VOSPER 70ft MTB 34

Builders: Vosper Ltd ~ Portsmouth 1939/40
Machinery: 3 x Hall-Scott , high-octane petrol engines
Maximum speed: 38/40 knots
Length: 70 ft
Beam: 16ft 3in 
Draft: 2ft 9in ~ 5tf 6ins  
Crew: 12, 2 Officers and 10 ratings
Armament: 2 x 21inch torpedo, two .500 Vickers MG’s in a power turret, 4/10 depth-charges
Displacement: 47 tons
Admiralty No’s:

The hull and plan we are using for our 2005 build model of MTB 34, which is sold by POWERED BOAT MOULDING additional drawings and information from John Lambert's book    "Allied Coastal Forces of WW2 vol 2" and Warship Profile #7 Vosper  MTB's

We are using our range of fittings for this model!

The hull is a nice clean one piece moulding complete with moulded focsle, the torpedo scallops are also part of the moulding which is a big help ( we have to thank Alan Hawley of Thornbury for that). Alan made the hull back in the late 90's and then past it on to me as a part started project. It was then past to PBM for the purpose of using as master plug for moulding.

There is little work in the way of dressing the mould when it come from PBM, just getting the deck level- flat/strait. We have gone for a single motor (Graupner 600 ECO) and shaft, 35mm standard prop and a 8.4 volt or 9.6 volt Ni-Cad battery pack. A single rudder just behind the prop  linked to 2 transom hung rudders as per the actual MTB.

14th May 2005

From the photos above you can see how far we have got in the build. We have gone for a plastic card deck on this model to save on time. the vac-formed forward wheel house was over plated with 0.75mm plastic card to give the sharp corners. The open bridge was constructed from 0.75mm plastic card to the plan that was supplied with the semi kit from PBM.

Several new fittings will be made for this model now we are building, I am looking at moulding the torpedo tube support rails to save time in making them from scratch (will keep you informed), again we are using the old type of Aluminium STERADENT  tubes as we have some parts left over from building MTB 66.

The transom hung rudders were scratch built from 0.50mm brass plate, they are linked to the main rudder and turn in the same direction.

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23rd May 2005

The story so far!

We have fabricated the two pair of torpedo rails from plastic 0.040" plastic card, which was filed up with all four bolted to a jig that was made from 3.0mm Aluminium. The spacer between the rails were made, moulded then cast in resin (who wants to make 12 on the dam thing all the same- NOT ME). I will be looking at moulding the rails with a brass insert for added strength, at a later date to make it easier for the modeller

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1st June 2005

The torpedo rails are now complete and most of the work is done in the tubes, it lacks it's detail which will be added at alter date. The top and bottom rubbing strakes are also plastic and glued in to place with good quality super glue any gaps filed then sprayed to find any defects.

We will be adding deck detail over the next week along with finish of the wheelhouse.

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6th June 2005

This MTB 34's second outing on the water, as you can see she lifts up on the plane quite nice. I have used a 9.6volt pack for the sail, but a 8.4volt will be the normal pack to be used.

28th June 2005

We have now made new moulds for the torpedo rails, these will be sold as a kit which will include the following parts: inner and outer rails and 6 cross plates. We have also made new torpedo noses, door, tube joiner and a 3 part kit for the Impulse Chamber. Please see fittings page for part number and prices. 

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16th July 2005

Photos below are of the first set of castings from the new mould, as you can see they were designed around a STERADENT plastic tube. The new castings for the impulse chamber have yet to be added to the Torpedo Tube.

If you have any question please give me a call.

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26th September 2005

Photos below show #34 in white undercoat paint with torpedo rail now complete, all new our moulds are ready for the  torpedo rail kits.

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12th October 2005

The colour scheme we have chosen for this model will be the same as the photo at the top of the page, #34 will be painted in the Dark Admiralty Grey (AP507A) and White Diagonal stripes as the photo portrays. We have purchased  paint from White Ensign Models of Ludlow, the paint supplied is similar to Humbrol Paints :being Enamel. As can been seen from the photos #34 is now starting to look like the photo at the head of this page.

A small Revell spray gun was used for the grey paint thinned down with White spirit, the hardest part was trying to match the stripes on the torpedo tubes to that of the hull and wheelhouse.

AP 507A Dark Admiralty Grey (Reference #RN 01

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7th December 2005

Not a lot has been done of the last two months, it hope to complete this model by the end on January 2006.

The running number was sprayed on with the help of a mask stencil made Sign Wizard @ Cradley Heath in the West Midlands, using the same paint colour as the rest of the boat it looks the part. I have only to make up the mast and the rigging and a few small jobs along with a crew then it will be finished.

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20th March  2006

Not a lot has been done of the last two months yet again, its down to the last few detail bits now. These take the time when I can find it!!!!!!!. A few more crew members, safety rails and a few bits and bobs then it will be finished (hope)!!!

A new rear engine room hatch will be made to accommodate the new Vickers .500" power tub, I will also be making the quarter shaped hatch as a semi kit (two sides).

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15th April  2006

The left photo shows the semi complete gun tub along with the parts supplied to date. A sketch will be supplied with the kit, but some parts will need to be made from brass rod by the modeller. A figure will also be available soon dedicated to this kit.

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1st May 2006

Photos above show MTB34 on her third trip out on the water, the left photos show her at 3/4 speed running on a 9.6volt pack. running time was around 20 minuets. Not bad for a battery pack that has not been used in 12 months and only charged for 2 hours.

The Vickers gun tub is almost complete apart from the operators aiming sight. You can also see in the back ground our 63ft Whaleback "S2" MGB.

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September 1st 2006

Photos taken below on 1st September at Bourneville MY&PB club