1/12 scale Severn class lifeboat

The model in the photographed above was built by Terry Small for his mammoth article in Model Boats’ annual kit review, Dec 2007.

Phil Locke built his on line so you can see for yourself what’s involved.and what became of the model, now probably the most famous RC model lifeboat on the planet.  (See www.philsrcmodels.co.uk)

The kit builds into a top quality ‘museum standard’ model that you will be proud of.  It is available complete or as individual ‘sets’ which can be bought separately.  This means you can spread the cost of the kit or use whatever ‘sets’ you wish and make as much as you like from scratch.  The model has an overall length of 58” and is 18” wide.

The kit comprises of the following:

HULL AND WHEELHOUSE MOULDINGS
The hull and wheelhouse omprises of three GRP mouldings, the hull, the main section of the wheelhouse and the rear wall of the wheelhouse.   The hull is complete with the deck already moulded on and is strong and rigid, the way a big model should be.  
The bilge keels and rudders, both laser cut to profile from 5 mm Perspex are included  as are the three trim-tab re-enforcing plates across the transom and the two exhaust outlet recesses in the transom.

DETAIL SET
The ‘Detail Set’ is the very heart of this model and because there are so many parts, it’s impracticable to list every item covered.

The set comprises several large sheets of laser-cut Perspex components, one sheet of acid etched Nickel Silver components and three sheets of acid etched brass components there are over 600 precision made items in total.  

Every part is pre-shaped with a high degree of accuracy ensuring a perfect fit throughout the model.  The Severn class has over 1,600 stainless steel screw heads on show just fixing vent covers and closing panels and wherever one of these screw heads is to be found, a pre-drilled hole can be found to assist in locating the dummy heads supplied, all 1,300 plus of them!  

Many items, such as the flying bridge windscreen frame, are made from acid etched brass to give them the inherent strength that such a delicate item needs on a model of this size.  The Trim tabs are made this way but from heavy gauge brass enabling them to be used as the basis for working tabs.

All the air intake and exhaust vents, brackets, plates, mast brackets and plates, flying bridge instruments and displays are included.

The glazing for the flying bridge windows is included in the set as are all the Perspex covers for the instruments and display screens on the Flying Bridge, all pre-cut exactly to shape.

A major feature of the Severn is the Hyab Crane that lifts the ‘Y’ Boat on and off.  This is included and is made from etched brass and laser-cut Perspex.  The ram cylinders and the ramrods are cast Pewter.  The crane is strong and movable and forms a good basis for a working option.  

Included with the detail set is a CD containing lots of reference shots of a real Severn.

CASTINGS
All the cast items on the model have been newly mastered and cast in either in lightweight resin, and Pewter.  The set includes the winches, cleats, fairleads, bollards, deck vents, valves, escape hatch spray guard, deck vents and forward vent air vent shields. New correct pattern life rings have been included also.  The Anchor recovery davit has laser-cut Perspex detailing.  The fisherman’s anchor itself is included in the casting set even though it is made from laser-cut Perspex.  The valve handles and anchor flukes are also in the casting set, even though these too are Perspex.  (I had to put them somewhere)!  The set includes a cast resin Radar scanner.

HANDRAILS, STANCHIONS & KICKING BOARDS
The Severn class lifeboat has ‘kick boards’ bonded directly to its deck which carry the two ball stanchions and the hand railings.  

Our set includes extruded section aluminium kick boards, pre-formed and shaped by hand to fit the deck contours.  They require only trimming and fettling before being glued directly to the deck.  The “impossible to make” long curved kickboards that follow the deck steps are included of course.  

The two-ball stanchions are brand new and are CNC turned brass.

The triangular mounting brackets are made from etched brass and brass tube.  The rectangular plates for the hand-railings are included in the set.  12 or 14BA bolts are used to bolt them directly to the kickboards.  These are not supplied with the kit due to the fluctuating price of these items.

RUNNING SET
The Running Set consists of two short cast resin prop-tubes carrying the prop shafts through the hull and two cast resin A frames.  Both tubes and A frames have twin bronze bushes fitted.

Two ‘scale pattern’ brass propellers are supplied.

WINDOWS
Each window is assembled from five separate components, all made from laser-cut Perspex.  The finished windows are ultra realistic and are a major scale detail feature of the model.

VAC FORMINGS
A sheet of polystyrene vac formings comprises all the inset boxes in the wheelhouse, the four triangular mountings on the wheelhouse roof (for the ‘Y’ boat),  the fender protection plate at the bow roller, the radar box motor box, four round fenders and the four life raft boxes.

HEXAGONAL HEADED SCREWS
On the full size boat there are a lot of hexagonal-headed stainless steel bolt heads left unpainted and on full view.  Mostly, they secure panels and vents along the wheelhouse side, engine covers and the like.  These are an important feature of the model and are represented by acid etched, stainless steel  dummy hexagonal headed screw bolt heads.  These enable you to achieve coloured panels with unpainted bolt heads.  You will need a bit of patience though!

FENDERING
The rubber fendering surrounding the edge of the hull is especially made for Speedline Models and is of true scale section. Made from the same type of rubber as the real thing, it even smells right!

BRASS ROD
This is a collection of various size annealed (bendable quality) brass rod for the handrailings , mast, grab rails etc.  

Y class RIB
The ‘Y’ boat is an essential part of the Severn and has been modelled as a complete boat, not just a tarpaulin covered one.  The model is fully detailed and is a scale lifeboat kit in it’s own right. Many kits have actually been RC’d themselves.

PRICE OF THE KIT   £995

Carriage
P & P in mainland UK is £30, £50 for mainland Europe (but check first please)