Just finished this over Christmas. All lights work ,the deck is done with timber strips. just to rig up rc.
All the rigging detaches from the masts so I can gain access to the battery n the running gear. Lashings of Lead used as ballast. Talk about top heavy.......
Think I will weather her and get her smoking .....later

First attempt at weathering, Kind of ok but ?????

This is the first post Iv put on any site so ......here goes.
I have 18 boats ..................Yes 18 , and Im still married lol !
Love this boat , just going through a re fit , power wise etc,
just was not powerful enough. and too clean .
so decided to try my hand at weathering .
a bit daunting building something "pristine '' ish
then trying to make it better by roughing it up .

Designed by Vic Smeed in 1964 for the Magazine, Model Maker. Plan No. MM812. Found plans for free on internet and decided to build it as I did not have a vintage motor boat in my collection. Did not like the cabin so redesigned it. Powered by a Johnson 600 motor,2 * 7.2v 3300 mAh battery, 20 amp Mtroniks Viper Marine Controller and a 45mm dia course 2 bladed propeller. Goes really well.
Fitted trim tabs which finished the boats performance. Tested in rough weather and got 20 mins running on a fully charged battery.

This is Victoria, she was built from a Krick kit about 4 years ago, steam powered with a Maccsteam boiler and an SVS 10mm bore x 11mm stroke oscillator. She is currently taking a well earned rest after 3 years hard work, out 3 days a week, weather permitting. Undergoing boiler cleaning, engine overhaul and a bit of patching up of the woodwork.

this tug is scratch built on a scale hobbies hull.you can sail her in any weather with no problems.

nearly finished will give it a try on the lake when the weather allows

This boat is scratch built on a Fiberglass Hull. The Lily was one of two ferries built in 1900. Her sister ship was the Rose.
The superstructure of the model is largely light-ply and paneled to resemble the orginal. She had an open top deck and as you can see the navigation pods were open to the weather.
A semaphore signal arm was included as radio was not yet used to communicate with each other on the Mersey.
The model is approx1/48 scale and built from a couple of photos and sketches that exist. She is powered by two 340 electric motors and controlled with 2.4ghz radio. A 12 volt battery gives the power. Both decks are individually planked.
She has sailed at Hoylake.

See forum and my harbour (CapnJim) for more details.
Just some footage of my weathered Model Slipways Puffer - now some years old but still cruisin'. Still appreciating the model and is one of my favourites. One day I'll build a puffer at 1/32nd. but for now this does very well.
Easy build but lots of opportunities to add detail. This has all the bells and whistles (well 'steam' whistle, smoke generator and puffer engine sound at least). Would fit in a briefcase but still able to stay afloat against the wash of bigger boats or blustery winds. Surprisingly, steers well when going astern. Speed with supplied motor about 2mph ' but this is faster than scale by a margin.
Clip prepared for YouTube resolution so best not viewed full screen.

Super little kit making a great model. Essentially styrene with added mixed fittings then super detailed and weathered.

Video rather shaky as operating camera with one hand and RC with the other - will Improve and add soon.

Scratch built in 2004 from my own plan. Two layers of planks on ply frames, ply deck planked with 3/8 1/16 strips. Length of hull 50" by 13" breath. No motor sail only, winch for main & mizzen, sail arm for fore sails. Featuers a centre plate lowered by gravity and raized be a drum winch, also an expanding rudder, this has two servos to opperate. sails can be reefed or removed depending on weather conditions. Very good sailer Just goes in my car with the top mast & gaff boom lowered.

Mantua models 'Amalfi' Scale 1:35 Length 400mm. Fishing boat converted to 2 CH RC. Sails well, freeboard a little low but ok. Nets detactable for heavier weather sailing!

Photos show her on home 12' dia. pool but she sails well on boating pond. Runs for 20mins. on 4xAA batteries all in.