Model Boats and Ships - Builders Basket

10/03/2006

The USCGC Evergreen (WLB-295, WAGO-295, and WMEC-295) was originally built as a 180-foot (55 m) sea going buoy tender (WLB). A Cactus, or A-class vessel, Evergreen's preliminary design was completed by the United States Lighthouse Service and the final design was produced by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota (also the builders). The keel was laid on 15 April 1942. It was launched on 3 July 1942 and commissioned on 30 April 1943. The original cost for the hull and machinery was $871,946.
Evergreen is one of 39 original 180-foot (55 m) seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942-1944. All but one of the original tenders, the USCGC Ironwood, were built in Duluth. Like all of these tenders, the Evergreen was named after a plant.
Starting In 1948, Evergreen served as part of the International Ice Patrol, in addition to her duties as a buoy tender. In 1956, Evergreen served as the commanding vessel in the rescue of survivors from the Andrea Doria sinking. In 1964, Evergreen was converted to an oceanographic vessel and re-designated WAGO-295. During the conversion, a computer was installed, and Evergreen became the first government oceanographic ship to have one. As an oceanographic vessel, she was also converted from a black hull paint scheme to a white hull paint scheme, which the vessel wore until it was decommissioned. In 1968 Evergreen suffered a major fire in her engine room while tied to the pier. The fire was extinguished and the vessel was repaired. In 1972, Evergreen underwent extensive modification, including the addition of a bow thruster, and changes to her superstructure. In 1982, when the Coast Guard's oceanographic research program ended, the vessel was converted to a Medium Endurance Cutter, and re-designated WMEC-295.
Evergreen was decommissioned on 26 June 1990. She was used by the Navy as a target and sunk in 1992.

9/25/2006

Star 45 Construction : Stand for tuning finished model

John Fisher sent these in. It might spark some thought for other people as well. He does not claim to have come up with this design, You can use any materials that you have handy, He has a mill and a welder, so his ended up in aluminum. these stands have been built from PVC and Copper pipe as well.

The stand has a vertical tube that is the pivot for direction. This way the boat can feather into the wind. If the ground is soft enough where you sail it can be pushed into the ground. Works fine in so-cal but not very well in colorado. Next there is a H shaped part that holds the boat. His are machined and welded aluminum, but he has seen this part done with copper water pipe or PVC pipe. He added the foam for insulating water pipes to prevent the boat from being scratched. The H should be able to rotate. This allows the boat to heel in the stand when force is applied to the sails. Connect the two and you have your stand. On his stand the connector is a pcs of 1/2" diameter SS tubing bent 90 deg. It provides both motions needed.

The boat shown is a hard chine 10R Class called the Diamond.

John Fisher has cutting files available for hard chine model 10R Class as well.
They go fast :-). John's 10R Class carries 1500 sq in of sail, is 65"
long and only 9" wide.

Star 45 Model Boat: 2004 Julie Ayres Award Winner - Mel Holman of Toledo, Ohio

Star 45 Class: "Featured in Model Yachting #113

2004 Julie Ayres Award Winner - Mel Holman of Toledo, Ohio

The Julie Ayres Craftsmanship and Beauty Trophy is awarded to the Star 45 owner voted by the participants at the yearly National Championship Regatta for what they feel is the most beautiful boat and shows the most Craftsmanship in the building of a competitive Star 45.

The Julie Ayres Craftsmanship and Beauty Trophy is awarded to the Star 45 owner voted by the participants at the yearly National Championship Regatta for what they feel is the most beautiful boat and shows the most Craftsmanship in the building of a competitive Star 45."

Star 45 Construction | modeler: John Whiteford, Rochedale, Queensland, Australia

Thought you may like to see a boat being built in Rochedale, Queensland, Australia. John Fisher kindly sent me the dxf files and I had them laser cut and everything is going together well with the hull now fibreglassed. I have all of his photos and comments in separate plastic folders and now quite a collection. He is certainly a delightful person and a great help.
John Whiteford

Photographs by John Whiteford