We had pretty good weather for this meet of the Suncoast Scale Model Boat Club. The temperature was 84F instead of the usual 90-92F for this time of the year. No rain, clear skies and a light breeze. The photos show the variety of boats (leaning a little heavy on the tugs) present at the meet.
Lew
SSMBC Event Coordinator

TRACKER DUNDEE PILOT BOAT
FORTH Ports, the UK’s third largest port group, has placed an order for two new pilot boats to join their fleet working on the Rivers Forth and Tay. The investment in the vessels to work on the busy waterways will see the arrival next year of the next generation of pilot boats built by Holyhead Marine.
Pilot boats are important vessels on the river as they transport maritime pilots to the ships that need guided safely into port through the lock gates in Leith and Grangemouth, to a berth at a quayside in Dundee or Rosyth or to one of the deep-water anchorages in the River Forth. As the statutory river authority for the Forth and Tay, Forth Ports marine team operate over an area of 280 square miles of navigable waters.
The two pilot boats have been designed in Scotland by Camarc Design and will be built this year by Holyhead Marine in Wales. The pilot boats are 16.6 metres long and are the most advanced boats in operation with an updated hull design and engines offering increased efficiency. In the future, the engines would be capable of operating on HVO fuel (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) which could result in a C02 emission reduction of up to 90%. [**NB: further tech info is listed below]
Alan McPherson, Chief Harbour Master for Forth Ports’ Scottish operations, said: “It is important that we invest in our marine fleet to deliver the best service for river users and at the same time, decarbonise our vessels using the very latest engine technology. The Rivers Forth and Tay are two of the largest and busiest waterways in the UK with thousands of vessels using the rivers each year, ranging from very large offshore drilling rigs in Dundee, to container vessels heading to Grangemouth and cruise liners sailing into both rivers. We look forward to receiving the new pilot boats next year.”
Forth Ports currently has 5 pilot boats and 11 tugs operating across the River Forth and Tay.

Built by Buxton Model Boat Club member Adrian , he says :- "essentially the paddle boat is scratch built but uses some fittings and materials from a Disar "Vanguard" kit ".
Adrian used drawings of "Flying Scotsman" for inspiration, but is not a faithful reproduction, although "Old Trafford" is also quite similar .
This was the maiden voyage so plenty more work to be done on detail and ballast etc.as the boat still sits a bit low in the water.
For reference see :- http://tynetugs.co.uk/
http://www.tynetugs.co.uk/oldtrafford...

It is majestic to see these tugs at work.http://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/2017/07/bow-steering-unit-for-illinois-river-15.html

This kit from BillingBoats, the SMIT NEDERLAND was A harber tug in Rotterdam Netherlands build in 1979. There where 9 of this tugs working in the harber. You can find more of my building in https://www.modelbouwforum.nl/threads/smit-nederland-billing-boats.282005/

I’ve contact with old sailers of this tug, and they are follow me in Holland, and have a lot of information of these 1800 serie build Tugs, in that time,….
Now i’ve testing the lights and sound.

Tug is still under construction,…

Known as 'TID's', 182 of these little prefabricated tugs were built in modular units, by several different yards around the U.K. often by women workers. Brent started off as TID 159 and was the very last of her class to be built being completed in 1946.
https://www.steamtugbrent.org/history...

This model belongs to Buxton Model Boat Club member Bob Armstrong.

Back at Towne Lake for more fun and friendship. Had a good time, we saw 2 subs in the water, a few tugs, launches, working boats and an old MRP deep vee and a Micro Magic. I had a great time as I finally got my Italeri Vosper handling decently even in the windy conditions we had. A little more tweaking and she’ll be spot on, but I’m pleased with her for now.
Cash

RC Sailing hopes to illustrate a selection of RC Models filmed from various locations.
RC Sailing No 107 includes a broad range of Buxton Model Boat Club members boats that include Yachts , Tugs , Rowing boat , Submarine and other power boats.

Using the modified fan forced Heng Long smoker box, and a dead unit pump to pulse the smoke. This version is a 'dry stack one', which would look good on tugs and work boats. Still working on perfecting the 'wet' version.

This is one of my friends TID tugs at the Hubertus model boat club

Enjoyable day.Light rain but lovely weather.Members from Kawartha Marine Modellers,Confederation Marine Modellers and Metro Marine Modellers attended.Wide variety of boats.Had BBQ afterwards.There is a couple of pictures of Springer tugs for people to have an idea what to do to theirs.