Bill finally launched his boat. 😀 The weather was kind for some of the time so I was able to take some pictures and a short (not very good) video on the water.
this is my boat built from the aerokits plans. she is the 46 inch version, power is from a brushless motor and lipo set up. sailing trials over easter hols weather permitting!
Stunning model! What more can I say,superb.No doubt I will be pestering you with more ifs,what's and why's if that's o.k.
I am a member of Derby model boat club,we have a membership of around 45,but like most clubs it;s the same 10-15 of us who sail each weekend.We do all get together for socials and regatta days and venetian night in September.
Do you get to many of the shows? Three of us from Derby usually go to Ellesmere,Doncaster,Warwick and a weekend at Blackpool show.Not been to Haydock yet but hope to make it this year.
Regards Andy
Thanks Andy for your comments. I will put some better pictures up soon. Still some detail work left to complete. I do get to some shows when I can. Last one was Ellesmere port. Any questions you have please ask. I will be taking her to the fire boat day later this year. Regards Alan
HI fellow Modellers,
Another model from the RADMC fleet at the fleetshaven workshop and boat yard in Ponthir.This model was built using a Billings Kit, bought for me as a Christmas pressent in 2009. A graupner 6 volt steam unit is fitted in the funnel and to make the boat a little more realistic a maplin steam sound system has been used to generate the sound of the engine. A simple mod allows the revs to be linked to the engine voltage. The steam engine rotates using a stripped down minI servo, fitted under the motor housing on the deck, again linked to the main motor voltage. The two 9.6 volt AA batteries and control gear are mounted under the boats floor, forward locker, a minI servo for steerage is fitted under the rear seat and the receiver is located under the wood pile. Figures are self made from items obtained from the local pound shop. The modal can be seen sailing at Cwmbran Boating Lake or at shows the society visit. Hope you enjoy the pictures, Regards GreyWolf.
I built this boat was built as a tribute to my dad who built an original Sea Commander for my brother and myself in the 1960s, and is called Lady Kathryn after my other half.
The pleasure I had building and sailing this model has inspired me to to look for my next aerokit project.
Hopefully that will be the Sea nymph this was my first attempt at building.
Here are some photos of my fire boats . kit made from 1960s to 1970s" all restord to the origanal condition " powered by torpedo speed 550 motors & working lights. I like to take them sailing to my local pond at sheringham norfolk.
Here is my 34 in Fireboat that I built some 30 years ago and recently rescued from my loft and updated with an MFA850 with Mtroniks 40A ESC driving through the original shaft to a Graupner 55mm prop. Seen on Nov 25 just after we cleared the first Ice of 2010 from our club sailing water !
the sea rover was bought locally as a wreck with much of the forward section of the cabin missing , however it has been rebuilt in a matter of weeks to sailing condition , its now running a single vision 600 motor on 7.2 volts , & has a reasonable turn of speed and very good rudder response ! the fpl was a double purchase as I bought a pair of hulls , one had a better finish than its sister although this didnt matter as they were both stripped back to bare timber and resprayed with wilkinsons enamel spray . as the cabins were not remaining Ive made both boats into vospers mk2 range safety launches , neither models are fully finished but Ive started to use 1640 , I know 1646 wasnt a number issued by the raf , but as the model is to be operated by my neice it was the number she has chosen !
Original 1960s boat aquired this summer from the family a deceased former club member in scruffy, non running but basically sound condition. Was petrol powered at some stage and still had original vintage mechanical speed controller from a later electric power set up. Restored with two (secondhand) MFA850 motors in tandem driving a new single 20 in M5 shaft. . Using a 50 Amp Tornado speed control and plastic X55 Graupner prop.
Sprayed (Volvo) Flash Green Metallic with orginal decks stripped back and restained (using tea bags!) and relaquered
Planing gently on our club sailing water at Knightcote, Warwickshire on 25 October
My Sun Tug MK25 version, originally adapted from a Lesro Sun Tug Kit, actually still being built [not quite yet complete] but seaworthy enough to get some testing time in the water. it has more than enough power to haul my dusseldorf along when the batteries are flat after some time sailing, so rather than pull the fireboat out, decided to let the tug do some work.
Powered by a hectoperm motor with 3:1 gearbox,twin 6v gel batteries,water pump to operate the fire monitors,engine sound, nav lights, interior lights [cabins] rotating radar scanner,
ok, my first ever attempt at posting a video on here and youtube..
my Aerokits Sea Commander restored but not finished running a direct drive graupner speed 600 8.4v on 40mm std 2 blade plastic prop. battery is 9.6v 8cell 3300mA nimh. sailing Sunday 15th August 2010 at Taylor park st Helens mbc
many thanks to you both.
At this time I have no idea of the weight except to say that from what I can gather from looking at the rudder that this boat seems to from the sixties/seventies, and is quite a substantial vessel.
She is undergoing a major refit.( spent the day rubbing down the inside of the hull, and removing paint from the toerail to the carlings.
This looks like being a long job.
if its "that old" and is a 60's/70's built model that had an I.C. engine fitted..
I would recommend you "glass-cloth" the outside of the hull..
models built during this period tend to have been built with bio-degradeable glue! (cascemite/ boneglue. etc.) show it water for the first time in 40 years and your boat will revert to kit status and basically become unstuck! if the wonky glue doesn't do it then the diesel/glow fuel used in the 60's will have undone all the joints from the inside-out anyway!
enjoy your restorations and read as much as you can on here
Here is a video of our boat (Vigilant star) sailing at New Brighton boat lake on the wirral every Wednesday.
The boat is a semiscale (Coast Guard Cutter), designed by Hal-Harrison in Marine Modelling. I have doubled its size and put two 540/1 Mfa motors in, driving quanta 45mm props. She is 36" length 8" Bow, runs of one 12 volt 7Ah SLA battery.
It is made from Balsa/Fibreglass resin. Runs well no leaks to date. Gerry.
