A Coming Silence in the Yard!
As I write this, the sun is shining bright, as bright as "he" can be, we're still a bit below freezing and there's a bite in the wind. Ice is forming along the shores and in the shallow bays and across the ponds, and the trees are bare. There's nearly silence in our shipyards and just a few jobs left to do: batteries and wirings to check, dust to clean up, tools to sort and prepare again for winter use, and models to put away. It's also time to think of new projects, time gladly put aside to study kits and plans available, articles, books and magazines to read, and then to start whatever's next. So now, to complete this year, here are a few "finishing touches".
It's time to give an update on the 1/350 scale Glasgow T2 tanker. JMcK, our master maker of dioramas, is doing research to find a name that would be correct for WWII version of this class. Priorities have left him little time to do much more work on the ship itself, and there is a lot of detailing still to come. The dockside was roughed out some time ago but he's spent more time than he wants to admit adding dozens of pilings to make it look more authentic. The crane was built from a 1/720 scale kit but it looks about right here. Aha! But take a good look at the picture. Is that a micro servo in the background? Yes it is. And yes boys and girls he's gonna R/C the harbour - well the crane, actually - because he's already built the ship. And may be more if the "juice" still flows, you never know what might get added next (transport trucks, rail yards, little folk running about, some sound effects?). As John says "Is it going to work? Heaven only knows but it’s going to be a hoot to try".
It's good to report that Bob's lobster boat is now complete and that problems with early trials have now been resolved. " Finally she is complete; added the decals. Also had time to resolve the noisy stuffing box. Item one the bushing in one end had come loose; repaired that also added an oiling tube; finally bought a prop balancer and balanced the prop. Everything runs nice and quiet; now just need water". Sorry Bob, you'll have to wait for that, unless you've got a big enough tub (for the two of you?). Thanks for the great pics, you really do have the crew posed very well!
"Happiness" also extends to JC who found a way to shape the spars for his St Lawrence skiff, without being transformed into a "dust bunny", and no he didn't grove the dowel (with a little bit more padding it all worked well)!
Peter's also completed his model of the "Lac Erie" (see the blog on hull construction (August 14th, 2020). The tug was built in 1944 for the Royal Canadian Navy by the Central Bridge Co., at Trenton, Ontario. Vessels in this class of small and general purpose tugs were known as "Tanacs" (CT 74). After construction, it was transferred to the British Ministry of War Transport. Unfortunately there are few service records for these tugs. It is thought that it was shipped to the U.K. on a Park Ship (Canadian equivalent of the U.S. Liberty Ships) where it served as a support vessel for the Normandy landings. It was returned to Canada after the war and was sold out of the navy in 1957. It was used by the Oka Sand and Gravel Co. and renamed "Lac Erie". In 1961, the tug was bought by the Miron Company and in 1966 McKeil Marine Ltd., (Hamilton, Ontario) took ownership of her. Later she was laid up and eventually scrapped at Port Maitland (Ontario). The Lac Erie was 60 ft (loa) x 17 ft (approx.), and had a draught of just over 7 ft. While operating for Mckeil Marine, the vessel was chartered to support Great Lakes research. The model depicts the tug during this period, when it was used in support of geological and geophysical studies.
The model's superstructure was made as a single unit for easy detachment and access to the power switch, electronics and servo mechanisms. At 18 inches long, the model has a scale of 1:40. The hull and superstructure were built from photographs of the vessel and a plan from the Russel Bros., internet archive. An image of the Lac Erie shows the vessel equipped for similar studies.
It's a pleasure to report that Mike's Victory tug has reached the "ready to launch" stage ........... only it looks too good to put in the water! That's a really great piece of work Mike, great paint job too, "congrats" and thanks for the pics. Glad I could add them to this year's blogging.
