Lakers-Not the Basket Ball type

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Techniques
1

Hello!

It’s client Vac-U-Formed model time. The Vessel? An H.O.Scale Great Lakes ore Boat. She’s about the biggest Vac. model I have ever seen. Because of the way Vac. molds are constructed there were some issues. Namely where the cabin tops met the sides and the sides met the decks! Plus nothing is at all square!

As you modelers who’ve attempted and built one successfully they are definitely different. But, those issues have been dealt with! She’s shaping up nice. I have built, Like in my “Card” model of the Andrea Doria, a triangular center "Keel’ and she’s stiff as the proverbial board! remember the “Doria” is 39 inches long, Well this one is 66 inches

A lot of "Hard’ model and Paper model Tricks can be used on Vac.Models. Plus they break the Boredom for sure! Even though it’s an old kit that was previously started it is different. I forgot how the “Lakers” looked and were detailed. With this model the truth will definitely be in the details! Plus, Unlike many ship types the Laker information of details, even from their very own museums, is Piecemeal, and hard to get specifics out of them. What are they! Diamonds or something?

So, Poor Photos and distant shots is all a person has to work from. Including the remaining instruction sheets, Which are worse than a fifth Grader’s artwork! They are some of the hardest working Marine types out there.They had some very unique ships in the late 8100s and mid 1900s. Details, Fuggedaboud It !!

2

I appreciate the effort. I really do. But isn’t a Laker something you could build from a straight pine 2 x 6 selected by hand down at the yard?

Bill

3

Hi Bill:

Well, to answer your Question. That’s a positive Yes! The problem is this. When You devote a lot of space on a model RailRoad layout to large Facilities like steel mills, Any supporting scenics, Including Boats and Tugs has to be light.

I did for myself a model of the Edmond Fitzgerald many years ago. Being about “N” scale and small she was still almost 24-1/2 inches long and weighed almost a pound! In H.O. at almost Six foot one inch long she would weigh, when finished about 22 Pounds.

Considering what Most Train tables are topped with, Usually Homosote(For it’s sound deadening Qualities)( Model Trains can be noisy).They cannot hold heavy weight concentrated in one spot before warping .

4

While you can use a 2 x 4 for a laker, you would have to do a lot of carving at the bow and stern. I personally use the bread and butter technique, gluing together boards 1/2 or 3/4 inch, sawed to the planform at each location. Greatly reduces the amount of carving.