Dave,
thanks for the info and pics.
I used to have no problems with the Taycol with the original REP radio and when I used a Mini-Hex proportional set, it gave me no worries either, so I think the Taycol woemongers are exaggerating the perceived problem.
I try to use as little Jap/Chinese stuff as absolutely possible. The Mini-Hex was a British made copy of the American Kraft set and the DigiMac is also British and so go well with the Taycol. There are various diagrams out there for suppressing Taycols if you're convinced they need it. A Canadian website if I recall. Also a guy called dodgy geezer has stated a Taycol information website which is excellent. I always found my Crash Tender went in a very realistic manner with the Supermarine on 12 volts. Not exactly on the step but nearly so, which would have been how the real boats performed for the most part, if they wanted enough fuel left to get home again!
Model boats and aircraft are all grossly overpowered these days and it looks ridiculous. Fishing boats taking of like dragsters. Battleships changing direction like F1 cars. it ruins the effect and makes the public snigger. if you want speed, have the balls to make race boats.

A pantograph?? Ha! That would be fun trying to stick it to the computer screen while I enlarge the drawings on this website! I used to have one years ago, though and if you have the space or a nice drawing board it's a perfectly workable suggestion.
I don't have a printer as my Canon packed up, in fact it then stopped acting as a scanner too so I broke it up. I got motors, gears, nice glass sandpaper board and toothed belts and the dustman got the rest. I think it might be easier if this website published the drawings in such a way that you could blow them up on screen and actually read them. They don't have to be printable or even downloadable, just make-biggable. You peer at the screen, make notes and then toddle off to the workshop to make the bits. it's how all my models are made...F1 slot cars, 1/32nd scale aircraft, all patterns for kits. Costs way too much to print pictures!
But I will have a look at that software you mention, Dave. Thanks.

Cheers,
Martin

If you want to enlarge a small diagram / plan I suggest you Google PosteRazor and download the free program. This allows you to produce an exact replica a any scale and print onto multiple A4 sheets. 😀

HI Martin,

Why do you not purchase a pantogragh? With a pantograph you can enlarge, reduce or just copy the details on the plan that you already have. I purchased one quite recently from ebay and it cost me just over a fiver, good investment.

Bugler

HI Martin
Sounds very authentic. I have the plans for this original 34.5" model but as you already have a completed model I suspect you are looking to add the small detail to the cabin and deck top. The Yeoman fitting kit is very good I sold a complete kit with the fittings on this site last year.
Taycol Supermarine and REP carrier wave receiver - brings back many memories. I have a double Special but believe it may be a bit on the heavy side for this model, especially if you add an SLA and the Yeoman cast metal fittings. Your Taycol will need to be well suppressed if it is not to wipe out the trusty McGregor Digi11 !!!
There are many pictures on this site of completed fireboat models giving good detail of the fittings and I suggest you look in the Photo Gallery under Fireboats to find some examples. There are also some Build Blogs documenting Fireboats so hopefully you will find all you need to know, and give much more detail than the original plan.
I am attaching some pics of my model which is fairly typical but don't copy the paint scheme as this is my personal preference!
Hope this helps, and good luck with the restoration. 😀

HI Bugler,
my Crash Tender is a model to a reasonable extent, just lacking detail. it was one of two Fireboats, Nos. 93 and 94. the drawings on this site are useful, but won't enlarge.

Martin

HI CPO,

The plans that I have are original builders plans of which the owners have kindly given to me. I have plans of the Medway Surveyer (Line and GA), Kestral tug (lines and GA) - of which I am just starting to make from scratch, Cory's Brigadier (GA & Lines), Ben Lines Ben Loyal (GA & Lines) I also have a General Arrangement plan of the HM Bustler class Rescue Tug, no lines planes plus many more. All the plans that I have are now extremely hard to get hold of the originals like I have managed over the years, the vast majority of ships plans are now digitised rather than drawn like they used to be.

Bugler

Dave,
I got mine for my 11th Christmas. it is the 34 1/2" version. it has its original Taycol Supermarine Special motor, shaft and coupling. Unfortunately the prop flew off one day when my friend borrowed it and now has three chunks of brass soldered to a littlun! I wish I still had the REP carrier wave single channel R/C, but it was stolen. So, I have an old McGregor
DigiII to put in to give it an air of authenticity. Unfortunately the original Ripmax fittings kit was also stolen, but I have a contact who now owns the masters for the all white metal Yeoman fittings and he has promised me a set.
I've used the model since I was 12, just never quite finished it! I used to run it on the oyster beds at Paglesham on the river Roach, where my Uncle had an old Dunkirk Little Ship which we'd spend weekends on.
It makes a nice stable mate for my 54 year old Sea Urchin, which I restored for the first time last year. That has no radio and the original Kako motor, shaft, coupling and prop. I think if you're going to do vintage (though they aren't vintage to me) you should do it properly.
I also have a pre-War Marblehead yacht that once belonged to Tommy Sopwith. That will get a very discreet R/C set up so it looks more like a vane sailer.
Oh and a lovely old Veron Veronica in fine fettle.
Cheers,
Martin

HI Martin,

Sorry, I know nothing of the Kielcraft kits, but I would say that it is a copy of the original boat, and given the age, I am certain that if you could have the plans enlarged so that they are readable, this may give you a clue as to exactly what the boat was. On top of that, if you can ascertain the original type of boat, then the Maritime Museum would be your best bet for Lines, General Arrangement and what the deck fittings are (size) and where they go.

Happy hunting

Bugler

HI Martin
The original Aerokits plans are not that detailed. Have you already built the hull as you Imply you have had the model some time? Came in two sizes, which one do you have?

HI Bugler.
it was the Kielkraft Aerokits Crash Tender that I was looking for plans for. This site has them, but very small and not too usable.

But then, another side of me says that as I've had this model for 50 years, that I should a) finish it after all this time and b) finish it as an Aerokits in deference to its age. it does, after all, have its original Taycol Supermarine Special motor, which runs like a dream.
Cheers,
Martin

I have various original builders plans for all kinds, tugs, pilot launch, cargo ships, if anyone would like to borrow them and they live in Kent, then post on the website your details and we can then get in touch with each other.