I have rebuilt this from a damaged ex IC model. Borrowed a plan from a club member and managed to reconstruct the missing bits. Originally used a fast electric car type brush motor with 7.2 v nicads. Worked ok but nothing spectacular. Recently ventured into brushless and LiPo. Tried an inrunner but ran far to hot and not veryt fast. Changed to an Outrunner (mork torky apparently) and nearly took off! (it is a seaplane tender but should stay on the water!) The LiPo is 11.1v 2800MaH. I use a Graupner Ultramat 16 charger, don't use other than a dedicated LiPo charger and ESC. Battery misuse can result in pyrotechnics, so beware. initialyy tried a two blade racing prop but have changed this to a 29mm 3 blade brass prop to slow down the speed. I have also added more lead and will advise the final weight once I have tried the model on water. I sail with Crewe and District MBC at Boundary Park, Nr Knutsford in Cheshire.
HI All,
This is an update,weather seemed ok so tried her out,very Impressed,got right up on the plane.Handling not that good think a bigger rudder is needed.
Running an 850 torpedo motor on 12volt battery.
Only problem was a leak,water running up prop tube so have removed and re-greased ready to try again.
Fire monitors missing hoping somebody can help.
very nice boat! I have two of these 93/94 thay are a very nice model.
I did try uploading photos of them to the site. Anyway fire monitors do some times come up on ebay for sale. if not try model dockyard or westbourne model ships web sites. Hope this helps from a new member Albert.
HI Boat looking good. From your previous post I see that the model was built in the 1950's. is it possible that an I.c. motor was originally used as they were common during that period? it is possible that the shaft and/or bearings will be well worn. Grease will help but not cure the problem and will add drag and increase motor current (amps), thus reducing your sailing time. I suggest you remove the prop shaft and see if it is worn where the bearings are. if so you may be able to obtain a new complete prop shaft of the same size. if the inner shaft is is a nice fit in the original just substitute the shaft. if the original bearings are no good replace with the new bearings from the replacement shaft. They can be teased out with a blunt knife and gently use of pliers. if you hace access to a lathe or a friend with one, you could just lap the shaft and make new bearings. Good luck dave
Original Aerokits patrol torpedo boat,first time out after referb.This was found in a semi-uncomplete nature but did have the box and plans with it.Power by 600 motor and 7.2 nicad very surpisingly fast,very tight handling around the bouys.Finishing details will be added as I go but for now very pleased with results.
Patrol boat in action latest picture taken on a very grey day at Gang Werily Hants.
Changed battery for a 4200 nicad much better run times now entering 15 mins plus,usually at full pelt.
HI harleydreaml, still looking at your Aerokits Torpedo boat and it is a very nice model from a colonials perspective. if I live long enough I may be lucky to obtain a set of copies of the hull formers and keel for a build . I have the Hebert Adams book of his model boats which he later led to his model boat kit company 'Adamcraft' and he did a set of drawings of a/the Elco type Torpedo Boat in his book. I always wondered whether the Aerokits EVER BORROWED the drawings to make the commercial model? Whatever happened, it is nice to see such a stunner model which was not too populace as the Crash Boat/Sea Queen sales etc. A now passed away mate had one 20 /30 years ago with a I/c 25/30? and it planed and turned flat and nicely. in OZ we still CAN operate I/c easy and do not need to trail out an electric cable for power to get more than 5 minutes on the pond? Keep building good craft. See ya Lyle.
HI Harley
I recently acquired a model that looks very similar to your model.
Its all wood hulled about 3ft by 7ins. I was on the point of dispatching to the tip as it is so heavy I didn't think I could ever make it go on the plane.
However having seen your Aerokits box and model its possible this may be an original or copy. Construction is very similar to the Fire Tender inside.
Any chance that you could post a picture of your model with the lid off?
Model looks the business in action.
Thanks to all those that made suggestions about making the Suction Hoses, here are my efforts. The boat looks OK now thought there is much to do still. I am using two Johnson drill motors in paralell with one 50 amp ESC & 20A fuses in each motor + supply lead, all running on 8.4V NiMhi. the current props are 40 X 21 three blade. The boat is fast enough but battery life is short and the battery is very hot after the end of the run. I water cooled the motors and ESC. I will try some smaller props and 7,2V to see if there is an Improvement.
Boat is a wood kit built in the 1960 by a friend,built and stored in a shed.needs alot of TLC,doing my best to make it fit for the lake ,have rebuilt all of the superstructure.Was powerd by a lead acid battery/500 motor .Now powerd by a GP.7.2vNiCd 2000 Mah.And a cheap 50amp controller bought from Hong Kong on Ebay.Needs a lot more work to be done and been testing it at Newbrighton wirral.Thanks for watching.Gerry
This is my Sea Hornet which was rescued from Ebay see photo 1. Gray (Froggyt996) recognised it as a Sea Hornet even with the hideous cabin attched which the prvious owner had made. Also see the propshaft angle in photo 1 - would this have ever worked? Gray again restored this for me, I wanted a mahogany boat which looked like an italian speedboat and this is what he did for me see photo 2. Photo 3 sees the Sea Hornet on the sea at Southsea just after the start of the Round Britain Race in 2008. The receiver battery failed and a very nice Lifeboat Man from Southsea happened to be watching me run the boat and rescued it when it stopped running. it was put in dry dock over this winter to be tidied up again after a couple of years constant use and photo 4 sees it with its 2 new screens, re-varnished and 2 new rubbing strake. it is powered by 2 Graupner Speed 600 motors, a Ripmax sea sprint watercooled speed controller and 2 x 3 blade prop shop props on 2 x light weight shafts. it is also filled with bouyancy foam it case the inevitable happens which makes it quite heavy. it is ran on 2 x 8.4 volts nicad sticks and gives me a running time of approx. 20 minutes with quite a good turn of speed.
Marie (alias Mrs Froggyt996)
Hi" there, I like your sea hornet " You have done a brilliant restoration job on it 👍 . What was the last owner thinking of when he put that propshaft in and that hatch cover on the top 😯 ?
Anyway I have just bought one like this and looking forward in restoreing mine too !! Hopefully it should look as good as yours !
Albert .
I have only just come accross this,she has a 600 size motor,electronize esc,and she runs on a 7.2 volt stick battery,,she is actually built by the previous owner,,daz
Aerokits 34 Fireboat first trials with new power set up
first tests (after build started 30 yrs ago !) showed great speed and great handling too but short battery life on 12v set up and 700 series motor so now testing with 6v that gives less speed but much longer running.
Sea Hornet with Graupner 540 series motor also undergoing tests and both models have needed 40A ESC to handle current draw.
this model has a 12v marlin motor I am in the process of fitting esc and batterys old kit the gun was from nauticalmarinemodels the figures will be the modifyed
airfix 8th army 1/32 multipose figures painted in a med garb I sail at the southport model boat weather permiting
