Vic Smeed Remora from 1964 Model Maker Free Plan
When I was at school and in my young to mid teens, I liked to read the Model Maker magazine that was current at that time.
Although it was a “general purpose” model magazine that covered several different types of model making every month, I found the model boats section the most interesting-especially those about model power boats.
Most model power boats at that time were powered by diesel engines, glow plug engines, two stroke petrol engines (usually ex- strimmer) the occasional rare and expensive (often hand made) four stroke engine, or steam.
Some electric motors were available ranging from the smaller Mabuchi types to the larger Taycol motors and others that I don’t remember so well.
It is with this background that Vic Smeed designed the Remora model power boat for use in steering competitions that were popular at that time.
This may seem a little strange now, but back in the days of single channel radio, steering a model boat accurately though a marked-out course represented a worthwhile and entertaining challenge.
These competitions faded away with the introduction of affordable proportional radio control as steering a model boat accurately became a lot easier as it was no longer necessary to remember the number of times the transmitter button had to be pushed to get the rudder to turn left or right.
The prototype Remora was powered by a .21 glow plug engine and took advantage of the new type proportional radio control system that was to eventually make the intended use of this model boat redundant,
Although it was a “general purpose” model magazine that covered several different types of model making every month, I found the model boats section the most interesting-especially those about model power boats.
Most model power boats at that time were powered by diesel engines, glow plug engines, two stroke petrol engines (usually ex- strimmer) the occasional rare and expensive (often hand made) four stroke engine, or steam.
Some electric motors were available ranging from the smaller Mabuchi types to the larger Taycol motors and others that I don’t remember so well.
It is with this background that Vic Smeed designed the Remora model power boat for use in steering competitions that were popular at that time.
This may seem a little strange now, but back in the days of single channel radio, steering a model boat accurately though a marked-out course represented a worthwhile and entertaining challenge.
These competitions faded away with the introduction of affordable proportional radio control as steering a model boat accurately became a lot easier as it was no longer necessary to remember the number of times the transmitter button had to be pushed to get the rudder to turn left or right.
The prototype Remora was powered by a .21 glow plug engine and took advantage of the new type proportional radio control system that was to eventually make the intended use of this model boat redundant,
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Yes - you have reminded me that I did buy a new set of Remora plans some time ago due to the flimsy condition of the 50 year old original one.
I had already made card templates for all the parts that need to be cut out back in early 1965 (ish) and they were still in good condition, so I never had to actually use the plans other than as a useful reference/reminder…….and a really nice original “keepsake”.
As far as I know I still have the “proper” set of plans that I bought later as I probably kept them safe for future reference for when I make another Remora.
I have really given my current Remora some hard use and when I made it I used any old scrap that was available at the time - the only “new” or decent quality wood that I used was the balsa and the ply skins that I bought new…I unlike my first one that was built from nice new clan wood.
The idea at the time was just to run the Remora for a while while I also built a Suzie Q so that along with the Swordsman I would again own my three favourite Classic Model Power Boats that I remember running together back in the 1960’s.
Once this trio had been assembled, the idea was always to build another Remora - but this time made from all new wood……but the one that I have now has been superb …….and I still haven’t built another Suzie Q and I haven’t finished my Swordsman either !
Covid came along and changed many of my plans - including restoring a LesRo Rapier that was only fit for the skip (which is where I rescued it from!)
The outstanding performance of this “ugly duckling” (Rapier) came as quite a shock as it can out-perform my favourite Swordsman model (!) ……and that tended to influence the other models that I have either built or restored since.
……..and the plan is still to make another Remora sometime - but this time - from the correct type and sizes of NEW WOOD.
Bob.
Sarik Plan Printing Service.
Thinking about it, I probably bought my new set of Remora plans from Sarik as you correctly mention they took on the printing of the Model Maker and Model Boats plans …..along with many other types too!
When I was looking for a different set of plans for something that I was considering building (at the time), I couldn’t find them listed either, so I contacted Sarik and there was no problem having them printed whatsoever - and the lead time was not very long to wait either.
It was made clear to me that the plans would be “printed to order”and once the order was placed and paid for the printing would start with no chance of a refund or change of mind (they probably said it much more eloquently - but it amounted to the same thing!).
It is unlikely that any of the Vic Smeed designs have been dropped from their range - and certainly not anything as popular as the Remora!
Contacting Sarik with an email enquiry should be all that is needed to get the price and delivery cost of a new Remora plan delivered within a reasonable time period…..and it may possibly be less expensive than getting a PDF printed…..but suitable enquires would soon establish this too!
Bob.