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121 posts · Page 8 of 11
Robin Stobbs
Master Seaman
Wannabe Police Launch
My own design deep "V" hull with upper-works loosely to 1:15 scale replica of the Mitchell 31 boats previously used by various Hampshire constabularies in and around the Solent. The intention is to fit this model with a working, rotating, radar scanner using the servo motor and gearbox from an old video camera lens system; working lights including flashing blue police lights and a sound-alike "wee-wah" siren - just for the hell of it (and because I can)! Technical details: Hull length: 867mm. Construction: GRP layup with 1.5 and 3mm ply and balsa deck, cabin etc. Motor: MFA Torpedo 850. Propeller: X50mm plastic. Battery: 2 x three cell LiPo pack in parallel. Speed controller: Mtroniks Viper 25Amp. Radio: Hobby King 2.4GHz.
Liked by jbkiwi and CraigRobotham
2 comments
  • Robin StobbsMaster Seaman
    My son says this is way off a replica of the Solent police launches of that time: a) it moves too fast, b) it's not billowing black smoke, c) it's not making enough engine noise, and d) it's not towing half the Solent behind! 😀
  • don83000Able Seaman
    Looks nice and goes well for a brushed motor.
Chiefpurser
Leading Seaman
1 / 4
Stardust
HI fellow model leers.this is my latest model.Built in 1926' for the Ffyfe(bananas) family. Originally it was run on steam,but in 1939 converted to diesel,this was kept until 1957 when all the staterooms were replaced by cargo holds . She was then made into a feeder bringing eleven thousand boxes from Rotterdam to Southampton. She was scrapped in the seventies.my model of her was from 1926 the scale is approx 1/30th her length is 48 inches including bowsprit, and has a beam of 10 inch amidships. She is totally scratch built, plank on frame, all the decks are individually planked with black card in between , wheel house and all other parts are mahogany. She runs on a decaperm geared motor @ 6 volts, and the lighting system consists of 10 accommodation lights, port and starboard , wheelhouse, and both mast headlights,the large saloon skylight is also lit up with a set of disco lights on a separate circuit. The funnel houses a heavy duty smoke unit switched on by switching unit.
2 comments
  • seafarerPetty Officer 1st Class
    💭 Hi Chiefpurser, Stardust looks really good, did you have problems with buoyancy, and how much does it weigh, how do you transport and launch such a big model?
    Looks a good pool, where do you sale?
    Liked by Brightwork
  • ChiefpurserLeading Seaman
    HI thanks for the comments. No problems with buoyancy only 6oz lead to bring her upright, a bit tender but will be adding a further 16 oz of ballast before next outing. She will weigh 18 lbs. transport is not a problem back seat of the car. Lifting and lowering into lake with two strops. This is not really a big model. I have one at 58 inches. We sail in several locations in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. My next model is already on the stocks and will be a jet boat a bit like a super doper cabin cruiser, own design and scratch built as per stardust. Regards jim
batman
Recruit
1 / 4
Hercules
Hi, this is Hercules 51" L 14" Beam was scratched built
12 years ago . it's powered by 2 robbie 1000 off a 12v
battery with a vantec ESC . it has a working fire monitor
2 sound systems with 2 -4" Kort Nozzels .
It is all planked by Cherry veneer deck and superstructure
It olso has working lights for the night runs.
I run this tug evry weekend for the past 10 years and it
still looks new . I live in Whitestone NEW York and I
belong to the Empire State Model Mariners Club .
Check us out at Empire State Model Mariners RC Groups
I am Band1.
Liked by RobW1 and doghouse and
2 comments
  • deBrittRecruit
    HI batman
    Very nice model, I love the shape, position in water and the overall structure. this is the vision I have for my build.
    Thanks
    debritt 😊
  • figtree7ntsAdmiral
    She reminds me a lot of the tugs you see in NY harbor! 👍
BASHER
Leading Seaman
1 / 3
Le Zenith...Renamed Cheryl for personal reasons
My model of Soclaine (MGS) Built in 1985. Trawler kit originally called le Zenith 1/24 Scale. My name change is in memory of our beautifull daughter who went to heaven just over four years ago. Anyhow model is beautifull on the water powered by Como MFA 919 Series Electric Motor.
All power is from a lead acid 12 volt battery,lights, running gear . Using a simple set up of two channel Planet T5 Radio.
I sail the boat at Rutherglen Boat Club Glasgow. The weight of this boat is really awesome and I kept adding lead untill it was nearly Impossible to lift,must be getting soft in me old age.. 👍 lol Deck crane is made from odds n ends and an addition..IAN
Liked by watson220
2 comments
  • denniswPetty Officer 2nd Class
    nice looking boat. your daughter most have been beautiful. sorry for your loss. 😭
  • BASHERLeading Seaman
    Dear friend Dennis
    Your kind words mean so very much to us and we thank you most sincerely for such a kind thought..Yes our wee lass was truly the gentlest kindest human being you could Imagine..See her here
    http://cheryl.hamilton.muchloved.com

    Thank you again ..Ian,Marion,Alistair
ralphwilmot
Master Seaman
1 / 1
Mast Lighting fine parallel wires for mast lights or radar
I have found that a parallel ribbon cable from an old desktop computer (80 way type) are ideal for mast lights or working Radar etc. and can be glued down neatly.

The end connectors are easily removed without damaging the cable. it is possible to separate two or three insulated wires or however many wires or pairs you need to run to different areas of the hull or the superstructure.

For mast lights or radar etc, I found that wires in pairs are the best way to feed multiple pairs of wires up a mast tube etc. (It helps to feed wires through tubes with a dab of talcum powder to ease the wires through). I was able to run 4 pairs of these fine cables up a 3mm mast tube.

The wires are single strand insulated and easy to solder onto led's or bulbs with very fine heatshrink tubing to insulate. Because these wires are very fine the lights or radar supply should be fused at a low amperage rate. 250mA in my Tug.
ChrisM1
Recruit
1 / 4
DEVA Cheshire Police boat
Here is a Graupner Bremen 9 converted to represent a UK Police boat. She is called DEVA which is the Roman name for the county capital of Cheshire - Chester.

If the Cheshire Constabulary owned a vessel of the size of the original Bremen 9, I am reliably informed that the 'Battenburg' and transom diagonal stripes would be correct. The 'BA 07' lettering on the superstructure is also the correct national and regional code for the Cheshire Constabulary. The constabulary crest on the cabin doors however has now been superseded by a more modern constabulary logo that looks sh1te.
The RIB provided with the kit is too small and in my opinion not to scale; I will replace it at some point. The light bar and all other blue and navigation lights work off 9v batteries.
Chris M
Liked by watson220
3 comments
  • sanjayaRecruit
    yes, very Impressive. 👍
  • denniswPetty Officer 2nd Class
    great looking boat. What. motors are in her. 👋
Chiefpurser
Leading Seaman
1 / 4
Eric f.plaxton
This model was built from a model slipway Tamar kit. it was modified substantially.all rails are soldered brass. info was from the website of Peterhead R.N.L.I. Station were there are excellent photos. The models engines are thumper motors 4240' at 900kv and run on three cell lipos @ 5000ma. Which give me at least an hour. With a speed of at least 10 mph, which lifts her bow out of the water,way passed the bow thruster , which is a graupner 400. Radar works through an old servo . Flashing blue light on mast. Running and accommodation lights. These boats are normally red below waterline however Scarborough life boats have always been white below the waterline. The crew are star war figures modified with plastic putty and a sharp knife. Not an easy build but very enjoyable. Eric Plaxton was the chairman of plaxtons coaches, and platoons building services. He left 9 million pounds to the boro of Scarborough, and 3 million to scarborough R.N.L.I., for a new boat .
Liked by doghouse and baloo
3 comments
  • ChiefpurserLeading Seaman
    Many thanks , Yes I like the colour scheme as well. I have several projects I would like to start one being the jet drive boat. as I already have the jet drives in the drawer for the last 12 months,regards Jim clark
  • boatingpatch16Able Seaman
    Hi, I've got a real one 15 minutes away, any question, please ask ahead - regards Gordon 😎
chippy
Leading Seaman
1 / 1
Lady Wooes
Lady Wooes, by Mobile Marine of Lincoln. SemI kit. I bought the hull all the timber and drawings along with dozens of white metal fittings ages ago, started it and left it for 5 years, moved to North wales and finished it. Drive is 2 Ford Cortina fan heater motors driving a pair of 55mm Prop Shop props by tank steering, reciprocating steam engine sound board, smoke unit and full working lights all from 2 X 12 v 7 Amp batteries........a good and interesting but very frustrating build to get things right.
Sailed at Erias Park, Colwyn Bay Model Boat Club and sometimes at West Shore LLandudno.
1 comment
  • modeltugmanChief Petty Officer 1st Class
    HI Chippy. Lovely job well done.
rustypiston
Leading Seaman
1 / 4
USCG 52' MLB Triumph
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.
Liked by doghouse
9 comments
  • danielcolmarAble Seaman
    Thank for your reply, and sorry for fault
  • CHamerleRecruit
    Great model! I've worked and sailed on the original and you've represented "Big T" well!
    Liked by Donnieboy
modeltugman
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class
1 / 3
Vanquisher built at 1/32nd scale
this is the Vanquisher, she was the first Diesel powered ship towing tug built for the thames in 1955.
the model is scratch built plank on frame, with 12volt motor, lights,and revolving radar.
Liked by circle43nautical
2 comments
  • Dave MVice Admiral
    Lovely atmospheric scene. You could be forgiven for thinking this was the real thing. What is the ship under tow and did you make her also?
  • modeltugmanChief Petty Officer 1st Class
    HI Dave yes she is a rough representation of am old T2 type tanker. made of plywood in 7 sections each section is held to the next with two vertical pins through slots and brackets, she has her own power as well, she was made for towing around the lake we use at Bluewater shopping centre,I will put some pictures of her construction in the build blog pages for you, all the best george.
modeltugman
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class
1 / 3
A model of the S T Atlantic Cock
I built this one about 3 years ago she is built at 1/24th scale 50"long and is a plank on frame hull , scratch built using lime wood planking and 9mm ply for the frames and keel, the rest is birch ply of various thicknesses.
she has a 12volt cooling fan motor driving a 4" prop,and has a 12volt 48amp hour battery ,plus some lead for ballast,with working lights and revolving radar scanner
Liked by circle43nautical and Brightwork
4 comments
  • ralphwilmotMaster Seaman
    Hi,
    Good looking detailed tug, must be a heavy to launch.
    Ralph
  • modeltugmanChief Petty Officer 1st Class
    HI Ralph we have a launchung crane at our club so it is not really a problem with size and weight, most of my big tugs actually weigh less than 30lbs without the battery and ballast, I use 46amp hour gel cell batteries where possiblt and then trim with lead blocks ,the Atlantic Cock has her battery plus 3 x3lb lumps of lead so she goes into the cradle light, then is loaded and launched mechanicaly simples really and no bad backs. George,
ralphwilmot
Master Seaman
1 / 4
J. R. More
J. R. MORE - LAST OF THE LARGEST STEAM TUGS BUILT ON THE CLYDE. The best looking tugs ever built!

This model is scratch build at 1:48 scale of the SAR&H Durban tug J. R. More, which was the last large steam tug built on the Clyde in 1962.
It took over 2 years to complete this model, which was my first scratch build from the modified plans of a sister tug called the F.C Sturrock, which was also stationed at Durban as the shift tug for that harbour. Other tugs of the class were also stationed at Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

The J. R. More was the newer day tug in Durban, most often used to service the Union Castle ships and others in, out of Durban and remembered by so many visitors to South Africa of that time.

This model tug on the water has differential motor control, software linked with the rudder, can go about on the spot and a delight to sail as a model, capable of 6 or more hours on the water. Working Rotating Radar, lights and woop-woop sounder as per the original tug. I would also like to install the Telegraph bells, however these would drive fellow modellers to distraction, as they were a very distinctive sound and very regular, Implanted and well remembered by the crews and those in and around the harbour, even today. The engines on the other hand were almost quiet and by all accounts very reliable.

This model is ballasted mainly by two 7 Ah 12 Volt SLA Batteries for the main drive motors and a 2 Ah 12 Volt SLA (Aft ballast) for the Lights, Radar and Sound unit. All up weight is 14Kgs and capable of above scale speed from the two MFA 6:1 ratio Geared Motors driving two 4 bladed 70mm screws.

This model has onboard charge regulator circuit, built-in minature dual volt meter to allow quick on-board voltage inspection and single plug-in charge and regulator socket for charging all 3 Batteries together.

The actual full size J. R. More tug still survives and can be visited at the Durban Maritime Museum in Durban, South Africa. Local supporters are undergoing essential repairs, restoration and preservation with private and company financial support.

J R More is the only surviving large steam tug left of this class and as Important to the skills of the Scottish shipbuilders of the Clyde.
Liked by jbkiwi and jugge and
4 comments
  • Dave MVice Admiral
    HI Ralph
    Looking forward to your further posts.
  • circle43nauticalChief Petty Officer 2nd Class
    BRAVO ZULU! Very beautiful build sir!

Liked by

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