Iceman 29 Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Everyone knows this mythical model from FROG F137 (and other exotic brands) of this small English coaster in the equally exotic 1/130 scale. It saw the light of day in 1961, when I was barely born, so the model dates back a long way (and so do I ), as do the injection moulds, now the property of a Russian brand, which can no longer export this model, which has been virtually impossible to find since the start of the war in Ukraine. Personally, I put it together quickly some time ago, but I wasn't satisfied with this kit, which can be described as horrible to assemble, as there are so many defects, especially in the latest versions where the half-hulls are often warped and deformed. FROG has never had a good reputation for the accuracy of its models, as can be easily seen with this model aircraft, but it is no exception: F174 - Gloster E.28/39 (1/63?) The same applies to the Shell Welder, which is not very accurate when compared to the rare photos of the real ship. The original sheer is not present, an important feature of many old coasters, and the side profile is not respected either. So I want to make this 1/100 scale coaster completely in 3D, then print it. This 3D design project is a challenge for me, insofar as there are no longer any plans from the 'Willington Quay' shipyard, UK, which built her, to my knowledge and after extensive research with my friend Roland Grard, a good specialist in ship plans. So I'm going to use the hull of the 1/130 model, her deck plan and so on. We'll do our best to make it more credible in terms of the tank piping, etc., because it's been simplified. Because it's been simplified. 3D allows us to get as close as possible to reality. I sailed (as did Roland) on this type of oil coaster for many years, and I know them quite well: This one for example, once it's loaded, it's a bit like all submarines, in bad weather on the open sea, it's very impressive, it's dangerous to go forward: M/T Pierre Laffitte (1) originally 1950 tonnes: built at Chantiers de la Garonne & ACSO, Bordeaux in 1979. Mainly sailed in Marseille, but also in the French West Indies. http://bordeauxaquitainemarine2.fr/n-ch-acso.htm Originally a much smaller vessel when sailing to Marseille, she was quickly "jumbo-ised" at Le Havre, Normandy, France by adding a good section of tanks and 400 m3 butane gas balloons from SNCF ( Railway ) wagons, to accommodate the long-term contract signed with the SARA Refinery in Martinique. In the process of being extended (Roland Grard Collection): Cutting: The section is inserted: All you have to do is weld it together. 😜 Once extended: ________________________________ Name: "SHELL WELDER Type : Tanker Keel laying : 12/11/1954 Completed : 17/03/1955 Builder : Clelands (Successors) Ltd Shipyard : Willington Quay, Newcastle. Shipyard number : 193 Dimensions : 569 grt, 202 nrt, 170.9 x 29.7 x 10.5 ft ( Length: 52 m, beam 9 m, Draught 3,20 m ) Engines : Main engine, 2SCSA, 6cyl (Piston diameter and stroke; 265 x 345mm), 570 HP Engines by : Crossley Bros Ltd, Manchester Propulsion: 1 x propeller Construction: Steel Registration number: 186210 History : 28/03/1955 Shell-Mex & BP Ltd, London 1973 Purchased by Pounds Shipowners and Shipbreakers Ltd, Portsmouth 1974 Purchased by Northwood (Fareham) Ltd, London; renamed STEEL WELDER Comments: 1974: Converted to a dredger. 1991: Dismantled at Otterham Quay, UK First sketch of the bow. Don't expect any frequent updates at the moment, I have other 3D models to finish. 14 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pig of the Week Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Great project 👍.. I'm particularly interested in this, as you probably know I'm building a version of the ex Frog kit in the later dredger guise. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman 29 Posted March 3 Author Share Posted March 3 Thanks, It's going to take a while. I've got a lot of 3D ships to finish first. I'll only be working on them from time to time. Yes, I know. This project has been on my mind for several years.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Another interesting subject. She is so low in the water... Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psdavidson Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Looks interesting 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pig of the Week Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Your 3d version's oblique view of the bow is useful reference to me in fact, I've been "filler-ing" the kit seam here and doing a bit of shaping, the top part of the bow is, as I thought, quite a flattish curve rather than a sharper edge all the way up. I can file away a bit more now 😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman 29 Posted March 3 Author Share Posted March 3 I still don't know if there's enough sheer, I'm going to take measurements from the photos to get a more accurate idea of the angles. Refining the shape of the front part of the hull down to the frame, which are identical in the middle. I've redesigned the hawsehole, which has a very specific trapezoidal shape. We'll be able to fit an anchor in there, which isn't the case on the FROG. It's a good, quick start. These are fairly simple hull shapes. This photo I found recently is very useful, it's the only one where you can see the hawse pipe perfectly. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pig of the Week Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Reversing the image is a good plan, it kind of gives a better impression, like seeing it from both sides in a way 👍 I'll be stealing that one ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beefy66 Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 16 hours ago, Iceman 29 said: Shipyard : Willington Quay, New Castles Should read Newcastle not New castles Another River Tyne built ship Pascal will follow along as usual. Peter Hall of Atlantic models does a photo etch upgrade set for the Frog kit he might be able to help with some information regarding the plans for this ship. Stay Safe beefy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas.R Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 I have build this kit from the russian brand and also get the PE set from Peter Hall. Due to the poor quality of the original, my model didn't turn out in the least satisfactorily. I've lost interest in this thing. It was before i started with 3D printing. Maybe I should portray it as beached with an excavator. Like in your photo of MV Blythe Star. However, I have to finish my current project first! But it motivated me to finish my coastal tanker. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman 29 Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 You have to take your time when drawing the shapes, even if it means going back and erasing what took you a few hours to draw. You can't let anything slip through the cracks. I'm working on the rear section. I've stopped taking measurements on the model; everything is wrong, even the length, the scale isn't 1/130 (on average maybe...). The ship is supposed to be 52 meters long, which at 1/130 would be 40 cm, but the model is 44 cm, which is a scale of 1/118 in length. Ditto for this: if we transfer the draught of 3.20 meters, it should give 24.6 mm, we find by measuring: 22 mm or 1/145 in height! The FROG model is therefore largely flattened, and the length/height ratio is not good at all. Using various photos and taking into account the perspective of the shots, we were able to find the proportions of the whole ship. It's not perfect, of course, but we're getting close. An interesting photo I just discovered. The Steel Welder (sand dredger) is probably being decommissioned for scrap, beached at low tide on a bed of mud, you can see one of her whaleboats on pallets in the background on the quay, perhaps to avoid any looting: 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robgizlu Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 Looking forwards to the usual Pascal Magic 😎 Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman 29 Posted March 5 Author Share Posted March 5 On 04/03/2024 at 10:06, beefy66 said: Another River Tyne built ship Pascal will follow along as usual. I found this thanks to you, perhaps it is possible to have these photos and this plan. I'll have to request a paid search and then buy the documents, I suppose. I don't know if I'm in the right place. https://www.twmuseums.org.uk/collections/research 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beefy66 Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 Pascal this should get you some information but let me try I can visit the Discovery museum sometime this week when I will be in town on some personal business. Stay Safe beefy 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman 29 Posted March 5 Author Share Posted March 5 Thank you very much, that's very kind of you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman 29 Posted March 6 Author Share Posted March 6 Some progress on the hull sketch. It's looking good. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeddahbill Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 A 3D printed alternative to the ancient Frog kit is fantastic. The time and effort needed to obtain a decent result from the Frog kit is significant, a real struggle. I would much rather have a 3D option. Good luck with this project, I am following with great interest. Cheers, Bill 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman 29 Posted March 13 Author Share Posted March 13 Tks Bill ! I've put this project on hold for the moment because it seems that the original plans for the Shell Welder exist in the archives, along with many photos of the construction. Thanks to Beefy ( beefy66 ) who got involved and took the time to contact the archive centre. All that remains now is to finalise a purchase of the 5 plans and photos available in order to relaunch the 3D design and 1/100 reconstruction of this coaster with as much detail and accuracy as possible and with as few compromises as possible. The good link to do some research: https://calmview.twmuseums.org.uk/calmview/ The list of plans available from the shipyard William Cleland & Co. Ltd, shipbuilders, Willington ( ACC1615 ) : https://calmview.twmuseums.org.uk/calmview/TreeBrowse.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&field=RefNo&key=Acc1615%2f116%2f1-22 https://calmview.twmuseums.org.uk/calmview/TreeBrowse.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&field=RefNo&key=Acc1615%2f2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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