SD14 Full Build-1/70-Marcle-kevvin 547n - Jan2022

[kevin 547n]

well here we go
after finishing the Stagecoach to was time to get another ship on the table


Sometimes known as the replacement for the famous "Liberty" ship, the 14,000 ton SD14 general cargo ships are found under many different names and flags in most of the world's ports and all of the high seas. The designation "SD14" denotes "Shelter Deck 14,000 tons". The shelter deck is the second or tween deck in the cargo spaces and, when the ship is loaded down to her plimsoll line, she displaces 14,000 tons.

By the mid 1960s, there remained some 700 Liberty and other war-built cargo ships still trading. Even the youngest were 20 years old and the question of a replacement was exercising the minds of ship owners and builders around the world. the emergence of bulk carriers and container ships pointed to the end of the "shelter Deck" design which had been used with little alteration since the turn of the century. Many felt that this design was no obsolete and that the future lay with containerisation.

It was, therefore, something of a surprise when ship builders all over the world unveiled their plans for the "liberty Ship Replacement", almost all of which offered a two-deck vessel of 14,000/15,000 tons deadweight. Doubtless this choice was influenced by the requirements of potential customers. Most of the war-built vessels were, by this time, being operated by Greek ship owners of limited resources to whom these new designs, for a type of vessel with which they were fully experienced and priced at about £1 million with cheap credit facilities, were very attractive.

A total of 30 designs were put forward as the "Liberty Ship Replacement" in the early months of 1966. Of these, the most successful was the SD14, developed by the Sunderland shipbuilders, Austin and Pickersgill. The first SD14 keel was laid on 8th. June 1967. Unusually, this was not at Austin and Pickersgill's own yard, but nearby at that of another Sunderland shipbuilder, Bartram's, who were building the ship under licence. The first ship, named Mimis N. Papalios, was launched on 1st. December 1967. She was also very nearly the first SD14 to be completed. However, Austin and Pickersgill managed to make up the leeway in their own building programme to hand over the first completed SD14, the Nicola, on 14th. February 1968, the Mimis N. Papalios following the next day.

Between 1968 and 1988, a total of 211 SD14s were completed and it is interesting to note that, by 1990, only 10 had been scrapped for commercial reasons, a further three going to the breaker's yard after marine accidents. Of the dozen vessels reported as sunk, at least two fell victim to missile attack during the Iran/Iraq conflict.

Like the original Liberty ships, which many thought would be scrapped as soon as the war was over, the SD14 was not ascribed a very long life by some early critics. Nevertheless, these ships are still in demand in the charter market, with average daily rates of $5,200 for a one-year time contract, and in the second hand market with prices ranging from $2.5m for an early seventies ship to $5.75m. for a newer example.

One guide to the success of the SD14 is to look at the movement of the 211 ships through the second-hand market. Most of the ships now sailing are with only their second owner, a few remaining with their original purchaser. The oldest SD14 in service is the Wave Crest, the vessel which, as the Mimis N. Papalios, missed by one day the distinction of being the first completed ship of her type.

SD142.JPG The Model

In 1978, while attached to Manchester Docks, George Robinson, a retired Merchant Navy captain, hit on the idea of providing the port fire brigade with an easy-to-build model of the SD14. In this way, the trainee firemen could easily and quickly become familiar with the layout of the ship.

So, originated a 2-foot long, 1:70 scale model kit of the Forward section of the SD14. This first attempt met with such success that kits if the Midships and After sections followed in 1979, the complete model measuring an imposing 7 feet in length. Professional and international recognition followed in 1982 when the model won the "Shipwrights Model Competition" at the Guildhall in London.

Quite apart from sheer size, the kit is remarkable, for it is, in fact, put together in much the same way as the original was in Sunderland. Space here permits no more than a brief glimpse of what awaits the builder of this miniature leviathan.

The instructions, which, for the complete kit, run to about 60 pages, first explain that the model will be built by the dry dock method rather than on the slipway - the difference is clarified.

You then proceed to lay the shell bottom plates of the Forward section to form the double bottom, between the outer surface of the hull and the inner surface of the holds. On the original, the space in between in used for water ballast, necessary to keep the propellor submerged when there is no cargo and to maintain an even keel. This last expression, in such common and, I suspect , often unwitting, usage, is precisely defined.

The building progresses aft as the cargo holds are each constructed with transverse watertight bulkheads, hold pillars and centre line plates. There are even properly runged ladders on which to descend to the bowels of the vessel. In the After section, as well as a cargo hold, there is the engine room together with the propellor shaft tunnel and, by lifting up the after deck house, access is provided to the steering gear flat and the rudder stock.

In the bridge superstructure, containing the crew's accommodation, every cabin is accounted for. The crew's mess room, galley and smoke room are each separately delineated as are the linen locker, baggage room and officers' smoke room to mention but a few. The model also incorporates the correct ventilation trunk ways, the significance of which for cargo handling is explained.

In the course of construction, the instructions are supplemented by sections which explain the actual fabrication of the original, so that, as you work through the model, you learn about the SD14, how it was assembled and how it works.The operation of such components as MacGregor hatch covers, the keelson and camber in the original are fully expounded and you can then reproduce these to scale. Step-by-step diagrams illustrate the sequence of construction.

It is perhaps worth remembering that ships are machines, the largest ever built by man. So it is fascinating to see how this great machine works and to reproduce it in miniature at the same time. The correct nautical terms are used and explained, showing how each part of the ship functions and how the whole design draws on centuries of experience to produce the modern ocean-going vessel. If, like me, you have wondered what exactly is a "Tween Deck" and what is its purpose, you need wonder no more. All is revealed after which you can actually build one.

The kit is printed on 184 A3 sheets of top quality manilla card, there being approximately 4,500 pieces, and the modeller can choose to paint the model with an authentic colour scheme or one of his own choice. The three sections can be fixed together or left dismantled and the aft superstructure can be removed to give a glimpse of the various deck levels inside the hull. naturally, all the cargo hatches open to show the holds.

. The model can be made either for display or, with suitable waterproofing (see "Cutting Remarks" no. 3), can be sailed, there being space for R/C gear.

Although the original SD14 models were all sold out about 10 years ago, Marcle Models, under licence from George Robinson, reissues the SD14 kit. The complete kit, weighing over 17 lbs, is supplied in 6 cartons, complete with a tool kit and costs £280 including worldwide surface mail. The three sections, Forward, Midships and After, are each available separately at £105 each.

Should you decide to have a go, this, the "Non plus ultra of card (and perhaps any other type of) modelling, should keep you busy for about a year.



Christopher Cooke and Thomas Pleiner, with acknowledgements to George Robinson, John Lingwood and Ships Monthly. Article first appeared in "Cutting Remarks" No. 4, September 1992.

[kevin 547n]

the finished AL 1/10 1848 stagecoach

[kevin 547n]

a full build is 3 sections fwd, midships and aft

keel plates for the forward section have now been made up

this is her new home whilst being made up

[kevin 547n]

good evening everyone
well i have started this build, infact i am on day 4 now
so far it has gone according to plan
i am glad i have gone with the full build, and not as was planned to do in three sections, each one representing a life cycle of the working ship, new, in use and dismantling,
i have made a promise to keep this log updated, even though i also use other forums
day 1
image 1 my build board, when the three sections are together my table will be to small
day 2
image 2 the double bottom plates, now glued, but still in 3 sections
lonituninals for the stern now fixed
day 4
image 5 all longitudinal in place
image 5 1/15 card engine arrived today, to be scaled down to 1/70

[romanmodels]

i think you will find that the engine is not right for the sd14 it has six cylinders and will not be as tall as the Sulzer engine the cylinder tops are level with the shelter deck and is a five-cylinder engine. other wise, looking good.

[gert]

Hello,
The story you wrote gives a very realistic and historical image of the development of the kit. I like to add following: I succeeded in buying an real authentic SD14 kit from Peter Heesch in 2020. Including a small note from George Robinson himself. That kit also consist of three parts of the ship as you discribed. But only in 3 boxes and the cardboard is more or less "pink" coloured! Also interesting may be the the website from shipspotting. They have over 2.000 pictures of SD14 ships. Almost all of them. Address of the site is: https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/...&sortBy=newest
I am building the model in three fases.
I will come back on the painting of the model. Some of the builders used just standard paint from the do-it-yourself shop. I am using ( cheap ) paint cans.
Gert

[kevin 547n]

Originally Posted by gert

Hello,
The story you wrote gives a very realistic and historical image of the development of the kit. I like to add following: I succeeded in buying an real authentic SD14 kit from Peter Heesch in 2020. Including a small note from George Robinson himself. That kit also consist of three parts of the ship as you discribed. But only in 3 boxes and the cardboard is more or less "pink" coloured! Also interesting may be the the website from shipspotting. They have over 2.000 pictures of SD14 ships. Almost all of them. Address of the site is: https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/...&sortBy=newest
I am building the model in three fases.
I will come back on the painting of the model. Some of the builders used just standard paint from the do-it-yourself shop. I am using ( cheap ) paint cans.
Gert

good evening Gert
it is the same kit, made under licence, nothing has changed since the first one which was the the same as yours, i lost the build a long time ago possibly 2008, the manila card is a different colour, but the weight per sheet is the same, approx 29g
i will have a look at that site,
the book SD14 "the full story" by John Lingwood is a good read
as i am using a paper varnish over everything, i will most likely use a rattle can, or airbrush acrylic's

[kevin 547n]

good morning

day 6

saw most of the double bottom floors shaped and temp in position, they now need to be taken out and any adjustments needed so that the next set of longitudinals go in, however i may just continue though to the aft section, to keep all the sections at the same state of build
IMG_2954 - Paper Modelers Gallery
IMG_2955 - Paper Modelers Gallery

[kevin 547n]

Day 10 and 11 centre section double bottom floors

thank you for comments and likes

not much to show for about 8 hours cutting, but its getting there

[kevin 547n]

Day 13 centre section double floor frames

good evening everyone

still ploughing through these, hope to complete the tomorrow, then its time to glue them in and get the centre line to be a lot tidier, im happy with the progress,