Hi there!

I'm keen to make a reasonably detailed (static) model of the Airfix kit (yeah I know, it's tiny and won't even go near the water ).

But I'd appreciate any help regarding pictures or plans of the interior - especially the forward hatchway, wheelhouse, radio position, sickbay area, engine and aft compartments .

Any help gratefully received .

Many thanks

Hi Chris

The Airfix model, whilst superb, is rather too small to see in the windows as it were. Will you do a half-model to show the interior detailing? I can manage a shot of the wheelhouse, looking towards the helmsman, I'll scan from the book and send it on if you like but I think rafwebfoot (Donald) is the man to ask, try sending him a pm or an e-mail to mailto:rafwebfoot@aol.com - rafwebfoot@aol.com  

Hi Christian

Thanks for prompt reply

My plan with the Airfix model is simply to open up all the hatches including the sickbay and rear compartment ones (both of which are moulded closed on the model). This opens up quite a lot to daylight. I'll then try to put in as much detail and "atmosphere" as possible. I've even got three miniature Napier Lion engines to serve as a basis for Sea Lions to go into the engine compartment.

I'd certainly appreciate your image of wheelhouse - anything / everything will help! And I'll contact Donald too - many thanks for that lead.

Cheers

Chris

Hope of some use. Messrs Beardow and Pritchard to thank.

Hi Christian

Thanks again - the pictures are fascinating and very helpful.

I'd like to thank the guys direct - but don't know who they are (I've tried the members list and search engine but got nowhere re Mr Beardow; though I presume Mr Pritchard might be John Pritchard?). I'd be grateful if you could give me their contact details so I can follow through on this?

At this point, I hope you won't mind if I go into a bit more detail (feel free to skip if you haven't the time!)

The info I had when I started this project comprised:-

 - "Boat in the Blue" by W D Pereira - has elevation and plan views for Boat 1499 onwards (which I presume applies to "standard" production versions - if such a thing existed?)

 - photocopy of a side elevation and plan view for Boat 1498 only (I think this came from RAF Museum Hendon)

 - photocopies - again I think from Hendon - including a drawing of the basic interior layout (no detail) and a description of the interior (I think latter is also somewhere on the BMPT website)

latterly also:-

 - "The RAF Air Sea Rescue Service 1932 - 1986" by J Sutherland and D Canwell

The problem I'm left with from all the above is trying to work out exactly what the interior layouts were.

Eg the verbal description refers to a "level deck (leading aft of the wheelhouse under the conning position) to the chart room and sick bay", whereas both side elevations appear to show the sick bay stepped upwards immediately aft of the chart table. I assume at present that headroom to and in the cabins and at the radio position must have been pretty limited?

Also, how did the doors work?! I surmise that there might have been sliding doors between f'rd hatchway and mess and from wheelhouse to chart room / sickbay. No idea about access to cabins..., let alone a host of other detail.

Again, if you have any more leads on this  (ie material and / or people) I'd greatly appreciate it - although I have to admit that despite, or maybe because of, dearth of detail, I'm trying to keep the cost of this project down - roughly proportionate to cost and size of the Airfix kit!

Congratulations by the way on the models I now realise are your's posted elsewhere on the site. They look beautiful - a tad larger than the one I'm engaged on!

Best wishes and thanks again for all help so far

Chris

Hi Andy

I'll have to a have a longer look later, but there's certainly a mass of info and pics of the MTBs - so thanks for this!

Best wishes

Chris