Well Doug, if my mukluks do start leaking, I'll just have to go out and shoot a caribou to make some new ones.

Cheers, Nerys

My old phone started to play so I Decided it was time for a replacement, it allegidly a smartphone but it wasn't, it was even stupider than I am. I trawled the net but the range was vast and some of the prices took your breath away. Only one thing to do, consult no1 son [he's got his own electronics company and is the fount of all knowledge of things electrical]. No probs said the wise one, Apple are bringing out a new model in a couple of weeks it's dirt cheap, I don't know how they make them for the price. Two weeks later and I am the proud owner of an iPhone SE. It was like putting a chimpanzee in Concord and expecting it to fly it. But I am progressing its only been a couple of months and already I can open the box, the next task will be to find where to plug the charging lead in, my daughter has had an iPhone for yonks but she won't come near because covid19 [let's not go there] so she is of limited help. Ain't technology grand. BTW there are a couple of kits i had my eye on but I think I will keep a firm grip on my beer tokens for the time being. Sorry Mr dean.
Stay fit and keep your powder dry
Swannee

Sorry Doug, I assumed that everyone used these fancy phones these days, I should have known that you would be above such things. We have the simplest possible mobile, that is only intended for emergency calls. Alice had a very good camera but the backlight on it packed up some time ago and she has never got round to replacing it, so any photos we do are with an ancient Lumix.

Solar panels are in the grand plan, and Alice has today ordered the parts to build a mini computer that will run off the batteries. No doubt she will also have one of her radios installed, but we are some way from that. Curtains are more of a priority at the moment.

Mr B is the dreaded Boris, Mr D is Mr Drakeford, First minister of Wales. Both of whom seem hell bent on ruining the economy.

Cheers, Nerys

"we do not have one of these fancy modern phones which makes it so much easier."
My 'dumbphone' is not the newest either Nery. But I only use it as a phone or for the occasional SMS text.
The pics I post are made with real cameras; either my Sony Cyber Shot or my Pentax K-r DSLR.
The HD vids I post are made with a dedicated Camcorder; Canon HG-10 or Sony Handycam HDR. They also take decent photos (while still filming😀) but nowhere near as good as the Sony or Pentax, especially in close up, which is what we mostly need for forum posts.
You can feed me all the advertising blurb about smartphones (🙄) and their cameras you like, but for me there's no way a tiny 5mm blob of plastic can optically compete with a quality 52mm or more diameter glass lens with a correspondingly large digital receptor.

Mr B and Mr D??
If any two resilient ladies can survive in a hidyhole in the hills it's you two👍
I'm sure that Alice will also fit a comprehensive comms system to stay in touch with the rest of the world👍
Don't forget the reserve canisters of petrol for the generator, or are solar panels also in Alice's design?
Keep us informed Nerys.
'Is it a bird, is it a plane, a NASA space shot? NO! It's the Dynamic Duo - Nerys and Alice!
Off on another mission to save the world from itself'😀
Keep on staying safe 🤞
Cheers, Doug 😎

Sorry Doug, but I do not think the progress so far is worthy of any pics, but when I start doing the decks, which will be quite soon, I hope,, I'll see what can be done. You must remember, we do not have one of these fancy modern phones which makes it so much easier.
Mobile Sausage Roll Factory. Work is progressing slowly. Beds are in, sides insulated, roof insulated and now having T & G fitted to cover it, right over the top. Alice sorting the interior roof lights at same time. Only hope Mr B or Mr D won't lockdown us out of using it. We'll just have to take to the hills and hideaway.

Cheers, Nerys

Great to hear you are progressing Nerys, but ...
Pics pics pics please!
Pretty please!!😉😍
BTW: What happened to the long overdue report on Hon Commodore Alice's progress on the mobile C3 Centre / SRSV (Sausage Roll Supply Vehicle😋)?
Has she bolted herself in behind the cabin lining?? 😮
Whatever you remarkable pair are up to WE WANNA KNOW😁 Keep it up (whatever it is😉)👍
All the best, Doug 😎

Have now managed to get the steering system set up. Decided the servo box as designed was unsatisfactory, so made and fitted a nice wooden one. Will do a bath trial quite soon.

Cheers, Nerys

Nerys I don't think you would be wrong to beef up the rudders.
Rick

Hi Nerys,
I am glad the first test went ok, and i can't wait to see some build log photos.

Martin555.

Tested LST and barge for any leaks around prop shaft. Still waiting for replacement rudder from Deans, though also considering using something a bit beefier. I'd hate to put this LST on the beach at Anzio with a full load of tanks with the designated steering gear.

Cheers, Nerys

Nothing worth photographing yet, see what I can do when there's a bit more to see.

Cheers, Nerys

Any pictures Nerys? it would be good to see your build, a pictures worth a thousand words.

Well done Nerys I'm sure you will sort the rest of the build regardless of the parts quality.
Rick

Ian, IF it gets as far as the pond.!!!!!

Seriously, if it gets to the pond, it will rank as a minor miracle, but I wouldn't let it get that far if I wasn't sure of success. Both motors are in and we'll sort the steering soon, then I'll start finding out what's wrong with all the bits of plastic and imitation metal.

Cheers, Nerys

One bad experience and you haven't got it wet yet!
What happens if it fails on 'the pond'

Do you know Ian, I think that's the most sensible suggestion yet.

Cheers, Nerys

Hi Nerys,
Just a suggestion "DON'T"

Nerys,
At least they are replacing it lets hope it is not like for like.

Oh PM sent.

Martin555.

Deans say that they have posted me a replacement rudder. Not sure if I will use it.

Nerys

Thats the problem with what is known as "Potmetal"It has a very weak structure.
I remember helping my Father with a Model Slipways kit hat also had potmetal barn door rudders in haves cement round a shaft. ( Bit more heavy duty than yours) Used Devcon to join them. Bent after a couple of runs and they were on 4mm shafts

Get onto Deans as soon as possible Nerys, and tell them you want a replacement, or you will sort them out!😊

Cheers, Pete

One of the supplied rudders has broken in two.

Nerys

Actually Martin, if I end up building the whole superstructure in wood. it will probably do wonders for my mental state.

Cheers, Nerys

Hi Nerys,
It sounds to me like you are going to have to make/replace a lot on this kit, but i am sure you will not let it beat you.

At least if it gets a bit stressful you can drop back on to your Thames Barge.

Martin555.

To take my last post a step further. The main deck consists of three pieces. Laid in place they are about half an inch short. I am tempted to lay a wooden deck.
I am happy to say that my anti frustration Thames barge is coming along nicely. After deck and wheelhouse built but not fitted. Waiting for stern gear to come as it will be easier to fit if done first.

Nerys

I decided to cut out and fit the foredeck this afternoon. In my ignorance I thought it would fit! HaHa!

Nerys

What ever you do Nerys don't force your self in to doing your model making as it will only lead to mistakes and lack of enjoyment.

As and when you feel unto it is good enough.

Martin555.

Thanks Martin, apart from having to acquire bits and pieces due to Deans parsimony I'm afraid there aren't many days when I feel up to doing anything, I'd like to think I could do a bit more later today.

Cheers, Nerys

You can do it Nerys,
I am looking forward to the start of your build log.

Martin555.

Thanks Pete, I didn't know that Mountfleet did an LST hull, but I really thought that I would find it easier building a kit. I didn't realise that building a Deans kit was only one stage up from building from scratch, as it seems that one has to replace quite a lot of bits and pieces.

Cheers, Nerys

Just had a look on Mountfleets site, and it was a LCM6
they had, not the LCT.

Cheers, Pete

I understand the meaning of having a replica of your fathers craft, did you know that Mountfleet did a hull of a LST, I think it was the 'T' version, but having seen your other builds Nerys, I am most confident that you will make an excellent job of what you have, just take your time, and your past knowledge will overcome any problems, and you can always get assistance from Alice on tricky bits😊

Cheers, Pete

Nerys, have you complained to Deans?, as you know I wouldn't touch Deans with a barge pole, they sell parts which are substandard and are not prepared to communicate with you about any complaints. My opinion and experience.

Sure I agree that the Rudders, Propshafts etc. are absolute rubbish from Deans but why is it that way?
Also their plans/ construction data is not worth the paper it is printed on!

Nerys I agree with Martin you have the bones of the model to build.When done with the changes to parts you will have the model you envisioned with the purchase.
Rick

Nerys,
I still think you will have a fantastic model by the time you have finished it, even though you are having these teething problems.

Martin555.

The only reason I was tempted was because of my father commanding one during WW2 and when Deans brought out the kit, that was it, I'd never seen one anywhere else, so it had to be.
Looking into it, I realised from what I was hearing on here that I could expect to pay over the odds for a poor quality kit. I was very tempted to build from scratch, but with my health as it is at the moment, I thought the kit might make life easier. Now, I know I jumped the wrong way and I think building from scratch would certainly have been far less stressful.

Cheers, Nerys

They get away with it Nerys, because they will gamble on producing a kit/hull of a boat that no-one else will touch, If you are after a WWII warship, there are very few kits on the market, you can get hulls from Fleetscale models and also most fittings, put be prepared to spend, Deans produce a wide variety of ships, they must get it wrong sometimes, most of my kits have been fine, except for the props, tillers and rudders, but I make my own anyway.😊

Cheers, Pete

Thank you Martin and Cash for your comments. I have the replacement items on order, I cannot see how Deans get away with selling such rubbish.

Cheers, Nerys

Hi Nerys,
Re :- Rudder and Tiller Arm.
As you know i do not have a model making budget and even I would not use them for there intended purpose.

Might use the Rudder as a glue spreader LOL!!
Or the Rudder shaft as a stirring stick.


Martin555.

Hi Cashrc

I have just read your post with regards to the Deans kit of the Wacht Am Rheins, I am also doing this boat and like your self I have replaced the tiller arm, I made mine out of an old 13amp plug.

I look forward to your build

Fred

Nerys...that tiller? No, just no. A poster on RCgroups was badmouthing the old Robbe and Graupner kits because they had ABS hulls and molded ABS superstructure. I think they build fine, and their fittings spoiled me. I think Deans should farm out some of their fittings, tillers, etc to Krick or Caldercraft. Just my two cents.
Cash

Not really an LST subject but I'm going to tell the story anyway.
As Alice has built the beds in the Mobile Sausage Roll producing vehicle, I ordered the mattresses on line. They came just before 6pm today, Thursday. An hour later, I had a message from ebay saying that they were dropped off at 1.04 GMT on Friday 4th December.
Time Travel by Yodel?. It's still Thursday as I write this.

Cheers, a perplexed Nerys!

This is a photo that Alice took of one of the rudders and tiller arms as supplied by Deans. The rudder shaft has a diameter of 2.3mm and the dimensions of the tiller arm are 16mm x 11mm. I make no further comment but would be interested in members opinion on the viability of using this tiller arm. (Not that I'm going to !)

Cheers, Nerys

So......I have a partially built Wacht Am Rheins deans kit sitting on my bench. I acquired it in a trade with my trading buddy Larry about a year and a half ago. I pit it aside until I had more experience and felt comfortable working on it. With the Aphrodite done and awaiting maiden, I wanted to have something on my bench as a winter project, and the Wacht has a lot of detail that I can gain more experience with. However...the tiller for the rudder is..um..can’t really say how I feel about it and not offend somebody. It’s bad, really bad, and I replaced it already. I’m also stuck with the stock stuffing box as it’s already installed. The hull is glass, and made nicely IMHO, some of the fittings look useable, some are maybe kinda adequate. I’d pay a little more for a Deans kit if the fittings were better.
I’ll post a pic or two, will start a build blog soon.

"I've never bought anything from Deans Marine in the past so I have no personal experience but I'm rather disinclined to buy anything from them in the future based on what I have been reading about other peoples experiences!"
Don't get me wrong Rob, and the rest of you good folks out there in Model Boat Land,
I DO NOT LIKE writing negative reports! Never did, even (or especially?) throughout my professional life.
But sometimes I had to🤔 Tried to find at least one or two positives to sweeten the pill though.
My credo was - "Customers make paydays possible!!"
Good news spreads quickly, but Bad news spreads like wildfire!
Motto #2: You can only disappoint a customer once, then you've lost him!
Customers do talk to each other, even more so of course since we can do it around the world at near light speed😮
I found it interesting to look at the Deans propshaft etc offerings on their website. They DO make better ones than the junk they put in my kit (and other kits I assume). Some descriptions remind me of Raboesch though!
http://deansmarine.co.uk/shop/index.php/cPath/5_22/sort/2a/page/1
Propellers all seem to be cheap plastic☹️ My standard is brass from Raboesch.
http://deansmarine.co.uk/shop/index.php/cPath/5_21
They do make better rudders and tiller arms than the rough cast heavy-metal (rock on man😁) stuff in the kits,
http://deansmarine.co.uk/shop/index.php/cPath/5_24/sort/2a/page/1
BUT: I'm always wary of metal stocks moulded into plastic blades and the tiller arms are little more than modified servo arms, of which I'm sure we all have dozens in the bits box, cos we always seem to get half a dozen with every servo we buy. Modifying these ourselves is not rocket science.

If Deans notice these posts (or someone sneaks😠) and take issue I'm up for that.
I'd like to hear how they justify high prices (plus various Service 🙄 Charges) for largely poor quality and even poorer customer service apparently. Although admittedly I have no experience of the latter. Didn't see the point. I figured I'd just get a bureaucratic run around like Ian in SA. 1000 or 10000km distance the result is probably the same.
I feel sorry for Nerys and offer any help I can to fix the deficiencies of her kit.
All the best folks, stay safe, CU back here soon👍
G'night, Doug 😮😴💤💤

"One day I will get round to building my 63' Whaleback. "
63 feet😮 Can't wait to see it!🤓
Been sharpening the buzz saw and taking lumberjack courses have we Ian?😉
Don't forget the climbing irons - makes it sooo much easier😁
😎

The distance was a bit to much for me. Trying to correct things over the phone and email was impossible.
One day I will get round to building my 63' Whaleback.

if they have a bad attitude they will not get my custom,i have a attitude adjuster some people call them crow bars

That is good that we have these kit reports.
Thanks to other members reporting the problems helps other members from wasting a lot of money.

Looking forward to a few more model kit reports.

Martin555.