Topic: Billings Smit Rotterdam revival (Read 10885 times)

Taranis · « **on:** April 20, 2020, 06:05:33 pm »

Spurred on by Mark T

I'm starting a fresh thread devoted to completing this model that I started in January 2017 and 3 months later abandoned her in favour of a larger scale Tug.
All photographs in chronological order can be viewed in this gallery which is constantly updated.
https://techno.smugmug.com/Smitt-Rotterdam/

14th January 2017

Today during ballasting

Taranis · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2020, 06:10:29 pm »

My top deck remains a dry fit until everything else is done that needs access.
On final assembly the bow bulwarks will be overlaid with glass cloth and finishing resin then feathered in.

Mark T · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2020, 06:44:43 pm »

About time too

Thats a tricky bit of the ship your doing there!

Taranis · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2020, 08:18:20 pm »

Went quite well did that

I'm looking forward to fitting the deck and glassing it in.

Magnets fitted for rudder servo hatch

Taranis · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2020, 08:21:22 pm »

Fitting the deck edging makes a big difference

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2020, 09:42:23 pm »

Found this great photo of Smit Rotterdam on Facebook...

Taranis · « **Reply #6 on:** April 20, 2020, 09:48:25 pm »

Nice picture thanks
This reminds me
Why can't billings supply decals that match their model? surely no more expensive to make them correct than incorrect

otherwise why bother at all.

As supplied

What is required

Taranis · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2020, 07:41:13 pm »

Today I've been whittling away at the laser cut parts and throwing away all the waste sheet.

Making and fitting the climbing rails is the height of tedium. Here I use a cable tie to ensure all are protruding the same

Taranis · « **Reply #8 on:** April 22, 2020, 03:44:49 pm »

I'm not aware that it's been mentioned already but HALFORDS are on click and collect during lockdown so if you need paint just order and pay online to collect at the store of your choice. I'm just waiting for a text when my order is ready

Mark T · « **Reply #9 on:** April 22, 2020, 05:26:00 pm »

Quote from: Taranis on April 22, 2020, 03:44:49 pm

I'm not aware that it's been mentioned already but HALFORDS are on click and collect during lockdown so if you need paint just order and pay online to collect at the store of your choice. I'm just waiting for a text when my order is ready

So are B&Q Andy if you need anything from there - I don't envy you doing those climbing rails but they do look ace

Taranis · « **Reply #10 on:** April 22, 2020, 06:47:43 pm »

Only a few hundred to do

I've made the funnels and mast demountable with magnets.

SailorGreg · « **Reply #11 on:** April 22, 2020, 07:09:13 pm »

Quote from: Mark T on April 22, 2020, 05:26:00 pm

So are B&Q Andy if you need anything from there -

I tried the B&Q website. I was invited to join the queue - "Your estimated wait time is: more than an hour". I didn't bother waiting!

Greg

Taranis · « **Reply #12 on:** April 23, 2020, 07:18:46 pm »

So now the mast locates very well and can be treated as a sub assembly

The supplied copper wire is far too flexible to make a decent job of the window cleaning rails so I substituted brass 0.5mm

Taranis · « **Reply #13 on:** April 23, 2020, 07:23:05 pm »

I was confused by these due to incorrect instructions in Billings manual stating the colour to be white

So I asked on Billings Farcebook.

Basically they are big black and rubber

Capt Podge · « **Reply #14 on:** April 23, 2020, 07:37:17 pm »

Just as well you checked Andy, plans indicate white, but should be black

Regards,
Ray.

RST · « **Reply #15 on:** April 24, 2020, 03:31:57 am »

Hi Andy,

Yes surely yokohamas should naturally be black but thats easy to say when you know. But most if not every yoko I've seen are covered with a matrix of tyres and chains of sorts also (ours were plastered with tyres on the DSV).

It's not very clear on web photos but if you look on here they're definately not smooth in outline http://www.haagsemodelbootclub.nl/smitrotterdam/

...so if you want to be accurate and show your model off a bit better (I know you like this) you maybe need some little modelling extra detail I think?

...happy to be proven wrong!
(at your scale could easily be replicated with very thin slices of polystyrene tube cyano'd in place)

Taranis · « **Reply #16 on:** April 24, 2020, 11:31:15 am »

I really wasn't going to bother

but having said that I just ordered rubber O rings from Ebay

Mark T · « **Reply #17 on:** April 24, 2020, 01:37:22 pm »

Hi Andy - Another forum member david48 asked me to post this picture here for you to see

Taranis · « **Reply #18 on:** April 24, 2020, 01:47:04 pm »

Thank you both

Yes I think the O rings will be worthwhile especially now I see your example. I've ordered 1mm x 3mm and 100 initially which is only 25 per Yokohama

Taranis · « **Reply #19 on:** April 24, 2020, 09:02:52 pm »

One of the cradles completed.

The 1mm O rings will make these a perfect fit

I found a plastic pipe that fits the crane towers so thought I'd try it rather than the recommended 1mm brass rod supplied.

Should be ok when painted?

Generally chipping away at it in all directions

cos918 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 24, 2020, 09:06:24 pm »

Quote from: Taranis on April 20, 2020, 09:48:25 pm

Nice picture thanks
This reminds me
Why can't billings supply decals that match their model? surely no more expensive to make them correct than incorrect otherwise why bother at all.

As supplied

What is required

Hi Andy I see what you mean . I built this kit years ago. Still have it. The transfers I had were not like that . No blue backing on the Smit logo and no Black backing on the name. A case of the old tranfers were better
John

Taranis · « **Reply #21 on:** April 24, 2020, 09:25:16 pm »

Thanks for confirming John. The original was TR155. Those supplied now are TR155a

Taranis · « **Reply #22 on:** April 27, 2020, 02:49:19 pm »

I'm now working towards completing the mid deck so I can glue the top deck in place.
Just the superstructure wall to paint and windows to fit. Deck is finish painted.
Apart from the hull all the paint is Billings paint pots which give an eggshell/satin finish but has poor covering properties so requires many coats for the desired quality.

Taranis · « **Reply #23 on:** May 06, 2020, 05:40:36 pm »

A lot of distractions lately but all good .
Progress is slow but still moving.

I decided I will substitute all brass rod and copper wire with appropriate size stainless steel. I see no point in fitting brass only to paint it pale grey. Stainless will be left unpainted, job done.

Still working towards being able to final fit the top deck

Taranis · « **Reply #24 on:** May 09, 2020, 02:04:55 pm »

I'm still nowhere near fitting the top deck but rather working on the working deck with some fiddly erections to get them out of the way. I've sprayed the brass legs with Tamiya metal primer before applying two coats of Billings Yellow by brush.
To fix to the deck I've used a blob of canopy glue on each hole and used CA on the outer ends of the cross beam.

Looking ahead to sailing I think I will need to fabricate covers for the wash ports and avoid getting water on the deck as she sits very very low in the water back there

News:

Author Topic: Billings Smit Rotterdam revival (Read 10885 times)

RST