I have been looking forward to starting this build for some time. It looks like this will be an interesting model to build but mainly I look forward to setting up the 16 channels required to give full function to all of the special features. The Dusseldorf is one of three identical boats built for use in the Ruhr area of Germany. The boats are equipped for disaster situations, (they must have known I was going to build it). They can be used for ship fires, oil leaks or as a port facility at risk of explosion. The fire monitors, radar, boat crane, lighting and anchor winch will all be working if I can sort out the controls. The fire monitors are of particular interest because if I get things right, they will swivel, lift and lower and shoot water. We will see. As stated in the instructions, I read most of them to see how things looked. I got bored at page six so forgot that bit. The next stage was to check the contents against the bill of materials. There must be 1000 pieces. I checked the large pieces and gave the rest a miss also. Not a good start I hear you cry. You will get used to it. I proceeded to remove the stand parts and lightly sanded off the connection remains. I assembled it using super glue but I will strengthen the inner corners with Epoxy later. I stuck some draft excluder tape to all of the edges which contact the hull for safety. Next stage was to trim off the excess material at deck level of the Hull. With 1.5mm thick ABS this is quite a job especially considering that the boat measures around 2.8 Metres all around. I used a Stanley knife to remove the bulk of the material followed by different sized files to trim to size. This process takes a lot of care so that not too much material is removed. The hull has a rather crude sort of line to work to but I think I will put more reliance on my eye and a two foot steel rule. I still have a little filing of the edges to do before I will be completely happy as this edge will be visible on the completed model. According to the instructions my next stage is to fit the rudders, motors and prop shafts. A job for next week.

01 Introduction Again after the finishing of the Vintage Model Works Police Boat I decided to have a go at their latest offering which is a 36 inch Marlin Cabin Cruiser This model was originally an important model release for Vernon, being the first of its kits that was really large enough to take the bulky radio control gear of the day. It appeared in 1953 at 72s/11d (£94 today) and was reviewed in the November Model Maker who found the design, with its rounded cabin and open front cockpit, the 'nicest looking power boat yet kitted'. It was for 1cc to 5cc diesel power or a large electric motor such as the 12V Taycol Super marine.

Wind farms in early stages in waters south of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. Seemed appropriate to make a guess about work vessels they might use.Blount Boatyard in Warren, Rhode Island has contracted with Vineyard Wind for construction of two CTVs. Not sure that one will be of what I am building but pressing ahead anyway. First photo is of the vessel I am generally constructing. It is a cat while mine is a blunt bowed workboat. Otherwise I will use it for overall reference using Blount’s GA drawing.

This is the story of Albert, a pond yacht made by an uncle in 1926 and given to me in 1959. The photos show how she looks now, and how it was in 2018 when I started a major restoration and rebuild. You can imagine the language when suddenly my yacht morphed from a hull to a few bits of firewood. In coming posts I will describe and show the history of Albert. Keep watching.....

Just having a play with an idea for a model of a early Russian KS 100D general purpose work boat. These were used for river work towing logs etc in shallow rivers . The water jet is unusual, as it has a rear shute with twin rudder type deflectors, and rear hull side ports for reverse (independent controls for each port). Someone on the site mentioned a steam powered water pump driven ship from the 1800s ? a while back on the site which used a similar principal. The boats were made by the Yaroslavl shipyard, and were very common in the late 50s till (I think) the 70s. Not much info on them but a few guys have rebuilt old ones for pleasure boats. They have a speed of around 16-18knts and used a Yamz 170hp V8 diesel. I've contacted (YT) a guy who has rebuilt one of these boats, and he has fitted the V6 version of this engine. My attempt is not like the original, as there is no info on the complicated internal deflector system, so I've gone with the next best thing using modified electrical conduit fittings with flap valves. Seems to work ok, but not sealed yet so leaks like a sieve. I'd use a 26mm jet unit for the pump in front of the unit. I'll have to reduce the diameter of the side outlets to get more force behind the jets. Might have to fit the unit in a waterproof tray with a bilge pump. as I think, even though it will be sealed, it will still leak slightly round the 3 shafts. https://youtu.be/7Lgb7hH6ln8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=altwiMdZlIA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWSI8moMeZg&t=33s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87PsJVdPNhE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ3U7XmeG1A (similar later model showing manoeuvrability) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hblw4_44FB8 The big lid on the jet is for clearing weed or similar which might get into the unit.

Two or three years ago an older modeler passed on and left his tools, parts and pieces behind. As is often the case, the son had little interest in the hobby so advertised the items for sale. I don't remember where I even saw the ad, but responded more out of curiosity than anything else. The son and I corresponded via email a few times with him sending images of box-lots of what was available, Towards the end of our correspondence he mentioned there was a boat hull that he knew nothing about, but apparently had not generated any interest and I could have it for a few dollars and shipping. I didn't need another hull and particularly didn't need a 'glass lapstrake boat, but thought it might be worth something down-stream as trading material, or someone may want it. The alternative was it would end up in a New Jersey landfill. ️ I received it about a week later, checked it out, and shelved it in the "stash" group. A while ago I was idly thumbing through a book with page after page of study plans and blew by a launch-type hull that was carvel planked. A couple of days later the plan resurfaced in my mind's eye and I looked it up again and thought the 'glass hull in a 1:8 scale would be close enough to loosely emulate these lines. The inspiration drawings were drawn by a fellow named Nelson Zimmer out of the greater Detroit MI area. My apologies to Mr. Zimmer as I've taken some subtle liberties with his drawing, all the while keeping the basic profile of his design. His title for the boat was "Utility Launch" at 23'3" and the hull I have is 35". Close enough for my purposes. In this opening "chapter' I have drilled the shaft log hole, determined the log angle, and built a platform for the motor and drive pulley. Given enough room I like the timing belt method of propulsion as they're not real particular about alignment, (that's not to say some care isn't necessary to set up the drive,) they just seem to be quieter, plus one can experiment with different pulleys to come to a good efficient RPM for the propeller. Photos: 1. A cursory general beginning. 2. determining that everything is "on the level." (This of course starts with the bench the build is on) 3. The propulsion will be a six volt system. One larger battery didn't fit well anywhere in the hull given the open midships area, so I tried two smaller batts in the ends which will be hooked up in parallel. There was some ballast required anyway, so doing a tub test proved this a viable solution. 4, 5, & 6. The forward and main bulkheads. After the time invested in these, I decided both need some modifications. Once the forward deck is in place retrieving the forward battery can be done through the hatch, but it would have been tight with the middle open cockpit benches, flooring, and "stuff". Keeping in mind this was only a 23' launch the 1:1 main bulkhead was originally designed with the bi-fold doors as shown which was a help to access the engine. I'm thinking of reconfiguring this arrangement as well. I'd name this "Knot Likely", but it's knot a speed likely boat...

As I can't build at the moment due to the recent surgery I have had on my right hand but as I can type with two fingers. One on the left hand and one on my right hand I thought I would start a new blog on the Bob-About and show what I had achieved just prior to my surgery. As a beginner to RC boats, apart from boats with motors I wanted to try my hand (if you pardon the pun) at RC sailing. Not in competition but as a leisure pursuit. It was recommended to me that I might like to build the Footy and/or the Wee Nip so I purchased both. I decided to start with the Footy because being small I thought that it would be easy to build as a first sailboat for a person who, although had experience of building static display ships and had just finished building Aeronaut's cabin cruiser Diva, had no knowledge of sailboats and the sailing terminology. I was wrong. On receiving the kit I found the instructions which were on both sides of an A4 size piece of paper very limited for the novice and also poorly written. The plans that also came with the kit were comprehensive but not aimed at the beginner. I did point this out to SLEC and asked if they had other details and perhaps more photographs than were printed on the instruction sheet that they could email. Their reply was that the plans and written details were all they had been given when they took on the selling rights. The copyright of the plans were given in 2002 some 20 odd years ago. So I felt that an update was long overdue. When I commenced the build the first problem I encountered was building the hull which I eventually overcame with the help of forum members but as I progressed I could see that with my lack of understanding and the very poor instructions added to my frustrations and I was in danger of giving up and throwing the thing out the window! Well, with further discussions with SLEC they answered my queries and sent me some photographs that they had taken to help me which I was very grateful. I was now able to complete the building of the hull. Install the rudder tube and the tube to take the mast. Once the adhesive had cured I gave the hull three coats of sander sealer. When that was dry I installed the angled tube at the stern to take the cable and cord to control the sails and the servos were fitted in place. The boat now sits waiting for me to start fitting the rigging and sails when I can use my right hand. That in turn will be the next challenge as I have no clue what to do! Hopefully, in the first couple of weeks of April my hand will be healed enough for me to start again. Greg

Hi All, just thought I'd share a few picks of my current build. The kit is the M.V. Dante by Deans Marine. The kit is a representation of a fire/rescue boat serving the Euro-Holland port. Interesting first for me is using the guts of two standard servos as the motors for the props.

I decided as an interesting subject to purchase the MOD Police Launch kit which measures only 400mm long. The kit was inexpensive and I thought as a beginner it would be a nice motor driven model to add to the Aeronaut cabin cruiser Diva I had finished building. Like the Bob-About that I have today started a build blog on I started this kit just prior to having surgery on my right hand. When I kit was delivered I was pleased at the contents of the box. Everything was there and the parts were nicely cut ready to be removed from the ply sheets. One thing I have to say is that the instruction booklet although well laid out with stage completion tick boxes I did not think that the drawings were very clear and helpful. So unfortunately I made a mistake when constructing the hull putting the transom at the wrong angle. I realized that I had a problem when I came to fit the radio tray. The part appeared to be too small and would not fit correctly. My added problem was that I did not know what I had done wrong. I contacted WMBC by email and explained my problem. I backed that up with photographs of the hull frames that I had so far put together. The person who replied said that they did not think they could help but said that they would send me another part so I could make a larger part from the one I had and the being sent that would fit. When the part arrived I made the part and fitted it and moved on only to find that the next part was also too small and would not fit. I contact WMBC again but they were not helpful. Now all this time this was going on I did not know that I had made a mistake. I believed the kit parts to be at fault. Following the lack of help I posted my problem on the forum with the photographs I had sent to WMBC. Fortunately dave976 came to my rescue pointing out that he could see from the same pictures I had sent to WMBC that I had fitted the transom incorrectly. Having found out my mistake I was able to order another part to replace the one I had altered on advice from WMBC. I am now waiting for the part to be delivered, and like the Footy, when my hand is useable again I can continue with the build so there will be more to follow in the future. Greg

My shed developed a small leak that damaged my Sea Commander. The water delaminated the ply used for the cabin sides. Fortunately just forrard of the cockpit so I was able to just cut out and replace both sides. So far I have removed the sides and the sprung veneer planks on one side of the front roof. I also need to replace some planks on the other two roofs hopefully by just removing and replacing the sprung planks. I am using two sheets of 1/16 ply for the sides as this will allow me to recess the windows by cutting the apertures wider on the cabin insides. Next job is to mark out the windows and cut to size. I can then use the inner apertures to mark and cut the new clear acrylic sheet. The wood glue I had has not stored well since I last managed to do any building so I am awaiting a delivery from Amazon with fresh supplies. Pics of progress to date. I will add to the post as I complete further. dave976

Hi One and All Now that I have finished the Wacht am Rhein I need a new project, I have the MMM Lady "T" that I have had so long that Nelson had both eye's when I got her, but I fell that some thing that will not take me a year or two to finish is needed, so I have decided to start on the Guardsman, again this will not be a step by step build just me rambling along doing my thing. Fred

I am building a Graupner Adolph Bermpohl does anyone have one as I need some help with the mechanism for the rear opening stern.