1/32 Tugboat Emily Margaret (Scratchbuilt)
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by Keith Bender |
1/32 Tugboat Emily Margaret (Scratchbuilt)
Emily Margaret is based on a 85' army tug hull with two other types of harbor tugs I used to come up with a the wheel house. Since the model does not depict a real tug I could do what ever I liked during construction. The model is entirely scratchbuilt with the exception of the flag, chain, tires and name boards on the wheel house. First I will explain why I built the model. Ever since i can remember my mom has always liked tugboats and this goes back before i was five. Of course building on commissions most of the time i would always put off the idea of building something for mom and while mentioning that, my dad was navy from 56-59. He served aboard a sub and a converted LSM. I always wanted to build models of his ship and sub but I let commissions get in the way and never built either.Dad has past three years ago and not long after it hit me, I never made his ships and now I strongly regret not doing so, something I live with everyday.
Here is a piece of advise if I could ever give any. Build those models for a vet or someone you love before it's too late.So with all that turning in my mind at that time I thought I could still build mom her tugboat. It became a mission and I had to work it in with the commissions so I had to juggle several models at the same time.
With the help of my stepdad "Bill" we decided on what size to make it and the type of wood I would build the case out of. I wanted to go a little further and light it with LEDs. Over the past 2.5 years the model took shape and I want to present it to her for her birthday in Nov. I named the model "Emily Margaret" for my daughter who one day will have it for her own.
The hull is a plank on bulkhead with basewood planking and fiberglassed. The rubrails are .375 dowls cut in half then soaked to bend them. I use Windex to soak them. All the superstructure is .0312 marine plywood with .062 for decks and roof. The stack is solid base I carved and cut out the "B" from plastic then mounted it raised from the stack itself so it would not have the save curve in it as the stack and remain flat.
The name boards on the wheelhouse were machine engraved by my friend Keith Flemming who owns and operates Brandywine Balustrades.
The mast, here was my first problem, what to use to make them tapper and without using brass tubes and teloscoping them together. Hum, old fishing rods work great. Yep, cut off the ends as far as you need and there you have it after a little sanding. All the hardware on them is brass. All the wood in the wheelhouse is what's left over from a deck plank I got from the Missouri BB-63. I striped it down to thickness and had fun planking the interior and making the desk and doors.
All the brass work inside is turned. The telegraph face is a photocopy from the Internet as is the compass face. Now I always new mom liked her tugs with tires around the sides and the rope fender on the bow. That was a problem that i looked into wondering how to make one. Your friend and mine of this site Mike Maynard coughed up a bunch of tires from truck kits. Mike also sent me the dish rag to make the bow pudding. Yes it was that simple. All I had to do was cut it and give it the proper shape. Speaking of "proper", the propeller is mine as well and I thought burnishing the swirls on it would be an extra nice touch.
I'm sure I left a bunch of things out but I won't bore you any longer except one month before our planned surprise delivery ,"Bill" past away and never got to see the model he gave some good ideas toward it's build. My girlfirend Dawn did suggest if possible to put a photo of Bill inside the wheelhouse. I dug up a photo that I didn't have to down size. I made a scale frame for it and mounted it on the aft bulkhead. Dawn also suggested the stack needed some lights as well.
This model will never see a show or the light of day but it is the one I'm most proud of. Thank you Dawn and my friends Mike and Keith for your help which is always appreciated. Bill your hand is in this too, thank you. On November 29th Emily, Dawn and myself presented the tug to mom.
