47 Coast Guard Build
 

Haven't seen any chains on the Midwest 47' COast Guard kit. Any interest?

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Sure! I would like to see how the wood version is built. I have the fiberglass version.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Hey Kmot, I have never seen that paint scheme. I love it...making me think.....

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Kmot,
That came out awesome! I hope my USCG 87' Patrol Boat comes out as well as that did!

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Thanks for the compliments, fella's! As pictured, it is still not yet finished. However, I did not intend to hijack LClark's thread so maybe we should get back to his build. ;)

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

LClark,

Looks like your off to a good start. Its a great kit for the price.

I started building the midwest 47' MLB several years ago and 80% complete. Got sidetracked on other projects and builds. I hope to complete it this winter! I really liked the kit but found a few errors in the instructions. I think mine was an early kit and they have since corrected the instructions. None that was a big deal,...just a little unclear or a step missing. Although I enjoy scratch bulding, I do really like the kit from midwest which includes most everything needed to complete the model. Everything fit well and the scale is good. If i get a chance I'll try to post a few pictures.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

KMot - please share more of your stuff...I don't want this just to be about me...

DS, looking forward to some pics of your stuff and some of your lessons learned....

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Roughed in the rescue deck recessions yesterday...........my helper is watching every move, he wants another chew toy.....

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Throw him one of those lumps of coal. :D

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Okay, another detail on my 47'er. I made a scale exhaust which will have the cooling water for the esc and motors flow overboard through this exhaust.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

very kool (water cooling...lol)....worked some more on the wells today..no pics but a lot of work...

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

A few pics...............

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Yikes! That last photo gave me chills! :p

Lots of carving and sanding to do there.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Kmot, I forgot to ask.....what is the ID (or OD) of the water outlet? I am going to do the same, great job there, hope mine comes out as nice.

I delayed the balsa bow blocks as long as I could. I hacked at it a little this morning, should finish shaping tonight. It is the only thing I don't like about the kit so far.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

The boat looks like it is coming together well.

[8D]

I would have probably used Pink or Blue rigid insulation foam rather than the balsa blocks, but
I suppose thats what they supplied in the kit.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

It's easy Kmot, just cut off the wood that doesn’t look like a boat.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Can you use a chainsaw? :)

LClark, I will get the measurements for you later.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

LClark: Here is a link to a post that has several photos of the construction of the exhaust pipes for the 47' MLB:

CLICK ME

And here is a link to the entire thread:

CLICK ME

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

It is K&S brass tubing from the lhs and the size is 3/8" diameter. :)

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Finally had time to work on the bow....still some more shaping to do but it is close now.....and yes, almost resorted to a chainsaw...

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Getting closer to looking like a boat. I am not happy [&o] with the fitment of the cabin to the hull and the rear deck to the hull. This will take quite a bit of carefull massaging to close the gaps.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

I've got to hand it to you LClark, this looks really good. I have the fiberglass version and didn't have to do all that hard work and I see your boat built from flat wood is looking very much the same! [sm=thumbup.gif]

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Thanks K, it helps to have a well designed kit...but....the hatch is a problem. I think I will end up with a raised deck where it should be flat just to keep the water out. How did they handle this on the fiberglass hull?

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

It sits nice and flush on the deck and is secured with two screws. There is some foam coaming around the area and beloew the deck a couple of supports.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Installed supports for a proper rear deck hatch. It looks like I can get it almost flush with the deck. Had to put in a lot of supports to build the frame work. I was able to design it to provide a positive seal around the rear of the main cabin as well. It will be held down with 4 screws and blind nuts (aka tee nuts) installed in the supports. Hatch is built as wwell, just need to drill the holes and install the nuts.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Couldn't upload the pics before, hope this works now.....

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Ok, been a while since I worked on this one as I have been focusing on the Dauntless. Getting the cabin to fit better, slowly but shurly. I want to put better motor mounts in, any suggestions? I was looking at the MACK 7114 or 7115 but I don't know what 'size' the Midwest motors are. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.......

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Fiberglassed the hull. What a terrible experince, I see a lot of sanding in my future. I also found that the 1/16" ply bowed in places. Still not quite sure what to do about that. I have attached a few raw (unsanded) pics.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Looks good.[8D]
Nothing a bit of spot putty and an electric hand sander couldn't smooth out.

If you have an area where the sheeting has pulled away from the frames, is it
possible to secure it back to the frame from the inside?

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

I was able to pull it back down in the section near the stuffing boxes because I had access. The biggest problem is the bow deck whcih is of course the last wood installed. I guess I needed to make sure the joint there was extra strong (last blind installation of any peice of wood will carry the utmost importance in my future builds.

Thanks for the input Umi

Larry

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Umi,

what I also wanted to note is that the last time I fibergalssed was about 30 years ago and it was a very small, flat area. The instructions made it seem like a breeze to fiberglass the hull. This hull geometry posed some challenges. I am actually happy with it overall and am getting the sander prepped...lol...it could been worse ya know....I wish I would have done the Dauntless first, the geometry is freindlier to fiberglass I think.....now that I did it....lol

Again Umi, thanks for the encouraging words and always being out there for us 50 year old rookies....

L

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Its been a few years since I fiber-glassed my 47' but I do recall a LOT of sanding. I remember using bondo on the bare wood and sanding to get all the lines straight before fiberglass. But later realized I could have used drywall compound. It is much easier to sand and would be protected by the fiberglass later anyway. Remembering back, my big mistake was forgetting to seal the interior of the hull before installing the deck. My second one I put a coat of epoxy over the entire interior of the hull BEFORE installing the decks and fiber-glassing the hull. Anyway,...my 2c worth.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

In case you don't know this already, when sanding fiberglass wear a long sleeve shirt and close your collar tight. Also, tape around your cuffs. Wear gloves, and use a dust mask. Fiberglass dust particles are NASTY and will cause breathing problems if you inhale them and will make your skin itch to no end if you get it on your skin.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Got the motor mount installed. It seems like the u-joint drive dogs are barely long enough to reach. I am a little worried about the gap at the moment.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Been a while....bondo, sand, prime, bondo, sand, prime, bondo, sand, prime......

In the last issue of RC Boat Modeler there was a pic of a 47 footer modeled as a San Francisco Police boat. There really is one!. I decided to get creative and also make mine a SFPD boat. I am going to add a fire monitor though...just to keep it interesting. I bought a RAM siren from a local hobby store, ordered a monitor from Loyalhanna and a light bar from Mack products.

Drifting off subject here...I can always count on EXCELLENT customer service and delivery within 10 days from MACK products. I am having a totally different experience with Loyalhanna Dockyard. I sent an email asking a question and never got a response. I ordered the fire monitor 3.5 weeks ago and have received nothing, nunca, nada, zilch, etc. This is getting frustrating. Don't think I will order anything from LD again.

I made my exhaust today. Not nearly as nice as KMOTs but should get the job done.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

ok let's try to upload the pics again.......

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Exhaust installed

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Nice job on the exhaust pipes! :)

LHD is notoriously slow. It will get there. Eventually. I waited, IIRC, 3 months for my props to arrive.

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Looks really nice! Just won a kit off ebay so I will be building one as well (Canadian scheme of course).

How are the fittings in the kit?

Keep the pics coming!

Cheers,
Dave

RE: 47 Coast Guard Build
 

Fittings seem decent so far, I have not gotten into them too much yet.

Pic of installed exhaust from the outside.