So, yesterday had limited time at hand, but managed to seal and sand the inner hull and gave it a slosh of resin before bed!

Today’s, main task was to make up the fuse and on/off switch harness and the wooden mount for it, all done, sanded and painted and it screws onto the middle frame making it removable for maintenance If required.

Also, primed and rattle can sprayed the inside of the hull, finished with a light coat of lacquer. Rob, you may recognise the blue black colour which I had left over from a previous build that we both did!

Last jobs today, after a T-bone steak dinner, were to install some of the electronics and then give the outer hull another coat of resin. Done for the day!

The work today was a late start as I had to go to the Base and finalise my Army discharge paperwork and hand in my ID card after 36 years, a surreal day indeed! Starting my new job next week in the MOD at USAF Lakenheath, a new challenge and fast jets!

After all that, gave the hull another sand followed by a session with the wet n dry ending up with a super smooth surface. Then made a start on the spray and life rails following Robs advice on making them triangular. Easy with the Davy plane and the flat plate sandpaper. The spray rail or curved on one edge and this took a little more effort to get right, but again, a little careful use of heat formed it round the curve of the bow.

Last thing to day was to Start fitting a 10mm fender rail Which I will do in sections for ease, it gets covered with rubber D-fendering anyway. I used the kit included 6.5mm wood strip, but I think it would have been better if they had included 5mm which will form round the bow easier. I have some in my spares box, so will use a double strip of this round the tighter curves of the box and transom.

My very last thing was to fit one of the side frames which was remarkably easy, and only require a little sand to follow the fender wood nicely. And tiny gaps in rails, ect got a dollop of P38 filler and has been sanded back. Once all the rails are on, any bare wood will get a coat of sealer, then 1 final thinned coat of resin prior to painting.

Good progress today getting the remaining rails, frames ect fitted. It’s taken a few hours to get all these bits on, some using heat, steam, boiling water ect to get them to conform to the curves.

After all pieces were fitted, used some P38 filler to fill and gaps and sanded that back before 2 coats of sanding sealer on bare wood, sanding between.

After a good clean and de-grease, final job of the day was to give the complete hull less the deck a thinned coat of resin leaving to set up over night.

Will start looking at the cabin tomorrow and see how I can alter that from the kit norm.

Late start today, chores at home had to be done in the first instance!

Started with finishing the rudder linkage, nice slop free connection. I did solder a brass spacer onto the rudder post so that the rudder doesn’t foul the small keel protrusion. Also finished setting the motor mount using a fixed coupling made of brass tube with a plastic tube sleeve and the motor is in perfect alignment. Hopefully the coupling will be here in the next few days so I can make that fixture permanent.

It was then time to start planning my cabin which was always going to involve major surgery if I wanted it to resemble the Southampton boat I hope to represent. Using the kit side, I made a template on paper of what I wanted the cabin to look like, did a little chopping on the side piece, made a cabin piece and made sure it looked right on the model. I then transferred this all to a fresh sheet of ply and cut it out on my scroll Saw. What I do before cutting out, is to score several times all straight lines on the wood with a Stanley knife before cutting out, giving the scroll saw blade it’s own guide for a straighter cut. Cut out the windows on one side, then finished the day with a mock up on the hull for an idea of what it will look like soon.

Have managed to get 2-3 hours in today inbetween husband duties, walking the dog ect.

The main effort today was making the cross members to support the cabin walls and the rear wall panel. After a good amount of measuring, have managed to get all the framing complete with the cabin sitting (not glued at this point) on the removeable hatch. The front hatch roof is now fitted, but the cabin main roof and the cabin bow will take a little careful working to get a nice shape. my reference pictures are limited, but I think ive managed a fair represention of the real thing? there will bealot of handmade details to add once the cabin structure is filled, sanded, sealed and there will be plasticard window frames too.

I will try and get as much of the cabin structure finished tomorrow before I start my new job wednesday, things will then slow down im afraid to say until the weekend.

Strange sort of day today? Managed to get an hour in before I had to pop over to RAF Lakenheath to pick up my new uniform ready for starting my new job tomorrow.

On the way back, picked up a couple of click n collect cans of spray to go with the ones I already have so now have the full range of primers, colours, and lacquer to finish the model when we get to that point.

One of the photos shows my scrap strip, sheet, and metal/plastic/brass and wire. A couple of months ago they were all pretty full, but have taken a massive hit after my “Orca” Build and this, to the point I’m struggling for some stuff, but will manage!

The remain couple of hours today has seen the rear of the cabin structurally finished less filler, sealing and sanding. Still to do is the angled roof panels and the front end of the cabin. I shall now give you guys a 3 day breather as that will be until the weekend 😢

So after starting my new job with the MOD at RAF Lakenheath Wednesday, I’ve managed to get a little bit of work done last night and this afternoon after my new boss gave me an early finish (cheers Dave!👍)

Concentrated on finishing the cabin roof trusses, adding the roof and all the front window panels. I’ve decided that my roof window panels will be glass free and will either be painted on in black or I will use some self adhesive vinyl, as the photos of the real thing I have give the impression those windows are dark glass.

The weekend should see the front end finished and then I can start making all the detail bits. I’m planning on leaving the painting until everything is ready for prime and paint.

I did get the prop coupling in the post yesterday and after hooking that up, gave the motor,esc, prop combi a watt meter run in the wife’s hot tub before she came home and gripped me! So, the watt meter reading on a new charged 3S lipo with a 40mm brass prop gave an amp reading of 38a and that was not quite full chat! I’ve only got a 40a fuse in the line so didn’t want to push it. The big thing though was the amount of thrust was incredible to the point that all the water in the hot tube was rotating! On the lake it would be the equivalent of a boat travelling faster than a startled gazelle, way too much. I’ve got a 30mm brass 3 blade, so I’m going the give that a whirl over the weekend and see if that calms things down! I could drop down to a 2S, but don’t have any and don’t wish to buy one if I don’t have too. Please feel free to advise as necessary 😂😂😂

Have been given kind permission by the “boss” to have a few hours today on condition we go for a drive to a secluded Suffolk coast beach tomorrow to walk the dog! Wasn’t going to argue so onwards 😂😂

Gave the hull a final clean up this morning and gave it 4 coats of red Halfords primer for the below waterline red oxide colour. I’ve since covered that so it doesn’t get grubby and scuffed whilst I prepare the rest of the hull for its grey primer, textured deck and black finish, but that’s for another day.

I also finished the bow Cabin superstructure Wood work and have P38 filled and sanded any gaps. The hole thing now needs to be sealed, sanded and checked for any further filling before priming. I intend to give the interior either a coat of grey primer and maybe black on top of that as I’m not adding any interior detail, I shall see what the grey looks like before deciding. Once that’s done, I’ll glue the cabin to the removable hatch, then any remaining filler before prepping the whole thing for paint.

I started to make the bollards today, needing 6 double in total. I always make mine from plastic tube and rod, that way they are virtually free to make and can be made any size and scale require. I also made the first of 2 cabin side vent intakes, again, plastic sheets laminated, rivets from 1.5mm plastic rod then spray painted silver with black Self adhesive solar trim left over from my aircraft modelling days, easier than painting! The grey tube is just B&Q plumbing pipe which will become the life raft container.

Not had a lot of time the past few days now that I have to work again! Things will ease up once I’ve finished my 2 week induction and start my regular shifts!

Anyway, having got home, had tea and walked the dog, the past 3 evenings has seen cabin prep, sanding, filling and sealing, followed by primer and the Orange top coat. Might give it one more light coat before it gets its final gloss lacquer. Having stared at my reference photos, I’m guessing the window frames are white and not silver like RNLI boats, well white their gonna be! If someone cry’s silver before I paint, let me know!

I’m trying to remind myself this model is stand-off scale and not 100% accurate! I wish I’d canted the cabin sides in further and the bollard cut outs on the side should be bigger. But I’m going to live with it. Once I’ve added the list of detailing parts that I’ve made hopefully it will be a nice representation.

Still a bit of rubbing back to be done on the hull oxide red to flatten a couple of high spots, then I can reapply the red, mask and add the black sides and non slip deck coat.

It’s been a Strange sort of weekend! I was really hoping to get some more paint on the hull, but due to the rain I’ve not managed more than getting the red oxide sanded back and reapplied. “OC domestic” gets a little heated if I spray car paints in the conservatory!

Anyway, in between dog walking and household chores, I managed to get some of the bits n bobs for the cabin sorted which included the side vents, radiator intake, rear door, simulated roof windows and frames, nav lights, front hatch, side boxes and the roof horn. All items less the horn were made from good old plasticard and painted with the relevant Halfords rattle cans.

One question to anyone who may have the answer if I may. I would like the nav lights, radar and search lights to be switchable on/off from the transmitter. Is there an easy way to hook this up through the receiver (Turnigy). If the worst come to the worst, I will hook up to a AA battery box with a switch Which will mean on or off before sailing with no option to switch on when on the pond.