I have just read somewhere that the main legs of the collapsible mast were made from propellor blades! Now that looks vaguely plausible as they are a flattish round edged section, but a) there's no twist. B) why on earth would they? They were a shipbuilder with no need to go filching scrap for a major component. Any ideas?

Cheers,
Martin

Finishing blog started, with pictures.

Martin

Should I do a "finishing" blog on the Crash Tender? Had a nice easy day on it today.

What should I do? I took some pictures.

Martin

Finally, the lad has dragged it out of his loft. 54 years old and now will be finished. On it's way as we speak.

Really looking forward to doing a good job on the old girl, she deserves it.

Martin

Hi Doug, I spotted that section round the bottom, too. interesting. I think it's meant to be a kind of sealing bead of square section, probably ramin or teak. Mahogany wouldn't last long in that position as it doesn't like constant exposure. But it will have to go on the model. The half round can just be filed into the edge of the tops.

Martin

Evenin' MT, see pics of the real things Nos. 93 & 94, I posted above!😉
I note there is also such trim around the base of the cabins, like a sort of 'kick board' or just to cover the gaps 😁
Cheers Doug 😎

Elsrickle, sound like you have the 34 1/2" Aerokits Crash Tender, as do I. There very few photos of them and even fewer that show good details. As to colours, Doug and I agree that the greys used seem on the best photos to show a very light cabin sides, but darker decks and tops which are non-slip.

mturpin013, I think the non slip paint stops short of the half round edging to the cabin tops. I would assume the half round is to stop water gathering at the edges and causing premature rot, although of course a bit of salt water is good for wood.

I would like to get some decent reference for the derrick which is apparently portable.

Most of all, I would like to get my damned RC gear to work or it's back in with 27 meg and to hell with the bind that is binding.

Cheers,
Martin

Doug, just picked up on your comment about half round trim around the cabin roof, do you have any pictures on the real thing or model I'm just at this stage now and would be nice to incorporate it

Am very interested in the correct colours also purchased one for renovation it has no vent cowls or any fittings and am about to start it. As. I wish to have it as correct to the original as possible would appreciate any information on fittings and paint schemes, didn't think the white deck on white roof seemed correct. The model I have is about 3 foot long +/-

Hi Doug,
I had indeed considered wet'n'dry, but as ever with using that stuff, you have joints which are difficult to disguise. Difficult one to decide on. And then there's the argument that at scale distances would you even see that it was a non-slip paint? I suppose you could make a point of the seams, like they were supposed to be there. I might try that, see what it looks like. I'll do a trial piece on some spare ply.
I'm very interested to see you agreeing about the absence of white cabin tops, but very light sides. I may just do that.
Still got to coax the model out of my son's loft yet. I left it with him when we had no space (living afloat). Trouble is he doesn't like ladders, so I will probably have to get over there myself and stand at the bottom of the loft ladder, coaxing his progress around his large loft!

Cheers,
Martin

Evenin' Martin, just a quick thought before I hit the hay!
For the non slip deck paint why don't you cover the deck with a suitable wet and dry paper? 😉 With a bit of luck you might even find some wet n dry the right shade of grey!!
Don't know the size / scale you are building but maybe around 120 / 240 would do! Cut to fit, glue it down with a spray glue, I found some in the 'Creative Corner' of a garden centre near me. Also a good source of fine gauge steel, brass, copper, gold and silver wire and nylon thread, and anchor chains😉😊
Then seal with a spray-on flat sealer or varnish, then spray a satin colour you want. Humbrol H129 might be a good substitute for 'Cerrux Deck Grey'. See Model Boat Mayhem for references to Cerrux Grey 😉
I agree the cabin sides are a much lighter shade of grey, almost white.

Just ripped all the innards and deck fittings off my PTB. Just got the bare hull and shaft tubes left. Just havin' a wee dram then up the 'apples and pears to Bedfordshire' before I get tempted to sand and paint through the night. it happens sometimes 😲
G'night all, cheers Doug 😎 ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Doug,
interesting technique, turning them negative, but it does show that the cabin tops are marked as grey as well as the decks and coaming (cabin sides?). As you say, smooth versus non slip will look different in raking light. I had wondered that, but the lightness of shade goes right round the angles of the fore cabin. That's actually the effect that made me ask. Considering these particular boats were only ever two in number and never really in service for long, despite their popularity as models, so I don't reckon they had a repaint as they weren't around that long. it's just that the drawing you negativised says grey for all the surfaces, yet everybody makes the cabin tops white. I'm wondering whether to make the cabin sides a noticeably lighter shade of grey than the decks and cabin tops.
Problem now is how do we represent non-slip on a model? Sifted Chinchilla sand into slow-drying wet paint, then spray with the correct colour?
Glad to see you confirming what I thought about the half round edging to the tops, Doug. I can imagine that being a standard kind of process.
Now, we need details of the derrick and its winch. Apparently it was portable. I bet that was a lump to lug about in a rolling seaway!

Cheers,
Martin

Depends a lot on the lighting / weather conditions but they seem to have been a variety of shades at different times! 😲

Hi Martin,
seems to be a scan / photocopy of a blueprint?
Maybe the attached negatives are easier to read
First is just chopped from your original and reversed,
Second one is slightly enlarged (50%).
A clue is that the cabin sides (Coamings?) are Cerrux Smooth Deck Paint and the the decks are Cerrux Non-slip Deck Paint? Would affect how they reflect. BS number for the colour seems to be the same in all cases, including undercoat. BS 631 or 681 ??
Doug
The incident angle of the light could also have an effect.
BTW: there are half-round trim mouldings around the cabin roof, which are giving you the effect you describe above.
Of course it could also be that at some later time the cabins sides where simply painted white 😉