Cabin frames sanded and tops 'sized', - ready for gluing. Cut-out and framing for sliding hatch done as well. Next job will be the front screen surrounds.

Managed to cut the front screen surrounds out and attach them, along with the roof panels. Doped the inside, and primed the whole cabin (auto filler primer acrylic) after masking the side panels, which will be varnished after the top coat (white) Structure is now reasonably strong but still a bit flexible with no bulkheads. There will be a bit of mahogany trim here and there inside once painted, to break the white up (as per original)

Hopefully top coating tomorrow if it's warm enough. Not doing anything on the hull yet, as still waiting for 'China' parts to arrive.

Painted the inside and tops of the cabin today but had a few minor problems due to the weather being cold which white enamel paint never likes, (Not perfect but will do for now). I can see all the gaps I need to fill now and will fill and finish paint them later with a brush (very hard to spray inside perfectly). Strapped on the side flashes to see how it might look but cabin still has to be stain varnished on the sides and screen surrounds (maybe tomorrow if the white is hard enough to mask). Might give it a day or so to harden up, as white enamel can be really slow in cold weather.

I have made some cardboard cutouts to fit inside the window apertures to mask the inside off, as I was thinking of spraying the varnish with an air brush to try and get an even finish. Should look better with the stain on.

Tried a bit of varnish stain today, - a bit furry and grain raising, as only first of a few coats (to be finished with clear gloss marine varnish) . This is going to take forever in this weather, as nothing is drying, and I want to sand between coats. Still waiting for China bits (motor's been here a week,- only at the airport 40 mins away- and still not delivered,-our postal service has gone back to the dark ages)!! filled a few more gaps inside (there are 32 parts to the cabin so there are a few) and need to final sand things, but paint just won't dry (2 days and some still tacky)😠

Found I was still getting fingerprints in the white,( though touch dry 2 days) and found that using a hair dryer to heat the paint and a handkerchief as a pad, I could gently rub them out

Finally received the jet unit but have modified the nozzle as the original seemed ridiculously big. The videos I've seen show the water just splattering out as apposed to being guided smoothly. The nozzle is made from a very modified brass plumbing reducer and looks a lot better. Hopefully it will perform better as well. Still have to make a reverse bucket which as previously mentioned will probably be moulded in f/glass.

Managed to get it fitted to the transom today and it looks quite reasonable. Will set up the steering and bucket control rods once the hull is complete. Still waiting for the motor which I ordered before the jet unit. Arrived in the country about 2 weeks ago and still not here!! Will be rarking up the PO soon if it doesn't arrive. The jet unit arrived 4 days ago but lay out in the rain and dirt near the back gate for 2 days as the courier just threw it over the fence rather than bothering to open the gate and leave it by my back door. Only found it by chance!. That's service for you,😠 lazy p---k. Luckily it was very well packed.

Sprayed 3 coats of stain on the cabin sides and a couple of clear so it looks a bit better now. Will add the side 'flashes' later as they are balsa and easily damaged. Windows will be 1mm PETG with widow tint applied, and fitted to the inside rather than outside (as I did with the full sized boat, - with US Rule firm setting marine silicone and around 100 c/s brass screws with brass acorn nuts on the inside, - fun job!) Should be able to carry on with the hull now as I had to wait to fit the jet as the mounting plate was a bit fiddly and easier to do off the boat.

Finally received the motor today, (about time!) and wired it up and trial ran it. Nice smooth motor which runs nicely on 7.5v and lower (supposed to be capable of 12v and 30,000 rpm). Has a bearing on the front end and oilite bush in the rear. Trial fitted to the jet unit but as usual the Chinese precision made itself apparent with the motor and jet shafts not lining up and the alloy flexi coupler vibrating like crazy. Removed that and tried a bit of silicone tube which was far better. You can see how far the alignment is out in the pics, so that will still need sorting.

A slight problem arose in that the jet mount is at 90 deg but the hull bottom is tapered to the transom, requiring a bit of modification to the jet intake area. The ply mounting plate required a wedge making to close the gap, plus flattening it to match the 90 deg from the transom and jet unit. The bottom of the hull will have to dip slightly and blend into the intake area to try and create a smooth transition, (happens in some jet hulls anyhow to a slight extent when the intake grille is flat). One of those things you should have thought of but didn't, but are usually part of making something from nothing, - lots of trial and error😁

Aligning the jet unit to match transom/hull angles (wedge on mount plate,- transom is vertical and hull bottom tapers slightly towards the bow, ie bow is deeper than transom) Jet thrust must be as near to horizontal as possible.

Been mucking around with a reversing bucket for the jet unit. Made a mould from balsa, and used layers of 6oz glass cloth to cover it. I had coated the mould with release wax to help it and used polyester resin on the cloth. Came out reasonably well, with a number of re-lays done to build up areas for the pivot arms so I had some meat to grind to shape for them to sit on. Temporarily cyno'd the arms on to try (will be glassed in once working satisfactorily). Will take a lot of fiddling to get working properly as a few angles / operating arm positions need to be worked out. (one arm for steering and one for the bucket)

Bucket will need an inside deflector installed as well as the bottom of the side chutes covering (to make tubular exits) The deflector will be down the center so as the nozzle turns from side to side during steering in reverse (with the bucket down) one or other side chute will have the water forced towards it (that's the theory anyhow😀)

This bucket is modeled on the latest types, rather than just the old plain scoop coming over the nozzle, which had poor steering in reverse. Won't know if it works till it eventually goes in the water. All a bit more time consuming than buying a ready made jet unit with all the fruit, but about 1/15 the price.

Finally managed to get the jet unit mods done, and hopefully it will actually work 😀
Glassed in the reverse bucket pivots and top lift arm, and soldered pivot pins into the pivots. Had a few angles to sort, out as both controls move in an arc which meant a bit of soldering, re- soldering and shifting the arms, as it had to be all assembled each time an adjustment was made. All I have to do now is figure out how to get the correct movement from the 2 servos and where to mount them, (probably on the inside of the transom).

Painted with f/glass primer (bucket) (alloy side arms etch primed) auto primer filler, metallic grey lacquer and clear coat

Included a few pics of the bucket up (drive) and down (reverse) Made some small vids to show the movement. Will try and put them up.

Steering nozzle servo now fitted. Took a bit of time getting right but works well. Final adjustments will be made with TX. Servo will be strapped in place with a brass strip over it. Next to fit is the bucket servo which will be fun due to the long throw required.