Finally finished the project. This boat was built from scratch. I took pictures and measurements from a real fireboat that I operate. I built it on a 1/12 scale using wood that I had left over from scrap. This was my first project boat. I was able to get a lot of technical information from this forum. So thanks guys. I have really fallen in love with boat model building. I have wired the boat and am waiting on two model electric outboards to mount on the transom. it took almost 6 months to complete.
This boat was built from scratch. I took pictures and measurements from a real fireboat that I operate. I built it on a 1/12 scale using wood that I had left over from scrap. This was my first project boat. I was able to get a lot of technical information from this forum. So thanks guys. I have really fallen in love with boat model building. I have wired the boat and am waiting on two model electric outboards to mount on the transom.
Two Wavemasters, both refurbished ebay rescues, sailing at Crealy, near Exeter (one of the last times as the club can no longer use the water).
The first, rebuilt by Kalamunda, is brushless with NiMh cells and the second, having it's first sail since being rebuilt by Ian Gardner, has a Graupner 700 with 3s Lipo's (in parallel) on a 37.5mm X type prop- Electronize 30amp esc.
I think these are lovely looking old boats designed by Les Rowell of Aerokits fame, and obviously based on traditional cruisers from the Norfolk Broads- see Martham Boats, where you can still hire a wooden craft like these, although you'd definitely have the river inspector after you if you sailed up the Thurne at these speeds!
HI Graham,
Glad you liked the video. They are smashing boats aren't they? I really fancy a new IP Engineering one but have too many other projects on the go to make it a sane decision!
I have to say my WM is the best running of my faster boats, which include a Lesro Sportsman and a Rapier. She seems to hug the water in turns rather than bounce around, so a great design I think. I'd be interested to hear how you arranged you gearing on your WM. Did you make it up or but a ready made unit?
Ian
HI I bought them on Ebay, from Hongkong, they were about £9 plus some small amount of postage they have a brass motor gear, and an aluminium gear for the propshaft I use the system on three boats the Wavemaster a Sea Commander and a Fire Boat. On the water with 7.2 volts but will also run on 9.6 volts and 11.1 volts 3 cell lipo's. I will try and get a photo of the motor and gearbox. Regards Graham
This is a 40" long model of a gas powered Berkley Company kit of a US Air Force crash boat from 1955. The plank on frame kit was in production for about 10 years and was meant to be powered by a model airplane gas motor with a single shaft. it depicts an experimental 50 knot rescue boat (painted in a peace time color scheme) during service with the USAF. if successfull it would have been put into production designed to be a replacement rescue craft for all Air Force 65' crash boats. Unfortunately for the crash boat program the Air Force lost interest as helicopters were become a reliable way of rescueing downed pilots along the coast. The prototype and a sister boat were scrapped, as was the entire program.
The model was given to me to be restored(top picture) for the son of a retired USAF veteran that was a crash boat crewman. The model was built in 1957 and had been run a few times on a tether line, R/C was pretty expensive back in the day. I stripped the hull, filled in all the cracks and rebuilt the mast. I added a small boat, davit, liferaft, coxswain station, spray shield and deck hardware among other things. Actually all the owner wanted was a paint job, he was very happy with it's new appearencep! Although I fiberglassed the wooden hull and made it watertight, the owner doesn't plan to run it, just a memorial to his dad's service. I really enjoyed working on this "rare bird".
Not Strictly Aerokits!!! Bought this and a Sea Breeze at the Warwick Show. Sea Breeze is in the cupboard for Xmas. Sea Nymph is Ivory and Brunswick Green. it has a JP 400 motor with an Mtroniks 15 amp esc powered by a 7.2v nicad. Currently it has a 35mm S prop. Haven't had a chance to try it out on the water yet. Maybe this weekend. its the first wooden boat I've ever built so am quite pleased with the outcome. Looking forward to the Sea Breeze as that's going to be my first brushless model.
Owing it's origin to the RNLI lifeboats of the 19th century, the US Coast Guard 36'MLB saw service from 1900 to 1987. The USCG built over 300 boats of this class in various "mods" spanning it's life history. Constructed of wood and fitted with a bronze keel it was powered by a 4 cylinder engine later modified with a diesel motor. Early powered 36' boats carried oars and sails as auxillary power. My 36500 model was based on the famous Chatham Lifeboat Station in Massachusetts, USA. On Febuary 18, 1952 the CG 36500 rescued the 32 survivors of the tanker PENDLETON during a night time nor'easter storm. Without radio or radar the Coast Guardsmen found the stricken T-2 tanker in the blizzard, taking the crew off one at a time. With each pass of the lifeboat a tanker crewman climbed down a rope ladder and "fell" into the lifeboat. With all on board, the 36500 found it's way back to Chatham harbor much to the delight of the towns people and the Coast Guard! The most amazing fact regarding this rescue was that the 36 footers were only designed to carry 19 people, including the 3 man CG crew, without capsizing.
The model was scratchbuilt of balsa strips and aircraft plywood, using official USCG blueprints. Powered by a 6 volt motor and a 2 channel radio, the Chatham lifeboat is pleasure to run in my local pond.
Thanks Mike, I must try balsa. Just now I'm using 3mm pine planks which take some clamping while the glue dries. Like you, I resin wash the finished hulls inside and out.Regards, Ian.
Based on the US Coast Guard 36' motor lifeboat, the Canadian Coast Guard operated a number of these boats modified for cold weather operation. The model is a fiberglass hull, the reat is scratchbuilt using baltic birch wood, brass, and plastic. The model measures 28" based on the scale 3/4 inch equals a foot. it's powered by a 6 volt Dumas motor and operated with a 2 channel radio. A fun build!
Hi, I'm sorry if these pictures are on here already, I did search through and couldn't see any.... I'm after a few peoples opinion on colours etc 💭 As the pictures are all black and white (grey scale) it is difficult to get the colours correct. A lot of model boats seem to be grey on the deck with white roofs, some with wooden decking, some just white and any number of variations. I'm trying to rebuild mine to be as close to the real thing as possible. in my opinion it looks like the top is all in white (as it matches the shade of the "FIRE" sign). The handrails appear to be brass ends with wooden rails?? Most of the other fittings seem to be either white to match the boat or silver for the tie-offs. The spot light seems to be darker than the monitors so I'm not sure if that is a dark silver or maybe black? Any thoughts??? 😉
I was sailing my 34" fireboat at Portsmouth's Canoe Lake a couple of weekends ago when someone came up to me and said he had been a member of the crew on one of the two actual Vosper Fireboats, and that the cabin sides should be a light blue colour and not grey as on my model - ( I still like the look of the grey though! )
Regards
Chris
There is much talk about colours on these old craft,some say Grey, others say Light Blue, and again White also comes into play, These craft were only in service for between 5 and 6 years, during their time in service they underwent maintainance and modification, I have spoken to guys who served on them and on one occasion they had not got enough paint to repaint the mast white, so it got painted Brown, how many of you out there have ever seen one of these craft with a Brown mast?, also you will see that 93 had no breeches connector behind the main cabin, 94 did, most photo's avilable of 93 show no suction hoses on the aft well foam boxes, 94 did, look closely at the photo's and you will clearly see two different types of monitors fitted and in one photo you can clearly see one of each, for what its worth my opinion is Pick a date Pick a colour, I know what we painted ours as taken from V/T drawings.
Best of luck, kind regards,
Pete D.
Hi" All . Thought I would put some photos of my last winter project for all to see ! This model took approx 3 month to rebuild from an ebay wreck . A 1980s lesro Stiletto speed boat kit.A total rebuild was needed . Siletto running set up is a Johnston air cooled speed 600 electric motor. 50 amp speed contoller 7.2 volt at4600mh power pack which will lift her out of the water at very good speed. Siletto is finished of in dark mahogany stripwood vinneer & Ivery white / post box red .I do think the older colours look better on the older models . I sail my boats at Sheringham Norfolk
enjoy the photos . From A prestney
Hi" thank you for your kind comments on my rebuild stiletto speed boat.I have a passion for the older classic boats. it did have a older smaller 500 motor unknown make when bought.But I upgraded to a johnston 600 which are used in diy power drills and are very fast but don't over heat with a built in coolant fan .A Prestney 😉
I believe this was the smaller version of the Lesro Rapier. I think they are fine looking boats - future classics. Your restoration looks fantastic and it seems to be going well too. My Rapier had it's maiden voyage recently. When I bought the kit from Lesro they told me it was the last one they had!
I too like the older style wooden boats.
Ian
Built from a .PDF plan I found on the net, this 22" Outrigger Hydro sports a Hobbywing 3600Kv Brushless, along with a Hobbywing 60A esc, a 5000mAh 11.1v 45C LiPo, and an Octura X435 Prop connected to a Strudder from Prestwich models.. it weighs 930g without the battery, with the battery, she goes 1386g.
This was it's Maiden run, at Herbert Woods Boatyard, at Potter Heigham Norfolk. it ran very nicely, but can do with a little tweaking to get more speed.
For the record, I did not swear, it was someone onlooking.
HI aquamatic80
She's awsume, 😎 I think that from the way she ran I would have said the same 😭 . 🤐 How much more tweeting would she need?
Cant wait to see your MkII 😀
I have not played with the prop depth and angle yet, however, she has been banished to the back of the cupboard to make way for the MK2, to be re-visited a later date.
Ahoy
Here is something you dont see everyday, I built this from scratch made from pinewood. This consolidateds PB-2Y5 Coronado flyingboat, used as a trnaport and submarine patrol bomber.scale 1/72
Franklyn Day aka Boats
