BLUEBIRD OF CHELSEA

[fourseas]

This build log will be more of a photographic record of the building stages of the Bluebird of Chelsea from the period of January 2023 to December 2024. This vessel still exists in England today, and I choose to build it due to its' appearance and historical value during its service in WW2 as one of the "Little Ships" taking part in the evacuation of Dunkirk.



Construction begins with cutting and setting up frames





Balsa bow blocks installed and carved to shape, 1/32 inch bass plywood sheeting covering frames.



All irregularities in the hull were filled in, and then she was given four coats of finishing resin over 3/4 ounce glass cloth.



Waterproof the inside of the hull and made arrangements for RC machinery layout.



Laid the sub deck and painted the hull.



Manufacture pilot house segments and interior layout.





Deck planking and attach cabin structures.




Install RC machinery and build railings.






Complete mast work with all electrics and exterior fittings.




Add the signage with a few other details.


Very successful sea trials with no additional ballast required. September 2024

 

[Namabiiru]

That looks beautiful. Sorry if I missed it somewhere, but is that all scratchbult?

I don’t do RC boats (yet!), but I’m curious about waterproofing the interior after the exterior is already sealed with resin. Seems like that would trap any moisture in the wood, which can’t be good.

 

[fourseas]

Bluebird is completely scratch built including most of her fittings. I don't build propellers.

I always coat the inside of my ships with resin to seal the wood from ever getting water on the planking and then paint to make it easier to see parts when I drop them and show off the machinery.

 

[ir3]

Beautiful work. What scale did you build it to?

 

[fourseas]

Beautiful work. What scale did you build it to?

The drawings were at a scale of 1/24, but I wanted it a bit bigger so I had them blown up to 1/16 th which finished the model at 39 inches over all.
Jim

 

[DPTrainer]

Fabulous model! Congratulations on a superb build! I wanted to build this model from a kit which was made in China using 1:18 scale. Unfortunately they no longer have any of this size available - they only have the 1:12 scale ones left which means it is rather too large as it would work out at about 52". I don't have the tools or the confidence to scratch build one. With the history of this boat I'm surprised no other model kit makers such as Amati have made this available in kit form. I hope at some point someone with make this model available as a kit at a more manageable size at around 34-39" long.

 

[fourseas]

Thank you for the compliments. It surprises me too that a kit manufacturer has not picked up on it. It is a beautiful model with a fantastic history for display or RC.
Jim