Super detailed HFM kit to 1/35th scale of Thames Sailing barge. No power, two channel RC. Often sails at Basingstoke.

This model was scratch built from US Coast Guard plans. The boat is constructed of balsa wood and the hull coated with fiberglass resin. All the deck gear is scratchbuilt from brass, the propellers, led's and figures are the only commercial parts. Scaled at 3/4=1 foot the model measures 42 inches in length.
It's powered by a Pittman 12 volt motor and controlled by a 4 channel radio. Working features are running and spot light, siren with flashing blue light, sweeping radar antenna and deck lights. Built in 1985 the model the lifeboat is accurate in appearence for that time period.(The prototype has been modified since).
The actual lifeboat is attached the the Coast Guard's Motor Lifeboat School at Cape Disappointment and is one of four boats of this class.

This was scratch built apart from the fibre glass hull which I purchased.
Model is 65" long with a beam of 10". Power is by electric running via a gearbox at 300 rpm. Ihave taken almost 2years to complete the model working most days on it. Attention to detail was the order of the day.
I am using a Planet T5 Tx and Rx, 5 channels. I have a smoke generator pushing steam out of the twin funnels,synchronised to forward speed, faster the revs, faster the steam. Conventional rudder operation.
Have an operating Radar, ships horn, simulated steam noise varies as speed is altered, full navigation lights,all cabin lights can be switched on and to keep the 106 passengers happy I have a Banjo Band playing to complete the scene. Have sailed it recently at Peterborough and performs really really well. Have to say it tends to attract a lot of interest.
I am now constructing the Ayton Cross tug in 1:32 scale, with all the detail I want.Plan is to tow the Jeanie Deans around when completed as well assailing her

Owing it's origin to the RNLI lifeboats of the 19th century, the US Coast Guard 36'MLB saw service from 1900 to 1987. The USCG built over 300 boats of this class in various "mods" spanning it's life history. Constructed of wood and fitted with a bronze keel it was powered by a 4 cylinder engine later modified with a diesel motor. Early powered 36' boats carried oars and sails as auxillary power. My 36500 model was based on the famous Chatham Lifeboat Station in Massachusetts, USA. On Febuary 18, 1952 the CG 36500 rescued the 32 survivors of the tanker PENDLETON during a night time nor'easter storm. Without radio or radar the Coast Guardsmen found the stricken T-2 tanker in the blizzard, taking the crew off one at a time. With each pass of the lifeboat a tanker crewman climbed down a rope ladder and "fell" into the lifeboat. With all on board, the 36500 found it's way back to Chatham harbor much to the delight of the towns people and the Coast Guard! The most amazing fact regarding this rescue was that the 36 footers were only designed to carry 19 people, including the 3 man CG crew, without capsizing.
The model was scratchbuilt of balsa strips and aircraft plywood, using official USCG blueprints. Powered by a 6 volt motor and a 2 channel radio, the Chatham lifeboat is pleasure to run in my local pond.

Based on the US Coast Guard 36' motor lifeboat, the Canadian Coast Guard operated a number of these boats modified for cold weather operation. The model is a fiberglass hull, the reat is scratchbuilt using baltic birch wood, brass, and plastic. The model measures 28" based on the scale 3/4 inch equals a foot. it's powered by a 6 volt Dumas motor and operated with a 2 channel radio. A fun build!

HI " I thought I would put my biggest model from my collection for all to look at ! HMS Avenger took approx 3 years to build . " She is a type 21 frigate at 1/64 scale . At 6 feet long . Scratch built on a fibreglass hull from plywood plastic card & metal parts . Works on a six channel futaba skysport .
Full working red & white leds on deck and cabin , lynxs helicopter with working rotor blades with landing lights. Working radars, bofor gun , A ships whooping sound . Runs on two speed 700 motors off a 12volt gel sell battery which give a good 1hr sailling time . Controlled by a 50 amp speed controller with two brass propshafts behind good size rudders which give a excellant turn .
My model HMS Avenger is a copy from the real ship in which took part in the Falklands war in 1982. Painted in the same grey with a green deck . She looks great on display or on the water . Avenger gets a lot of interest from the general public . please enjoy looking at the photos shown at Sheringham & Eaton park Norwich Norfolk .
" thank you .. A Prestney

Ahoy
Here is another of my RC collections this the Revell of Germany Corvette SNOWBERRY. My spouse got this kit 7 years ago for my 64th birthday. I never got one of these before I know that Matchbox made this kit and went out of buisness. in overal view this is the Matchbox kit. I was overjoyed when my wife present this kit to me.After opening the kit examining the contents in the kit the hull comes in four peices two bow sections port and starboard. Two stern sections Port and Starboard.. To my horror they gave me two port bow sections. all there to do is to email the company and filed a complaint about the problem but it got worse. with the instruction sheet in my hand I gave them the part No. I need the Starboard bow section 2 weeks later they sent me another port bow section now I have 2 of them. This time I gave them a piece of my mind, I finally called up the company and filed my complaints. they were very humbled over this and they opoligized greratly. 3 weeks later a UPS truck pulled in. the driver approached my door with a huge box and a package I wondered with excitement whats this of. They sent me a new kit and the starboard bow section. What a del of the century, you dont see that no more.

As to the kit a modlers delight this kit is loaded anyone who has built this kit will share the same experince to the attention of detail. the hull length is 36 inch,s scale is 1/72 there aree plenty of room for your RC gear it to can make a good static model as well. Mine is powered by a dumas 6.0 volt electric motor with speed controll. 2 channel system. to make a stronger model for RC opperation use epoxie. The hull comes in 4 sections leaveing no seams to fill. on back of the instruction sheet they give you a selection of color schemes and ships names. I like the north Atlantic color schedule. So I modeled mine as the Snoewberry. These kits still can be purchased I see thgem all the time on ebay.

Boats

HI Dave. Here are a few pics. of the cabin and rear deck. I have no idea if they are correct as I have been unable to get a copy of the original drawings. The cabin top fits into a coaming / channel and is held in place by a rubber band, you can probably see the hooks in the photos. The rear deck sits on a ledge. it does not appear to be very watertight but seems to work quite well. Hope this helps. - John

First outing in 51 years for my 1/16th scale Seaplane tender, built originally by my father in 1953 and believed to be an Adamcraft Kit, found with a damaged hull and virtually no superstructure in the loft of their house after my mother had moved to a residential home several years ago. I had moved to Lyme Regis in Dorset where several of these craft were based and which was my fathers inspiration for building this initially, so I thought it time to try and restore her.
I had some difficulty finding plans of the ST and eventually bought and built the Deans Marine 1/24th version of this craft, which I then scaled up to rebuild the original.
Power is by a 600 motor with 2 channel radio and seems to work
well on a 7.2 v battery pack.
I've now joined Exeter & District MBC as it appears to be one of the nearest to us in Lyme and the pics show the ST on the Dragonfly Lake at Crealy.
I would be interested in any info. anyone might have as to Adamcraft as my searches have turned up very little. I believe they specified a Tacol electric or Mills 1.3 petrol engine at the time, but my memory might well be flawed as I was only around 10years old at the time.

Here is my 1/8th scale Rc New York fireboat. it was converted from a static kit to RC opperation 2 channel 9 volt motor small scale but effective.

Following a significant amount of restoration this old and original Aerokits 36" Fireboat was rebuilt from a wreck to a nice, working model. A full (new) white metal fittings kit provided all the deck clutter. Like my Sea Commander, featured elsewhere on this site, I have considerably lightened much of the internal structure. it's powerd by an 800 electric motor and runs on 12v. Performance is OK with 2 channel 27Mhz radio. Perhaps the best bit is a superb triple V12 sound unit (speaker under an additional hatch behind the wheelhouse). it sounds great on the water although someone did wonder why, having gone to all the trouble to remove the old unsilenced I/C engine and go for a quiet electric unit, why then add the noise back??. The pic of the boat underway has the battery externally in the rear compartment whilst doing sonme tests. it runs at Warminster Model Boat Club, Wiltshire.

This Sea Comander was another disaster, rescued from fleabay a couple of years ago as a 50s/60s bare shell. Whilst the hull was basically sound, the model needed considerable surgery. I resisted the temptation to cover it in modern fittings and have kept it original looking. Power is an electric 800 motor on 12 volts with 2 channel 27Mhz R/C. Performance is reasonable, particularly as I have lightened the original internal structure considerably. A big 7AH battery lasts for ages but for speed I use a small 2.5AH one. Owner sails at Warminster Model Boat Club, Wiltshire.