Kris Haskins Posted February 23, 2021 Share #1 Posted February 23, 2021 This is my first scratch build so will be quite a learning curve. Having been involved with model planes, cars and boat for many years it has been a very long time since I last built anything, let alone a scratch build of this size, because of this I built a Billing Andrea Gail in 1:60 scale as a refresher first. I have actually had a set of plans for this vessel for the last 20 years but life somehow got in the way slightly. Harbour Defence Motor Launch (HDML) 1387 was built in 1943 by R.A Newman & Sons of Poole, Dorset in the United Kingdom one of 486 built during the years of WW2. She left Portland Harbour at 05:00hrs on June 5th 1944 and was one of the first vessels off Omaha Beach acting as a navigational leader to the assault forces. Later in the war she had her armaments removed and was redesignated a Fast Dispatch Boat. After the the war she acted as as a Survey Motor Launch before being offered up for sale by the MOD in 1968. This is where my uncle bought her along with some friends with a complete refit starting in 1972 and taking 14 years to restore her to operational condition. She is now under the care of the HMS Gannet Society and on the Historic Ship Register. My build will be starting with a vacuum formed hull from Sarik Hobbies, using 2 different plans. The first being the David Metcalf drawings matched to the hull but also using a copy of the original as built drawing from R.A Newman & Sons given to me by my uncle. Along the way I will be also using the Hmsmedusa.org.uk site as a reference as there are a lot of pictures during the restoration of Medusa, as most of these vessels had subtle differences depending on which ship yard built them. The first picture shows the hull as delivered. After making templates all 11 bulkheads were cut from 6mm birch plywood and finished to final size with a great little disc sander purchased from a certain German Super Market chain. For what it cost this machine has been an absolute god send and provides a really good result. Just to make life easier with locating everything inside the hull I made a keel from 1.5mm ply which slots into the moulding. This shows 1 - 4 dry fitted into the hull with the first of the deck stringers cut and fitted. You will notice that for the time being I have left the flash from the vacuum forming in place as this retains a bit of stability in the hull until I am ready to trim back to deck level. Kris mtaylor, GrandpaPhil, Ryland Craze and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccoyle Posted February 23, 2021 Share #2 Posted February 23, 2021 Great subject. I added a bit to your title for those of us (perhaps only me) who had no clue what 'HDML' stands for. mtaylor and Kris Haskins 2 Quote Chris Coyle Greer, South Carolina When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk. - Tuco Current builds: Brigantine Phoenix, Hawker Hurricane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Lad Posted February 23, 2021 Share #3 Posted February 23, 2021 What a great project, Kris! John Kris Haskins and mtaylor 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris Haskins Posted February 26, 2021 Author Share #4 Posted February 26, 2021 On 2/23/2021 at 9:02 PM, ccoyle said: Great subject. I added a bit to your title for those of us (perhaps only me) who had no clue what 'HDML' stands for. Thankyou, I knew I had missed something out, please excuse the new boy! So just a little bit of progress, as I am still waiting on the stern gear and prop shafts to land. I’ve now got all of the stringers in place, and decided while I was at it although this is planned as a display only piece, I would create some room for any motors and radio gear in the event I change my mind in the future. The superstructure will be removable just in case. Everything is only dry fitted at the moment as well Before After Kris Jim Lad, GrandpaPhil, yvesvidal and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris Haskins Posted March 20, 2021 Author Share #5 Posted March 20, 2021 Progress has been a bit slow of late what with work commitments and I’m still waiting for some balsa blocks to mount the stern tubes. To keep the project moving on I decided to take the plunge and start the superstructure. This is being made from mainly 1.5mm styrene sheet and is the first time I’ve worked in this product, so it will be a bit of trial and error. I did add some bracing pieces as it is long. The steering gear turned up a last, the picture below shows the gear as delivered and after some modification to match the original design. Cheers Kris mtaylor, GrandpaPhil, lmagna and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Lad Posted March 21, 2021 Share #6 Posted March 21, 2021 Excellent progress. She's really coming along well. John Kris Haskins and mtaylor 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alross2 Posted March 21, 2021 Share #7 Posted March 21, 2021 Sister HDML 1392, currently MY SARINDA, which is being reconstructed. mtaylor, lmagna, GrandpaPhil and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmagna Posted March 21, 2021 Share #8 Posted March 21, 2021 Those plans look like the set that were published in Model Ships Magazine over twenty years ago in their yearly "Pinup" fold out plans. David Metcalf really made some nice stuff available for us poorer modelers back then. I was even able to build a couple of them, even though not this one, but I do have it in my stash of ship modeling plans. I had no idea that they were now producing a plastic hull to match the plans. mtaylor 1 Quote Lou Build logs: Colonial sloop Providence 1/48th scale kit bashed from AL Independence Currant builds: Constructo Brigantine Sentinel (Union) (On hold) Minicraft 1/350 Titanic (For the Admiral) 1/350 Heavy Cruiser USS Houston (Resin) Currant research/scratchbuild: Schooner USS Lanikai/Hermes Non ship build log: 1/35th UH-1H Huey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris Haskins Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share #9 Posted March 21, 2021 9 hours ago, lmagna said: Those plans look like the set that were published in Model Ships Magazine over twenty years ago in their yearly "Pinup" fold out plans. David Metcalf really made some nice stuff available for us poorer modelers back then. I was even able to build a couple of them, even though not this one, but I do have it in my stash of ship modeling plans. I had no idea that they were now producing a plastic hull to match the plans. I believe they were, I have 1 working copy which I am making notes all over and a good copy of the David Metcalf drawing. Due to the strong family connection with Medusa I was given a copy of the original ship yard plans for HDML 1387 many years ago. As there are quite a few differences between the David Metcalf plans and the originals, my plan is to work as closely to the original as I can. The styrene hull came from Sarik Hobbies, although there is someone now producing a very good fibreglass hull in the UK. lmagna and mtaylor 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris Haskins Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share #10 Posted March 21, 2021 10 hours ago, alross2 said: Sister HDML 1392, currently MY SARINDA, which is being reconstructed. Thanks, I’m following the “Ship Happens” blog closely. mtaylor, alross2 and lmagna 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alross2 Posted March 21, 2021 Share #11 Posted March 21, 2021 2 hours ago, Kris Haskins said: The styrene hull came from Sarik Hobbies, although there is someone now producing a very good fibreglass hull in the UK. Christian Capurro of MTB Hulls. Home - mtbhulls I have one of his 1/24 71'6" MGBs. Top drawer workmanship! mtaylor and lmagna 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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