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[marinemole]

Well in response to the thread 'Lachie's dilemma' http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=34436.0 I can report that the  Lighthouse Supply Vessel Polestar won. The huge hideously complicated crane was too much of a challenge to be ignored.

As usual Lachie is off the starting blocks like a bullet and has made impressive progress in a matter of weeks.

Some details of the full size at http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=467

Andy



He has decided on working bow thrusters and has installed a windscreen washer pump. The propellers will be dummies.




Propulsion on the full size is by azimuth drive units and this shot shows the  housings in place in the hull.












The azimuth units as purchased, Graupner I think, had plastic propellers which he doesn't like so he had metal ones made.

[Xtian29]

Hello

Very good choice of model and nice work 

What's her scale ? around 1/50 ?

Xtian

[tugs46]

Looking good Andy

[marinemole]

What's her scale ? around 1/50 ?

Xtian

Think you have estimated correctly at 1:50 but I will check with Lachie.

Andy

[marinemole]

Some pictures of Lachie's progress on the Polestar. Can confirm that model is 1:50 scale.

The motors in place and connected to the azimuth gearing. Lachie wraps his motors in string before epoxying them in position. If removal is needed he just cuts the string.



The drive units are removable as he feels that they are too vulnerable during transportation.



The motors JUST protrude through the deck so Lachie has made up two packing crates to lie either side of the winch to cover the apertures.







An example of Lachie's extensive photo reference library. He photographed many ships under construction at Fergusons and has an impressive collection of material on the Polestar.



Some pictures of progress on the superstructure with the crane loosely in place.









Andy

[tweety777]

Good looking ship!!
I see you indeed used Graupner azimuths.
I used 2 of those on Well Enhancer, and they're great, even with the original plastic props I got 500grams pulling power, whilst my tugboat only did 240grams with a drive-train designed to give power.
Towing power will be pretty good, even with 240grams I was able to tow a 4m long inflatable canoe with 2 children in it without loosing all too much speed.

Greetings Josse

[Norseman]

Really nice Andy - I'll stay tuned for more.

Dave

[marinemole]

Really nice Andy - I'll stay tuned for more.

Dave

Can't take credit as the model is being built by my friend Lachie Stewart, a prolific builder of model ships. I'll pass on the positive feedback from yourself and others.

I don't think that it will be long till the maiden voyage.

Andy

[Norseman]

Hey Andy - you have to take the credit for having and keeping a really good mate.

The fact Lachie is an obsessive builder is just a bonus - actually it's a great big bonus   

Norseman

[marinemole]

Some pictures of Lachie's progress on the Polestar. Lots of detail work put in, not apparent from the drawings but visible in his many detailed closeup shots of the actual full size vessel. One interesting shot of how he moulds small details.






















The picture below shows small items in plastic container ready for pouring of mould rubber. The actual finished mould was down in the garage so I didn't get a picture but an example of the finished product from the mould can be seen.













Andy

[deadwood]

This a great model build and will be a beautiful model once finished.

I assume it is a build from scratch.
Did you make the GRF hull from a mould yourself?

Something puzzles me.
On one of the photos the two drive electric motors were visible before they had disappeared under hatch covers on the remaining photos.
On this photo it looks to me as if there were cords wound around the nacelles of the motors.
It doesn't look to me like a cooling tube but like a cord indeed?
Is this correct?
What purpose does this fulfil?

[marinemole]

This a great model build and will be a beautiful model once finished.

I assume it is a build from scratch.
Did you make the GRF hull from a mould yourself?

Something puzzles me.
On one of the photos the two drive electric motors were visible before they had disappeared under hatch covers on the remaining photos.
On this photo it looks to me as if there were cords wound around the nacelles of the motors.
It doesn't look to me like a cooling tube but like a cord indeed?
Is this correct?
What purpose does this fulfil?

Apologies for delay in replying but I had to re-register and can't automatically pick up replies to my previous posts. Thank you for the kind comments and I will pass them on to my friend Lachie Stewart who is building the model. Lachie 'doesn't do' computers so I tend to publicise his modelling activities.

Lachie produced the hull from a mould made by Paul Boyle who built a professional model of the vessel for the builders Ferguson of Port Glasgow.

The material around the motors is indeed cord. Lachie wraps his motors in string them epoxies them in place. Should he need to remove a motor he merely cuts the cord and the motor comes free.

Regards

Andy

[deadwood]

The material around the motors is indeed cord. Lachie wraps his motors in string them epoxies them in place. Should he need to remove a motor he merely cuts the cord and the motor comes free.

Cool, that's really smart.

[marinemole]

After a lull Lachie is working full steam ahead on his Polestar. Lots of work done on the railings. He is scratch building all the stanchions from thin metal recycled from old windscreen wiper blades.

Latest photographs by the man himself.

Andy

[Martin (Admin)]

This a great model build and will be a beautiful model once finished.

Something puzzles me.
On one of the photos the two drive electric motors were visible before they had disappeared under hatch covers on the remaining photos.

On this photo it looks to me as if there were cords wound around the nacelles of the motors.
It doesn't look to me like a cooling tube but like a cord indeed?
Is this correct?
What purpose does this fulfil?

I think the motors are now hidden under the the deck crates.

[Martin (Admin)]

Hi Andy,

GREAT looking model.

1. What is the string around the motors for?
2. Please can you give more details of your railings... I'm rubbish at railings!

  Martin

[Circlip]

Martin.

  1 Go back to post #4

  2 When doing rails, use Silver Solder (Paste), Saves tears chasing soft soldered joints later.

  Regards  Ian.

[Norseman]

Looking forward to the lake photos - can't be too long now.

Dave

[Arrow5]

That`ll be LOCH photos Dave.

[Stavros]

Hi Andy,

GREAT looking model.

1. What is the string around the motors for?
2. Please can you give more details of your railings... I'm rubbish at railings!

  Martin

Martin SSSHHHHHHHH But it does say in the text that the motors are wrapped in string and then epoxied so if they need to be changed all you do is simply cut the string to get them out .....I wont tell everyone if you dont

Top tip ref railings is to get hte stancheios inplace first then CHEAT go out and buy some plasitc rod this is available in various thickness down to about .5 of a mm it bends around the corners so easily,just use a hot air gun to do so

Dave

[Norseman]

That`ll be LOCH photos Dave.

I stand corrected Duncan ..... though it might just be the Y fronts 

Dave

[marinemole]

Hi Andy,

GREAT looking model.

1. What is the string around the motors for?
2. Please can you give more details of your railings... I'm rubbish at railings!

  Martin

Martin

The string certainly has evoked a lot of interest.   Full marks to Stavros, the string makes for easy removal.  

Lachie uses stainless steel wire for his railings. The stanchions on this boat are made from strip metal from recycled windscreen wiper blades. He has a small spot welding machine which he uses to tack the railings and stanchions together in a jig. They are then soldered I believe for extra strength.

He steadfastly refuses to use a computer I'm afraid,  hence the second hand answers.

Norseman is correct........we do actually sail on Loch Lomond at Balloch with the Maid of the Loch for a backdrop. Conditions CAN be interesting as evidenced by the video of Lachie's HMS Repulse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h56qZhYZkOc

The hull has been float tested at Glasgow Richmond Park Club and I have some video but unfortunately in HD which I can't currently process. Hope to have a new computer soon and will post as soon as current steam machine is replaced.

Andy

[Martin (Admin)]

Martin SSSHHHHHHHH But it does say in the text that the motors are wrapped in string and then epoxied so if they need to be changed all you do is simply cut the string to get them out .....I wont tell everyone if you don't!
Dave

Ah it was the strange  'north of Watford' expression that fooled me!

" Lachie wraps his motors in string before epoxying them in position. If removal is needed he just cuts the string."

[marinemole]

Now have a new laptop capable of editing HD video. A short clip of the Polestar on her first trials earlier this year. As can be seen from photographs above the model is at a far more advanced stage than shown by the video. The azimuth drive units are very noisy and seem to take a bit of getting used to. Performance isn't supersonic but personally I don't like to see scale models travelling too fast. Hopefully photos and video when Lachie sails it in all it's finished glory.

Andy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkLDhAztltI

[marinemole]

Out with Lachie a few days ago to sail the Pole Star on Loch Lomond with tug in attendance just in case.


Model is nearly finished, incredible amount of detail in my opinion, with buoys( under construction ) and crew still to be added.


Joined by some canoeists practicing rescue techniques and also by the local seaplane. The canoeists were welcome, it was absolutely Baltic.


Troublesome breeze which the model handled reasonably well but probaly a fair weather vessel. The drive units are still very noisy and I suspect may put Lachie off sailing the model very often. This would be a pity as it really is a cracker.


Andy


Video at


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4crEswCEqw