My BIGGEST KIT has arrived !

I had no idea just how bloomin heavy this thing was going to be !!
Heavy Duty is an understatement.. it weighs several tons !!

Panels are a minimum of 8 feet by 8 feet .. and take 2 people to handle them , the roof panels are much larger and heavier, ridiculously heavy to my mind !

Assembly had to wait till next day, as it was delivered late afternoon, and here in UK it's dark by 4 pm... :(

Took 3 of us, my son, my OAP neighbour ( who, I am indebted to, for his assistance ) and myself around 5 hours to assemble.. !!

Lifting the roof panels into position was a nightmare , but we did it..

Overall, I am very happy with the building, but do have some "issues" with the clear penny pinching the supplier has taken...

The roofing felt is overall too short, precut lengths are around 2" short ... so I need to add some more to edges and overlap to tidy up... then add the trim/ fascia pieces ...... there is no internal beading to secure the window panels.. so I have had to buy some... no pad bolt or lock..

These took the edge of my excitement at the time, however, I am now well happy with the building...

I have completely underestimated the time it would need to fit it out with electrics, insulation, alarm, shelving etc......

It is unlikely I shall be doing any modelling, on my Atlantis till towards next spring..

But ... I am happy with this... it all adds to the long term project.... Here's a few pics of the new workshop.

Monday, 28th November, as usual the weather "fibbercasters" got it wrong !! It snowed,,, !!

Fortunately, after 3 hours of mind numbing painting with Cuprinol preservative on the exterior panels of the building in 4 degrees C.. I just about finished before the white fluffy stuff arrived !!

Thats it..... I now need to kit it out, internally, transfer all my old shed contents into it, as well as dimsantling that other bike shed thats in the photo..

Likely to be no more updates till early 2006.........

Till then, have a Happy Christmas, and a great New Year !

check back in 2006 for more Atlantis updates :)

New Workshop base

After 2 weeks hard graft, various days leave, weekend working etc, the base is at last ready..

The new workshop, is a timber building, very sturdy, 16 x 8 feet. all 16mm quality T & G on 50mm square framing.. Quite expensive, but will hopefully give in excess of 20 years service, if well maintained.

The countdown has begun...

Workshop base progress begins

Well, I am missing my modelling at the moment, but the new workshop must be my priority.

The logistics involved in the move are horrendous... the old shed needed to be emptied, and all "stuff" placed in the garage, which then displaced the car....... and so on....

After several weeks, I have now extended the original shed base to accomodate the new workshop.

I didn't realise just how much "hard labour" was needed lugging around 400 kilo of Sharp sand, 4 bags of cement, and 25 2x2 slabs would be !

I am getting too old to do this :)

Fortunately the weather has been dry, but very cold, here in the UK, So I have managed to get a move on with the project .



This is the original base, marked out with the dims of the new one..

Note the Squirrel taking an interest, watching me, it's sitting on the last fence panel looking directly at the camera !.

Arrivals update

Yesterday, my deck planking arrived from http://www.modellingtimbers.co.uk/4520.html

Packed tightly within a plastic tube, I have only had a peak in side, took out a handful.. They are fantastic, the quality, grain and machining surpass my expectations 10 fold..... they are magnificent.

My sincere thanks to Keith at modelling timbers, for simply fabulous service with my order, his advice, courtesy, quality and service is what all others need to aspire to !


Make no bones about it..... order your model timbers from here, and you, too, will be thrilled :)

The basework for the new workshop has started, the new larger workshop has been ordered. All being well it will be installed /erected before Christmas.

I don't forsee much activity on the build till the new year now, with the festive season fast approaching too, + the new workshop and the logistics of transferring all the "stuff" from the old to the new.

On top of which the "doom & gloom" merchants, aka The Press, here in the UK forecast a winter of discontent, fuel crisis, and the coldest winter ever recorded in the UK ?

We shall see..... they are rarely correct......

Watch this space for any updates :)

Till then ...... happy modelling.

All Engines Stop / Diversion Ahead

While awaiting delivery of my deck planking, I have been sitting in my workshop pondering, the next move, as one does.

I have decided...... that this here Atlantis, is too BIG for my little workshop...... But don't panic !

I am currently seeking a much bigger workshop, that will increase the size 3 fold.

To all those would be Atlantis owners beware !!

You need a big BIG space to build this boat...

The new space will also allow me to pursue my small Swiss model railway project at the same time.... there is just not enough room in my present workshop, to combine both my hobby interests.

Apart from which, actually laying the deck planks will be nigh on impossible as access to both port and starboard sides of the hull is required.

Otherwise, (as there are around 240 planksto lay) I would have to handle /rotate the boat around 500 times !

Had I thought of this, I would have added that heavy cast iron ballast AFTER the deck had been laid ! Makes sense doesn't it !

Also, placing the boat in the centre of your workspace on a Tv turntable , would be an ideal way of working on both sides, alternately. Simply rotate the boat after laying each plank.

So for the next few months, there will be little progress on the Atlantis, as the planning and logistics need sorting for her new larger home.....

By the time this "new" project is complete, I will be ready to continue the Atlantis build in space and comfort..

As Arnie says........ " I'll be back !"