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SouthportPat
Commodore
New Brighton Steam Lifeboat Video at Southport MBC 09 March 2025
The lifeboat’s hull was of best quality steel, the plates being triple rivetted together with 72,000 rivets – torpedo boats of the period were double rivetted – without a single continuous seam, in order to counter the stresses smashing into waves, whereas other steel hulls were single rivetted. It was not self-righting beyond 110°, the mast being 20° below the horizontal, but featured modified end boxes designed similarly to self-righting vessels, and contained fifteen water tight compartments, bilge pumps and steam ejectors. 15.24m long with overall beam of 4.36m and 1.07m deep, including a flush deck with inset accommodation for up to 40 persons, it was powered by twin horizontal direct acting compound steam engines complete with one boiler and at full speed, a 1,000-rpm fan created forced draught, and it had twin funnels. Recognition must be given to the fortitude of the engine room crew including stokers of these steam lifeboats when being tossed around in storms but the forced draught would have provided ample ventilation. A fuller account may be read here.

This lifeboat was transferred in 1892 to New Brighton temporarily then was based at Holyhead – there, in 1901, while on passage, a boiler room explosion killed two firemen. It was retired from service in 1928.
Liked by AlessandroSPQR and hermank
Scratchbuilder
Vice Admiral
1 / 13
HMS Victorious.
HMS Victorious,circa 1941.
Still very much in the early stages of construction.
Most of the internal workings are in place ,but still a few ideas to work on.
Thus far she has a working forward aircraft lift.
A smoke generator (water not oil).
All four rear guns rotate.
A working bilge pump.
Working next on how to activate the crane.
All three engines are powered from a 6 volt battery.
All other items mentioned above powered from another 6 volt battery,bot of which provide the main ballast.
As I say still a long way to go yet as can be seen.Many of the fittings have to be more authentically painted.
Liked by DELVEIN and Jerry Todd and
7 comments
RETSUB12
Petty Officer 2nd Class
FANTONE
BUILT 5 YEARS AGO WITH ALL MOVING CREW one with 3 850 motors & one runs on 2 BILGE PUMPS 1000 GPH EACH & side thrusters
Liked by none and BOATSHED and
2 comments
  • John2Chief Petty Officer 1st Class
    Very good thanks for sharing.

    John.
  • BOATSHEDCaptain
    Great video, shame they no longer produce any of their boats. I still have a Spearfish new in the box waiting to be made up. I had a Spearfish back in the 80's with a Irvine 61 in her. She was great fun on the water.
Rod
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class
1 / 6
Amara
I built this one from a Caldercraft kit and powered it with a twin screw steam engine
Model has steam horn sound together with bilge pump and fully equipped lighting system
Have extensively weathered the model to create realism to imitate what it probably looked like after many years steaming and working round the world in the 1930's
A smoke generator has also been fitted which together with the twin screw steam engine gives a realistic look when on the water
Liked by doghouse and GARTH and
6 comments
  • Dave MVice Admiral
    Nice realist looking on-water pics. Thanks for sharing
    Dave
  • BallastChief Petty Officer 1st Class
    Nicely finished tug with that well executed patina of a well loved, used vessel. 10 out of 10👍😎
    Liked by figtree7nts
Rod
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class
1 / 4
HMCS Agassiz
Basically scratch Built except for the hull supplied by Fleetscale
Scale 1:48
Canadian Corvette and powered by single screw Saito steam engine
Lighting throughout with bilge pump and Asdic sound system
Sails scale speed beautifully with smoke generator adding realism
To steam power
Liked by Mikep and RNinMunich and
7 comments
  • reilly4Warrant Officer
    A very good effort. A video of it sailing would be awesome.👍
    Liked by Inkoust
  • RodChief Petty Officer 2nd Class
    Will do but having trouble programme accepting the video of it sailing
    Liked by figtree7nts and suntugs
Colin T
Able Seaman
1 / 4
R.N.L.B. Lady MacRobert (Montrose Lifeboat)
This 1/12 scale model is based on the Aerokits Solent Class lifeboat. Over the past 5 months it has been under going a major refit. I originally built the boat about 35 years ago and got the "bug" again last September. I've done the best I can to make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

Its powered by two MFA Torpedo 800 electric motors. power comes from two lead acid batteries, each rated at 12v 7Ah. Control is provided by two Mtroniks Tio ESC. The twin spade rudders are linked to one servo. Each ESC has its own receiver. I found that one receiver, using a Y lead, could not continuesly keep the two ESC supplied with a signal and they kept going into Failsafe mode alternately. I got round it by binding two receivers to the one transmitter. Within the engine compartment is an automatic bilge pump. Two probes detect if/when the water level rises to a certain amount in the bilge and activates the pump.

The model has working radar scanner , navigation lights, search light and blue flashing light.

If you want to see the boat in action please go to my You Tube page at https://www.youtube.com/user/coljacktonvale
Liked by doghouse and Falmouth1729 and
7 comments
  • Colin TAble Seaman
    I've not done a blog either. I have the RNLI drawings but as you know you only get the starboard side in detail. Also they cut everything off above the wheelhouse roof so no detail regarding radar or aerials.
    My doors are tarted up originals as supplied by Aerokits. The hatches are from Marks Boat Bits.
  • DeswelhamPetty Officer 1st Class
    Interesting idea about using twin receivers. Clever
tduggan
Leading Seaman
dusseldorf fireboat
built this one after the first one was stolen which has turned out for the better. Has working fire monitors,anchor,bow thruster,sounds,searchlight,lightsand a bloke on the back having a wee, which in turn acts as a bilge pump to tell me there is water in the boat
Liked by DannyZ and circle43nautical and
6 comments
  • mbrownhillRecruit
    Hi I am just starting to build a Vosper fire tender using Robbe fire moniotrs. I already nixed the vertical motion but is there any other recommendations you would make before I go any further?

    Thanks

    Martin
  • circle43nauticalChief Petty Officer 2nd Class
    BRAVO ZULU! That fireboat is amazing!
Squirtgun
Leading Seaman
1 / 3
Oliver S
Hi!
This is a scratch build from plans, of the "Angel's Gate II" , at the Los Angeles Maritime museum. This example has a bilge pump, diesel horn, and will be adding a fire monitor. My nephew is pretty excited about it, he is 4, and already has been practicing with the transmitter!
Liked by circle43nautical and Jimba
1 comment
  • figtree7ntsAdmiral
    Did you ever complete her and if so where are the pictures?
MAXTON
Midshipman
1 / 4
Mersey Ferry Snowdrop (ex Woodchurch)
Scratch built 1/48 scale Mersey ferry Snowdrop in current use on the Mersey (ex Woodchurch)
Model interiors fitted out with tables chairs people etc and 72 leds light to Illuminate the interior saloons.
Just completed and maiden voyage on Hoylake Lake on the Wirral.
2.4Ghz radio and a bilge pump just in case. Sails a treat with 100 passengers. Extensive use of plasticard on superstructure. Fibreglass hull from own mould.
See sailing location at www.hoylakemodelboatclub.co.uk
Our club can supply the hull if you want to have a go at building one.
Liked by davidhgreatbatch and Squirtgun and
7 comments
  • Dave MVice Admiral
    As a regular traveller on the Woodchurch I would suggest your model is a very realistic representation. Paint wise the real boat was far from clean or well painted and in places the rust was all to evident.
    It was a well loved and trusty vessel and I am sure I am not alone in having many happy memories of cross river trips on her and her sister ferries.
  • MAXTONMidshipman
    Cheers Dave; thanks for the comments.
    Max F

    Still For Sale will be at Ellesmere Port in March 2017

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