Mirabell61

Hi Roel,
 
the propulsion was done with a 650 PS MTU / MAN diesel engine
 
Nils

Hi Keith,
acc. to the techn. data of the Elbe 1 there was a 12 head crew, but i also unfortunately do`nt have any information for their individual tasks. Probably in duty-shift operation at a time there were 6 on duty and the other 6 had free time, (or on stand by).
The Elbe 1 is (was) the largest German lightship ever.
 
Nils

Hi Hermann,
 
I found 8 line fairleads, like the silver one shown in the last pics. They are brass pessed and nickel plated. So I merely had to determin the length and cut off the surplus materil. Painting in hull color.
 
The two aft brass roller fairleads were more tricky due to the small dimensions, but it worked out OK. They are full workable and can handle a at maximum) a 2mm polyester mooring rope.
They were mounted in square cut outs in the bulwark
 
Nils

made from 8 mm brass squaretube, each with 4 rollers working on soldered in 0,8mm axiles in two separated layers behind each other

 

 

 
 
 
 

Update
 
made the six line-fairleads and the shutter flaps of the freeing ports. Quater- both sides aft there will be a crossed-rolls fairllead, I`m working on the prototyp out of 8mm square brass tube and fitted with 4 crossed rolls. This little bugger has taken me a few hours to make and to put together (soldering in the rolls axises)
the freeing port shutter flaps and the line-fairleads. The pressed brass nickel plated fairleads are shortened so that they come flush at the inner side of bulwarks

the workable rolls are from small brass tube, the axis are from 0,8mm brass wire

I refrained from cutting break through openings into the bulwark (for stability reason )
 

the hinged shutters
 
 
Nils

oh sorry, got confused with Keith's Trinity House lightships. 
Propulsion or no propulsion doesn't make that much of a difference in this case when it comes to shipboard activities.  
You also stand a higher chance successfully fighting a fire with 11 or 12 than with 3... 

Hi Roel,
 
the propulsion was done with a 650 PS MTU / MAN diesel engine
 
Nils

Hi Keith,
acc. to the techn. data of the Elbe 1 there was a 12 head crew, but i also unfortunately do`nt have any information for their individual tasks. Probably in duty-shift operation at a time there were 6 on duty and the other 6 had free time, (or on stand by).
The Elbe 1 is (was) the largest German lightship ever.
 
Nils

Hi Roel,
 
the propulsion was done with a 650 PS MTU / MAN diesel engine
 
Nils

Hi Keith,
acc. to the techn. data of the Elbe 1 there was a 12 head crew, but i also unfortunately do`nt have any information for their individual tasks. Probably in duty-shift operation at a time there were 6 on duty and the other 6 had free time, (or on stand by).
The Elbe 1 is (was) the largest German lightship ever.
 
Nils

I would assume there was quite some maintenance. Although there was no propulsion, they'd still have generators (need to keep that light on), which then means they'd have a fuel system, starting air system, fresh water production (or bunkering), sewage system, etc. All of that requires maintenance. 
Additionally I'm not sure if they had pneumatic chipping hammers, if they didn't, they'd have to chip with manual chipping hammers, which really takes a long time to do properly (in fact also also with pneumatic hammers). Cosmetic maintenance would therefore also take a lot of manpower. 
Additionally there is taking provisions, spare parts, bunkering, communications etc. 
Pretty sure they could keep themselves busy, although it would look to me like an end-of-career/retirement job considering the lack of prospects and for local people the idea of working closer to home.
 

I looked it up, but what were they all doing? Presumably some were oarsmen to make up for the lack of an engine!😀
 
By the start of the 20th century, Trinity House lightvessels had a crew of 11, of whom seven (a master and six ratings) would be on active duty at any one time. It was an extremely demanding and dangerous profession, and it would take 15 to 20 years of service to be promoted to master.[10]
 
 

Additionally I wonder what size of crew she carried. Trinity House lighthouses (before automation) were typically manned by a team of 3. While I don't know the crewing arrangements for Trinity House lightships, as they have no propulsion, they presumably also had a crew of 3. 
Presumably this vessel didn't carry the "steaming crew" unless she was being moved.

Seems like I spent hours on her today and you can't see the difference. 
What you can't see is where I have added additional wood to the bulkheads and then sanded them back to blend it in. Still not finished but I don't think that I need to add any more, just sand down and blend in the last ones. 
Still have the aft deck to construct and create the supports so the is no sagging. 
Still need to make my mind up on the material for the decks. 

Bought more 1/16" basswood - - managed   to cut out and glue the 'main deck in place
 

many thanks for your words Andy,
 
you`re right, I also sometimes make a decision on a certain build sequence and start preparing to the intended  thing, but after thinking it over twice I recognize that if I would do so, there is no more access to an item that lays behind or under the section I`m planing to do. So foot on the brake before continuing. For example, before the boatsdeck is placed, I have to make sure that the ship`s bollards are near to the appropriate fairleads and the footpoint-fastening positions of the  lighttower stays are placed so that they do`nt interfere with other items, and that the stairs to the boats deck are clear form what is to be mounted items above later on.
 
For mounting the boatsdeck to the long deckhouse and to install a number of supports along the length, I decided to make a bunsh of wooden supports which have slight overhight so that the can be tuned to precise fit when mounting. In this case I refraigned from making a brass framework to mount on.
 
Nils

these are the  20 wooden supports for the boatsdeck. 2mm pine squarebars with ply-knees

a template for the boatsdeck, for evaluating positions etc.

the boatsdeck has a shere and a longitudinal curving. The standovers (port and starboard side ) need to be supported and fastened to bulwarks below and deck above. Before that the 0,8 mm ply deck needs to be planked, like the main deck below. All must be in accordance in what I wrote in the  beginning of this post
 
 
 
 

Thank you Phil,
for your input, I took a look at the Columbia WLV604 lightship per WW-web. A nice Vessel, perhaps we shall see a model of her here at MSW someday.
 
Nils

congrats Kevin,
your Hercules is a very fine tugboat, well done, also thanks for your conclusion notice
 
Nils

many thanks for your words Andy,
 
you`re right, I also sometimes make a decision on a certain build sequence and start preparing to the intended  thing, but after thinking it over twice I recognize that if I would do so, there is no more access to an item that lays behind or under the section I`m planing to do. So foot on the brake before continuing. For example, before the boatsdeck is placed, I have to make sure that the ship`s bollards are near to the appropriate fairleads and the footpoint-fastening positions of the  lighttower stays are placed so that they do`nt interfere with other items, and that the stairs to the boats deck are clear form what is to be mounted items above later on.
 
For mounting the boatsdeck to the long deckhouse and to install a number of supports along the length, I decided to make a bunsh of wooden supports which have slight overhight so that the can be tuned to precise fit when mounting. In this case I refraigned from making a brass framework to mount on.
 
Nils

these are the  20 wooden supports for the boatsdeck. 2mm pine squarebars with ply-knees

a template for the boatsdeck, for evaluating positions etc.

the boatsdeck has a shere and a longitudinal curving. The standovers (port and starboard side ) need to be supported and fastened to bulwarks below and deck above. Before that the 0,8 mm ply deck needs to be planked, like the main deck below. All must be in accordance in what I wrote in the  beginning of this post
 
 
 
 

Thank you Phil,
for your input, I took a look at the Columbia WLV604 lightship per WW-web. A nice Vessel, perhaps we shall see a model of her here at MSW someday.
 
Nils

many thanks for your words Andy,
 
you`re right, I also sometimes make a decision on a certain build sequence and start preparing to the intended  thing, but after thinking it over twice I recognize that if I would do so, there is no more access to an item that lays behind or under the section I`m planing to do. So foot on the brake before continuing. For example, before the boatsdeck is placed, I have to make sure that the ship`s bollards are near to the appropriate fairleads and the footpoint-fastening positions of the  lighttower stays are placed so that they do`nt interfere with other items, and that the stairs to the boats deck are clear form what is to be mounted items above later on.
 
For mounting the boatsdeck to the long deckhouse and to install a number of supports along the length, I decided to make a bunsh of wooden supports which have slight overhight so that the can be tuned to precise fit when mounting. In this case I refraigned from making a brass framework to mount on.
 
Nils

these are the  20 wooden supports for the boatsdeck. 2mm pine squarebars with ply-knees

a template for the boatsdeck, for evaluating positions etc.

the boatsdeck has a shere and a longitudinal curving. The standovers (port and starboard side ) need to be supported and fastened to bulwarks below and deck above. Before that the 0,8 mm ply deck needs to be planked, like the main deck below. All must be in accordance in what I wrote in the  beginning of this post
 
 
 
 

Thank you Phil,
for your input, I took a look at the Columbia WLV604 lightship per WW-web. A nice Vessel, perhaps we shall see a model of her here at MSW someday.
 
Nils

congrats Kevin,
your Hercules is a very fine tugboat, well done, also thanks for your conclusion notice
 
Nils

congrats Kevin,
your Hercules is a very fine tugboat, well done, also thanks for your conclusion notice
 
Nils

Conclusion
 
The kit
This is my first Occre Ship kit and i was surprised  how well she would turn out, she will certainly not be my last one
The hull
at 1/50 she builds up fast into a nice  90cm long sleek looking hull, without much effort, but:
Far too few frames I think at least another 4 frames are needed and  as a result careful attention is required on the fairing to ensure the planks have max contact, she is  also  single planked therefore, some experience at planking would be suggested rather than the non tapering way suggested, with lots of infills
The shaft tube area, could do with  better defined photos and explanations, it is very much hit and miss on trying to get this important area correct
If being built as a static it might be worth looking at obtaining some better drawings to find a way of reducing the large area/space around the prop, ali I have done is put in a rudder post,
Superstructure
No real issues other than where the large 8MM holes for portholes which have to be drilled into the planked areas, the wood is very soft/balsa like and tends to rip rather than be allowed to be drilled, so took several redo’s to look presentable,
Fixtures and fittings,
 the cast items were clean of flash and required very little work to remove seam lines, but some items did seam out of scale to the hull
Conclusion
This was from the start going to be a OOB build, no scratch, lighting or special effects, the tyres are the only change from the metal kit ones.
Im mixed on this, the lack of detail, makes her a average static display kit, and as a RC build I think a lot of work would be required to make her work well on the water, but feel she would be quite delicate due to the way the superstructure lifts off to allow access into the hull, even on my desk the railings, forward vents and riggings got in the way and needed repair,
She was on my work bench for a period of six weeks, and reckon I put about 120 hours, from start to finish
With a retail price from Cornwall Model Boats of £269, I think that is extremely good value for money,
Thank you again Occre for the opportunity of myself doing the review, you have given me 120 hours of modelling enjoyment.
 
Paint
Hull  
Halfords Rattle can red primer and Vallejo red brown surface primer
Halfords rattle grey primer and Halfords Rattle can matt black
Superstructure
As above
Halfords Rattle white primer and  Vajello white primer
Funnel
Rattle cab VW brilliant orange.
Mast
AK 11118 ochre
Rigging various sizes from the Amati range. I found the Occre ones out of scale and very fluffy
Extras
The tyres are from the 1/35 Trumpeter M1070 tank carrier.

sorry about the lack of photos, and words and the general lack of discussions i have with followers, in hindsight i should have thought more about the log, as it was a free review kit, apologies 
i was going to use a Vanguard Models ships boat, but then removed it to keep in the build as a OOB theme, But i did replace the Metal Tyres with those for a 1/35 tank transporter set, i also used my own rigging thread, the kits was to fluffy for my liking
 
here are a few more photos to take her to the end of the build