I'll be starting this next week I hope. Lucky to get it on eBay last week and now on its way.
A kit long since out of production and I hope to rescue it by making templates of all the parts.

The kit arrived today and it’s as much as I expected in terms of condition and missing parts.
So far I’ve checked the fittings and made a list of the shortages
The wooden parts have been badly cut out but I will work through it. For what I paid it’s not a disaster by any means.

I’ve just secured their purchase at CMB with the one exception that 20mm bottle screws are out of stock so I’ve ordered the full score of 18mm
I doubt anyone will notice 2mm
I expected this which is why I made Low offers for it on eBay
£30 to make it right 👍

The missing fittings arrived today along with some spares. Great service from CMB 👍
I’m going out to visit Modelshop Leeds for some ply sheets to reproduce the kit

Today I’ve found time to make a start.
As expected all the mahogany is so dry that it splits down the grain as soon as look at it.
To consolidate I’m coating both sides in diluted finishing resin.
Tomorrow I’ll try to turn the good bits into templates to cut from new Birch ply 1/16th 1.5mm thick

I’ve begun looking at the frames that were probably cut on a scroll or band saw back in the 1960’s
The tops of the frames that the deck fixes to are a mess and not level. Each frame is not symmetrical enough for my standards but I’m making all new anyway. I will use just one half of each frame to create each new one so that they will be exactly the same either side of the keel

All the frames now await 5mm ply sheet to make the new ones.
Mahogany replacements in progress but each template will be more developed than the original stock printed items

I found this which gives support to my efforts in terms of views not available in the instructions.
Also I have found an error already in the Billing parts that has proven not to be my mistake after all.
If you use Google Browser it translates everything to English

I ordered some 5mm ply from SLEC at the weekend.
I phoned this morning to ask for the exact thickness of their 5mm stock as I know this can vary considerably.

5mm is often compared to 3/16 but my 3/16 I have in stock is barely over 4mm

Anyway the later reply this morning was that their stock varies between 5.2 & 5.4

So 5.2 is on its way for delivery tomorrow.

Excellent service👍

I can then make a start with a new keel and frames 😊

Less available time lately but I’ve started marking out the new frame parts.
I will cut these close with Makita 18volt jigsaw and finish with bench sander