Solent Spear
A discussion has started on another thread (Bobs, A Super Rapier) and this is going to continue so thought it best to start one of its own. I say started on another thread but it in fact it started almost 6 years ago when Will (Madwelshman) asked the question if anyone had ever built one on the Mahem forum?
The discussion took place mainly between Will (Madwelshman), Bob (Zooma), Harry (Canabus) and myself all having an interest in Fairey Marine boats, but mainly the early timber ones. Bit of background first though. Fairey Marine ceased in its original form around the end of the late 1970s with the final boats being in fibreglass rather than their renowned hot moulded timber. Alan Burnard, the Fairey designer, stayed involved with building boats and a number of revivals were manufactured with him as designer and so still contained some of the Fairey look to them. One of these was the Solent Spear which was built in 2004, in Hamble, where Faireys were originally built. This was in fact Alan Burnard's last boat design.
Whilst in fibreglass we agreed that some of these later boats were attractive designs (see also the Swordsman Marine 37 thread) and worthy of consideration for building. One thing that is good about the Solent Spear is that it is 34 foot long with an 11 foot beam which at a scale of 1:12 very closely matches the 34" fibreglass hull of the Fairey Huntsman 31 kits! The stern is different though and incorporates a swim platform but we are sure it's doable by chopping off the rear end and fabricating a new one.
Only 4 or 5 boats were ever built with only one being the open topped version.
I suppose I'd better fire up the PC!
The discussion took place mainly between Will (Madwelshman), Bob (Zooma), Harry (Canabus) and myself all having an interest in Fairey Marine boats, but mainly the early timber ones. Bit of background first though. Fairey Marine ceased in its original form around the end of the late 1970s with the final boats being in fibreglass rather than their renowned hot moulded timber. Alan Burnard, the Fairey designer, stayed involved with building boats and a number of revivals were manufactured with him as designer and so still contained some of the Fairey look to them. One of these was the Solent Spear which was built in 2004, in Hamble, where Faireys were originally built. This was in fact Alan Burnard's last boat design.
Whilst in fibreglass we agreed that some of these later boats were attractive designs (see also the Swordsman Marine 37 thread) and worthy of consideration for building. One thing that is good about the Solent Spear is that it is 34 foot long with an 11 foot beam which at a scale of 1:12 very closely matches the 34" fibreglass hull of the Fairey Huntsman 31 kits! The stern is different though and incorporates a swim platform but we are sure it's doable by chopping off the rear end and fabricating a new one.
Only 4 or 5 boats were ever built with only one being the open topped version.
I suppose I'd better fire up the PC!
Liked by EdW and Madwelshman and
Sign in to comment on this update.
Which if I ever get around to building one, that would be the one that i would choose.
It's good that we all have slightly differing opinions on things, as that can often generate more discussion.
Will
It is nice if you can build at least part of a model from the same material as the full-size one and with the hull you have the advantage of the moulded chines and sprakes which are difficult to replicate as well in timber.
Not so bad if you can build a timber hull from a kit but they don't have the amount of flare at the bow that they should have. If I built another one I'd plank the hull rather than sheet it and that would require more frames/bulkheads.
Anyway, that's my personal view and makes the build more interesting for me. But each method is viable if you are happy building a hull (kit or scratch built) or modifying one already built.