Tramp Steamer and Crew.

[Ironworker]

Ok all you Tramper captains out there I need some help comming up with a design for my Tramp Steamer.  I'm definately going for simplicity here.  I plan to scratch build the ship and fittings for this one so I don't want to get too complicated.  I'm planning on doing a boat built between the 1890s and 1900 that I will be using in my pulp games largely set in the 20-40s.  My building supplies are largely foamcore, bass wood, various types of cardboard mat board and cardstock, and wire.  I'm not much of a plastic card modeler.  Also she will have about a 15 man crew and I need a ship that can make ocean voyages so a riverboat won't cut it.

[Hammers]

Given your specs you don't need my advice but let me tell you what I did anyway, just in case you change your mind.

I bought a very, very nice 1/100 papermodel of a 1920 Glasgow coastal tramper, which I scaled up to 1/50 on a xerox. Then I transferred the prints to styrene sheet. It is not ready but I am very happy with it so far. I run into a snag with the ventialtor funnels because they are a pain in the bee-hind to scratch build. I have now ordered a bunch of fiddly bits from Graupner whoich are roughly in scale and very nice. Have a look, I think you'll be tempted by at least a few things. Fast service to. I would not be surprised if there is a US agent.

Also: I went with a coastal tramper becuase I want it authentic looking but not too big for a gaming table. I have another paper model of a larger freighter but it is from a later era and her lines are nowhere near as nice as the Scottish lass'.

[Helen]

I'd just look at the last part of the stern slightly askew and just before its sliding under the water with the captain giving a salute on the stern rail  ::  

As my jolly U boat chalks up another victim

God Bless

Helen

[Plynkes]

Now that just isn't going to happen, Helen, and you know it. You'll arrive just in time to pick up some survivors and perhaps a bit of flotsam, and see my K.u.K. U-Boat sailing off into the sunset.

I know usually the Germans could knock the gimcrack, wonky old Hapsburgs into a cocked hat, but my crack crew of Croats, Italians and Hungarians are commanded by a singing U-Boat Captain from the Tyrol. And singing Captains trump anything the Germans can come up with.

Doe, a deer, a female deer,
Ray, a drop of golden sun,
Me, a name I call myself...

 

[Hammers]

Doe, a deer, a female deer,
Ray, a drop of golden sun,
Me, a name I call myself...

Keep that up and Axis or Entente will matter no longer and we'll all gang up on ya!

[Helen]

Now that just isn't going to happen, Helen, and you know it. You'll arrive just in time to pick up some survivors and perhaps a bit of flotsam, and see my K.u.K. U-Boat sailing off into the sunset.

I know usually the Germans could knock the gimcrack, wonky old Hapsburgs into a cocked hat, but my crack crew of Croats, Italians and Hungarians are commanded by a singing U-Boat Captain from the Tyrol. And singing Captains trump anything the Germans can come up with.

Doe, a deer, a female deer,
Ray, a drop of golden sun,
Me, a name I call myself...

 

Doh!

[Will Bailie]

This deviates a bit from your goal of scratchbuilding, but Reverisco has a nice multi-media kit for a tramp steamer - and only $20!

http://www.tin-soldier.com/thor.htm

(on the other hand, you could simply look at the picture of the model, and use it as a basis for scratchbuilding your own...)

[warrenpeace]

This deviates a bit from your goal of scratchbuilding, but Reverisco has a nice multi-media kit for a tramp steamer - and only $20!

http://www.tin-soldier.com/thor.htm

(on the other hand, you could simply look at the picture of the model, and use it as a basis for scratchbuilding your own...)

And that steamer "Minos" is really nice.  Reviresco's ship fittings are worthwhile time savers, and can be purchased separately from the ships.

[Ironworker]

Thanks for the tips guys.  The Thor is beautiful but it's a bit small.  The Minios is more like it but it's more than I can budget for this project.  

The main hang up I have is how to construct the stern of the ship.  I'd rather it sloped upward like the stern of the Minios but I don't know how to go about that.  

Oh and here's the first crewman.  

[bandit86]

See if this works

[Hammers]

I'd rather it sloped upward like the stern of the Minios but I don't know how to go about that.  

Your choice, but it is non-typical for the era you are thinking of. Before the Great War, I think, the stern of a steamer typically rose vertically. It's really one of the tell tale marks when it comes to dating a ship.

[Ironworker]

That's something I wasn't sure about.  Where could I find information on ships build before WWI.  Most of the stuff I'm seeing is later than that.

[Hammers]

That's something I wasn't sure about.  Where could I find information on ships build before WWI.  Most of the stuff I'm seeing is later than that.

I am talking out of my rear, I keep mixing up the terms in English. I was thinking of the BOW. I am sorry for my confusion.  :oops:

[twrchtrwyth]

That's something I wasn't sure about.  Where could I find information on ships build before WWI.  Most of the stuff I'm seeing is later than that.

I am talking out of my rear, I keep mixing up the terms in English. I was thinking of the BOW. I am sorry for my confusion.  :oops:

So is the front high and the back low? :wink:

[Ironworker]

That's something I wasn't sure about.  Where could I find information on ships build before WWI.  Most of the stuff I'm seeing is later than that.

I am talking out of my rear, I keep mixing up the terms in English. I was thinking of the BOW. I am sorry for my confusion.  :oops:

No problem.  It's perfectly understandable.