I purchased Kitshack Crash Tender kit when they started selling them off Ebay last year. I think it has some similarities to the old 50's plywood kits and looks like a nice heritage model which would look good on the pond. The kit comes with all the necessities but also acetate type glazing and window frames but no shaft or rudder.

I had already started the build and had got to hull frame almost complete before I decided to open the blog. I had expected that the construction would be similar to the old Aerokits boats that I used to make in the 60's, but Kitshack have cleverly added some labour saving changes in their design.
The main chine, deck and keel stiffeners are made of 6mm balsa. These are made in sections which are preprinted on balsa sheet and you cut out yourself using a craft knife. The sections then slip into the slots which are precut in the bulkheads and you can sand perfectly to the angle of the side and hull bottom. This is so much easier than trying to heat bent hardwood chine stringers and then all the effort of planing and sanding to profile. The photo shows where I have got to so far, and how the stringers fit and sand. The transom is also made in balsa and as its on a slight incline, is again aesy to sand lightly to profile.
As the photo shows, all the main plywood is 1.5mm, 3mm and 6mm and preformed to shape.
I have used standard PVA waterproof glue, and when the next step of fitting the skins is done soon, I will run a resin layer around all the bulkeads and skins to give a strong seal.

Here are the some photos showing how well the balsa can be profiled into the plywood bulkheads. Still some sanding to do.

The kit comes with a full size drawing so setting out and part identification are easy.

Next step will be the hull skinning or cabin constructions.

The sanding has continued and it is really easy to get a crisp joint on the keel to bulkheads, chine and deck edge on the balsa. The photos show all sanded down ready for skins to be fitted. I did add some scrap 6mm balsa either side of F2 where the lower skins join to provided some additional support.
I added the coaming edge, alongside S1 which is what the two cabin sections slip over. However, I did find the drawings show this to be 12x3 and it actually needs to be 9x3 otherwise it fouls the bottom of the window openings.
I have advised the manufacturer and they will modify the drawing and send the right stripwood to suit in future kits.
I also noted that the side deck skins need to be notched out to allow a butt fit to the coaming, at the front, as I have shown on the photo, but the fitting is for another day.

I hope to carry on with the skins soon, when shed temperature Improves!

Sorry I havent been able to continue the blog, due to Ill health. I have finished built but couldnt get photos or script uploaded. I will try and put a photo of completed model on asap.

It Is a nice kit and with a little work Is a credit to kitshack, at a very good price!