OPERATE JAMES STREET -
Click here
OPERATE JAMES STREET -
Click here
Ship 6- 'BOREAS'
Steve wanted a refrigerated ship (reefer) so as to model a banana unloading berth. Here, space and kits available became a deciding factor. As stated, most of the model ships scale out at about 150-180' long, though some pretend to be a bit bigger; but this size is rather short for a reefer type vessel. I decided to use the ‘Shell Welder’ hull once again, but with rather more modifications than usual. I found a photo of a ship called 'Panama Reefer' which seemed to fit the bill, and in reality wasn't too big, so decided to base the model on that.
Having cut down the hull to the waterline, I mounted it on thicker plastic card than usually used to make it stronger and more rigid. I then cut vertically through the sides just behind the foc'sle (the raised deck at the front/bow where the anchor windlass and mooring lines are) and just in front of the accommodation. I then cut plastic card replacement sides which are about 50% longer than the pieces cut out, thus lengthening the ship by that amount. The two ends and the new centre section were glued together, filled, and smoothed, thus jumboizing the ship! A similar method is used in the real shipping world. A new main deck was made, and I decided to make #2 hatch the working hatch, so an opening was drilled, cut and filed; I then made the hatch coamings for the three hatches, two modelled shut and #2 hatch open. I think that each of the closed hatches was made up from about 40 separate pieces of plastic card and mouldings. The hatch lids are plastic card scored to represent the separate sections, and then rod was glued into each section on each side, then linked by fine chain which in reality opens and closes them by means of a winch and motor. I also made the hatch lid housings for when the lids are open. The open hatch was made similarly, but with the lids stowed in the end stowage supports.
I then modelled lockers in the open hatch wings/sides, with the doors open on one side to represent the working side. Deckhouses were made from card and moulded handrails.
Reefers often had their own cargo gear to load or unload cargo in some of the more out of the way places, and I decided that instead of using masts and derricks again, I would use deck cranes. These were beyond my ability to make myself, so a check through Shapeways 3D prints produced some which were suitable. I only bought two, in case they didn't fit as required, but they did, and now I wish I'd have bought a third. Never mind… Accommodation was modified from the one in the kit and rigged with wire for aerials and the like. The name was from a home-made transfer.
Steve then did his side by building a banana conveyor based on the one at Avonmouth, Somerset. This is modelled with two conveyor sets, and in retrospect, I probably should have modelled the ship with two hatches working cargo; but this is not necessary, as it is assumed that one hatch has already finished cargo, and only the second hatch needs to still be working. He has built a model vertical conveyor belt as part of the unloader, and now the ship needs some dockers carrying bananas from the locker to the conveyor. By pure chance, this ship just fits diagonally in the storage boxes we use to transport the other ships; it's too long to go in the box lengthways parallel to the other ships. The name is a play on words, BOREAS being the North Wind, which is a cold one.....
There was something of an interlude now, with a couple of smaller builds on the agenda...