St Roch by Lecrenb - 1:48 scale - RCMP Schooner rigged as schooner c. 1930/35

[Lecrenb]

Still waiting to hear from the Fram museum, but from information received from Harvey Golden and Wefalck I am leaning away from the belt idea towards a drive chain. Belt or chain, raising the cargo derrick, hence the guide rollers, would provide tension and act as a sort of clutch...

I can always adapt the pulley on the anchor winch if necessary, but there is no information as to what it looked like on St. Roch. 

The missing link is the drive on the cargo winch, was there a separate gear that is not in my reference pictures, or was it wrapped around the warping drum?

That cargo winch is coming up next on my list!

Regards,

Bruce

 

[Lecrenb]

Good afternoon all, and I hope everyone is having a decent summer so far, as we are here in Alberta!

I am moving on to detailing St. Roch's main deck... this work consists of making the cargo winch, the hatch covers, and stowing the spare rudder.

First I want to share with you a picture from 1928 or 1929, from the book "Arctic Workhorse" by James Delgado.

It shows a crewman breaking cargo from the hold using the cargo boom on the main mast. Of interest is the port side of the cargo winch in the background... you can see the warping drum, right next to it is what appears to be a pulley for the anchor winch drive, then a shaft to the cable spool and presumably the gearing in the background. 

This picture is informing my detailing of the main deck as described in the next posts...

Edited July 17 by Lecrenb

[Lecrenb]

First up is the cargo winch, which I am recreating using what information I can glean from the previous picture and the sketch on the designer's 1928 plan... here are the pieces I am making so far...

The winch is powered from a take-off on the main diesel engine, I have to work on the gears and shafts for that next. Thoughts, ideas, and comments are most welcome!

 

[Lecrenb]

I have also made the canvas cover for the hatch, painted grey/green same as the other similar surfaces, and the hatch cover boards. This photo shows how I am thinking about displaying them, stacked up beside the hatch so you can see the strong beams down inside. These were a feature of St. Roch to prevent her being crushed in the ice, so I thought it important to show them.

Referring back to the picture with the crewman, I am inspired to consider a diorama based on it. The main reason would be to include a figure that would give scale to the model. I did not do this for my previous models because I am crap at figure making and painting. I could also put some cargo in the hold, not enough to conceal the beams, and copy the use of the main mast cargo boom to give some action.

I am not considering multiple figures or a lot of deck clutter, as I want to enhance the model, not detract from it.

Any comments or suggestions on this idea are greatly appreciated!

 

 

[Lecrenb]

The previous picture shows the spare rudder on the main deck. I note that the earlier photo of the crewman handling cargo does not appear to show the rudder, but it should be partially visible if it were stowed where I have it at the moment. It is important to note that the picture shows the original small deckhouse, so there would be more room on the poop aft.

This main deck is where the rudder is stowed on the ship today, but it seems an improbable location given today's large, full beam superstructure! Without the mainmast the only possible way to get the spare rudder aft would be to use the foremast boom to lower it overside into a lifeboat, then haul it aft and sway it up using the mizzen boom! There is no room aft of the superstructure for it today...

In the 1930s there is not much room on the poop as well, and I won't know for certain if the rudder can fit there until I make the lifeboat supports. However there is a passage along the waist from the main deck, and the mainmast with it's cargo boom could help move the rudder if necessary.

Still working on this conundrum!

Regards,

Bruce

 

Edited July 17 by Lecrenb

[wefalck]

Personally, I like to 'animate' my models, but then they are usually arranged as scenic display. In your case, a single figure for scale may be just the right thing.

[AON]

Bruce,

There is a fellow in our MSON club that 3D models and resin prints figures.

He made one of me playing my fiddle sitting crosslegged for placement on my orlop deck (deep in the ship for anyone that tries to see tha far). I can ask him if he has anything suitable and have him contact you if you wish.

Alan

[Lecrenb]

5 hours ago, wefalck said:

Personally, I like to 'animate' my models, but then they are usually arranged as scenic display. In your case, a single figure for scale may be just the right thing.

Thank you very much Wefalck!

[Lecrenb]

19 hours ago, AON said:

Bruce,

There is a fellow in our MSON club that 3D models and resin prints figures.

He made one of me playing my fiddle sitting crosslegged for placement on my orlop deck (deep in the ship for anyone that tries to see tha far). I can ask him if he has anything suitable and have him contact you if you wish.

Alan

Sure Alan, that would be appreciated. I was thinking about looking for an O gauge (1:48 scale) model railroad figure to modify... but a bespoke figure like the one in the photo would be great!

Regards,

Bruce

 

P.S...

I remember reading an article many years ago, can't recall the source, about conservators bore-scoping a model that was due for restoration. The scope was put down into the stern area of the model where a completely detailed interior was discovered. It had been hidden for scores of years, and as the scope went deeper, they discovered the captain's cabin complete with a parrot in a cage!

So one day a restorer or conservator will speculate about the Bellerophon Fiddler!

 

 

Edited Friday at 03:26 PM by Lecrenb

[AON]

I've just sent him a note.

[AON]

Heard back and emailed you his contact info.

[Lecrenb]

On 7/19/2025 at 4:33 AM, AON said:

Heard back and emailed you his contact info.

Yup, we've communicated and he has a figure 'out of the box' which should be perfect! Now to order some cargo!

Thanks for setting us up!

[Lecrenb]

Here is the cargo winch finished, except for the power take-off shaft... 

Here it is trial fitted on the base. The pulleys on each winch line up and clear the main hatch, so if they were rigged to power the anchor winch they would be accurate!

Thanks all for looking in!

Bruce