BSC 2025 Gunbird's Backwater Ferry - 8/2 barge frame

[AKULA]

Interesting idea

 

[Gunbird]

About the most backwater ferry that I've seen in my travels was on a visit to Belize and the ruins of Xunantunich. There is a hand-cranked ferry for crossing the river:

https://youtu.be/_0TVTLmMKpI?si=TG_N3LYGTo8xqw6a

Not my video, but it's an idea... 

Mike Demana

Fun indeed, but too small for my needs

[Gunbird]

Spent some time researching the Ferry I've chosen and found out these sail from Maputo, Mozambique. There are several ones, and they look a like, but they are not identical, so I will most likely steal some parts from the various ones that fit my skills best. My hands are really acting up atm so the H0 bits box, the punch, blank plasticcard and time will be my friends. I won't add crew, glass will be black or bluetone. Cream/white hull superstructure, baby blue hull. I'll need to cast up a ton of tires and add bumper strips to the hull. Glue in a magnet here and there to add a crane (as suggested) or some ZPU as self defence against overly agressive seagulls or something. MPFUMU (a worthy AK name by itself) has a nice closed superstructure.













I have to say, I feel like the odd one out with how I build stuff compared to the other entries, but hey, what else is new

[Codsticker]

Lol 'MoCargo'. I see the Home Boys Shopping Network has diversified.

[Gunbird]

I had some more thoughts about the original plan and it just won't do. Looking at the parts and time needed to fabricate a lot of them from scratch, it would still be too much original parts.

So....back to the drawingboard. A Ferry I can build with just plasticard, wood and whatever kit trash bits I can find.

So....this is the new plan.



Now to draw out the dimensions and make a card mock up as I want it to be able to carry single tank stand in AK-47 (not realistic, but neither is AK-47) and I want to get this right

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

That looks interesting and doable 

[Burgundavia]

Doable is always a good goal. We imagine grand things but built and on the table top is better than grand and undone.

[snitcythedog]

So....back to the drawingboard. A Ferry I can build with just plasticard, wood and whatever kit trash bits I can find.

To be fair, I like this design better.  It is much more interesting. 

[Gunbird]

To be fair, I like this design better.  It is much more interesting.

Yes, but remember it is 15mm, so not as big as you think. Maybe A5 size. The original planned vessel was about 3 times that size. But I'm rather busy with other builds as well so it is for the best this is a bit smaller.

[Gunbird]

Putting thoughts to paper. Used 5mm graph paper so it is to scale.

Seeing as this is for AK-47 I'm focussing on the 3cm and 4 cm wide bases with various depths as the rules prescribe.

I've measured up a Ferry that can hold 2 cars, a truck or a tank, and a larger one that can hold 3 cars, 2 trucks, maybe 2 tanks (though how on earth you can fit a tank on a 4x4cm base as described in the original rules is beyond me). Added a bit of width so I can fill it up with  3x3 cm infantry bases as well.



I have almost all of my cars/jeeps based up on 3x5 cm (it's just easier to stick to the same size for storage as well) so this Ferry would fit 2.

 

This one should fit 3 car bases.

I'm not planning on making 2, just one of these. At the moment I'm nudging myself towards the 3 car base sized one. Engines will be either covered up or open, and I could grab some very basic 1/72 inline aircraft engines from my spares box and use those with some sprucing up. The rest will be plasticcard, bits and what not.

Mind you I can't cut a straight line to save my life so that will be interesting

[Michi]

I'd go for the XL length ferry, because it could hold an articulated truck (semi/trailer) too.

[Burgundavia]

Ooh! Diagrams. I too would go for the longer. It isn't that much longer and it will be more versatile

[Codsticker]

Ooh! Diagrams.

+1 for diagrams.

[Spinal Tap]

Doable is always a good goal. We imagine grand things but built and on the table top is better than grand and undone.

Isn't that the truth, I started imagining Howl's Moving Castle before scaling down to a smaller walking building.

In my opinion the change to a more basic ferry is not only sensible but has some great opportunities to show off your modelling and painting skills.

[Gunbird]

Jeez, look at the time.....

Sat down, cut and sanded the base frame made from discarded fireworks, glued, sanded it again and now it is ready for the sheet of plasticcard and work up from here.

I have an idea how to do the foldable ramp, found some parts that should help with the engine pods, but besides that not much else. Ah well, doing my best.