Backbone, Ya gotta have it!

Modeling Subjects Ships
1

Hi;

As some know I took on another Commission although I had said No to any more! Here’s the thing, It was a challenge I couldn’t refuse. I have built many vessels that had Vac-Formed or Blow-Molded hulls! Well, this is going to be a challenge! How about a vac-formed Great Lakes Freighter Six Feet long?

I am NOT the first to touch her though! This won’t prove to be a barrier. She’s fairly straight forward, although the choice of Wheelhouses means I can only build a 60s to 90s version. According to the paperwork she had been supplied with Two Houses and two Stacks. Well, the box contains the two stacks, but only one very well formed Vac-Formed Clear wheelhouse.

But, The big job is going to be the keel ( Backbone and Frames) necessary to stabilize the hull! She shows what is called (Molding Sheer) This is when the plastic starts to cool while being pulled over the mold. Leastwise, back in the day at Avecor, that’s what it was called.

This Creates a ridge the length of the model. This must be sanded off. But to do that and not destroy the hull, It will NEED inner structure. That’s okay. I wrote at another thread a while ago that even in planes that are Injection Molded sometimes You have to create a strong-back in the Fuselage to get everything straight.

So Vac-Formed at this size it is expected. The Ship is H.O. Or 1/87 scale. So it will have a lot of detail and figures on it. Wish Me Luck, Please?

2

Good luck on this project. A typical Laker has a crew of about 30.

For some inspiration, here’s a scratchbuild WIP in 1/96th scale of the EDMUND FITZGERALD. The FITZ will be r/c.

3

This is going to be an interesting build. The best of luck to you. I am going to watch this one.

4

Are you going to build the ore dock?

Bill

5

I have plans to do a laker at the docks one day. I had a modeling friend who wanted to build the big remaining dock at Superior and wrote a book about it. I am planning a 1:350 build of a thousand footer (American Spirit), waterline build, and that will be small enough to build a part of the dock behind it, using drawings from that book.

Can’t start ship though until I perfect a non-photo technique to do PE. The unloading boom in that scale would be a massive project without PE.