Vic Smeed’s Silver Mist

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All

Vic copied the fullsize Silver Vanity as the Model Makers cover photograph, so it was based on a full size ! concoctions a bit harsh ! I'm pretty sure the Dunkirk Little ship Moiena is a bigger craft.

Regards Ray

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Ray

Apologies for calling Vic's Windows a concoction!………Wasn't aware it was authentic at the time

Silver Mist looks a bit stumpy at the moment……I'll sort the waterline out shortly, if I can and dodge up a PhotoShop picture

Bob

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Bob

I'm fairly sure this style of boat was built to many various lengths over a 20 year period form 1935 onwards, have seen an advert for Silver Demon in a brokerage in Ramsgate quoted as 64 feet long as I believe SM to be 54. I also counted the portholes as a guide.

Regards Ray

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Ray

Do we really know what length Vic's bought is yet?

Ian has suggested 48 ft, making my model…….1/12th scale

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Here`s an idea how Silver Mist will look on the water

She looks quite sleek and normal now?

In case you are wondering what that cloth is doing on the cabin roof………It`s a sheet of Egyptian cotton being pasted down, kindly donated by Ian Gardner, as a personal contribution to the project………Many thanks Ian

Bob

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Bob

I'd say she looks a tad low ? I now think having studied Ian's early links to Ardeola & Spero which are recorded as 54 feet long. Silver Mist will be 48 feet long so your 1/12 scale is spot on

Regards Ray

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Hi Bob,

I can't honestly remember where I got 48' from but it's what I worked on when building mine. I saw it once described as a Brown Owl and they were built to different lengths,but I have a book written by John Bain in the 30's and the Brown Owl was a bit different. There aren't that many photos of this type to be found.

I think your waterline looks about right- is it as per plan? Of course, everything you add/ do makes her look more like it and getting the waterline cut in will make a huge difference. It's one of the things I try and remember when I'm building – the further on you get the more everything melds together to make a harmonious whole- hopefully!

You seem to have made a decision about the cotton. If you use dilute PVA or aliphatic and don't like it, it can always be peeled off again. I turned the edges under the roof and secured with clothes pegs while it was drying.

Any thoughts about colours? You mentioned a cream for the hull but I also like Ray's in white. Classic colour schemes are always best for classic boats I think. Looking forward to seeing more progress.

Ian

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

A quick snap for Ian

Hi Ian

My hearts in my mouth, nailing these edge strips on!

I`ll give it a hair cut shortly

Bob

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Sorry to have missed this yesterday Bob- had an important gig last eve.

Looking fab and just the job. I must say I imagined the strip being on the surface of the roof but this is better by far but as you say, a bit nerve wracking. The cotton looks very smooth too.

I like the half round at the bottom of the saloon too- all looking very boaty. I can practically smell the mildew, yacht varnish and whiff of diesel as I watch on.

All the best,

Ian

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Work in progress for the Silver Mist builders Fan Club

It was a bit of a tense struggle, tacking on the edge strips!

I`ve painted the roof to firm up the strips and cloth covering and sand off the fluff

Bob

Sigh…….Windows10 has a lot to answer for!

No picture at the moment chaps

Ha!…….Wonders never cease!

Actually……It was my fault…….Sorry Bill

 

 

 

Edited By Bob Abell on 15/08/2016 09:43:56

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Latest picture for GIA

All the best today, Bros

Bob

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

It's looking very tidy Bob and I'm glad you went with the egyptian cotton idea.

Ian

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Ian

I'm very pleased that your cloth donation was useful for the cabin roofs……Thank you, once again

The model is looking better by the day

Just as a change, I'm having a look at the rear handrails at the moment, using 4mm brass tube

They should transform the boats appearance over night

Bob

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

My pleasure Bob,

Now you are getting to all the interesting bits, and as you say, each addition will make a huge difference. It's all looking very nice now.

Some while ago you were talking about the dinghy and wondering what might be available. Orion Mouldings make a 10'' clinker dinghy for a tenner- that would be a 10' dinghy on your model but I don't know what the beam is and whether it woud suit. Just another suggestion.

I carved mine from balsa and planked it with ply and as it's upside down I made it solid.

**LINK**

All the best,

Ian

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Ian

The wooden handrail will take some careful handling…….It's so flimsy!

It's a nice feature though and will be well worth the effort

One tricky feature coming up, is the need to mount the handrail stanchions……Vertical on a varying sloping surface!

Need to get my Engineers hat on!……….All good fun….eh?

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob. How are you going to finish the cotton top off…sealer? or trust that it never gets dirty?? Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Ashley

I'm hoping Father Time will give it the necessary patina!

It will certainly collect the muck though, as you say

Not a problem really, it will probably get a good weathering in the end and will look as though it's just got back from Dunkirk

BTW?……Have you been to Dunkirk?

All the old buildings are full of bullet holes and look awesome and full of nostalgia

Bob

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Hello Bob,

I think the cotton will certainly get very grubby if you don't treat it somehow. I always put a few coats of matt paint on, I have used buff or light green and then finish with acrylic varnish. It still gets grubby! Canvas decks would have been painted.

When I did my railings I just eyeballed the angles-seemed to work. It's amazing how it all stiffens up when it's all complete. The angled bit where the level changes caused most problems.

I remember taking the decision to mount the davits in tubes in the deck just inside the handrails rather than on brackets on the outside of the hull- that seemd a bit vulnerable to me. These can then be removed for transit and plugged back in just before sailing.

Ian

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Ian

You may have missed an earlier post…….The cloth is already painted

Made a start on the handrail top by taking co-ordinates from the hull and transferring to the plywood

After cutting out the outer shape, the under surface was coated with PVA to avoid delamination by the bandsaw

This worked nicely, as the 10mm wide annulus was cut out

If this model is 1/12 scale, the stanchions are only 2`- 0" high……This height was taken off the plan?

I`m sure handrails would be about 3`- 0" high, normally?

Need a think now……….How high are your handrails, Ray and Ian?

Bob

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Sorry Bob! Pay attention at the back that boy!

I used the height off the plan for the handrails ( or the nearest I could get as I used turned handrail stanchions). I don't have any figures on mine yet to indicate any discrepancy in scale.

Looking at various pictures of motor yachts and steam yachts (as I do) I think railings could be a bit lower and I'd be inclined to stick to Vic's dimensions- it was only a semi-scale representation anyway. Could throw everything out if you go too high. And the handrail comes in neatly at the level of the saloon roof.

That handrail looks rather splendid and, as you suspected, the deck is blending in with everything else nicely too.

Ian

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Ian for your interest in the build and your advice as we proceed

I`ve lifted the handrail up to 3 feet to see how it looks and I think it has the Vic Smeed look now

Semi cartoonish………Like the top picture

I`ll think about it for a while

If we use 36" now……We can always cut them down later

Bob

Edited By Bob Abell on 17/08/2016 15:17:21

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Bob,

Private pleasure craft do tend to have quite low stanchion heights, not more than 30 inches would be typical. They are only really there to stop you rolling overboard, not for leaning on while admiring the sunset with a nice glass of red.

Of course there are exceptions. The larger the boat the more likely it is to have higher rails, especially if the top is wood, probably because the boat is more likely to carry passengers as well as 'sailors'. A scale 3ft 3 inches for Silver Mist might be a good compromise.

Colin

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Colin

Now I am confused!……….3'-3" is not a compromise……..It's even higher still!

When I get to Haydock…….I'll take my jaundiced eye too!……And a ruler

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Whoops Bob, I meant 33 inches – senior moment!

Colin

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

33" hey?……..If I use this height……..I could always blame Colin Bishop!

It's better than 24" anyway

All good fun

Bob

[Author]

Posts