This ship was a lightship tender named "Coeur de Lion" that was armed and drafted into the Union during the civil war to counter blockade runners. This model is scratch built and is inspired by a paper model designed by Magnus Mörck. A sidewheel steamer equipped with the typical walking beam machinery, it was rebuilt to carry three guns. A line of iron plates along the gun wales added a measure of armoured protection. After the war it was returned to lightship service. On my model the paddles are independently driven, mainly because I have a Robbe Navy F14 transmitter with twin sticks. The walking beam is operated by a servo modified for continuous rotation. The original ship towed a barge that flew an observation balloon and could be described as the first 'aircraft carrier' the fifth picture shows the barge I have made - I hope one day to emulate the real thing by raising and lowering a suitable balloon. I have included some pictures of the rest of my paddle fleet.The 'Rachel Erin' is a freelance sternwheeler 'quarter wheeler' tug that uses a worm drive to the paddles. She does not steer well. The last ship is an enlarged version of Graham Goodchild's Santa Anna.
This is one of the limited edition Sirmar kits that was produce in the early 1990’s.this model was made by a friend of mine who’s a dockyard fitter and turner it was made about twenty eight years ago. Based on a tug that I worked on in and around Portsmouth harbour. This model has a working voith unit opening engine room skylights. Working lights, removable deck hatch to get at the unit like the real boat, the superstructure and gun whales are made from plasticard. The fender was made by a friend to the same type as used on the tug. The wheelhouse is copied like for like. The towing hook is copied from photos and slips like the real one. in all my years I haven’t seen another one like this . Sirmar made twenty numbered hulls as kits .
Some pics of a couple of Norfolk Broads sailing yacht classes I have constructed to precise detail externally, which were built on the Broads as holiday hire fleet craft in 1947 and to the present day.
One is 1:8 large scale and the other 1:18 scale. The larger scale yacht required a suitable detachable keel bulb for radio control use.
Many thanks Guys, yes we did a trial business in 2016, to test the market 'Broadland Classics'. The initial runs sold with real enthusiasm, and reported back to us the best they had ever had as kits, however, sadly, my own failure was being far to fussy on getting every kit out more than perfect, and treating the kits as so individual to every customer per real commissions, that I slowed down the production process massively, thus creating self worries on demands, which I became concerned if we could not keep up with supply. We were so lucky to have gained the original lines plans from these classics life sized craft, but I had to make a decision, and following our one year trial, ceased, which I recognise broke many potential customers hearts. I was simply not prepared to do mass production in the sense of same, same. Every customer to us had to have their kits as though the real thing, beyond perfect,a commissioned kit if you like. I know perhaps crazy, but there you go, it is what we strived for and just took far longer than any other kit manufacturer to produce.
We are looking at way of perhaps re-producing the kits that people may enjoy, or even do commissions, but just need to carefully think it all through one final time. Being we have the complete rights to the designs in model form, there is no rush from our part against competition, and of course only we know every real detail imposed on the real Broads craft to relay to every kit.
Lots to think about all over again, but it has finally come to light following lots of enquiries of our kits, that we simply wanted to show them in their pride and glory here.
Cheers to you all.
I have only just come across these build photos and must say I really do admire both yachts the one shown sailing with the dinghy behind it particularly. I am not surprised that you were overwhelmed with request to buy the kits, to me they are simply lovely. I have a friend who purchased a real one some years ago and had it shipped to Leics and it was on the River Soar, lovely thing with a cabin roof that could be raised for headroom and canvas cabin sides.
I am sure there would be lots of interest if you resumed production.
Best regards Chris G
Thought I would share some photos of my lovely 1:16 scale model cabin cruisers, of the famous 1920/30s Herbert Wood's Light Class Blakes Holiday Cabin Cruisers. And their scale Broads dinghy, Titmouse.
All their external detail is exact to the real craft of their heyday.
I simply love constructing these old craft from a real bygone era.
Presently underway are more cruisers I am working on, Cirrus and Western Light.
Many thanks Richard indeed. Yes, decades of knowing these craft in real form and the designers and builders right back has hugely helped us of course gain such a first class reputation of precise detail. However, like all these things, such has not come without heartache, where in running up a one year purposeful trial as a manufacturing business for these, I simply failed in being far too much of a perfectionist, and this took too long in getting every kit out. Although we perfected the trial run on time for every customer, we realised it could not continue without mass stress for a sustained period of years, and so sadly had to pull the plug on the purposeful trial, much to the disappointment of many potential customers. Broke our hearts too, but then, what were we to do, our pride told us to pull back before running up a full production.
Just wondered if you had come across the Sanderling cabin cruisers build by sander brothers of Readham. I hired one in 1990 for a week on the broads. I don’t think the brothers are now in the business anymore.Beautiful little boat.
This is a self project build, to scale of the famous 1930s Norfolk Broads Cabin Cruiser 'Queen Of Light'. Every detail on the model externally is as per the real craft. With her scale dinghy in tow, on the Norfolk Broads. Both are constructed to 1:16 scale.
A Little bit forward , the hull is ready for paint and im going to mount propshaft and motors , im going to work with the superstrukture so it will be ready
I recently bought this boat as a part built project. it was started by the previous owner in 1973 but then put in the attic in 1974 and stayed there till this year. Sadly many of the plastic parts have become very brittle or are missing so having to source replacements plus the fittings were made to british standards and are now made in metric sizes, but getting there slowly
Jeez!😲 how big is she she?
None of my 4 to 5 foot ships weigh half that!
Did you make a welded steel hull or what????
I can see we are going to have to design a derrick so you can lower your ships to the ground to get going 😉
Oh and, I still have a corset 😲 with a steel plate set into the back, left over from my last back injury. I'll send it you if you want 😁😁
It goes back to dislocating two discs about 30 years ago - (NO you 'orrible lot I WAS NOT diving off the wardrobe onto the bed ..... !!!)
On the other hand; the building is more than half the fun!
Confucius he say 'It is better to travel hopefully - than to arrive'.😉
Clever guy. Don't suppose he ever had to contend with lousy instructions in a boat kit or Chinglish transmitter manuals though😁
All the best Ed and better half, cheers, Doug 😎
The model is the Dumas El Pedro 30 inches length, 12 inch beam, drawing 4 I inches, which should change with more ballast. My mates suggest a barge is necessary so I am attempting a scratch build with leftover ply from other projects. Comments welcome!
This are photos of the biggest and very well made model of the Endeavour, a sailboat from the beginning of the 20th century. the First photo is of the gentleman that build this fantastic model! I was allowed to publish photos you can see here. I myself feel obliged to stand-out and show the gentleman responsible for this work of art!
This time I want to show the process after removing the now sanded hull. You get a first view of having me removing the frames and starting to fill lead into the wooden hull. in the last photo, you can appreciate the benefits of removing all frames from within the hull. The surface inside the hull is ready for further processing.
