OLD TRAMP STEAMER REFURB

[Gallgeo]

Hi

i'm brand new to the Forum from Scotland , also a novice at wood although have years of carpenter experience with most of the tools I need 

to make a reasonable go of it.

Currently started building the St Elme a french fishing boat which was given to me from an old relative ( mind you i'm not young myself at 71!!) 

 Probably not the best model to begin with,as all the plans/ instructions are in french which is not a great start but have my trusty google translator 

so I'm muddling through. Got  great help from Downeaster who's done a blog on the St Elme. I hope to start my own blog soon on this one.

However the reason for this topic is I've also been given an old scratch built tramp steamer which i hope to do something with for the donor.

It is  33ins long 5 1/2ins beam kitted out with old radio valve equipment . There is no history at all for the model It could have been built in the 40's 50's

don't know.

Ive added some photos to show the shape and wonder if any members recognise it. 

Ive seen photos plans of a steamer called Melanie 2 which is similar although the stern deck looks a bit out of proportion and I would think of shortening it.

I would be grateful of any ideas ( nice ones please) 

Apologies to the moderators if this topic is in the wrong place.

 

Geo

 

[Kurt Johnson]

Hi,  Welcome to MSW. I love tramp steamers. The model looks like it was very well built originally and seems to be still in relatively good shape from the pictures. You should really have an enjoyable journey bringing it back to its glory days. I know I would. Do you plan to try and keep her with vintage electronics or up to date equipment? 
 

Have you tried any of the reverse image search’s that can be done with your computer? It may just bring you closer to what you’re trying to find out.

 

Regardless, you’ll enjoy your time here. I does get addictive though. I hope there’s no cure.

 

Kurt

[Gallgeo]

Thanks Kurt

Most of the mechanical servos /switches are are seized up, haven't tried the old motor yet don't even know what voltage/power it is

Will be installing new electrics.

more interested in getting the super structure right for the model. I know its not a true scale of anything but it needs to look reasonable.

Thanks for your interest.

[Jim Lad]

Hello Geo, and a warm welcome to the forum.

 

That's a very interesting looking model you have there, and well worth restoring, in my opinion.  She may or may not be based on an actual ship, but the general style looks to me like a north European coaster from the 1950's period.  It might be worth looking for images of period coasters to get an idea of the general look of these vessels.

 

john

[mtaylor]

Hello, Geo.  Welcome to MSW.

 

When you're ready, open a build log in the Scratch area and use the keyword "RESTORATION" in the title.  This looks like a fascinating project.

[druxey]

Welcome. At least you didn't have toxic old batteries fuzzing inside to deal with!

[GrandpaPhil]

Welcome!

[lmagna]

Welcome Geo

 

You have a very interesting model there. It should be very interesting in restoring.

 

I agree that it may not be an exact replica of an partictular ship but in almost all ways it looks like the old Lindburg "Q" Ship model to me.

 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235017040-u-boat-hunting-ww1-freighter-lindberg-round-2-1390-q-ship/

Your model is of course larger and made from wood but the Lindburg kit design could make a very nice starting point of rdesign of the missing structures. 

Good luck

[Gallgeo]

Thanks Lou

Most interesting particularly the link to you build log of the Atholl Star

I think if you don't mind I will be copying  a lot of the detail you have used.

 

geo 

[lmagna]

Hello Geo

Although I do own one of the old Lindburg Q Ship models, the Atholl Star build in the above post is not mine. The pitcures and link I posted is just stuff I found on the internet as an example of the model I was talking about. I don't think it is a well known model for the most part.

 

Another possible source would be the USS Atik. That would make the the model a copy of a real ship.

 

The Atik's sister ship was the USS Asterion (AK100) but there is even less documentation on her than the Atik.

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/asterion-ak-100-i.html

[lmagna]

Another possible source of information, (Or at least an interesting read)

https://www.amazon.com/Q-Ships-Versus-U-Boats-Americas-Project/dp/1557500444

 

There are several other books shown on the page as well.