I know there are Great Lakes ore boats out there, but the Edmund Fitzgerald would pretty much sink my HO shelf layout if I tried to put it into my harbor scene. Does anyone know of models of smaller workboats and cargo vessels (beyond tugboats and bargers) appropriate for freshwater ports, even if it takes major kitbashing? And has anyone out there modeled a Great Lakes fi***ug, a unique fully enclosed boat that was used throughout the 20th Century? This may end up as fodder for a story on this site, but your advice will greatly aid my modeling efforts. Thanks.
Tom Chmielewski
Associate Editor, trains.com
Sylvan Scale Models of Canada makes a Great Lakes ore carrier in both HO and N scales, It represents a fairly small boat, but they also sell an “cxtender” section to be spliced into the middle, as was done with real vessels. “Model Railroader” magazine reviewed the HO model a couple of years ago. Check out Sylvan’s website, as they make other vessels as well.
Great Lakes Fi***ug? is that what they’re called!
anyway, Lindberg is re-releasing their North Atlantic fishing trawler kit. the hull of this kit is approximately 137’ in HO scale, and could be the basis for a kitbash ( thank heavens for Evergreen styrene, and the chopper). I have a fair amount of information on vessels from the Chesapeake bay on up into Maine, but little on the Great lakes, so can only suggest maratime historical organizations, or the prototype for information. There are, unfortunately, very few HO scale ship/boat models available. For the N scalers, Revell has a kit for a Russian spy trawler that could be used as a starting point for an N scale freighter.
Lindburg Models makes a North Atlantic Trawler and a Shrimp Boat that you may want to check out. T Shrimp Boat in particular Would work well with a little imagineering As a cargo vessel or a reworked fishing boat that is about 12 inches long. The N. A. Trawler is 14 inches long. Good luck and happy sailing.
Tom, I have the North Atlantic Trawler that has been discussed and it is planned for a kitbash as the others have mentioned. I also have the Russian Spy Trawler by Revell and have kitbashed it to make a neat open deck fishing boat. One model that has not been mentioned is the Voco Marine Model kit of a lake freighter. The company makes a number of different models for are carriers and tankers. It measures about six feet long and five inches wide. I am in the process of building this kit and have placed it on a penninsula jutting out from my main layout. It is definitly a craftsman kit, but worth a look. Unlike the Fitz, which will be 8 ft long, this one might be a bit more managable. It could also be shortened with little trouble. I have never seen the Sylvan freighter mentioned, but that might be a good one as well. If you are looking for more ideas, go to a website called boatnerds.com, it has a ton of pictures, info and links about great lakes shipping. Good luck, the lakes are addictive to anyone who wants to include them on their layouts, it is a great combination!
To all of you, thanks for your help. I’ll check out the options mentioned. If anyone has other ideas, let me know. One company I discovered is a Dutch manufacturer called Aritec. They have HO and N scale boats, very European styling of course, but definitely some kitbashing possibilities for harbor workboats and motor barges.