The Severn class: what modellers need to know
The Severn is the largest lifeboat in the RNLI’s current all-weather fleet, at about 17.3 m long. It entered service in the mid-1990s, and the class has been through a life-extension programme to keep it in service for many more years. Key points for a model:
- Operated afloat. Severns lie at moorings or in harbours rather than launching down slipways.
- A Y-boat and crane. A small Y-class inflatable sits on the upper works and is launched by a crane, a distinctive feature and a good working option on a large model.
- A dense, technical look. Vents, panels, grab rails, fendering and hundreds of exposed fastenings make detail the heart of a Severn model.
- Size and weight. At around 42 tonnes, the real boat is heavy, and so is a big model.
Operational numbers for the class start with 17.
Severn model kits
Kit availability changes over time, so check current listings.
Large-scale RC kits
The best-known large RC kit is Speedline Models’ 1:12 Severn. According to the maker’s description, it builds to about 58 in (around 1.47 m) long and 18 in wide, and was sold either complete or as individual sets:
- Hull and wheelhouse set. GRP mouldings, with the deck moulded onto the hull, plus laser-cut acrylic bilge keels and rudders.
- Detail set. More than 600 laser-cut acrylic and etched brass and nickel silver parts, with pre-drilled holes for the dummy bolt heads.
- Castings set. Winches, cleats, fairleads, bollards, vents and a radar scanner.
- Handrails, stanchions and kickboard set. Includes pre-formed aluminium kickboards.
- Running set. Twin prop tubes, A-frames and four-blade brass propellers.
- Windows, vacuum-formings, hex-head bolt, fendering and brass rod sets
- A complete Y-class RIB, detailed enough to be a small kit in its own right
At one point the complete kit was listed at a little over £1,000, without motors or radio. Prices will have changed since. Being able to buy the kit in stages is a real advantage on a project this big.
Small-scale plastic kits
Airfix has produced a plastic Severn class lifeboat at 1:72. At that scale the model is about 240 mm long, which makes it a good static project or a reference model to study before tackling a big working one. For other static kits and scales, see plastic model ship kits by scale.
Choosing a scale
| Scale | Approx. length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1:12 | ~1.44 m (plus fendering) | Superb detail, but very heavy and hard to transport |
| 1:16 | ~1.08 m | Still large, more manageable |
| 1:24 | ~0.72 m | Practical size, less room for working features |
| 1:72 | ~240 mm | Static display |
A 1:12 Severn’s theoretical scale weight comes to over 20 kg. Even if your model ends up lighter, plan for a two-person lift, a sturdy cradle and a vehicle big enough to carry it.
Build tips
Hull, running gear and rudders
- Mark the waterline, centreline and shaft lines before cutting anything.
- Fit prop tubes and A-frames carefully, and check that shaft alignment runs freely by hand before gluing. See how to fit and seal a stern tube and prop shaft.
- Test the motors and drive train in the hull before you build any of the upper works.
Wheelhouse and windows
- Make the wheelhouse removable, with a good seal, for access to batteries and electronics.
- Severn windows are a strong visual feature. Assemble frames and glazing separately and fit them after painting.
Detail: bolt heads, kickboards, rails and fendering
- Bolt heads. The real Severn has a great many exposed stainless fastenings. Fitting dummy bolt heads after painting gives crisp, unpainted heads against coloured panels.
- Kickboards. These follow the deck steps and curves. Trim and fit them patiently.
- Rails and stanchions. Solder or glue in sub-assemblies on a jig so they’re straight and evenly spaced. Etched parts like these are covered in how to use photo-etched parts.
- Fendering. Fit last, after painting, so it doesn’t get damaged or overpainted.
Crane and Y-boat
Build the Y-boat as a separate model. If you plan a working crane, decide early so you can route wiring or linkages before the upper works are closed in.
Ballast and trim
Fit everything heavy first, then float the hull and add ballast low and central until it sits on its waterline. A boat with this much superstructure needs its weight kept as low as possible. See how to ballast an RC model boat down to its waterline.
Painting and markings
The Severn wears the modern RNLI scheme: a dark blue hull, orange superstructure, and white, black and grey details. Decide which boat and which period you’re modelling, because fittings and markings change after refits. See painting a model in accurate RNLI livery.
Working features
Popular features on large Severn models include:
- Navigation, search and blue lights
- A sound unit
- A bow thruster
- Working trim tabs
- A working crane for the Y-boat
Add them one at a time, and keep the basic model reliable.
Living with a big model
A large Severn is one of the most impressive models you’ll see at a club, but it needs space at home, in the car and at the water’s edge. If that sounds like too much, the Tamar and Shannon give a similar look in a smaller package. Our guide to radio controlled lifeboat models compares them all.