Vic Smeed’s Silver Mist

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Colin,

Here is another one up for sale a couple of years ago at Faversham, twin screws your gonna need a bigger boat ??

She has the same windows as Vic’s design 🙂

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Chris,

Use one of the engine noise devices that Richard reviewed in the last mag.

Or Huco couplings…..?

Ray,

At that asking price it must be in a really bad way.

I have a couple of 385s but that might be overkill for a small boat. The 280 size with 25mm props should be enough.

Colin

[Tim CooperParticipant @timcooper90034]

Colin

I can remember seeing the Silver Mist article in my brother’s Model Maker magazine.  I think it must have been late 50’s.  I would have been about 10. I think I liked it because the figures were the same as some toy soldiers I had.

I did think about building it a few years ago but I was probably building my bigger boats. The ones I struggle to lift now.

You have made me think about it again. So will be interested in following your build.

Perhaps once I have finished my RAF Fire Boat?

Tim

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Still waiting for plans from Canada! I have now ordered another set from Sarik. They don’t come with the building notes but I can cut up one set as templates to save me having to trace the various parts.

As they say in the Fairy (Fairey?) stories: ‘Someday my Prints will come….’

Colin

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

The plans for my next Vic Smeed build “Bustler” came very promptly from Sarik. Wish I would have ordered two sets instead of tracing and transferring, all done now though.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

Colin I have to ask Canada ??

Yesterday my 30″ Silver Mist had her almost annual trip round the lake and harbour at Bluewater 🙂

Regards  Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Looking very nice indeed Ray, I will be referring to your build photos a lot.

There is a small outfit in Canada (I think maybe husband and wife) called Vintage Model Plans. Essentially they are a rip off of classic plans. Many of the plans they sell are no longer listed in the UK so it doesn’t really matter too much as it does at least keep them available. They do go one better than Sarik in that they often provide copies of the build article that originally accompanied the plans. The original Model Maker Plans Sevrvice and latterly Sarik have always missed a trick there.

Silver Mist is still listed by Sarik but I initially ordered from VMP as they offer all Vic’s build notes over several issues which I do not have. However I have now ordered from Sarik for a second set of drawings so my conscience is now clear!

Colin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Colin,

I wouldn’t feel that sorry for Sarik as they have made a good few bob out of the plans range, paid for by the magazines to the contributors over many years , just a shame the free plans havn’t been been passed to them for the last 6 years , their collection of drawings is now rather stagnent with no new designs being added !!

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Both sets of plans arrived safely today!

Colin

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Have now read through 9 pages of Vic’s original article c/o Vintage Model Plans. Interesting reminder of 1958 building techniques, some of which are still relevant today but often there are more modern options.

Key takeaway is to increase internal access to the model as per Ray’s build to accommodate today’s fit out plus options for twin screws. Still mulling over paint scheme. On balance I still think a white hull is probably the best option but there are opportunities for picking up colour with the ‘coachline’ under the rubbing strake mentioned by Vic plus underwater and boot topping options.

Having looked at a number of examples of this model, some of them look a bit ‘bare’ and would benefit from more touches of colour but we will see how things go.

Colin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Colin,

Yes I’m sure I’ve seen fullsize Silver yachts with a lantern light on the raised deck in front of the wheelhouse, that would fill that space nicely 🙂

She doesn’t need much ballast my 30″ version just has 2nr 7.2v buggy nicads in the bilge , Vic designed her with a very shallow hull as Bustler the tug .

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Hi Ray,

Yes, I think that a nice varnished lantern light on the foredeck would be an excellent idea and a logical addition.

Colin

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Well, I have made a symbolic start in cutting out the keel. To hedge my bets I am making a ‘sandwich’ with 6mm balsa in the middle with 1mm ply on each side. This will enable me to build in the slot for a 6mm tube if I subsequently decide that twin props are not practical, for example, not having sufficient room due to the shape of Vic’s hull which he had to estimate. Until I have planked the hull I cannot be certain where the twin shafts will be located.

The idea of the ‘doublers’ is taken from Dave Milbourn’s Fairey kit builds. If I don’t need it, the slot can simply be filled in which is easier than trying to cut it after the hull has been constructed.

I will commence planking along the keel to help keep it rigid and straight. The guwhales along the top of the bulkheads should take care of the upper hull alignment. The bulkheads will be initially cut from ply, the centres cut out and the resulting frames faced with 6mm balsa to provide a good chamfered glue surface to attach the planks.

Well, that’s the plan…

Colin

[Tim CooperParticipant @timcooper90034]

Colin

You have certainly got me thinking about a Silver Mist. I have even been checking my spare motors.

I did find an Action P92 Dual Esc that Dave Milbourn made for me, for an Schnellboot S100 conversion but in the end I used two brushless motors . Just as Dave told me I would.

So I will be interested to see how you get on with twin props.

Tim

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

What length and beam are you building to Colin? The hull shape has similarities to my Fisherman and when producing the drawings I was struggling a little to fit things in, but now that the hull is built at 27″ it has plenty of space and I don’t think I’ll have a problem. Ok, I’ve got a sail servo and drop-keel in addition but only one motor. Hopefully you find the same with yours and you have sufficient space for the twin-screw set up.

Great that you have made a start and am looking forward to seeing it taking shape.

Chris

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I am building as per the plan, 21×5.5 inches, approx 1:36 scale. Vic had to estimate the hull shape so I need to plank it before deciding on a twin or single prop setup as on the plan.

I am fairly confident that the hull will accommodate twin screws and motors but need to get the bulkheads on to confirm this. 25mm props will provide more than sufficient thrust. It should be OK.

Colin

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Somewhat smaller than the Fisherman with its portly 8″ beam but you should still have plenty of space given that smaller craft are often fitted with twin motors. As you say 25mm props will provide plenty of thrust for that type of hull.

If it hadn’t been for the Faireys that type of boat and wooden river and broads cruisers would have been my choice for builds.

Chris

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Hi Ray,

I am now getting to grips with starting the model. The original vessel is quite a complex design with several internal levels it would seem, as evidenced by this link and the photos associated with it.

https://classicyachtbrokerage.co.uk/product/new-listing-65ft-silver-motor-yacht-1936-professionally-restored-lying-denmark/

In particular:

The wheelhouse is entered at aft deck level but its floor is a couple of steps down. It appears to have access down to the engine room at the aft end and to the bow accommodation at the fore end on the starboard side. Alongside the wheelhouse there are cul de sac niches below deck extending aft from the bow accommodation.

There is another companionway near the stern giving access to the aft accommodation and owner’s suite.

It is not clear exactly where the engines are located but it looks like they are partially underneath the wheelhouse and extend to the full hull width aft of it. Logically the engines, with their weight, would be placed amidships.They clearly take up a lot of room as shown in the photos.

There is nothing to indicate whether the engine room can be accessed from the aft accommodation.

It would be really useful to have a schematic of the internal layout. There are a lot of photos of the interior in the above link but it is difficult to puzzle out just where they are situated in the hull apart from those obviously at the extreme bow and stern.

A cursory look at Vic’s plan does not do justice to the size of the vessel. This is a big boat, 65 feet (around 20 meters) long and there is a lot of space inside it.

Another missing detail on Vic’s plan is the need to fit steps from the aft deck up to the foredeck as the height is otherwise likely to result in a hernia! These are shown in the link above. (to be fair he was only offering the plan as a beginner’s model so we mustn’t grumble). In my case I want to develop Vic’s plan into a near scale model and this entails a better understanding of the original construction and layout than Vic had.

As modellers we normally only concentrate on the exterior of prototype vessels but an understanding of ‘what lies beneath’ can often clarify many constructional issues as I have discovered with my Miltiades liner model.

It is in fact quite good fun to try and puzzle it out as part of the model construction.

Comments from anyone else very welcome.

Colin

 

 

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Keel and bulkheads now erected. I will be modifying Vic’s construction  to simplify building and for a stronger model.

Colin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Colin,

The sheet gunwhales on the plan are one of his best ideas for getting the deck line the right shape 🙂

Looking good so far, it’s quite tiny isn’t it !!

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Hi Ray,

I have cut out the gunwhales but they haven’t worked too well for me and have taken huge chunks out of an expensive sheet of basswood! I may be able to salvage something but the route I am currently pursuing is to apply the top couple of strakes of planking and then turn the hull upside down onto a sheet of 0.8mm ply and use this to cut out the main deck.

Despite all the bits shown on the plan, it all boils down to a flush decked planked hull on which everything else is erected. The wheelhouse is actually let into the deck (presumably over the engines), and has full height accommodation fore and aft of it at different levels within the hull. For a model these days, good internal access is needed so I will be following your example and creating large apertures. Deck planking will hide the fore and aft joins. Up the front end I think that the fore cabin roof and complete wheelhouse can lift off as one unit and the wheelhouse will have its floor below the deck line as per the original. I am also generally beefing up the construction as the original is very lightweight. Anyway we will see how we go.

Yes, it is quite small as drawn but almost exactly the same length and beam as my Greek fishing boat.

Colin

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Good to see that you have made a start Colin. Have you changed your mind about the slot for the prop shaft if Plan B is needed?

Chris

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Chris, it wasn’t possible to create the slot without compromising the strength of the keel and risking a twist. I have however started a pilot hole which can be extended and enlarged if it comes down to it. However looking at the shape of the bulkheads I can’t believe that a couple of 25mm props cannot be fitted. I won’t be able to work out the exact locations until the hull is planked. Also, with twin screws the rudder position will need to be brought forward.

Colin

 

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Colin,

Balsa bulkheads, gunwhales and planking etc are fine for this little boat ply or similar for the decks, I always use a 6mm ply keel as it’s so easy to put the stern tube in with doublers 🙂

I think you maybe making it too robust ?? 🙂

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Hi Ray,

Mine is a 6mm balsa keel. I am using up my wood stocks….. The bulkheads are 0.8mm ply with 3mm balsa glued to them. The whole structure is still pretty lightweight. Planking will be Bass wood.

Robust is OK as long as it isn’t too heavy!

Colin

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