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Sculptor hold frames

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Sorry, I'm ignorant of the proper name! I found this picture of Sculptor on the blogspot, and noted that the shape of the frames under the covers.

 

I assume it was to increase the effective height of the cargo hold, but could anyone shed some light on when and why these frames were used?

 

Any other photos around, in particular with the covers in place over the frames?

 

much obliged


Ahh, I just noted the name given to the photo - "fire boat" - so the vessel wasn't carrying, she'd been fitted out with water pumps in her hold.

 

Unusual profile for the control room cabin before the engine room, guess it was temporary and craned in place.

post-22620-0-53352200-1480218040_thumb.jpg

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Leo No2 Rising Star

Leo No2

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The person who perhaps has done, I believe, the most research into fire boats (and there were a number of them) is Cath Turpin at The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port. I have somewhere (I'll try and find it) a book called 'Floating Fire Engines: A Study of British Fireboats 1835-2005 by Geoffrey Lawson Cooper' which has a small amount about boats like Sculptor - seems to be out of print at the moment. If you wish to find out more of the detail I would suggest trying to contact Cath.

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pipistrelle Contributor

pipistrelle

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The person who perhaps has done, I believe, the most research into fire boats (and there were a number of them) is Cath Turpin at The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port. I have somewhere (I'll try and find it) a book called 'Floating Fire Engines: A Study of British Fireboats 1835-2005 by Geoffrey Lawson Cooper' which has a small amount about boats like Sculptor - seems to be out of print at the moment. If you wish to find out more of the detail I would suggest trying to contact Cath.

As an owner of another former fireboat, I'm also interested in tracking this bad boy down. I have access to several university libraries so am going to see if I have any luck. Will post if I do!

There's also a Waterways Journal with an interesting article on the fireboats. Again, I think Callisto is the only one clearly identifiable: http://hnbc.org.uk/shop/waterways-journal-volume-17

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As a slight aside, the boat in the above photograph is the small Woolwich motor CALLISTO captain.gif

 

Ahh - I found the photo on the Sculptor blog... wow you've got a keen eye!

 

Thanks all, interesting to see all of these variations

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Leo No2 Rising Star

Leo No2

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I have looked out my copy of Floating Fire Engines.

 

Published by Headleys of Ashford in 2006 (http://www.headleysofashford.co.uk). I don't think the website is still active.

 

The ISBN is 0-900443-12-X

 

If my memory serves me correctly I bought mine on EBay; I think it is out of print now but some of the secondhand book websites may have it.

 

There is an image on page 135 of a narrowboat which is believed to be Sculptor as the text indicates it is FB34 which to the best of my knowledge is Sculptor's Fire Brigade reference number.

Edited by Leo No2
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Guest

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The person who perhaps has done, I believe, the most research into fire boats (and there were a number of them) is Cath Turpin at The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port. I have somewhere (I'll try and find it) a book called 'Floating Fire Engines: A Study of British Fireboats 1835-2005 by Geoffrey Lawson Cooper' which has a small amount about boats like Sculptor - seems to be out of print at the moment. If you wish to find out more of the detail I would suggest trying to contact Cath.

 

I must track her down, thank you.

 

Would it be appropriate to have a fire boat with a cabin carrying the GUCCo. Austerity livery?

 

Are there any photos of a fireboat with her covers down, if so, what would be written on the tarpaulins?

 

There's a couple of links here to photos found via google, the same that Pete named above...

 

http://www.maryevans.com/images/10/53/47/10534733a.jpg

http://www.maryevans.com/images/10/53/47/10534732a.jpg

 

I feel a project coming on....

Edited by dpaws
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There's also a Waterways Journal with an interesting article on the fireboats. Again, I think Callisto is the only one clearly identifiable: http://hnbc.org.uk/shop/waterways-journal-volume-17

 

I've tried to order a copy of this article but no EU delivery. Is there anyway I could pay extra and receive a pdf copy of the aforementioned by email?

 

 

Would it be appropriate to have a fire boat with a cabin carrying the GUCCo. Austerity livery?

 

I'd still love to see a photo of one with the covers down, fingers crossed...

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mark99 Veteran II

mark99

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Walkers of Ricky built wooden boats to which the empirical design (they did not build boats that early but were copying skills from the English collective) evolved from circa 1800. As noted when they brought in West Country seagoing wooden boatbuilders in the late 1920's to their yard whom noted that the hull and stern differed in construction and shape to what they normally built.

 

One thing that really heavily affects hydrodynamics imo is the weed that clings to the shell. My boat goes like stink after its been blacked. Slippage is greatly increased. For about a month before the weed gets grip again.

 

Edit I seem to have dropped this post in the wrong topic. Using my little mobile is my excuse. It should be in the other topic with the word Sculptor in it.

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Edit I seem to have dropped this post in the wrong topic. Using my little mobile is my excuse. It should be in the other topic with the word Sculptor in it.

 

Thanks Mark, well noted - hopefully the mods will reposition both accordingly.

 

There are some special paints that you could use which would maybe increase that effect further: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1304.1485.pdf

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Give them a call/email.

 

Assuming it's under 2kg postage should be quite manable and likely easier than locating a PDF copy.

 

 

Daniel

 

Thanks Daniel, have done, I'm chatting directly with Cath. Thanks for your assistance

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All sorted, many thanks - Cath kindly obliged me with the pdf, some interesting reading and very well researched, top job.

 

I could still do with more photos of small Woolwich hulls under NFS control if there's any other sources known. I don't have the book as yet, are there many more useful photos between it's covers that are worth taking a copy to see?

 

Whilst any conversion would never be a replica as such, only an "inspired by" tribute to that specialist corner of canal boat history, if there are any aesthetically pleasing components of the original boats in service it would be nice to include them.

 

It was good to discover the round & triangular NFS logo of the period for example.

 

For the record as I understand it the austerity livery was not strictly applicable after the change of hands in or around 1943, but one could chose to freeze time conveniently at the voyage just before the cabin was repainted so the very pleasing austerity livery of the period could remain on the aft superstructure. The front hold forward of a metal control room cabin would be under tarpaulin rain covers (with glass and living accommodation hidden underneath).

 

I'll shortly be in touch with the NFS historical team to see if examples of stencilling and other logos / markings are applicable.

 

All very interesting :)

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Don't forget NFS hulls were grey with red lettering. We found "Tucana" still had her grey wartime paint on when we blasted her down.

 

Thanks Laurence - are there any illustrated examples in colour?

 

Do you mean the hull as gunwales and down, or the superstructure too? What would be written in red and in what type of font?

 

I've found this Davey's Grey http://colors.findthedata.com/l/536/Davy-s-Greyis that anywhere near? It looks sort of wartime to me

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But Sculptor is a Small Northwich.

 

You're right David, as are the lines of Canopus obviously - I can only attribute my muppetry to this fine 23 year old Bordeaux that Santa left for me blush.png

Edited by dpaws
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Leo No2 Rising Star

Leo No2

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I found this list here: http://www.masseyshaw.org/education/learning-zone/lfb-fire-boat-fleet-list

 

attachicon.gifSnip20170105_14.png

 

Does anyone have photos of these boats in service with the fire brigade during the WWII years? Much obliged

 

 

Not a complete list (and I have looked at the Massey Shaw website). I would reiterate that the person who I understand has undertaken the most research and is therefore most likely to have images is Cath Turpin at the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port - I would contact Cath.

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Not a complete list (and I have looked at the Massey Shaw website). I would reiterate that the person who I understand has undertaken the most research and is therefore most likely to have images is Cath Turpin at the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port - I would contact Cath.

 

Thanks Kathyrn, I'd contacted Cath who kindly send out a copy of her article in the the journal, but she has very limited resources available to her, and nothing more that could assist my research.

 

I've also approached various London/Kent based fire service historians and am waiting for responses... fingers crossed!

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