Calling all WW1 Coastal Motor Boat fans!

[HMS Zulu]

Located at IWM Duxford is a Coastal Motor Boat, built by Thornycroft in 1916. As well as being used in the English Channel and North Sea, CMB 4 was used in the Baltic against Bolshevik forces by Lt Augustus Agar VC in 1919. As well as being displayed, there's also a room dedicated to CMB operations, focused mainly on the Baltic, and archive footage of them training.

More information on Augustus Agar here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus_Agar

[Felix C]

viewing the photos reminds me a South African company, T.C. Collins Models or similar, had both types of CMBs in 1/48 resin. Singe torpedo and dual torpedo carrying versions. Also, had a Turbina as well. Have never seen kit contents or built versions.

[HMS Zulu]

Hi Felix, sounds good, can't find them myself. Only CMB models I can find are these 1/200 scale ones

http://www.rodlangton.com/ww1/ww1txt.htm

[PT Dockyard]

If you want to go even smaller, I do several in 1/600:

-40' CMB
-55' CMB
-55' Armored CMB (from the Russian Civil War)
-70' CMB

Dave G
The PT Dockyard
http://www.ptdockyard.com

[Edward Pinniger]

The National Maritime Museum (NMM) website has some very good quality photos of a 55-foot CMB model in their collection:
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/explor ... ID=SLR1423
I found these photos totally invaluable when building my CMB model, as there aren't many original photos of CMBs which clearly show the boat's details! Not sure of the model's scale, or when it was made, but it looks to me like an original "builder's" model.

Here's my WIP build of the 1/48 TC Models kit:
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=60260

[PT Dockyard]

It only has one torpedo. I thought the 55' boats had two?

Dave G
The PT Dockyard

[finnfan]

Yes, you are right - the CMB with single torpedo at IWM Duxford is a 40' boat. It is reputed to be CMB 4 in which Lieutenant Agar won a Victoria Cross for torpedoing the Russian cruiser Oleg in 1919. They also have a good large scale model of a 55' boat on display in a small room next to where CMB4 is displayed.

[PT Dockyard]

The new Osprey book on the Raid on Zeebruge has some interesting CMB photos and action reports. It describes the attack on the German TB V69 which was thought to have been torpedoed but was missed.

There is a photo in this book of a CMB with a Stokes mortar mounted. Very rare shot.

[Edward Pinniger]

It only has one torpedo. I thought the 55' boats had two?

Dave G
The PT Dockyard

As far as I know, they were built with either two torpedoes (as the TC kit which I'm building) or a single central one with depth charge/mine racks either side (as the NMM model).

[brad]

I have the Langton 1/200 kit of the 80ft boat in my stash of things to do.

There were two versions of this boat and Langton's is the first, limited run version. I plan to update it to the second version as there is a particular boat I wish to represent.

It's really hard, however, to get photos of these boats - I've been in touch with a chap who runs a website dedicated to them and even he has difficulty.

cheers,

bj

[PT Dockyard]

Sounds like you are talking about the 80' Elco ML, not the CMB

[Felix C]

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=60260
Build in progress here.

I thought the 55' was two torpedoes or two chutes and the 40' was single chute.

Here is a single torp. version
http://homepage.mac.com/brentdietrich/C ... y%20II.pdf

[herrmill]

I just took possession of one of Christian Sheppard-Capurro's excellent hulls that I had commissioned, a 1/24 scale late CMB 55 that I intend to build as MTB 27, originally a Chinese boat that served the Royal Navy with distinction in Hong Kong fighting the Japanese.

Since the plans and reference info I have lack a lot of detail when it comes to the twin drives and rudder, I wanted to ask if any you kind folks here may have clear drawings, photos or specs with which to base my build upon. I've got the John Lambert L/S/61 plan but it lacks the detail I'm seeking.

[finnfan]

There is a large scale model of a 55' CMB in the imperial War Museum at Duxford. I have a set of photos of the model, but unfortunately not much detail on the twin drive & rudders.

This is the best one I have showing the area you are interested in

PM me if any of the other pictures are of interest.

Don

[herrmill]

Many thanks! Yea, Christian does nice work & focuses only on coastal motor boats. You'll find his work on the following link:

http://www.mtbhulls.co.uk

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25721684@N ... 269542118/

Sent you a PM so if anyone else has anything to add, as we like to say back home...Keep 'em coming!

[herrmill]

I came across an excellent model of the CMB 55 1917 version in the Royal Museum Greenwich collection that should fit the bill since the photos show far more detail than I've seen before.

http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collection ... 67382.html

At this point the rudders & drive from the attached photo match the late plans I have so I'm going with what I've got.

[herrmill]

And another interesting link with interior shots of the Finnish CMBs you'd not expect to see.

http://smallcrafthistory.weebly.com/thornycroft.html

[mooza]

Guys - I have read your forum with interest and would like you to know that my brother is in the process of restoring a 40ft CMB - CMB9. It was originally thought that the only one remaining was indeed the hull of CMB4 which is in the IWM. She was found rotting in a local boatyard 4 years ago. The years have passed and she was finally actually put back in the water and took part in the WW1 centenary in Plymouth this year. We have a fantastic facebook page - full of old vintage pictures and videos - her restoration photos and finally the fantastic photos of her now - PLEASE like the page - we need all the support we can get and you guys seem to be fans!!
thank you

[coaster]

Lovely to see this boat back in the water! As regards models, Coastal Forces Models are shortly to release a 1/72nd scale CMB. Judging by the 71' 6" BPBco MGB I'm building, it should be really good.

[Felix C]

What web address? I did a google search and a site did not return as a value.