Vic Smeed’s Silver Mist

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Bob

Yes my posts seem to have the text between the pictures if there is more than one, I'm sure you'll struggle to get anywhere near 20 lbs as the hull as designed is light weight of a torch battery, Vic's Bustler tug looks like a proper tug but there's not much hull under the water and still works well. Had my 30" SM on the water yesterday at Bluewater

Regards Ray

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Ray

Found the spring balance now and the weight to date, including motor drive, but no batteries, is……….15lb

I must be getting feeble in my old age!

Bob

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Bob

You have used proper timber, not balsa like mine, I doubt if you'll need much of the church roof to achieve the waterline. That will keep the Vicar happy

Regards Ray

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Hello Bob,

I still think you will get a bit of a surprise when you ballast your Silver Mist to her proper waterline, especially if the bare boat weighs 15lb. The materials used are… immaterial as long as you don't go overweight. You could build it from expanded polystyrene and it would still be the same weight to ballast it down to its marks- you'd just need more lead!

Here is a link I sent you right at the beginning which might reassure you about what these boats looked like- and to show you a different saloon window shape you might consider. I think the bow view is interesting- and of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Watch out climbing on that church roof!

**LINK**

All the best,

Ian

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Ian

This is a very helpful photo and will be a good guide for the cabin windows

Bob

At the moment, your photo is lost in space, circling Mars etc

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Ian/Bob

Interesting photos on your link of the fullsize boat with a step down into wheelhouse, as the SM wheelhouse is too tall with walk-in headroom, but in Model Aeroplane terms the model is character scale only, but still very pretty.

Regards Ray

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Ian`s picture has finally surfaced……..Covered in space dust!

Guess what?………It`s a Dunkirk little ship!………..Called……..Moiena

So my windows will be based on this picture……….Wonder if Vic knew about this?

Question………Is that big mast on the boat in question?……….Interesting

Bob

Edited By Bob Abell on 08/08/2016 11:47:52

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Glad you like Moiena- I did send this link right at the beginning. I had found other photos of this type when I built mine but they seem to have disappeared from the net.

I think the white saloon sides on Moiena make her look a bit heavy and I like Vic's bright finished ones- but I liked the archtop windows on Moiena- and easier to do! Also note the bright finished rub rail which would break things up a bit.

You can see the tabernacle of the foremast on Moiena – and the aft mast looks as though it belongs too as she is moored to a jetty with nothing behind her. I imagine Vic wouldn't have known about this- no internet in those days and maybe not even ADLS- I think Raymond Baxter started that after he became the owner of L'Orage. All that's from memory so could be duff gen!

Ian

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Latest work in progress

Veneered the top cabin and added new window shapes, to see how she looks and invite your comments

Bob

[BanjomanParticipant @banjoman]

On the whole, Bob, I think she looks very pretty indeed! A most impressive build, this!

The only thing, if I may make so bold, that I would perhaps suggest that you try a few alternatives for is the shape of the cabin windows. At least from the photo, their upper, curved lines, seem a tad exxagerated, making them look (to my eye at least) a bit squeezed in, if yiu see what I mean.

I would suggest either a top line that follows the cabin roof line, or a less pronounced upper curve …

/Mattias

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Many thanks Banjo, for your constructive comments

Please excuse my sloppy workmanship, compared to your finely built model……My model is only a spare time filler, to occupy my idle hours……….That's my excuse, anyway

I fancy the windows with an arched top, but there's not much meat left on the top cabin?

I could make a token effort though

The lower windows were just a quick paper cut out for effect

Bob

[BanjomanParticipant @banjoman]

Bob,

Please don't do yourself down! I see no sloppy workmanship here, and I rather suspect that you have forgotten more model building skills than I will ever learn.

I agree that arched window tops would look nice — I just meant to say that it might be worth trying out a slightly less marked arching, making the top lines a tad flatter … ?!

/Mattias

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Bob

Yes agree with Banjo, maybe the windows & portholes slightly smaller than the mock up for better scale effect

Regards Ray

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you Ray

The cut outs were just there to get an idea of size etc

Bob

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Hello Bob,

I think your mock up gives a very nice idea of what to expect. I do agree that the curved tops to the windows will need to be done sensitively- not too exaggerated. I made a sanding block of the correct profile to ensure they were all the same. I also wonder if they might be spaced along the saloon side a bit more and maybe make each window a tad wider. You'd get a better impression with black card too. But this is what mock ups are for and it's worth trying different ideas out until you are happy. It's already looking more detailed and taking away from the bulkiness of the hull- we knew it would!

Will you turn up some portholes? My Veleta is plastered with phosphor bronze portholes as the plan- probably not very scale- but who cares? On my Silver Mist I used aluminium tube flush with the hull with glazing stuck to the inside- not very exciting.

Ian

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Ian

I`d enjoy turning the portholes, but brass is so expensive these days…….Especially 1" dia!

So I`ll be using 3/4" brass curtain rings

The windows….

I`ve made a thin ply stencil for repeatability, but there`s no getting away without…..Window frames for a tidy appearance

I could do with making a press tool for a quality window frame job, but it involves a lot of work

Home made press tools are a treat to use!….. I used to use a heavy duty vice, with the tools bolted to the jaws

Then place the sheet metal between the jaws and wind in……….With immense force, the jaws come together and the product is made………Lovely!

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Mission control to Ian Gardner………

The Eagle has landed!

First impression………….Just the job

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

You might not believe it but I use 300gsm mirror card to make my window frames, the same stuff that greetings card makers use and is available from places like HobbyCraft.

Simply draw the frames onto the reverse side of the card and cut them out with scissors or knife, after installation they can be sealed against the elements with a coat of varnish or lacquer.

The mirror card comes in lots of different colours including Gold, Chrome, Copper and Brass.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

That`s a good idea, Paul

I like the idea of the metallic finish……….We`ve got a HobbyCraft shop in Stockport

I suppose a Brass finish is what`s required

Many thanks, my mate

Bob

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

That's good, Bob. And the windows are looking good too. I wish I'd seen Moiena before I built my SM- l like those name plates on the saloon side.

Ian

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Work in progress……

Temporarily tacked on the curtain ring port holes for effect……….And they look good enough for a so called beginners model

Bob

[BanjomanParticipant @banjoman]

They certainly do, Bob!

Likewise, I think that you have gotten the new cabin window shapes pretty much spot on — the arching adds interst, but is not so marked as tio make then seem crowded in.

Mattias

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I like the arch effect too.

Colin

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Looking very nice Bob.

I think at 21'' in balsa it was a beginners model- couldn't call your boat that, especially as she is planked throughout and actually your planked stern looks more elegant than the one Vic designed in my opinion.

I also think you have got those windows just right – bit more spaced out and the look a bit wider.

Ian

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Many thanks, Banjo, Colin and Ian

I'm pleased that the windows are based on the full size boat/ship and not Vic's concoction ……Sorry, Vic

Bob

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