Topic: R/C SD14 General Cargo Ship - 80% card.... (Read 11472 times)

carlmt · « **on:** January 25, 2011, 11:48:24 pm »

Hi all,
A couple of years ago, my father and I started on an adventure - we wanted to build the George Robinson SD14 card kit, but not for static display.....to sail !!!

Here are a few shots showing how we managed it - and managed to keep to the spirit of the kit and use nearly all the card elements........

First off, the original kit comes in 9 A3 boxes - 3 ship sections: bow, midships & stern. It is built just like a real ship, but instead of welding sheet steel we are glueing card....

carlmt · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2011, 11:53:20 pm »

As we were going to sail her, we needed to build in some extra strength. We realised that a serious amount of lead was going to be needed to get her down to waterline - and that it would have to be removeable. Therefore, to spread the load, a thin sheet of ply (no thicker than the original card) was laid on the tank-top and two ali bearers were glassed on top to prevent flexing of the hull during lifting operations. All other structural elements remained as card (except the extreme bow stem - for protection).

carlmt · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2011, 11:57:51 pm »

To begin with, and to build in strength, the bow and midships sections were built as one........

All hatchways, ladders, ribs and bearers were built in - even though when finished it is doubtful they can be seen..

Once all the inner structure had been completed, the entire hull was skinned with thin play - again, no thicker than the original card - and sealed with glass tissue and resin...

pugwash · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2011, 12:01:25 am »

Hi Carl an interesting build - I have never seen a card build before - I didn' t realise how much was involved.
Keep the pictures coming.
Geoff

carlmt · « **Reply #4 on:** January 26, 2011, 12:03:31 am »

The stern was built in the same manner as the rest of the ship - but again we needed to substitute the card for ply and balsa where strength was required for sailing.

The propshaft runs through the shaft tunnel, just as in the real ship, and the rudder is scale sized (to date we have had no problems with steerage). The motor is a beautiful, slow running and quiet unit from Alistair Graham, and sits exactly where the full sized version would be.

carlmt · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2011, 12:25:59 am »

Becoming more like a ship every day!

All the hull is structurally complete - just finish off the skinning, then a start was made on the superstructures..........

carlmt · « **Reply #6 on:** January 26, 2011, 12:29:36 am »

A small model of a Sulzer 5 cylinder was made to cover the electric power-plant.........not too unconvincing methinks!!!!

Then, it was time for paint and fit-out...........cannot understand how she got so rusty just sitting on the slipway!!!

carlmt · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2011, 12:36:09 am »

There is something very satisfying in seeing a model come together with detail and colour - the fitting out didn't take long, and access was maintained to all the cargo hatches as that is where we load the lead!!!!

All the r/c gear is stowed in the main superstucture and the rudder servo is 'direct-drive' mounted to the rudder post and housed in the 'steering flat' on the stern.

carlmt · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2011, 12:40:25 am »

A few shots of the detail...........

At a scale of 1:70, she tops out about 7' long.

carlmt · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2011, 12:49:33 am »

Launching day!!!!!!!!!!

All ready for the water on her launching / carrying / display cradle..........

Then on the water at last!!!!

The project took us the best part of 3 years to complete. She sails well, but has tremendous momentum!!! You really have to think ahead when planning manouevers.

Our only real fear when sailing is being 'T-Boned' by a 'fast electric'..........constructed the way she is, the damage would be collosal...

But we do enjoy sailing her...........

Hope you enjoyed the 'show'................Dad is now building the Fleetscale HMS Invincible (WWII carrrier) - 8' long......he is gonna need a bigger shed!!!!
Take care
Carl

derekwarner · « **Reply #10 on:** January 26, 2011, 01:03:13 am »

Thanks for sharing the build carlmt ....I had no idea that such card construction [of original design] existed to such detail ....brilliant

.....Derek

yorkiej · « **Reply #11 on:** January 26, 2011, 01:26:25 am »

There is only one word for it:- i.e. 'SUPERB'.
I am very jealous of your build, as I have always fancied this kit.
I believe it was first developed, as a model of the actual build, in three sections, to assist with the instruction of firefighters fighting fires and dealing with rescues on ships in dock for repair.
A truly amazing work of art really.
Well (x 50) done to you both.Good luck with the bigger shed !!

allanb131 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 26, 2011, 06:17:51 am »

This build is a true inspiration to all. She looks absolutely superb on the water.
I am amazed at the clean neat lines you have obtained and to top it a great paint job.
Now that's what I call teamwork.
Well done !!!!!

Allan.

kiwi · « **Reply #13 on:** January 26, 2011, 06:27:02 am »

Brilliant, constructed the way boats should be built
Extremely well done
kiwi

tugmad · « **Reply #14 on:** January 26, 2011, 07:57:10 am »

ABSOLUTELY LOVELY well done to you both.

rathikrishna · « **Reply #15 on:** January 26, 2011, 09:22:18 am »

Hai friend..its amazing and unbelievable...oh god...its a nice work...thanks for sharing...

carlmt · « **Reply #16 on:** January 26, 2011, 10:05:27 am »

Thank you all for your kind comments - I will pass them on to dad when I see him next week....................computers are not his forte, and at 71 he is not going to start now!!! So unless I show him these pages, he is unaware!!!

Dad is primarily a card ship modeller, but does produce some 'mean' r/c models........ You may have read a review or two of his in MMM or Model Boats on card model kits - the latest being the 1:200 Tirpitz.

Here are a couple of his others.............. The Lutzow and Scharnhorst models are 40 years old.
Carl

nhp651 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 26, 2011, 10:22:54 am »

that is quite stunning carl.........I have always had a hankering for building one of those, but seeing that, I know it would be quite beyond my ability AND patience, but an absolute credit top you and your dad......simply superb.
neil

jules64 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 26, 2011, 01:21:23 pm »

Carl

Thank you for sharing this, absolutely brilliant work and a pleasure to see.

Best wishes
Jules

dreadnought72 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 26, 2011, 01:32:04 pm »

Awesome work!

I see the "kit" is available through Marcle Models for £280. That (I think) is a really good price, given the amount of effort and time required before completion.

Stunning stuff!

Andy

Lord Bungle · « **Reply #20 on:** January 26, 2011, 01:37:12 pm »

Simply Stunning

pugwash · « **Reply #21 on:** January 26, 2011, 01:43:13 pm »

Carl Now it is finished I think it looks excellent, a tribute to both you and your dad.
Geoff

Mike S · « **Reply #22 on:** January 26, 2011, 02:22:45 pm »

Carl,

Absolutely brilliant, I can remember the 1:1 scale SD14's being built at Austin & Pickersgills, back in the days when the North East actually had a shipbuilding industry. Thanks for the photos, superb project.

Cheers,

Mike

hama · « **Reply #23 on:** January 26, 2011, 06:58:12 pm »

Have to agree to all thats been said, absolutely stunning! And she looks so good on the water, must be a thrill to maneuver.
All the best!
Hama.

Howard Q · « **Reply #24 on:** January 26, 2011, 11:04:02 pm »

Hi Carimt. I built one of these models many years ago, they are a superb way of understanding the intricacies of ship building, like yourself the model I built cried out to be put in the water. The model I built was constructed entirely of card as per kit, when complete; the outside was covered with several layers of resin and left to dry completely, after that she was treated exactly as you would with a fiberglass hull, like yours she sailed well and looked every part a real ship.
The only problem at the time was transportation, I had to rely on a friend who had an estate car, eventually he sold this and she had to be disposed of, I was amazed at the strength of the model having to take a Stanley knife to dissect it for disposal, just retaining the mechanics and prop for future use,?.
I am at present building a ferry at 7 foot 2 inch, but now have the means to transport it.
Howard Q.

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Author Topic: R/C SD14 General Cargo Ship - 80% card.... (Read 11472 times)

pugwash

yorkiej

allanb131

kiwi

tugmad

rathikrishna

nhp651

jules64

Lord Bungle

pugwash

Mike S

hama