Atlantic 85

Here is the reason that the Watson refit is taking longer than anticipated.

I was asked to fix a leaking lifeboat rib for a client, this has turned into a full refit/rebuild. The original is a Models by Design 1/10th scale Atlantic 21 style rib ( why they moulded it at 1/10th and not 1/12th scale is beyond me!). The client wanted it to look more like an Atlantic 85 as well as the leaks fixing thus this rebuild.
The hull is a couple of inches too long for a true scale A85 so it will be a 'stand off scale' model.

State of the boat when it arrived.






The leaking problem was the ply transom plate had a couple of cracks in the epoxy where it was attatched to the moulding.






The plate was removed and the inside of the moulding was sealed with epoxy to fill all the existing holes.






A pattern for a new birch ply transom was made and cut out.






This was fitted onto the moulding with epoxy and allowed to set for 48 hours before the clamps were removed.






The underside of the hull and transom were then rubbed down and given a coat of primer.

On with the rebuild.

The majority of the grp deck, which was lumpy and uneven, was removed ready for a new styrene deck to be fitted in place.






The deck was fitted in sections to make things easier. The stern section was bonded in place first and the steering servo was fitted through this piece.






The centre section was then sprung into place and welded to the rear section with liquid styrene cement. The edges were fixed to the grp deck with stabillit express resin glue.






The front section was then glued/welded in place and the cutout for hull access marked up ready to remove. The edges of the new deck will be sealed with clear silicone sealer AFTER painting to ensure that there is no chance of leakage into the lower hull section.






Cutout made and the coaming added.

The rear mast structure was next on the agenda.

The basic support hoops were bent and checked for fit in the hull.









These were brazed together and the curved air bag support frame fixed in place along with the rest of the support bars. This part of the build took several attempts to get the correct curvatures and fit!!





After cleaning up the structure it was checked for fit again in the hull.






The upper mast section, radar platform and the navigation light supports were made from styrene and fixed in place before the whole structure was painted satin black.

that is one superb piece of brazing mike......very clean..........as for the scale.............one wouldn't like to comment, lol.especially as his Cygnus boats are all 1;12, plus his extensive range of lifeboat mouldings being the same scale 1;12.

the mind boggles,

He must had had a minor mental abberation!!  

Still it's not too far out for a stand off scale A85.

Now on with the console for the four man crew.

Using the pattern used for the deck cut-out the basic shape of the console was made frrom 2mm thick styrene sheet.






The helmsman, from DK figures, has been "adjusted" so that he sits astride the wide section of the console.






The distinctive front panel has been fabricated and the seat backs added.






Two crewmen have also been "adjusted" to sit on the central section of the console.






Looks reasonable in the hull.






The central control panel has also been fabricated and the rest of the sides added ready for painting and detailling.

The console has been painted and the detailling started. The seats are made from neoprene so if they get wet it doesn't matter too much. The locker doors are just added onto the outside.









The grab handles have been bent up and fixed onto the console.






The switch/instrument panels were constructed from styrene.






Full set of panels made and painted ready to fit.






All the panels have now been fitted onto the console.

The hull and deck have been painted and a stand built to protect the finish. This also allowed the clear silicone sealant to be done between the edge of the deck and the hull tubes. Now there should be no way that water can get inside the hull.






Close up of the joint.






The painted mast and the console have been slipped in place in the hull to check that it has the look of an Atlantic 85.












Whilst all this paint was drying I took the black Graupner outboards (see first picture in this build), removed all the labels, cleaned up and masked off the casing, sprayed two coats of grey primer, two coats of metallic gunmetal grey, made on the PC Yamaha 115 logos and added them to the casings.


The result is more RNLI looking outboards ready to hang on the transom of the boat.






The engines will be refitted tomorrow.

 nice job

Amazing work.

The engines have now been reassembled and fitted onto the new transon plate.  The are a little overscale but short of an expensive re-engine with brushless motors the client will have to live with them as they are.  






The bolts will be trimmed later and the wiring sealed into conduits through the deck to keep out the water.






The mast and console were slipped in place to get an overall view of the boat at the moment and check that it looks something like an Atlantic 85.

Superb as usual MORE MORE


Dave

Stunning!

Barrie

The access caps for the ballast tanks have been fitted into the floor, the non-slip areas on the hull tubes added, the enclosed radar on the mast and the navigation lights fitted.






All the wiring has now been done and passed through the conduits into the hull.






I have also started the painting of the crew ready to fit onto the console.

The upper mast aerial has been made and fitted along with the curved, folded self righting air bag.







The decals for the RNLI branding have been made on the PC and added to the dry suits of the crew. Just need to find some curved, clear packaging to make the visors now.






The crew have now been fitted onto the console.






Console fitted into the hull.

looks superb mike.

neil.

Agreed a Ripper build Mike. 

Thanks guys, nice to be appreciated.  


Spent today making and fitting the grab handles that are along the inside of the hull tubes.









Also fitted the r/c twin latching switch that will operate the lights.






Last thing today was the fitting of the 'D' section fendering along the outside of the hull tubes.

SUPERB ............................. 

ken

The large 'lump' at the bow of the boat has been made and fitted in place.






The decals for the corporate branding have been made on the pc and added to the tubes along with the grab line around the hull.






Finally for now the name boards have been made and fitted onto the mast as well as the fleet number.






Just a few more small parts to make and fit then it's wire up the esc, plug in a battery and give it a test on the lake.

Watch the whole build in six minutes.  


                                 

Wow not only a great  model boat builder a movie maker as well Outstanding Mike. 

brilliant Mike..................I like the lifeboat as well

After a test run in the tank it was decided that the stern is too heavy and still causing swamping problems so the 85 is going on a diet!!

This consists of re-motoring the outboards with brushless motors. The two large 540 style motors, weighing 260gms each, will be replaced with 2 Logic 2829/13 outrunners, weighing 57gms each.  A saving of 406gms or just over 14oz in old money!!!!!






The smaller motor will also allow the oversize casing to be reduced to a more scale like size.






Onwards and upwards !!!

this is where I become even more interested than I was if that can be so.........as I have been down the lakeside at |Fleetwood today asking the guys at the vintage powerboat meeting about Brushless, and am going to go brushless with my Flying Christine after my summer holidays...........so will be taking great notice of this. cheers, mike............

maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks after all.

So that's a pair of old dogs learning new tricks at the same time!!

it's all pretty alien to me having a motor with three wires coming out, and the outside spins around the inside, lol........but if it'll get my little flying christine running faster than a slug I'll be happy and sail it more often than I have......twice in 4 years, just ain't good enough, lol

The new motor has been reconnected to the flexible drive cable within the casing with the original solid coupling and the mounting plate for the motor bolted to the casing. The extra length on the outside will be trimmed off and when the casing is repainted the nuts will not be noticable.






Comparison of the new motor in place alongside the original set up. It takes a leap of faith to believe that the tiny thing I have just fitted is just as poweful as the big lump behind it !!






The top casing has also now been shortened by about 1" and the top refitted, it now just needs a little filler and sanding plus a repaint.

Modelers masters of innovation.

The re-motored outboards have been repainted, rebadged and refitted onto the transom. They look a great deal better than the originals ever did on the end of the lifeboat!!






I have also fitted a clear styrene "wash deflector" onto the transom. This, with the reduction in weight at the stern, should help stop the wash swamping the boat when the throttles are very shut quickly. The silicone adhesive will take 36 hours to cure then it will be wire up the two esc's and keep your fingers crossed!!

Testing is complete !!!!


NO LEAKS !!!!


Test tank video :   

Ripper job Mike. 

Cheers Damien.  


You have no idea of the strain this refit of a refit has put on my reputation as a boat builder and my self belief!!  




Mike

Mike take a deep breath, forget what others my think your work is astoundingly brilliant and when it's all said and done the only person you have to please is your self.

With members here leaving encouraging truthful posts meant to give you a buzz. 

Your reputation is intact mate. 

I'm puzzled why you think your reputation is in dispute to start with 

never doubted you mike.........brilliant job, superb finish and like always a great build blog......neil.

If it was my boat then I wouldn't worry but this is a client's boat and he travelled a long way to collect it and had to go away without it !!!

It was more a case of I thought I had solved the problems but had to take steps back and re-do the job. Something I hate doing as I normally take my time and get it to my satisfaction first time.

Still it's all right now and he is happy again.



Mike

Glad your feeling better about it Mike.