Arun Class Lifeboat 1:12

Spotted this in an auction up in Sheffield, in closer inspection its a 1:12 scale fibreglass Arun class lifeboat shell, got to be worth a punt!, £60, bought it!

I plan to post throughout the build, I am a novice builder and definitely open to advice, I have my dad on ‘Phone a friend’, and likely to hand over chunks of the build, but watch him intently.

My project arrived safe and sound, its big at 52″ long, 1:12 scale 1″ to the foot from the real one. First things first it came with a stand, albeit falling apart, first job repair the stand.

At least as its so big there’s plenty of space to work in there, as mine was an auction find whoever owned it had fixed the deck to the hull, it has been well fixed using body filler.

Now to get hold of some plans, I’ve posted on the boating forums for some help to find some, The RNLI used to sell them from their shop but appear to have stopped that, The boating community are really helpful and a chap up in Scotland has some that he is looking to copy and send through to me.

I cant wait though so have started the thought process of where I want my Prop Shafts, and A Frames to end up.

I’ve also been giving some thought to the power plant, and decided on MTronics Hydra G2 50amp combo units, these are matched ESC’s with 1400KV brushless in-runner motors, might be a bit powerful so may have to be a bit easy on the throttle, my calculations are based on running 3S Lipo batteries should give me 15,540 rpm out of the water, dropping to around 14,000 in the water, this spinning a 4 bladed 50mm propeller, so a pair have been ordered from Howes Models

I will hold of before ordering Props, Shafts & A Frames until getting hold of the plans, as I will confirm shaft lengths when I get to see some.

Plans received, I’m reassured I need 15″ shaft tubes so there on order from Simon at the Prop Shop, in the mean time as I’m eager to get going I’ve received some fittings from Macs Mouldings, so at least it gives me something to do assembling, cleaning them up and getting them primed and ready.

Prop Shafts, Props & A Frames arrived, going to be a busy weekend

Time to work out where the shafts & Motors go.

Taped in place using a block of wood.

2 splints ensure the coupler is rigid whilst aligning, a generous blob of body filler holds it in place.

Slots cut for shafts, A frames positioned, and a blob of filler to hold them in place.

Now that the shafts are in (Slight wobble from one of the couplings so new one on the way) I should be looking at the rudders, there offset on the Arun so its got me scratching my head a bit, so while that permutates in my brain I will start to map out the electronics

Once you start thinking about how the electrics are going to be laid out it becomes easier just do it, can always change things if necessary later.

All working good, cant put the rudders off for ever, but I can at least go back to painting the fittings.

Ok fibreglass has cured so ought to see if its been successful in the bath, it might be a tight squeeze

Cant put it off any longer need to sort these rudders, so the first problem is the hull isn’t flat.

So I’m going to need to straighten the hull with some packing

With the rudders in, and watertight, I can look at something else to fill my time, there doesn’t seem to be any major plan on what task I tackle next, so I might have a go at making the railing for the front deck, I’ve ordered some 3mm brass rod and made a crude ‘jig’ to the shape of the deck, got to start somewhere so started bending and soldering.

That didn’t go to badly

I enlisted the help of my dad to build the screen supports, they were made from some brass channel and look just the job

There’s also a Life raft shelf at the back of the cabin that needs cutting out

Still a lot of cleaning up to be done.

Time to take a break from the cabin, and build the inflatable Y-Boats outboard

Enjoyed making that, but I know I can do better so 2nd attempt

So I purchased a 1:12 Y-boat kit, and panicked

Whilst it is comprehensive, I didn’t think I could do it justice, however as my Dad is busy and appears will not be having involvement in the build after all, I have another phone a friend, this time a seasoned modeller from bonnie scotland, so I asked him if he would consider a commission build, he really did not dissapoint!

OK back to the boat, taking a look at the superstructure theres still more cutting out to do, so I think I’ll tackle the steps up to the flying bridge.

Still more making good to happen, but pleased with them so far, cut up some brass mesh to use as an anti slip to the treads, I think it looks pretty good, imagining it painted orange should give a textured effect? again all trial and error.

This is new to me so finding my way, I’ve not used Milliput before but I have a feeling it may be suitable for the making good around the console, will give it a try and report back. Also trying the brass mesh again to give an anti slip flooring? I’m not convinced yet.

So first play with milliput, I’m not even sure if this is the right stuff for the job, but if you dont try you’ll never know, It says it takes around 4 hours to set then its sandable…. We’ll see.

Added some hinges and handles to the front lockers as these will be painted orange as well

No Updates for a while, the Hull is in the paintshop!

So I’ve been informed the Hull is finished, to be collected at the weekend, photos look great, there is no alternative to skill & experience, Dave has been painting for 50+ years (Cars) and uses 2 pack paints, I couldnt have got near the finish he has.

He even put the decals on for me…..

Hull collected, looks amazing, I get to start ‘Accessorising’!

The idea so for the stanchions is a 4mm brass tube, cut into 24mm lengths, with a brass washer soldered onto the mid point, paint black, embed them into the hull (plan on using a 4mm speed clip underneath)

I then insert the 3mm stanchion into the top of the tube……., so far so good, trouble is the hull isnt flat, so the washers need soldering on the tubes in some different angles…, havent decided how the stanchions will be secured into the tubes yet.

Added the rubber fender, after researching what glue to use I came up with ‘Stormsure’ its designed for wetsuit repairs so definitely waterproof, It comes as 2 part with an activator, although I didnt use it.

Finally finished the stanchion bases, will leave fitting the stanchions as I’m gauranted to cloat them as I’m working on the rest.

Added a couple of eyebolts to tie off the cable railing to.

Started preparing for when the cabin comes back from Dave the Painter, taking a little longer than planned as he’s dealing with other commissions and battling some health issues.

Dave has said 2 weeks more! so best get finished, I used 2mm galvanised wire for the stanchion railing, intend painting it black, there will be people stating it should be grey / white / silver…. but I like it black!

All that’s left is the kick boards so will get them done before the cabin comes back.

Dave has sent through some pictures of progress on the cabin, I never did get the upper steering position flat, and of course the perfectionist that he is wasn’t happy with that! so he’s taken it out and refitted it perfectly!

Also I hadnt done a great job in cutting out the windows, so Dave’s on that as well!

If your reading this you will have some idea on just how on long these models take to build, I couldn’t guess how many hours have gone into this cabin already and it hasn’t seen a whiff of paint yet!

Ok initial coat of primer on the cabin

Really looking forward to getting this back, lots of accessorizing to do!

Its Orange! Getting close to getting it back from the paint shop.

Complete, and on its way back from the Paint Shop

Not so much done on the Arun, as I fished the Ramborator as my lockdown project, however my Dad has been busy creating a mast for me!

Ok back to the Arun now that the pusher tug is complete, need to get the windscreen on, not been looking foreward to this job

There’s been a shortage of perspex material due to it all being used for Protective face masks due to the current pandemic, so a had to wait a while until stocks replenished.

Time to position the mast

Prepare the side aerials next.

Apologies for the delay in updates, work gets in the way, I did manage to try the Arun on the water at the weekend, and this is the result;

Sitting to high in the water so ‘bobbing’ needs weight, surprised by just how much

So with lumps of lead and plenty of used airgun pellets later I’ve got her down to the waterline.