Search the Community

Forgive the indulgence, I know this is primarily a plastic forum, but I do like getting to grips with a pile of wood and making something recognisably boatlike out of it. This build is of a Billing Boats "Nordkap", a North Sea trawler from the early '70s. I remember my Dad making this model about 30 years ago and me being impressed by it compared to my pile of airfix spitfires. Anyway, I have once again commandeered the dining room table as a workshop and started sawdust production in earnest. First things first, the keel. Add some ribs, then realise that while the keel was cut to the length from the instructions it is 4mm too short when measured against the deck. Measure twice cut once? Where's the fun in that? This is the third Billings kit I've done and is easily the best quality in terms of fittings and wood parts; not up to Amati standards, but pretty good. Luckily I had read up about the kit and had been warned that the instructions were more like outline suggestions than a detailed how-to guide. I was wondering about doing some weathering and making it look like a working vessel, but that was vetoed by the boss if I want to have it out on display, so shiny and shipshape it'll have to be.

Here is my recently finished north sea trawler Nordkap, a 1/50 scale wooden model from Billings Boats. It could have been made for R/C, but thats not really my thing so it is sitting on the windowsill in pride of place now. Hope you like it.

Hi folk,s with my Battle of Britain build's almost complete and as a calming bit of R'nR from the steamy jungles of the Vietnam GB I need a bit of colour in my life so totally inspired by Beefy's superb build of Revell's tug boat I saw this for a tenner in my LMS a few week's back and thought I would give it a go.I am going for a "what if! scheme and here;s the tale:Many years ago my Dad took me to the science museum then in exhibition park,in this museum were a mass of beautiful huge shipwright's models from tyne side's rich shipbuilding past,among them a beautiful 1950,s cargo ship in a duck egg green and white scheme and for some strange reason it scared the life out of me. Fast forward forty odd year,s to last year and I took my son,s to the discovery museum in Newcastle and in the shipbuilding room were many of those same models and perched up in the display case was the very same ship and believe me the Hair,s on my neck stood up,how can a colour scheme scare you? so to lay the demon's to rest that,s the colour she will be painted. Box artwork.

See ya.

Round Table Class Trawler 1:700 White Ensign Models The Round Table class was the name given to a group of eight armed trawlers built by Aberdeen based shipbuilders J. Lewis and Sons and Hall, Russell and Co. The ships of the class, in order of launch date, were Sir Agravaine (T230), Sir Galahad (T226), Sir Gareth (T227), Sir Geraint (T240), Sir Kay (T241), Sir Lamorack (T242), Sir Lancelot (T228) and Sir Tristram (T229). The ships were all commissioned as minesweepers, but two were converted to danlayers, designed to lay buoys (dans) in order to mark the safe channels cleared by minesweepers. Each vessel displaced 440 tons and measured 135 feet in length. They had a complement of 35 and were armed with a single 12 pounder anti-aircraft gun, a 20mm anti-aircraft gun and a pair of anti-aircraft machine guns. Minesweeper equipment was comprised of a bow mounted acoustic hammer of the type also found of the slightly smaller class of MMS Motor Minesweepers. This White Ensign Models product arrives carefully packed into a sturdy white corrugated cardboard box, with the parts safely ensconced in bubble wrap and packing foam. The kit is comprised of a one-piece hull with most of the superstructure and deck details cast in place, a second casting block with all of the smaller resin parts attached, and a small fret of photo etched brass details. Unlike other 1:700 scale WEM kits, this ship has been cast in full hull rather than waterline configuration. According to WEM, this is because these ships were, unsurprisingly, prone to rolling in any kind of seaway, which would result in them showing a lot of their lower hulls. It won’t take long to sand off the desired amount of hull if you want to though. The hull is a superbly detailed piece of casting, easily the equal of anything I have seen from other resin producers. Fine details such as portholes, ventilation cowls and the mounts for the larger anti-aircraft weapons are all beautifully rendered. It really does have to be seen to be appreciated. The smaller resin details include the bridge, the signals platform, the single, angled funnel, the lifeboat, the whaler and other small parts such as the searchlight. All of the parts will need to be cleaned up to some degree in order to remove traces of the casting block attachment points or flash. The final details are provided by way of photo etched brass parts. The fret includes the parts for the 12 Pounder gun and the 20mm anti-aircraft gun, including the armoured shields for both. Also on the fret are the two wheelhouse machine guns, railings for the bow and the gun deck, rigging, rudder and propeller. Brass rods are provided for the masts, and precise dimensions for these parts are given in the instructions. The instructions are very easy to follow and include large, clear orthographic and axonometric drawings. A full colour profile is included as well, which will certainly help with the painting stage. Conclusion With this model, WEM have provided us with an unusual but fascinating subject from the wartime inventory of the Royal Navy. It goes without saying that it is an extremely small model, but despite its diminutive style, it isn’t lacking in detail and it should prove to be a rewarding build. A degree of patience (and a steady hand) will be needed in order to deal some of the smaller and more delicate parts, but the end result should be well worth it. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of John at