IRIS-Class (CACTUS-Class) Buoy Tender.

[Andy R]

Ok, so for the few who don’t know…
I am a US Coast Guard Reservist. I have perhaps an unusually high degree in my service, and specifically my first and last units. I can do a TPSB in Playmobil in my sleep, but a Buoy Tender is a bit trickier; What I need is one of THESE, and what I have is THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS, and THIS.
¿Advice or suggestions? My skills are kinda limited, so do please bear this in mind. Don’t hold ‘too’ literally to the pic of the real vsl, but I do hope to donate this to USCGC ACACIA (now a museum ship), so it does have to be clearly identifiable…

[Jimbo]

Hi Andy,
How big does the ship have to be?  I can only suggest scratch building with
thin plywood.  It isn't that hard really. 

[Andy R]

Big enought to be idntifiable as a buoy tender; Not much bigger.
And still beyond my skills.

[henry_martini]

Maybe this one with a a black sprayed hull.

[Andy R]

Maybe this one with a a black sprayed hull.

I could, but the buoy deck is forward of the superstructure. I was hoping to replicate my boat…

EDIT: For what it’s worth, I have considered it.

[henry_martini]

Or this. The hull would not even have to be sprayed.



Btw, can one know why playmodb makes a difference between a 'harbor' and a 'harbour' theme?

[Andy R]

Actually it would have to be painted, but I’d assumed no matter what the hull would have to be painted. ¿Advice on rigging the deck? That’s kinda what most looses me.

[WarriorOfToys]

You want a pully system on a mast/post, on the foredeck of your ship?
I was thinking of doing the same thing.
I too am replicating a navy ship, one my grandfather fought on in WWII.

For my design, I am using one of the masts from the pirate ship 3940.
It has a pully system on the foremast, so you only need attach it to the deck somehow.
I would suggest using either your 4424, or your 3128.
Unless you don't mind buying the container ship HM suggested.

Are you open to cutting apart one of more of these ships?

[Andy R]

You want a pully system on a mast/post, on the foredeck of your ship?

Ya, I wish I could find a good set of pictures of the boom working a buoy so you could see how it worked… The best I could find is THIS, but the whip and boom are rigged up some weird way I’ve never seen for any buoy tender (or any other vsl f that matter).

Are you open to cutting apart one of more of these ships?

I’d very much consider it, but I’m worried about MY skill; Still, submit your idea, and I could try at least.

[Andy R]

123

[Richard]

Spent some time on the USCGC Sagebrush.

Here are a few photos of a working buoy boom.

[Andy R]

The second pic is USCGC MADRONA (WLB-3Ø2), one of ACACIA’S sisters, as was USCGC SAGEBRUSH (WLB-399), though both were open ocean buoy tenders (ACACIA was a Great Lakes buoy tender).

I got to thinking (and it hurt) about something; It doesn’t have to be a perfect example, just enough to demonstrate to the public what a buoy tender does.

[Richard]

... just enough to demonstrate to the public what a buoy tender does.

What the "public" probably doesn't realize is how much hard work the deck crew has to do on a buoy tender. And, how dangerous it can be for the crew members who have to leap from the ship to the buoy to make fast the line from the boom.

And, if you were stationed on the Great Lakes, you must've frozen your butt off ...

[Andy R]

What the "public" probably doesn't realize is how much hard work the deck crew has to do on a buoy tender. And, how dangerous it can be for the crew members who have to leap from the ship to the buoy to make fast the line from the boom.

And, if you were stationed on the Great Lakes, you must've frozen your butt off ...

Oh my. Times must have changed. Now they use a great big spring loaded fork called a “Happy Hooker” to attach a reeving gear, which pulls the hook to the bail to lift the buoy out.
Still dangerous, but not NEARLY as dangerous as jumping ON the buoy.
Nad yes I did.