Nice calm day at Boundary Park to-day so no yachts but a nice large pleasure cruiser and a small skimmer with attached paraglider finally flying round the lake.

The Gravy Boat is crewed by Potato Head figures

Brian Clewes brought along a nice example of his scratch built Master Hand retired fishing boat, for a sail. When larger more powerful mechanised boats were introduced this type was abandoned. Many were rescued and turned into pleasure / racing type craft and that is what this model depicts. Not seen for some years but is ageing well. The static pics will be of interest to any modeller considering making a scale sailing ship of this type. I did film some video and will share this later when edited.
enjoy
Dave

Sun was out, wind was down, so took the boat for swimming lessons. Went very well, no problems other than the silicone couplings trying to screw themselves off as usual, (too much bite and torque) and bunching up to the motor causing friction), (have a possible fix I'm working on for that today) Heaps of power from the 2 - 540 HV brushed motors only running on 3s. Never went much more than a tad past 1/2 throttle which was spot on scale wise.

Very quiet as well, - mind you, couldn't hear much anyhow with a road milling machine working at the end of the pond about 150m away, at around 80db where I was!!😠😠😠😭 Of course it would have to be there today,! something like this always stuffs my plans up, cars, trucks, screeching seagulls, people talking to you while you are trying to make a nice quiet video etc etc. Can't seem to get away from noise. Added to that, the video's crap,- as soon as it uploads to YT it turns to rubbish,- was quite acceptable till then.

Must be the wide format they use, as it's fine in a small screen (ie YT preview) and my computer. Worst thing is, it took an hour to load this rubbish on a fibre connection!! Not loading any more till I get a better camera, "Santa, did you hear that ?"😁

I might de-power it a bit, as it has too much power really,- might put 2 540 45T motors in which will run on 2s nicely with 30mm props (has 35s at the moment) and not be as touchy on the throttle. You can steer this just using the throttles it's so bitey. Spins on the spot like a jet boat as well. Stereo worked well, but the IR remote doesn't like working too far away in bright sunlight, (have a separate vid, but YT would give a copyright warning, so I won't put that up) The vid is garbage, but you'll get the idea😁

After I built the model of the Cotter fireboat I took it to the real Fireboat to show it off to the crew maybe 5 years ago at canal days in Port Colburn haven't had Canal days for 2 years because of the pandemic

A change from Maid Rosalind Thames cruiser blog posts! This winter I added a removable keel and rudder extension to the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter I built in 2017. I wanted to produce a hull that was truly accurate above and below the waterline, and with the correct lead in the keel and in scale winds she sailed ok, but to get a model to sail realistically, you generally have to add a lot of weight deep down. The last picture shows that for regular display, the ugly keel and rudder extensions come off and the stand's extended legs unscrew. She stands 6' 2" with her new keel, and 4' 6" long. The trials were successful. She sailed beautifully, even tacking those overlapping headsails flawlessly, which is generally quite hard to do with RC! I have up to now only posted blogs as they happen, but I have full documentation of this build and can start a blog for it after Rosalind is finished, if it's OK to publish something from the past. I added a teaser build picture!

https://www.facebook.com/modelBoatsTrainsPlanes/videos/800923610583750/

🔗
Thank you Doug and Stephen for your help in getting the video to work. The stills give little idea of any movement but the video shows she was really trucking! Ed

well finally got there. she sits a little low in the water, but evenly along the water line. this was with the battery central to the hull. when powered up the centre screw alone moved her quite serenely and was very manoeuvrable. when power was added to the outer screws I would say she didn't plane well as she wasn't going fast enough. even with all props on full power, I think also she is to heavy and the battery too far forward.
So to remedy this I moved the battery back a compartment, positioning it over the 3 motors , it was a tight squeeze, but fitted just.
This sat the stern down a little and the bow up and gave the impression of planeing, she still not fast enough though. the scale speed still doesn't look right.
I'm going to have to have a rethink on this one. having said all this though she looked well in the water if i say so my self.
Roger

Haven' seen water in a while so off to the harbor . This was one of the first models I'd ever built in 1974 . I went with my girlfriend to a little creek at Confederation park just in front of the old Hutches fish & chip shack put it in and the rudder jammed full over and it corkscrewed and sank I jumped in without realizing water was only about a foot deep and two feet muck . Moral of the story is she's still my wife .

I found a plastic model of Captain Haddock and used him as Skipper, then decided to make a clay model of Tintin to join him as crew on my pusher Tug..
- then a friend suggested making a model of Snowy to join the crew. Here’s how I made him!

A US Navy ARS ( Auxiliary Rescue Salvage ship), built to 1/48th scale. Twin screw with working radar, lights, anchor, and fire monitor. Built from a bare hull, with a lot of Thanks to Shapeways 3D printed parts. She is shown, at anchor, with a friend USN ATF ( Auxiliary tug Fleet) in the back ground.

Crew posting to Tug, still in dry dock and more crew to be completed and fixed to deck, limited room, but at least 2 more to go......still to be maidened, happy with subtle weathering....not over the top...fender soaked in some tea bags for a week....satisfactory end result...

Crew billets still to be decided, awaiting delivery of seamen gunners for 50cals, however pilot in wheelhouse with some passengers aboard.

Drivers and opo in truck to be completed, vehicle is also rc, so can be driven off when ramp lowered at designated location.