This 1/12 scale model is based on the Aerokits Solent Class lifeboat. Over the past 5 months it has been under going a major refit. I originally built the boat about 35 years ago and got the "bug" again last September. I've done the best I can to make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

Its powered by two MFA Torpedo 800 electric motors. power comes from two lead acid batteries, each rated at 12v 7Ah. Control is provided by two Mtroniks Tio ESC. The twin spade rudders are linked to one servo. Each ESC has its own receiver. I found that one receiver, using a Y lead, could not continuesly keep the two ESC supplied with a signal and they kept going into Failsafe mode alternately. I got round it by binding two receivers to the one transmitter. Within the engine compartment is an automatic bilge pump. Two probes detect if/when the water level rises to a certain amount in the bilge and activates the pump.

The model has working radar scanner , navigation lights, search light and blue flashing light.

If you want to see the boat in action please go to my You Tube page at https://www.youtube.com/user/coljacktonvale

100% scratch built model of the Toronto harbor Fireboat. Been in the making for almost five years now. When finished it will be RC and have water pumping capabilities. Toronto Fire Services are celebrating the boat's 50th anniversary this year and appear to be interested in my model. The boat will be powered by two Dumas six volt motors geared three to one.

HI shipmates, here,s a few shpts of the "Port ".
She,s a 1/80 scale scratch built cargo ship of the Port line company from around the 1950,
A ship this size requieres quite a bit of balast, I use water, it takes around 40 lds to get her sitting right, this is pumped in and out with a submersible caravan water pump.
Most of the fittings are resin castings.
there are a few more bits to finnish off but could not resist the chance to try her out on the Chasewater pool.

this hydroplane had to have major work done to strengthen both sponsons internaly as well as filling with expanding foam,this stops it from sinking in the event of a flip over and to put a little weight in the front to help keep the nose down.
fitted a tuned wrap to center pipe,water pump and also added extra fiberglass on the bottom because this was so thin it was flexing at speed and was hitting the bottom of the engine!!!!!. re-painted it too and put my own choice of graphics on.
I fitted the pulse water pump because I wouldn't be running flat out all the time and needed to cool the engine at lower rpm's,and the pulse water pump would do just that with twin inlets and outlets to keep the exhaust and engine head cool.

HI Fellow Enthusiasts
Photo shows my RAF crash tender in the colours as it was when first built in 1956/57 from a kit. (Red tops like all fire engines, well I was only 9 at the time.) This photo was taken at lakeside in 1993 when I first joined the Cwmbran Modelling Society. The Second photo shows the boat on display at the Portis Head Open Day event in 2000 several modifications taking place to the overall look of the boat. in 2008/9 I decided for it's belated 50th. birthday to revamp the model and bring it closer to the real thing. Damage to the woodwork being repaired and a colour scheme close to that of the real boat being applied. Several new deck fittings being made along with new window surrounds made out of plastic replacing the cardboard ones fitted in 2000. New decals and correct flag also fitted. The model was entered in the 2010 society Chairmans Comp. winning joint first place with one of my other models. Photo 4 shows my model as she is to-day repaired once again ready to sail, after hitting some Ice over the christmas period 2010 resulting in a hole in the bow that almost caused her to sink.
The model over the 54 years it's been around has been fitted with single and twin electric drives and to day it has a single johnson 550 brushed electric drive via a 2.5/1 gear box run off two 7.2 volt racing packs in series. The torque generated being too great for standard plastic props resulting in me using 40mm three blade brass props. The motor controller is an electolize 15 amp unit and I also use one of their switch units to activate the water pump for the scratch built water cannons. The water pump being salvaged from a 1960's car washer system and still goes to-day.
Hope you enjoy the pic,s as much as Ive enjoyed this model over the last 50 years plus.
Regards
GreyWolf

Took my work in progress fireboat out for first run last sunday, just a few bits to do especially getting water pump to work. its a boat that used to belong to Bob Jones, I got it of ebay and stripped her down as last person put flashing tape on inside intsead of finding leaks, but she is going now.

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,

this nice looking tender is old now but still look s well in the water thinking of letting it go with a few other boats any body can tell me what they go for thanks russell its has a three chanel radio and water pump and nav light all working .

46 inch Crash Tender rescued from E-bay. Currently in the process of total restoration and have had to scratch build the entire super structure. Have fitted a Merco 61 engine with tuned pipe (the noise is awesome).

Have gone for it with the radio control- - employing a Robbe F14 plus an extra 8 channel module with decoder. So far extra controls are : each monitor (scratch built using brass pipe & sheet) left & right (using Robbe pulley set to give me 270 degrees travel), two Irvine water pumps, (real car) hooter, winch (using gearbox from Maplins) and movement for jib and search light.

Model Aerokits Fire Tender built up over the last few years. (You may have seen the "Find Bob" competition on this site and incase your wondering, Bob is the character operating the water monitor!

For more useless information you may be interested to know how he got his name? To get straight to the point his head is spring loaded!

This is one of the old aerokits models, it was only partly built when I had it at first (the hull only) but four years on and it works great. The added features are a water pump, which, yes is most definitely more fun! Also a horn from action kit, some say they are not as good as jjc-electronics, but in my experience it is great, I have also added L.E.D. lights shown here and the latest addition is the voice box (as I call it), great fun.

This boat is a model of the Judge McCombs which is the fire boat in Hamilton Ontario Canada. The model was built by Don Hodgson of the Confederation Marine Modellers of Hamilton. Scatch built with about 700 hours, has 3 water pumps run by 12 volt.

The boat started out as the tug Betty-Bess in 1947, in 1950 a small fire pump was installed driven by a separate engine, in 1972 the extra 2 monitors where installed. it will now pump a 1000 gpm. Enclosed find 3 pictures of the model and 1 picture of the real thing.

46 inch Crash Tender rescued from E-bay. Currently in the process of total restoration and have had to scratch build the entire super structure. Have fitted a Merco 61 engine with tuned pipe (the noise is awesome).

Have gone for it with the radio control- - employing a Robbe F14 plus an extra 8 channel module with decoder. So far extra controls are : each monitor (scratch built using brass pipe & sheet) left & right (using Robbe pulley set to give me 270 degrees travel), two Irvine water pumps, (real car) hooter, winch (using gearbox from Maplins) and movement for jib and search light.

I sail at Brentwood in Essex - where you can still run IC boats.