here is my 2nd Graupner Carina ( after the 1st one I just wanted to built another one and Ebay supplied - again- a 'barely started' set.
Taking apart the glued wooden parts was a bit of a challenge. However, the previous owner used cheap glue and all the parts could be dismounted without any damage.
(will post more pictures of the rebuilt )

I recently bought this boat as a part built project. it was started by the previous owner in 1973 but then put in the attic in 1974 and stayed there till this year. Sadly many of the plastic parts have become very brittle or are missing so having to source replacements plus the fittings were made to british standards and are now made in metric sizes, but getting there slowly

Brought this vintage Aero Kits RAF Crash Tender for £50 from Newcastle area, it is the 34in version.
To my surprise at home I found that it had a Bullet 30 motor installed these motors were the top drawer motor of early fast electrics in the early 1980's and its the only one I've ever seen, it can run on 24v and pull around 15A giving 300w not bad for a brushed motor.
due to the power of this motor I have modified the hull under the water line with turn fins and trim tabs to reduce torque roll and improve turning stability, the underside is incorrect already as it only has one propshaft, where the original had two and I believe that both props turned in the same direction.

The Pictures here show some of the work in progress I have remounted the motor and added a speed controller rated at 24v
I have remade the stern compartment and rudder gear under it.
I have blocked windows and foamed the front half of the boat.
made missing parts and repaired delaminating ply.

Note old ply is not as good as modern, the glue is not as water resistant.

Have painted the hull and have just ordered the decals from Cornwall model Boats :-https://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?WD=hose%20fire&PN=becc_fire_tender%2ehtml#aB_2dFTS1_2e32

The 34in is 1/16 scale

Fitting can be brought but many are cast white metal and can add weight to the boat, I have made two water cannons and plan to buy plastic fittings from this site.

This has turned out to be a task that is difficult to assess how much effort and money to spend on a hull that has been built by someone else (say no more).
Have just finished the steps for the stern compartment.
Painted and now for the test run.
the Bullet 30 motor ran well between 14 and 18v,

Building a German Police launch right now and thought that the radar scanner components were a bit 'heath robinsonish', so decided to see if I could make an alternative unit.

Photo 1 shows the Radar scanner parts obtained from MMB (ebay) for the princely sum of ONE POUND !!!!! plus 28p postage, and construction is of a medium soft resin that isn't prone to breaking or splitting when shaped or drilled, and a short length of 2mm brass rod becomes the drive shaft. This particular unit has a 44mm sweep bar but there are many other sizes available

Photo 2 shows the drive motor which operates on voltages between 1.5 and 6v, ideal for the control driver which is the next item. Available from saih.tan on Ebay for under 7 pounds, and if the motor is mounted on a removable bracket as I have done, this unit can be used in several models without the need for major 'surgery', the motor and radar shaft being connected with a short piece of rubber tubing

Photo 3 shows the receiver driven radar motor speed control which operates from an auxiliary receiver channel and takes the motor voltage from the main receiver supply, thus obviating the need for a separate supply and switch.
This unit is available from www.mr-rcworld.co.uk and costs a staggering 14.50 post free sheesh !

I must add here that I am in NO way connected to any of the suppliers mentioned here, but just though some other modellers may be interested in 'home brew' accessories and suchlike.

So glad to have this scrollsaw in the shop which has made cutting the bottom boards a very easy task. I cut the chines from Ash using this saw too with a fine blade. Look closely and there is a plexiglass cover on the table to give me a zero clearance around the blade hole, thus keeping small parts from falling under the table. A shop vac is attached to draw away the fine dust that this machine produces. My lungs are greatful too.🤓

I don't know if this is of interest to other modellers, but I was trawling through Ebay's wares when I found this supplier and, on a whim, decided to once again try my hand at using etched brass parts. As you might see, not exactly the biggest of fittings, but they really test the patience and skill.
Also in one of the photos is the brass bending tool I use and the supplier can be found at http://stores.ebay.co.uk/models-parts-shop?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

Dave W
I hope this helps if not let me know & I will take more pictures
i was able to put a high deck in because of the size of the hull
it might be difficult to do this with the smaller hull take a look on SLEC they do the River Police Launch (last picture)it appears to to be risen at the front to take the motor etc

The Vintage Model Boat range are now being produced by SLEC Ltd. All our kits come with all parts cut by CNC router or laser, plus all the necesary strip wood is included, along with building instructions and plan.

The River Police Launch has been based on the old Veron Kit from the 1960's that we all loved at that time. The model is not a scale model but embraces the boat design of that era. The kit is now fully laser cut so all parts are pre-cut and most of the parts are now made out of high quality ply, so obtaining a good finish is easier to achieve. The model can be powered by a 7.2 volts standard buggy battery pack or ic power of .5-1.5 cc engines which is not in the kit, also we have not included any running fittings as we feel a lot of modellers will have or would like to choose for themselves, but we can supply these fittings if required.

I have had my Paula III for quite a few years and she was beginning to look a bit jaded, so having just completed my Northlight Clyde Puffer and looking for something to do, thought that I might give Paula a makeover. Nearly all the additions I made to her were from spare parts left over from making other boats. A good strip and rub down and a couple of cans of aerosol (colours chosen by my wife when in Halfords) and 2 weeks later - makeover complete.

This is another step forwards!
All the electronic parts arrived last week! The good news is they are all working and I knew how to assembly thanks to the info I found in this website!

Crane story part 3! Now that the jib raised and lowered, I had to tackle rotating the turret. I canibilsed a radar setup I'd made (again from helicopter parts after a crash!) to rotate the turret. Video of the radar motor in operation shown.

A few pics of my partly scratch build RTTL from Kitshack. Picked this up from Ebay as a first kit.
Has a few printed balsa hullparts but lots of templates to cut out. Plans also show lots of topside details.
Powered orignally by 2 MFA 500's and 2 7.2 NiMH with 35mm props, OK but run time poor.
Complete change, 2 400's and downsized to 25mm props, much better run time and good on the plane.
Next upgrade is to LiPo batteries.

Next build is likely to be an Aerokits Sea Hornet or Sea Breeze.

This is a welsh tug made from scratch from plans took a bit of work to do as the plans was wrong in parts