This is one of the limited edition Sirmar kits that was produce in the early 1990’s.this model was made by a friend of mine who’s a dockyard fitter and turner it was made about twenty eight years ago. Based on a tug that I worked on in and around Portsmouth harbour. This model has a working voith unit opening engine room skylights. Working lights, removable deck hatch to get at the unit like the real boat, the superstructure and gun whales are made from plasticard. The fender was made by a friend to the same type as used on the tug. The wheelhouse is copied like for like. The towing hook is copied from photos and slips like the real one. in all my years I haven’t seen another one like this . Sirmar made twenty numbered hulls as kits .
Boat is Scratch built 36" British Power Boat 64ft High Speed ASR Launch which belonged to the RNZAF. The launch was one of the 22 built and was shipped to NZ in 1940. it was the only one of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. Model has twin motors, ESCs, sound units etc. Has remotely switched water pump for water cooled brushless 2000kv in runner motors and remotely switched lighting. Uses 2x 2200mah 2s LiPos for drive and 1 1800mah LiPo for the pump (also a separate battery for the LED lights. Boat is built with strip planked balsa on ply frame and fiber glassed. Deck is ply, wheelhouse is varnished balsa. The colour is as it was for most of its time in the RNZAF . Took about 5 years on and off to build and finished it last year. (please ignore the time date - can't get rid of it .
Proboat Alpha - ready to run, model of PBR, Patrol Boat Riverine, used by US Navy during Vietnam conflict, served 1967 -1972.
Images show basic detail, 1/18 scale, with crew. Bow gunner servo is linked to rudder. Comes with Navlights, looking forward to a night sail.....some painting added to weather craft, as well as painting radar housing a lighter grey....and the canvas roof over wheel house....a little artistic licence with vessel numbers......Brown Navy did'nt always have numbered vessels....but could'nt help myself.
A few shots from today at the Portsmouth Model Boat Display Teams new club house at the Explosion Museum, Gosport- the tide was out so no boats on the water ☹️
So we sat back with a coffee and some ice cream, enjoyed the sunshine while watching the tide come in ( to give us an idea of how long either side of high tide we have usable water ) and the various boats going around the harbour with a backdrop of HMS Queen Elizabeth. The ex USS Chesapeake/ex HMS Revenge was given an airing in the sun. She is now the Minerve/HMS Minerve depending on which side she is fighting on
I bought a used hull of the Ayton Cross and look all over the internet for some plans but found none.
I did find a lot of images though.
I bought most if not all of the fittings and since have decided that the way to go is to make what you can from what I can get hold of.
So all other model boats are and will be scratch made.
I have two on the burner at the moment.
Anyway some of the Ayton Cross looks right some of it does not.
But I can always do it again as I hopefully get a little better.
This one again is awaiting Ballast and it will be ready to go.
I fitted two Engel 12 volt motors and made the mounts in grp then Laminated them into position..
Everything has been hand painted and slightly aged .
The bow thruster was made using some household plumbing pipe a small propshaft Again home made and it works very well.
Something to play with as I build hopefully better.
If you research who the original builders were, then the plans would be most likely be available from the archives of the builders. in most cases where vessels were built in Scotland for instance, the plans, if available would be held either by the Glasgow University Archives or the Scottish Archives. Although there are costs involved in obtaining copies of the originals, it is well worth it in the long run so that the details is correct. The model looks great.
This is my replica model of the Sirius Star designed by Max Coote of Ripmax, around 1954.
I found the drawings on the internet, and built the model from scratch. The boat is 41" and I have fitted an electric motor taken from a childs ride on car, 50 amp Chinese controller, 50mm prop, and 12 volt 7 amp lead acid battery.
It also has a Murco diesel fitted in the wheel house to give the boat a 50's appearance!
Sea trials soon!
this is my latest project just got running gear in boat is fully wired main deck sealedworking trawl winch made wheelhouse and hatch just sitting in position bulwark frames allin and trimmed one photo shows finished boat ahc waterson b444 skiboo this boat is all scratch built going to be finished rigged as a trawler scalloper on a fibre glass hull by bill wood
Robert waterson angus
Built for the MMI Solar Boat Challenge a number of years ago and includes the winner (Amber Sol-air !) that had to complete as many circuits as possible of a canal system constructed out of household guttering in a fixed time. (the gutter naturally limited the size - loa, beam and draft). All built out of depron from my own head - with enough left over to build several more ?!
There are a number of ideas for propulsion - all powered by solar panels, no batteries. The pool is 12 feet diameter and great for boats of this size.
MMI ran the event in three different forms over two seasons (arond 2007/8) - a circular gutter track with as many circuits as possible and also 3 circuits in shortest time, then drag racing - straight track knock ot competition.
As far as I know they have no plans to do more. They were great fun and pulled a lo of interest, incuding from youngsters because they were simple and cheap - but actually delivered!
I have a number of build shots the Clyde Puffer build that I'll post.
Originally designed and prepared as a fun entry to the MMI Solar Boat Challenge.
Scratch designed and built of depron to run in standard house guttering - size and construction details on the video. There are a number of 'solar' boats on another video of several including the eventual winner of the challenge. inexpensive, fun and unsinkable!
Watson class part way through refit,new motors twin speen controllers,rudder and mast both can be moved by remote up and down,,,hope to build model boat house and slip way so boat can by launched
For my first foray into boats I have acquired what is like a Vosper Firefloat Mk.2 but it is different. The wheel house section of my boat is different, being longer, the mid-ship section having three windows in lieu of two and the stern is completely different in profile.
I have spent many nights trawling the internet to see if there is anything like my very detailed model but to no avail and I have even asked a few of my old work colleagues who are ex-naval men if they can help out in identification. I am wondering whether this could be an elusive Mk. 1 - the boat that was never put into commission.
I attach a few photos of my model in the hope that someone out there can throw some light on it. it is in very good condition and a few years old, is fitted with a Graupner Eco 600 motor on a single prop with 7.2 NiMh batteries. it is about 34" in length and 9" beam and goes really well, planes quickly and turns very tightly - in all a cracking boat. The numbers on the side of the boat are strange as they relate to what I believe is a coastal command unit - the numbers are not new as they appear to be original under the paintwork. Any help in identifying what actual boat it is modelled on would be appreciated.
HI Alan, it reminds me of an air sea rescue launch I went for a ride in when I was an air cadet in the year dot! Had three packhard engines as I remember and went like the proverbial!
Roger
Bought this boat for £20 from a guy who was given it from a house clearence. As you can see it's quite big measuring 70" long.
It's in needs lots of TLC, will run off 2 electric motors as no IC around here. Hope to start late summer and get it to water late next year. I sail at silvermere golf course in surrey.
