Lighthouse Tender USCGC Lilac

[RocketmanTan]

So the museum ship that I'm working on is planning to open a gift shop...once we fix a leak in the roof...and actually find a place to store the supplied we've currently kept in the room we've set aside. For the gift shop, I'm designing a paper model of the ship.

This is going to be a fairly simple model at first, both to test how well I can model ships, and also so that even little kids can assemble the kit. Hopefully, I can get all the parts to fit on one letter-size sheet of paper and keep the museum letterhead somewhere.

So far, I've drawn up the ship's hull, and I'm currently working on the superstructure. It's going to be hard, since there aren't many reference photos of the ship's type online, and I'm working mostly from memory. Wish me luck!

 

[Zathros]

Is this the ship you work at (on)?

This was the Violet Class? Interesting subject, neat as heck job! Check out the attached .pdf for some really nice drawings.

 

[RocketmanTan]

Is this the ship you work at (on)?

This was the Violet Class? Interesting subject, neat as heck job! Check out the attached .pdf for some really nice drawings.

Yep, she is indeed my current "workplace", so to speak! It's definitely a great job, and a great crew (even if some of us don't get along from time to time...).

Also, where did you find that document? This will be EXTREMELY useful when I get around to doing a proper, detailed model of the ship.

Also, I just realized that distribution rights for this model are going to be a pain in the ass to work around....

 

[Zathros]

I don't think so, as long as you don't sell it, or state that you are distributing it in someone's or some organizations name. When I do searches, I use combinations of words that to be honest, I never keep track of. I do tend to find things that aren't overtly listed. Which is a long winded way of saying I don't remember!

 

[RocketmanTan]

Welp, parts are finally all done. I'll probably include options for both a proper Lifeboat detail as well as a simplified cutout:

I think how the distribution of this model will go is that at first, I'll just offer downloads for free on my deviantArt like my other models. When we open again in october, I'll talk to the Museum Director about how exactly this will work out.

 

[RocketmanTan]

finally have the thing finished!

here's a screenshot of the instruction sheet:

 

[RocketmanTan]

And yet another mediocre testbuild is done!

In all seriousness, I think this has the simple toylike quality I was expecting from something as simple as this:

I'll try and see if I can get the model up in a few hours.

 

[Zathros]

Wow, that was really fast. You captured the ship too. You left room for a complicated model, but this will satisfy many, and allow many others a gateway into the hobby. Have you considered making a 1/22 model that could be put up on a wall? It would be easy enough, now that you got the hard part done.

 

[RocketmanTan]

Wow, that was really fast. You captured the ship too. You left room for a complicated model, but this will satisfy many, and allow many others a gateway into the hobby. Have you considered making a 1/22 model that could be put up on a wall? It would be easy enough, now that you got the hard part done.

Yep, I do have plans for a proper, detailed model. I designed this one more with kids in mind, since they're likely to be the ones that'll want this kit (mostly all we get are a bunch of hipsters, young adults, tourists, and the occasional enthusiast).
Once we get the gift shop up and running, we'll be able to sell both this little "toy" and the proper kit! :mrgreen:

In the meantime, I offer you the finished model to play with:
http://fav.me/d5dta4c

 

[treadhead1952]

Simple or no, it sure does imply the ships' design and overall shape. A little tinkering here and there and it would be a pretty nice little model. Having a soft spot for working boats, I can appreciate the design.

 

[Zathros]

I like it! I can envision many Little Legos guys crawling all over it. It will bring may first time builders into the fold! Great!

 

[Jerome Morris]

I like this very much. Actually visited the Lilac a few years ago and helped Jerry cover the aft deck house with a tarp.
Lilac is a beautiful ship and those two triple expansion engines are just to cool. I hope one day she will be up and steaming.