380John

Indeed strange times ahead... The Blue Star 1 arrived in milford haven yesterday. She's replacing the reliable Isle of Inishmore on the Pembroke - Rosslare run, but strangely the Inishmore is off to start a new Dover-Calais service for Irish Ferries. The post brexit surge of European Ferry moves has been quite incredible. The OOW on my tug had a spell on that mega yacht when he first qualified. An amazing bit of kit... From a different realm for most of us. He enjoyed his time aboard her sailing the Mediterranean. Has anybody seen the Eemslift hendrik? - in the news yesterday and today after a cargo shift, unfortunately it has lost one of the brand new vessels it was transporting to Norway. https://www.swzmaritime.nl/news/2021/04/06/smit-salvage-team-en-route-to-listing-eemslift-hendrika/?gdpr=accept John

Good luck with it Ken, sounds an exciting new project. Cheers, John

I wonder if in the future they'll perhaps have tugs on the real big 'uns for at least certain areas of the canal. Whenever I've been through, there really is no margin for error. My first day at sea was spent doing a North bound transit. Big adventure for a 20 year old jetting off to Cairo to meet the agent.

Hi Bob, really very sorry to hear such news. All the very best to you. Be safe in the knowledge that when you're ready, the folk here in the community will support you as we can. Take care, John

That canopy looks just the job now Bob. You definitely made the right choice regarding the glazing. John

Looking great Bob. How do you plan to do the glazing? John

Whooops! All I'm saying is... It wasn't the old man it was the chief officer having a go......

Definitely so. The stern tug in this position is involved in an "indirect escort". This is basically the tug providing the steerage or breaking for a vessel going around a tight turn. The tugs are usually equipped with a self tensioning winch capable of adjusting the torque for what required and the tug will have a large skeg. Basically a keel not unlike that found on a yacht. The skeg helps to balance the tug whilst going over to deck edge immersion. The simulator courses to do such are fantastic. I work in milford haven and only do such manoeuvring incase of emergency where engine or steering failure has occurred on the assisted vessel. This was brought in after the Sea Empress disaster 25 years ago. Its a dangerous manoeuvre and if anyone would like to see it done on the edge.... Type in "Smit Clyde" on YouTube!

That looks fantastic, will be watching! Amazing how things have changed. Good looking ships and tugs! Aesthetics give way to form in most things these days. Mind you seeing a large vessel wrestled alongside by tugs in bad weather is definitely still a good watch!

I'm sure we do. I'll have to get the dates from an old discharge book and see. I ended up on the transfennica route too. Paldiski, hanko, lubeck, gdynia. I know what you mean about the tug drivers at Lubeck! My overriding memory of lubeck was stood aft on the Longstone going to stations when the bow went through the trestle walkway on the berth we were going to! Still these things happen. Nice you can still see old ship mates. The great thing about the tugs is the family atmosphere and "shipmates" feel to it which in the current guise and one off contracts seems to be dying away deep sea.

Less artists now Neil, since the dry rules came in! If ships and art is your thing may I recommend Robert Lloyd's works. Each one is a masterpiece, his books are fantastic and cover the golden age of shipping right through to present day. In our current fleet here I'm one of four modellers which is pretty good going. Many of my ex college lecturers were/are railway modellers. Funny the circles we move in. I've attached a picture of my vessel in drydock... The humble tugboat is quite a thing in the port I work. When built, she was one - eighth of the most powerful escort towing fleet in the world.

The good ol' days I bet! Unfortunately I missed those, as you say a bit before my time. I've often thought that many of us modellers are obviously interested by many forms of transport. Personally railways, shipping and civil aviation for me, but ive always noticed a good correlation between sailors and railway modellers? Is this just me or anybody else, landlubber or otherwise noticed such? Cheers, John

Unfortunately its starting to become a dying art. Modern tugs are often built for specific contracts. Ultimately the contract specification is met and not much else due to the expense of additional equipment. It's fortunate you could witness such a job as many tugs are now designed to tow solely over the bow!

Thank you for the welcome! Me too... Mahinabank and Boularibank then beachy head and Longstone (as a cadet) . Been Master now with my present company 8 years. I love the boat handling and niche operation here. I'd still love a "westabout round the world" though! John

Hi guys, Just found this thread. I'm a tug skipper and ex deep sea with bibby line and the last bank line vessels, if anyone is interested... we spent 24 hours trying to rescue the LPG tanker "Seagas Major" last week in the Irish Sea in a storm 10! All fun and games! John

Good idea will, Would be a cracking momento to have Pete. I don't suppose you can offer up your layout as such but would be great if it'd be picked up by viewers of the thread. Perhaps it's too close now to the last day of operation? John

Could you build it so its like the llangollen railway station Bridge perhaps? Have a Google. It's quite a unique structure as it is elevated over the river Dee. That could simulate your baseboard edge perhaps? John

Congratulations to the group, and sounds like the layout and the building deserve a good restoration and a great future! All the very best to you and the group Andy. Must be a nice feeling Andy P? like watching your own branch come back from the beeching cuts! Perhaps "Beeching Cut" could be the name of the hillside! I agree, the canal section was my favourite bit. Plenty of character. Look forward to seeing the progress. Many thanks, John

Hi Bob, Personally yes I'd leave it. Based on 1) the more you tinker you may well destroy what you have done. And 2) due to the risk of part 1 - you've made a very good model that has taken time and effort and has been a labour of love. If you were to damage it I think you'd be gutted you hadn't left it alone. 3) if you consider how much it'll be moved the fact the legs are a tad flimsy probably won't make a difference once they're anchored to the platform. Of course if you find a solution, it is only modelling at the end of the day and experimenting and learning is part of the hobby and if damage is done it can be "made again" if need be. But it's all down to how much of a risk you feel you can take with your own abilities and resources. I think you've made a fine job of it and once completed I'd leave it that way. But again that's just my personal choice. Good luck with it, John

Really like that first shot, quite atmospheric, a nice dull grey sky back scene would really set it off. What are the dimensions and track plan? John

Really enjoyed the video Brian, Great idea! John

That's looking excellent well done. If you feel like strength maybe an issue, could you perhaps glue some plasticard out of eye sight on the inboard side of the valancing? Thus adding a "spine" to the separate valancing pieces and connecting them all as one? Just an idea, John

That looks fabulous Bob. I definitely agree with showing the structure through the glazing. A little more work but definitely worthwhile in the long run in my opinion. If you're thinking to have working lamps on the platform then this will only accentuate this I think. John

Well done on the big 100 Bob! John

Looking great Bob, Just catching up at the moment as I've been away dodging 7 metre swells in the Irish Sea! That canopy is going together nicely. That splash of colour has really brought it to life. Cheers, John