Renown by Ian B - FINISHED - Billing Boats - Steam Pinnace

[Ian B]

tWell I have almost finished my Cheerful build after a few years and wanted to start something that I could build relatively quickly and more importantly relaxing before embarking on my next 'big' build. I bought this kit a year or so ago as a cheap bargain. Now we all know the anticipation and exictment we get from opening the box for the first time-- well you aren't going to get it from this  

 

[Ian B]

I intend to tweak it around to make it a model of the Steam Pinnace 199 from the National Maritime museum in Portsmouth.  Not to much of a kit bash I know,,

[Ian B]

And here is the start-- construction is in 2 halves. The instructions now say to plank them before joining them up. But for better or worse I am going to join them and plank them as a complete hull. The hull on the actual boat is heavily painted in gloss paint and almost all the planking definition has gone so having to fill my planking and rubbing it down poses no problems.

 

 

Edited June 24, 2019 by Ian B

[Ian B]

Well I spent a day making the hull, it was very straight forward and the planking did not require any help to follow the curves of the hull. I gave the hull a quick coat of white under coat so I could see what needed filling and sanding etc.  I think if you built this kit straight from the box with no mods or changes then a couple of easy weekends would see it from start to finish. 

[Ian B]

Well I know I set the expectation of the kit low but this next bit did make me laugh. Here is a blown up section of the picture of the rudder shown on the  model on the box . I thought I would build this before painting the hull. I looked for the parts on the plastic spurs, no not there, then thought oh good they are metal parts--no not there , surely not wooden parts?  no not there !! when all else fails read the instructions......

 

Edited July 9, 2019 by Ian B

[Ian B]

Yes, this in the kit is a bent bit of wire!!!!  Well that will have to change....

[Ian B]

Whilst on the subject of spot the changes-- I built the hull with the rub strip/weather board raised piece as per the instructions then I noticed this-

 

Built as per plans

As per the box picture

As per Steam Pinnace 199--- so something else to re-work

[Kevin]

Going to look great when completed

[Mirabell61]

Thats a beautiful steam launch Ian...

and a very nice Billngs kit

 

Nils

[Ian B]

thank you both for your kinds words. Today I was 'working form home' so managed to do some more on the hull. At the moment it looks more an RNLI old life boat than a gun boat LOl I will tackle the deck planking next. I am tempted to leave the rudder and prop till late as I am bound to damage them handling the hull during the rest of the build.

 

Edited July 10, 2019 by Ian B

[Ian B]

Marking out the deck ready for planking I placed the supplied plastic grating just for positioning-- boy is it evil and the work of the devil himself-- straight in the bin !!!

[Ian B]

Well I did not get hardly anytime at the weekend but here is what I did achieve- The cab on the kit is larger and curved where as the cab on the '199' is simpler and smaller 

The picture above clearly shows a curved wooden roof--- so as per the propeller experience-- this is what you get -- a blob of white plastic LOl 

[Ian B]

I marked up the deck using the provided 'jelly moulds' and as I want to add some more detail I marked and cut out where the cab goes so I can show it with the door open and the bench seats in place.

[Ian B]

Well between holidays and work I manged to achieve some more on the model. I now have a cabin area and what I am sure is a legal obligation for models of a steam boat--- a real brass propeller (it looks off centre in the pic but its not )LOL Next to complete the cabin with sides, window and roof.

[Ian B]

The rudder controls on this boat are quite interesting and need replicating. The ships wheel will be in front of the cabin with pullies and cable running down the outside of the deck and under the rear grating to the rudder. I needed to make two pullies with a groove. And here's how I achieved it..good enough for this scale The picture was taken before I tidied up the cab area...

[Ian B]

Well I am making progress, the plastic lump is now a shaped piece of wood just needs shaping to the deck, the cabin is almost done needs the sign on the top, and the funnel is now all metal curtsey of some cut of plumbing copper pipe.

[KNO3]

Nice work replacing all that plastic. 

[Ian B]

Thank you

 

Now I have replaced the plastic blob with a wooden blob I need to add texture to show it is steel. Simulating some rivet joints. The actual boat does not show many joints. Dry fitted the hatch covers and some nice new brass portholes.

 

 

[Ian B]

Its amazing how a bit of bling can really make it look like your making progress

[Ian B]

Scratch built a whistle and sign and added some more deck bits and pieces. The Funnel is still not finished and the pipe on the front is not parallel and  I need to add some copper decorative bands around it before I glue it in place.

[Ian B]

Another step forward. I am making the protective cover for the steering position. YOU can see in the back ground the picture I am using to help. mmmmmm not very nautical terms describing that LOL  I have created the front compartment and mocking up the gun position.Oh yes I now have a rudder

[Ian B]

Steering mechanism installed

 

 

[Ian B]

Finally glued down the two compartments-- mmmmm need to straighten the copper band at the end of the gun ...

 

 

 

Edited November 7, 2019 by Ian B

[Ian B]

At last its finished, I had to bit a of a push on as I am moving house soon and almost everything is packed up. I now need to pack up all my modelling tools, it will be a couple of months before I start again. I need to build a garage and workshop first..LOL

 

[J11]

She's beautiful, nice work!  

[GrandpaPhil]

Congratulations!  Well done!

[Ian B]

thank you all, she is a 'test' for some of the techniques I have seen on builds on here.  I must admit Im pleased with her.... looks like a first for this kit on here ...

Edited November 19, 2019 by Ian B

[Martin Wilford]

I am in the middle of building this boat as I used to own one ( the 56ft version ) and live on it on the Thames near Hampton court. What a nightmare the instructions are.

You made a brilliant job of your one.

Regards

Martin