sounds like an excellent idea.Just a thought for all the modellers out there. I would be happy to open the workshop on a Sunday on our day off if a group of you wanted to get organised to visit. You could measure and photograph and I could talk you through all the shapes that modellers get wrong most of the time. Maybe our chief of anal widgetry, Mike, would also come in to run a master-class on how to get the details spot on?
Just an idea so let us know if it's of interest.
Bluebird & Other Scale Models
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conistoncollie
- Posts: 98
- Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2012 12:17 pm
- Location: Worcestershire
Re: Bluebird & Other Scale Models
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Black Knight
- Posts: 172
- Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2015 1:20 am
Re: Bluebird & Other Scale Models
Thanks for those Ernie. A stunning model.
I chatted to Fred many years ago, he told me he only made 4 models of ME II in 1/12. It was a shadow over a metre long. Kevin Desmond had 1 of those models, there is a pic of him holding it on his book about the boat. Stuart Delf of Touchwood was in the process of producing it, but last I spoke to him about it, he said it would work out too expensive to sell & had shelved it for now.
I chatted to Fred many years ago, he told me he only made 4 models of ME II in 1/12. It was a shadow over a metre long. Kevin Desmond had 1 of those models, there is a pic of him holding it on his book about the boat. Stuart Delf of Touchwood was in the process of producing it, but last I spoke to him about it, he said it would work out too expensive to sell & had shelved it for now.
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Ernie Lazenby
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- Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2019 7:19 pm
Re: Bluebird & Other Scale Models
Thank you for the kind comment. I believe the one I made was the only working model. One of the most difficult parts was making the top look like it was canvas covered. I can understand why Stuart has not pursued it. One issue would be the running hardware. Its such a prominent part of the boat it needs to be right. The rear rudder is particularly difficult to make as a working version at scale. As there is a very limited market I think a custom set of scale hardware would be very expensive to produce. Much cheaper and more easily produced in resin for a static showcase model. Hardware aside I understand Stuarts reluctance to produce kits.
Stuart at Touchwood has stopped producing the K3 and K4 kits I think because very few were sold. Perhaps its his experience with K3 and K4 that has influenced his decision re ME11. Its about 24 years ago that I was asked by Stuart to convert one of his K4 kits into a working model, I did and an article was published in MMI about the conversion (the first one done of the K4 model). Another difficult scale model to get the performance and stability right. I also did K3 for him and then the K7. I still have the very first Touchwood K7 converted to RC, its actually my grandsons now, hes 12, however I am looking after it, although he keeps asking for it back.(there's a bit of a story about his cat and the top of a wardrobe
!)
Rich Marsh, a friend of myself and my son, was up visiting us yesterday. He's a real model boat enthusiast in particular all things Bluebird. 10 years ago, when he about 14, Rich bought the K4 I converted and still has it.(I recently made another one for my son-exact scale hardware) He's also got an extremely fast Touchwood K7 using uptodate technology. Mike B will be happy to note that Rich has used the exact colour 'bluebird' paint for his models. We compared the colours of his models with my sons 1/6th scale K7 painted with Ford Fyord blue, most folks would not know the difference. Rich is currently building a Speedline 1/8th K7 to be fitted with a gas turbine engine. Impressive detail built into the mouldings. Yesterday I contacted Adrian at Speedline to discus my forthcoming article. He mentioned he's thinking about retiring and selling up. If he does its a big loss to the model trade.
BTW I may try to buy back ME11 I sold. (sold it, and the others, at a particularly bad time in my life)
Stuart at Touchwood has stopped producing the K3 and K4 kits I think because very few were sold. Perhaps its his experience with K3 and K4 that has influenced his decision re ME11. Its about 24 years ago that I was asked by Stuart to convert one of his K4 kits into a working model, I did and an article was published in MMI about the conversion (the first one done of the K4 model). Another difficult scale model to get the performance and stability right. I also did K3 for him and then the K7. I still have the very first Touchwood K7 converted to RC, its actually my grandsons now, hes 12, however I am looking after it, although he keeps asking for it back.(there's a bit of a story about his cat and the top of a wardrobe
!)Rich Marsh, a friend of myself and my son, was up visiting us yesterday. He's a real model boat enthusiast in particular all things Bluebird. 10 years ago, when he about 14, Rich bought the K4 I converted and still has it.(I recently made another one for my son-exact scale hardware) He's also got an extremely fast Touchwood K7 using uptodate technology. Mike B will be happy to note that Rich has used the exact colour 'bluebird' paint for his models. We compared the colours of his models with my sons 1/6th scale K7 painted with Ford Fyord blue, most folks would not know the difference. Rich is currently building a Speedline 1/8th K7 to be fitted with a gas turbine engine. Impressive detail built into the mouldings. Yesterday I contacted Adrian at Speedline to discus my forthcoming article. He mentioned he's thinking about retiring and selling up. If he does its a big loss to the model trade.
BTW I may try to buy back ME11 I sold. (sold it, and the others, at a particularly bad time in my life)
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Black Knight
- Posts: 172
- Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2015 1:20 am
Re: Bluebird & Other Scale Models
I told Stuart i'd love an ME II kit, she's the best looking boat imo.
I had all 3 1/12 kits, sold K3 & K4 & had K7 built. I took it to the meeting at Coniston in iirc 2001 & Gina signed the bottom. Unfortunately had to sell it when I went through bad times. Never seen or heard anything about it since. Keep being tempted by another, & to put a detailed Orph into it, but it just takes up too much space to display safely. I've stuck to 43rd scale since, much easier to display.
1 model i'd love to see in the flesh, a 1/8 scale K6 Crusader that is cut away on 1 side. There's a couple of low res shots online. Apparently not in the UK but seriously stunning work.
I had all 3 1/12 kits, sold K3 & K4 & had K7 built. I took it to the meeting at Coniston in iirc 2001 & Gina signed the bottom. Unfortunately had to sell it when I went through bad times. Never seen or heard anything about it since. Keep being tempted by another, & to put a detailed Orph into it, but it just takes up too much space to display safely. I've stuck to 43rd scale since, much easier to display.
1 model i'd love to see in the flesh, a 1/8 scale K6 Crusader that is cut away on 1 side. There's a couple of low res shots online. Apparently not in the UK but seriously stunning work.
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Black Knight
- Posts: 172
- Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2015 1:20 am
Re: Bluebird & Other Scale Models
The model Crusader I'd love to see.
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Re: Bluebird & Other Scale Models
Hi all - excuse my late-ness to the party - I’m the guy Ernie mentioned who’s building the 1/8th scale turbine K7.
I’ve got Ernie’s original RC K4, an RC K3 and K7 I’ve done, both brushless.
Bill - I spoke to Ernie on Saturday, it would be great to for us to organise a rivet counting visit, it’d help me greatly with my 1/8 build.
Just on with the cockpit at the mo - has anyone got a good diagram of the layout of the bulkheads - all I have to go off is the Touchwood 1/12 cockpit which I know isn’t right...
Ta for now
Rich
I’ve got Ernie’s original RC K4, an RC K3 and K7 I’ve done, both brushless.
Bill - I spoke to Ernie on Saturday, it would be great to for us to organise a rivet counting visit, it’d help me greatly with my 1/8 build.
Just on with the cockpit at the mo - has anyone got a good diagram of the layout of the bulkheads - all I have to go off is the Touchwood 1/12 cockpit which I know isn’t right...
Ta for now
Rich
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Renegadenemo
- Posts: 4922
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- Location: N E England
- Contact:
Re: Bluebird & Other Scale Models
Hi Rich, and welcome... The offer is there - put together a party and propose some dates and we'll see what can be done.Bill - I spoke to Ernie on Saturday, it would be great to for us to organise a rivet counting visit, it’d help me greatly with my 1/8 build.
Are we talking about the internal bulkheads in the cockpit? If so there must be a thousand pic's in out diary. Just need a bit of digging.has anyone got a good diagram of the layout of the bulkheads
I'm only a plumber from Cannock...
"As to reward, my profession is its own reward;" Sherlock Holmes.
'Sometimes you gotta be an S.O.B if you wanna make a dream reality' Mark Knopfler
"As to reward, my profession is its own reward;" Sherlock Holmes.
'Sometimes you gotta be an S.O.B if you wanna make a dream reality' Mark Knopfler
Re: Bluebird & Other Scale Models
Great - I know there’s myself, Ernie and Ian Lazenby already - if others are interested give me a shout and we’ll come up with some dates...
Sorry, I meant the internal bulkheads - after trawling through the diary archive for the last two nights I’ve found some pics - cheers
Sorry, I meant the internal bulkheads - after trawling through the diary archive for the last two nights I’ve found some pics - cheers
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Ernie Lazenby
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2019 7:19 pm
Re: Bluebird & Other Scale Models
Rich. I have already started a separate thread about visiting North Shields. I included your name on the list.
Re: Bluebird & Other Scale Models
Just seen it Ernie, many thanks