changes the led`s red to green , depending where you`re going.

If I can, I like to keep things as simple as possible.

Do you have an interest in model railways?

Regards, Jim.

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

There are a few railway modelers on here Jim, I think many of us are simply modelers of any type or description and turn out hands to whatever we fancy at the time.

My layout has a long way to go yet, as my wife keeps pointing out!

This is my gasworks corner:

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Hi Richard,

I`ve noticed one or two others on the forum have an interest in model railways as well as other forms of modeling ( aircraft etc )

I agree with you, I think once you start on one form , curiosity sends you in different directions to see what can be achieved in another subject.

Your gasworks corner is just as I remember the gasworks they had in Aldershot back in the 1950`s on a school visit.. I found it a facinating place ,with all sorts of things going on. Long gone.

The detail on your gasworks is terrific and must have taken a good while to construct. My own layout I`ve not touched since I started the current boat build but I will get back zto it one day.

Do I see an LNER loco and Gresley coach in one picture?

Jim.

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Hi Jim /Richard,

I'm a rather strange mix of OO, OO9 and am just about to start a R/C Test track in the garden. This might be O-16.5 (narrow gauge) we'll see.

I also do aircraft. I think Ray's the same. As Richard says "once a modeller etc….." Oh, and boats too.

As well as building a sportscar (own-design of course), I'm also writing a novel. Sometimes, there just aren't enough hours….

Dave

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Hi Dave,

That`s quite a collection of interests you have there. Definitely not enough hours.

My modeling slows down a bit when the garden needs looking at., ( which won`t be long now. )

It`s a shame these days that so many youngsters would rather sit in front of a screen with games rather than having a bash at making something. I n our youth I suppose making things was what you did.

I have an 8 year old grandson and I`m slowly trying to inch him towards using his hands to make somthing.

Jim.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

Yes I feel blessed to have been born in the 50's when if you wanted something you could set to and make one, It does depend on facilities my dad, grandad & uncle had a workshops or shed/garage , so access to wood metal and balsa was never a problem

My grandchildren when they were younger were always in my workshop cutting and gluing, they have the know how to cut and stick things together and paint their creations.

Yes I'm just a model maker, variety is the spice of life so trains,planes, boats and cars are the magic of our era.

Being practical has helped me earn a living in construction for 50 years, using a computer for the last 30 years.

The graduate's these days wouldn't know a 4" X 2" if it hit them on the head

I have been very lucky to have an awful lot of toys

Jim, Airfix kits for your grandson, it worked with mine, and your pilot boat is looking very sharp

PS I have just taken up fishing !!

Regards Ray

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 06/03/2022 16:07:45

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

Posted by James Hill 5 on 06/03/2022 10:56:39:

Hi Richard,

I`ve noticed one or two others on the forum have an interest in model railways as well as other forms of modeling ( aircraft etc )

I agree with you, I think once you start on one form , curiosity sends you in different directions to see what can be achieved in another subject.

Your gasworks corner is just as I remember the gasworks they had in Aldershot back in the 1950`s on a school visit.. I found it a facinating place ,with all sorts of things going on. Long gone.

The detail on your gasworks is terrific and must have taken a good while to construct. My own layout I`ve not touched since I started the current boat build but I will get back zto it one day.

Do I see an LNER loco and Gresley coach in one picture?

Jim.

Yes James, The gasworks was built as a separate module as it was to go in a far corner and the shot was taken before it was fitted with a LNER loco going past with a couple of Gresley teaks. I went for a period of around 1947 and set in my local area so the layout is called The Lincolnshire Loop as that is the nearest section of disused track to here. It is surprising just how many repurposed ex railway buildings there are in the area that I can use to scratch build my own versions when the time comes. The gasworks took the best part of a couple of years, on and off as most of the buildings and structures were either severely hacked around kits or scratch built units. I tried to lay out the works as realistically was possible with a retort house at the start, followed by a scrubber, a condenser, a wash unit, a filter bed and a metering shed before the gas holder. In between there is a water tank, a tar collecting tank, a boiler house, fan room and pumping house. Each one took a month or two. The track is laid to provide a run around loop for road goods and a siding to supply coal to the retort house and the boiler house as well as remove tar from the tar tank.

Edited By Richard Simpson on 06/03/2022 17:49:12

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Richard and Ray.

I think another reason we enjoy the variation is possibly getting bogged down in a long project and starting something else, just for a change.

Ray ,

I`m a bit ahead of you, born in 1942, but what you said is perfectly true. My very first attempt at anything was to make a boat out of scraps of wood, shaped using a chisel and held together with a couple of nails! and floated in the water butt. My father never stopped me from trying but I think Hand S would have had a fit then If they saw what went on

My working life was as an apprentice at RAE Farnborough then into their engineering maintainance workshop as a millwright ,covering everything from workshop machinery, airfield safety equipment, Concorde test facility and all the wind tunnels. Great variation of work . Great days.

Jim.

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Finally managed to get it finished. Pleased with the result but as always, I think one or two things could have been better.

Now need to see what it`s like in the water

I haven`t put the various wires etc on the mast as that needs to be taken down when transporting anywhere so there was a chance of damage

To all those who have given me advice whilst building, many thanks.

Now the wood has just arrived I can have a go at Rays Cigarette.

Jim.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hello Jim,

Well you have done your subject proud

The Returning modeller is certainly back , It has been brilliant to see you work your way through the build on this thread, I'm sure she will perform as well as she looks, well done ! you will fine the Cigarette a walk in the park in comparison .

Kind Regards Ray

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

Lovely looking job. As a retired merchant seaman I have spent many a happy time leaning over the handrails as I watch the pilot either embark or disembark and have always admired the power of these small craft. I did actually once experience the pilot missing the ladder and ending up in the drink!

Beautiful job, I'm sure she will look as impressive as the real thing on the water.

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Ray and Richard,

Thankyou for your kind comments. I must admit I find it a pleasure to be able to be in the garage trying to make a model or two. The garden is occupying a bit of time now and again at the moment but once I get the prop shaft and prop then a start on the Cigarette will be made..In the meantime I can start marking the plan out.

I also need to try and get in touch with the MYA again regarding the Marblehead yacht that I have. I never had a reply last time.

One thing I`ve learned from this last build is I think planking from bow to stern would have been easier than diagonal.

Many thanks once again and I`ll try and get some pictures when it goes in the water.

Jim.

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Yes, great work Jim – looks lovely in the sunshine .

I'm slowly plodding ahead with the BC Pilot cutter. Rudder servo bearers in with a temporary rudder. Just started aft planking – stern to bow (seems easiest, rather than diagonal, as you say).

Will post some pic's soon. Remember to do a float test on yours !

Regards,

Dave

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Thankyou Dave.

I`ve been following your build as well. From that first picture you posted it`s going to be a nice model when completed. Have you thought about a colour for the hull yet?

Apart from the help I had on here with electrics , as I said, I don`t think I will be doing anymore diagonal planking. You need shallow curves for that but some of mine were really tight and you have a job with the plank wanting to twist all the time. I`ll be interested to see how you go with the planking on your hull.

Regards,

Jim.

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Finally got it afloat. ( Minus the handrails and mast, just in case! )

Pleased with the way it sits in the water. My estimated waterline position ( from pictures ) isn`t too far out, about 6mm high, so I`ll put a bit of extra ballast in to bring it down a bit more.

I took a gamble with the two props but when trying the power, the push was quite impressive so movement through the water should be pretty good. Time will tell.

Regards,

Jim.

[James Hill 5Participant @jameshill5]

Boat building been rather slow just lately for various reasons. The garden now needs attention quite regularly and my daughter and family have been here from Singapore so modelling hours have been reduced somewhat.

I`ve managed to make a start on Ray`s Cigarette though, having built the hull and drilled the required holes for rudder and propshaft, I`m now making the cradle for the motor.

A question for Ray if you read this. Is it worth glass clothing the hull or did you think it not necessary?

I can`t post any pictures of anything at the moment as I`ve just changed my laptop and I need to move the files from the other machine to this one and I`m not that clued up for that sort of thing so I`ll wait till I can get help.

Jim.

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