Model Slipways 1/32 scale harbour tug kit built late summer/autumn 2011. Powered by MFA 2.5:1 geared motors running on 6 volts and powered through an Action P94 Mixer/speed controller to provide great steering performance -- easily turns on it own axis. Sails mostly at Knightcote Model Boat club
Built from scratch from plans supplied by my hobby store. has a fully remote controlled operating "elevating wheelhouse" with scissor type lifting legs. operating nav lights, fog horn and twin radar units. Also has remote operated forward winches for attaching pusher barges to the bow pusher posts. fitted with twin kort nozzles, handles a treat, steers well and could certanly push more than 3 barges!
HI DAve. I found a cute little geared motor with a nice set of swappable gears in Maplins, made by MFA. it has a 3v motor but if you set the main driveshaft up centrally, it then allows you to have 2 identical "winch drums". to operate the motor "in/out" I used a couple of micro switches set up on top of a servo, so I then use the side/side on my left joystick for example, afterall, you only really need to operate it when setting up to the barge once in the water and again when removing the barge before lifting out again, but ciould work for almost any "winch" operation.
I am unable to post pics to this message/reply, but will post detail in the electrical section, make it easier.
That is avery nice pusher, sir. I have built one VAC-U-BOAT 22" HiPS kit and a 35" Dumas American Beauty. Both were given my boat shop's paint scheme (ILLINIWEK MARINE). I am multitasking on a couple boats, and one is another US Western river towboat, scratchbuilt up from a salvaged Dumas
Am. Beauty hull. (That hull was temp scrapped when my xacto knife got away from me trimming the deck knuckle.) My plan is to fit a telescoping
pilothouse which is common to upper Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio rivers.
My dilemma is the method of operating the pilothouse lift; can you advise with any info please? I thought of a linear servo w/worm gear maybe.
HAVE A SAFE RC BOATING DAY
based on a Lesro kit of the MK21 Sun tug. This slightly later version was fitted with fire monitors for handling tankers in the thames esturary as well as normal docking duites of liners and freighters.
Fitted with a decaperm 3:2 geared motor and twin 12v 7amphr batteries, it can run for several hours, even when towing other boats around the pool.. Fog horn installed, lighting system, working decca radar, Illuminated map desk and decca unit on the bridge.
Have had this boat in my shed for 2yrs,so I decided now to start doing it up. The boat was given to me by my friend who had it in his garage for 20 yrs, and it was given to him by his boss as it was sitting in his garage for along time.So I am not sure how old it is I think it is a Yeoman 34" model, because it has all metal cast fittings, as shown in the photo with rest of fitting which were on the boat. The hull paint work and decals are the original one that came with the boat, the motor which came fitted to the prop is a Johnson made in Hong Kong.So if some can tell me the approx, year that would be helpful. Could some one tell me where I can get the fire hoses for the stern well please.
re suction hoses , Ive just made ours by using a section of sink unblocking snake (from tescos A£ 1.27 ! ) stretched out and covered in 7mm heat shrink tubing before being heated / shrunk , the ends will be made up in brass tubing . jon
HI Tugboat
Just seen your post. Very nice looking model. 😀 Yeomans were the official supplier of white metal fittings for the Aerokits fire tenders and from the pictures it certainly looks like an original Aerokits model. I sold just such a kit and the Yeomans fittings on this site last year.
Got this kit from E Bay was apartly built well sort of had to re do all the upper deck wheelhouse from scratch was a bit off eeek..Have nearly finished installing all the electrics ready to ballast..I raised the rear hatch area after reading the deck tended to wash over quite easily..Hardly noticeable modification I think..Will sail the model soon and hope all goes well
Always liked this model ever since I saw it at E Port some years ago. 😊 I built an Al Khubar and always regretted selling her. Like you I raised the rear deck to keep the water out. I also have a shed load of boats and many awaiting construction. Maybe someday I will build one. The wheelhouse looks very detailed your efforts have clearly Improved on the original high standard. 😀
HI Dave
Thank you for your response and kind remarks,like you I have so many builds but in saying that I have sold about 5 in the past year..None I might add have given back even the original buying cost of just the kit not counting all the additional electrics, still it pays for the buying of another kit..Presently I am building a 1/14 scale Man Tamiya truck unit, no gluing reqd everything is tiny nuts n bolts superb detail..I am selling my Aziz for £350 so wont make anything on the deal
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,
Thats how you do it John I built mine the same way from her keel to the fore top. These Hatman douglas Greg Tugs are very popular to scale boaters. they are a lot different ever scince Harbor models got there hands on it. Like I memtioned before when Dwight was ghetting Ill all the molds went to Steve Lillard they were all destroyed because he didn,t use the proper mold release agent. Harbor has done a fine job reconstructing the molds. Take your time it will be a fine tug when done and one heck of a show stopper. Franklyn
I have just acquired this model via a swap for my Al Khubar Tug. I am in the process of deciding which actual lifeboat to model. This is based on the Metcalfe Moulding and is 1/12 scale at 52". in its present condition it has two Buhler motors and some early ESC's. Power is from a 12v 7Ahr dry cell. it looks great on the water but duration is not that great. I am preparing for a complete rebuild including re-prop shafting and different motors. I may rebuild the cabin as the moulding I have was only used on 5 Arun's and I may not be able to get enough details. I have sourced a plan and have detail pictures for City of Glasgow 111 (needs new cabin). Awaiting a book "RNLI Motor Lifeboats" from Amazon to help me progress. The present crew will have to be relocated to a 16th scale model! if I remember to take photos I will post a build blog.
The numbers are obviously wrong on the model,they would be either 52 or 54.52 or 54 is the size eg: 52' or 54' and the last two digits are the station number,so if you choose one all the info will be in the lifeboat book you are getting from amazon,also if you need flags for your model,my friend does them,each one he does are painted free hand on silk not printed
HI baloo
Yes this was a picture as received. I did start to build and there is a build blog on this site. I ran into problems with the hull painting and put the model aside to finish later.
I did several mods to the deck and superstructure to make the detail correct and at some time I will restart restoration. I will use the correct numbers once I settle on the particular boat I will model.
Thanks for your interest and suggestion
Dave
at the start of my interest in boats I thought of fire boats, RNLI type of sailing but the detial on some of the tugs are amazing!! giving it some thought at the moment what to get into 😎
As the name suggests, this is a scratch build sort of tug. The hull is based on a (very small) Pinacce photo of a model steam open boat. I did not fancy making a steam unit (time is the problem) and I had had an idea of doing a tug for quite a while. I liked the shape so started in the usual way. I wanted to keep the cost down and so almost everything is scratch made, though a few bits were "borrowed" from where I work - an engineering firm. Most of the work on this model is more of an experiment for my next tug which will also be from scratch but will have everything working. The "Archer". The winches are at the moment none working, the doors do not open, I have no idea if there is any tug that looks anything like this but I am very pleased with the result. I hope you like it.
this model was made by me from scratch of the london tug Ionia 56 inches long 12inch beam she has a bow thuster fitted to help the steering nav lights and cat diesel sound generator and its very heavy thats why its not in the water very often I getting to old to lift it in at 73 its a young man boat the hull is fibraglass but it looks so well in the water .
Hi,I have now purchased Russels superb model,and it really is a beaut! it has now sailed into its new Port, near Falmouth, Cornwall.As was the real tug, it will be renamed "St.Mawes" and painted in the Falmouth Towage colours, to compliment my 2 other Falmouth Tugs,"St.Denys" and "St.Levan" The real tug, has long since been sold, reverted to her former name of "Ionia" again, and now lies rusting away, at Bideford,in Devon, where there is some talk of her being converted into a floating Cafe ! As for the model,I hope to be able to use it regularly, both for static displays,in aid of the RNLI, or indeed, on the water. THANKS Russ, for keeping your faith in me,I am so proud to own it.
found how versatile it is.