This last week I have been preparing the boat for radio installation.
Due to the small size of the model, a degree of planning needs to be done to make a neat installation. With this model the forward cabin has an open back and therefore subject to possible water intrusion. The rear deck area also has the potential to convert to a swimming pool if subject to some enthusiatic reversing. That really only leaves the mid cabin in which to squeeze the gear into.

My goal was to make a drop in board that located the hardware. First I slotted the cabin sides back into place to check how much room I really had for placing and removing the board into the hull. I made a cardboard template just to confirm the clearances.

First I glued four support pads in place to support the board, two to the front bulkhead, two to the back bulkhead. Then on my board I glued four location pads to the underside. These pads are a very close fit between the support pads on the bulkheads and prevent any sideways movement of the board when its dropped onto the support pads.

I then cut and fixed a battery barrier to the board. This is to keep the battery packs in place against the rear bulkhead.

The receiver and speed control locate into their own four sided nests. The bottom of the nest has been opened up to allow for ventilation. Not really necessary for the receiver but more helpful for the speed control.

I also cut a couple of slots in the bottom of the board so that you can see the skins and keel for any water accumulation in the hull.

Now I have located the radio hardware the temporary equipment wiring will be re-done now I know the necessary wire lengths. However I will probably hold off on this job until much later.

Pictures -
Radio plate in place

Radio plate with equipment, note temporary wiring/

Now that we are well on the way regarding the radio gear, its time to continue with the model.

I applied a little epoxy to the underside of the rudder tube and then tightened up the nut to clamp it in place.

One of the reasons why the cabin sides have not yet been glued in place is because they obscure the top edges of the side skins. its now time to take care of this. The inside of the hull was vac'd clean. Masking tape was applied to all the remaining as yet un-glued joint surfaces and the motor mount blind nuts.

The model was then taken out doors and three coats of clear butyrate dope were applied to the inside of the hull.
When dry & the fumes gone ! the model was brought back in doors and the cabin sides finally glued in place.

Deck support rails were cut and fixed to the cabin sides & also a support for the rear deck added.
Prior to fitting the individual deck panels, cardboard templates are trimmed to establish the correct development. The deck skins are made from 1/32" ply.
At this time the deck skins are only rough sanded to shape.

Work has started on the removeable front cabin. This is pretty tricky & to be sure it fits properly I have decided to jig it in situ.
Care needs to be taken to ensure that the inner face of the cabin sides is inline or slightly inboard of the the bulkhead stringers. This cabin locates on tabs fitted to the inner face of the cabin sides.
I believe that at some time Aerokits did a model change as I note that my fathers original & one other I have seen on the internet has a large single side window in the front cabin. On the copies of the ads I have seen they have a split window. For this project I have decided to go with the split window which makes it look more of a sister to the Fireboat.

Since the last post I have completed the basic construction of the forward cabin. This includes an interlocking mast that's made out of a combination of ply and spruce. To help secure the mast I glued some spruce blocks to the underside of the cabin roof & drilled though the mast legs, roof sheeting & into the blocks with a fine drill and pin vice. A short length of piano wire was then pushed into the hole and epoxied in place. My thinking is that this is less likely to split the wooden leg than using a screw from the underside.

Handrails have been fabricated, again from spruce and epoxied in place. The first coat of stain has been applied to the hand rails.

The removable rear deck provides access to the rudder servo but being a featureless piece of wood was difficult to remove some some detail was added that could be used to grab hold of and help removal. The detail comprised of two sets of steps and an inspection hatch.

The hull has been given a provisional fill & sand but work on the project is pretty much at a standstill and maybe this way for another two weeks. I had ordered some lime planking for the decks over two weeks ago. When chasing up on the order earlier this week I have been informed that its out of stock and I'll have to wait. Untill I receive it I can't finish the hull / add the rub rails...

I'm still waiting for the deck planking to arrive. Without it I can't add the hull rub rail or the ply skin to the transom to finish the hull.

I have decided that it would be less tricky to paint the cabin sides first and then fit the decking along side. That way I shouldn't get any paint drips on it.

Work on the first primer coat has started. I'm using Nelson's water soluble epoxy and applying with a sponge / brush

Still awaiting the arrival of my deck planks. According to the supplier they went into the post April 22nd. When I spoke to the supplier last week they have been declared "lost" and another despatch sent.

In the meantime progress has been very slow. I have top coated the cabins, made some life rings & have some hull rub rails in a bending jig.

Well the planking finally arrived about a couple of weeks ago but I have been away on vacation.

The planking 8mm x 1mm Lime wood has been glued down with some slow CA. Some of the thin tapered outer edge strips have shown a tendency to flake / splinter under sanding. To protect this I am in the process of adding a rub rail to the top edge of the deck.

I have seen pictures of another FPB where the bow wave was rising pretty high up the side skins. if this is the case with mine, hopefully the rub rail will also act as a bit of a spray rail.

Two dummy engine exhausts have been added to the transom.

Both rub rails now in place.

Decks sanded and "polished" with Scotchbrite.
Time to start thinking about primer painting the hull, then clear coat over the decks