Hi y’all. I’ve temporarily put the Antje aside for reasons that I stated in the build blog and started on a Billings Banckert. I originally bought the kit for a very good price off EBay ( yes that still happens!!), then added it to my stash. I haven’t had it long when one of my “trading partners”, Fred, started eyeballing it. Long story short he had it about a year, decided to thin out his stash, and brought the Banckert along with 2 other kits I had traded him and made a trade back for a kit I had in my possession….so I decided to start her before she got traded again!!🤣
Now…it’s a Billings kit. Good quality parts, nice laser cutting, good brass, slightly confusing instructions with hardly any measurements or written details. It’s like my Taucher, you just have to think a few steps ahead. Unlike the Taucher, the kits parts are marked with drill holes and the like, so each step, from what I can tell, Billings wants you to dry fit the parts and see how they fit in relation to each other..which you should do anyway, but their kits seem to be engineered to encourage this. Now, there is no suggestions on power, battery, etc..there is a box fwd of the fwd bulkhead for the receiver. That’s it. Also, no useable tiller nor is there mention of one. So here goes😀
The first thing I did was to cut out the hull and deck, making careful note of what to leave via the pics in the manual. I then added the floor, 2 bulkheads, and the stuffing box support. I then tackled the stuffing box and the rudder/ Kort nozzle setup. The Kort nozzle is suppose to be held in place with 1 screw and the bottom shoe. The rudders are May of ply halves that you’re supposed to grind away enough material to allow room for the rudder shaft. I did mine out of layered balsa, sanded and lightly glassed them. I then decided, fatefully, to build the whole assembly up and bond every thing in place..this necessitated having the prop installed, as it will be a real pain to replace with the whole works glued together…however, if I damage that prop it’ll probably mean the Kort nozzles toast too, so there that.
I decided to use an old Hitec HS81mg for the helm, as it has enough torque for the job and has metal gears too. It’s also in a semi bad place, but where it sits I have a straight shot to the tiller, and works perfectly. Power is being handled by a HobbyWing 30 amp brushless esc and a 28 mm 880kv motor. I made a ply/plastic mount out of scrap. I’ll have good access to the motor, tiller, and electronics, the servo will likely be a little hard to get to but not impossible, and the prop/Kort/rudders have “no user serviceable parts”🤣🤣
Thats where I’m at now. I have to make sure I get my battery setup just right as the fwd hatch is narrow, so my choice of battery might be a little limited, but I have options. After that’s all completed, and if I feel I have enough room to easily ballast the boat with the deck on, then my next step is to secure the deck to the hull.
Cash

Hi all. I worked all day Saturday, so I stay home from Church but watch the service on a live stream. Saturday’s a long day, 630 am till 5pm, so when I get home I’m done. Other than that and getting groceries in the a.m the day is mine to recuperate, so I spent some time in the shop.
The power and helm is done, esc and receiver mounted. I made an extension from the fwd bulkhead to help support the battery if needed, I had to cut the bulkhead down a bit to have a flat floor. I assembled the deck, rub rail and hull after laying in a half pound of bb ballast over the stuffing box just aft of the rear bulkhead, and determining that I could add the rest of the ballast with the deck on. I then started the aft hatch/superstructure after spending a good 45 minutes locating the cut wood parts in their respective sheets…I really think someone with a lot of jigsaw puzzle experience would have a decent go at this kit, as it is a matter of locating parts and test fitting everything before you even reach for the ca. Anyway, the hatch portion is done. I need to go by Ace Hardware and pick up some sanding sealer, then I’ll start assembling the aft superstructure.
Cash

Hi y’all. Well, it’s been a hot few days, but it’s supposed to cool down a bit. Nothing like the summer of 80, we had 69 consecutive days over 100 degrees, and it hit 113 June 26-27 that year😮
Anyway, did a bit on the rear hatch and the superstructure built on it. The wood for the hatch had a bit of a warp to it, even after gluing on the stiffeners, so I added a diagonal stiffener and glued it in place as I held it straight, that fixed it!!
Nothing world beating about the cabin, it’s built up from sheet and block. I’m learning to read Billings “instructions”, they do make sense, you just have to tread carefully. I’m stopping this construction at this point till I get some sanding sealer, as I’m out of stock right now, once I get that supply I’ll do final sanding, paint and details then move to the main superstructure.
Cash

Hi y’all. I found some lacquer based sanding sealer at Ace Hardware..it’s a quart can, should last me for quite a while. It does the job admirably, my wife was surprised when I showed her how it filled the grain and allowed me to make the surface much smoother. I’ve looked thru a couple of older Banckert builds, and I’ve noticed that the wood provided was a much smoother ply vs the mahogany looking ply in my kit. Now, mine came off eBay, so I done know if it’s an older kit than those builds or newer, but the wood is not as smooth.
But…I use what’s provided…mostly🤣
So after taking the Hawk out to get groceries I spent a few hours starting the fwd superstructure. It went together pretty well. I built up the main house first, then there’s a narrower cabin that builds on to that. I had a time fitting the forward bulwark, shield, whatever it’s called that wraps around the front. I tried to remove the thin wood but damaged it in the process, so I substituted plasticard. It worked better than I expected, not perfect but it looks good to me at least.
Since the after cabin is glued to the main body, once built I set the main cabin in place on the hull and tack glued the aft assembly to it to make sure it fit flush to the hull, the I carefully removed the whole assembly and did the rest of the joint. I’m at the stage where it would be prudent to fill and sand now, then I’ll tackle the upper cabins. My plan is to do all the wood work in stages, so everything is easier to fill and sand, the final assembly, primer and paint then railings, ladders fittings and the like. And, I think I’m starting to get the hang of “reading” the Billings manual.😁
Cash

Hi y’all. Before I go on I want to thank y’all for the comments, I appreciate them, especially the ones about my workbench…it’s funny, when I start a build my bench is organized, thirty minutes later…😁 When I made the move to boats from airplanes, I truly thought that building boats would be less messy..🤣🤣
Anyway, thanks again. This is probably the friendliest board I’ve ever been on, you guys are the reason.
So…it’s Independence Day today, had the day off, so I thought I’d do the remainder of the superstructure. Nothing earth shattering, I did the wheelhouse and upper cupola today. You’ll probably notice in one of the pics that the wheelhouse roof has quite a gap. I just tacked it place at the corners to facilitate sanding. I’m now at the point where I have to slow down and think about what I’m doing. I need to sand, fill, sand again, primer, and paint in a certain order before the roof ever goes on, as I still have to do the glazing before the roof goes on or the wheelhouse is mounted. The next update might be a bit as I have to purchase a little more paint. I’m doing certain details last, and I think I’m going to do the doors out of plasticard instead of the supplied wood. Anyway, that’s where she is now, I should be back in a week or so.
Cash

Hi y’all. My paint order came in Thursday, so I got the base coats done on the superstructure. I think it looks…okay. I hit the wood with 2 coats of sealer, sanded both times, primered, sanded, then painted. What flaws I found under the primer I corrected, but as I laid on the paint I found a few more. Fixed what I could, left alone what I thought would be too much trouble and possibly make the problem worse. I really wish Billings would use abs or styrene for their superstructures…..
I did the glazing on the wheelhouse before I added the roof. All windows are in clear, but I had some dark tinted windows left over from my Taucher build, so I did the upper skylights with that. Once that was done, I added the roof, then masked over the windows sanded and painted the joint.
Now, the Banckert does not have cut out freeing ports, as the bulwarks are part of the deck molding and double walled. One of my club mates, Steve O’Connel, mentioned that most Banckerts he’s seen get a little wet on the deck, and suggested using square tubing as freeing ports…so that’s what I did. I cut holes thru the inner and outer bulwarks, inserted a pice of tube, glued, trimmed flushed, filled imperfections and sanded .now, I tend to run my tugs on the lighter edge of their ballast range, as I think they are more lively when maneuvering. If I’m given a waterline range, I shoot for ballasting at the lower half of the range. Boats still stable, but just seems to “dance” better when rudder is applied. However, I didn’t want to take chances so I added the freeing ports.
The wood trim at the top of the bulwarks is done too, once I have added sanding sealer and sanded the hull will be ready for primer. After that I’ll start the funnel, the it’s time for rails, compainionways, and the like.
Cash

Hi y’all. Did a very little this week. Did some of the companionways and upper railing. I’m seeing my colors now, thinking gray deck and inner bulwarks, superstructure mostly white, railings black. When I build the funnel and mast and get that detailed and painted that will add more color plus some of the details will help also.in hindsight I think I should have built up the railing and test fitted to the superstructure before I did the paint, I’ll likely have to touch up a spot or two before she splashes. But, she’s a working boat so a little bit of imperfection is to be expected. I don’t weather my boats, they just come out that way….🤣🤣
Cash

Hi y’all. Got another set of rails painted and installed this week, then I did most of the hull and deck paint today. It turned out okay…I really think this boats going to be a “five footer”. The only other Billings kit I’ve built is the little Coast Guard lifeboat I built a few years ago..and it was a pretty simple kit. The Banckert has challenged my skills, and in some ways I think I’ve done well, in others it’s ok. Anyway, I have some touching up to do and more details to work up. I sprayed the deck black, but I’m not sure if it will stay that way…might leave the bulwarks as is and do the deck gray. In any case I have a lot more to do till she splashes so stay tuned..
Cash

Soooo…I decided that I just did not like the looks of the black deck and inner bulwarks after my initial paint, so I did a little masking this evening and shot it with some Tamiya AS31 Ocean Gray flat, then hit it with semi gloss. I just think it looks better. Also, I did not like the joint on the upper part of the superstructure where the fairings and main side meet. I was using a semi flexible sander and it concave it a bit. Many builders have had slight creative licensing with this boat, so I used some thin plasticard and made a “reinforcement strap” from one side to the other. Then I went inside and made myself some Spam and Pepperjack sliders😊
Cash

Hi y’all. I’m working on the funnel now. I’ve built up the funnel from the supplied parts and did the little side lockers. I sanded it after the major assemblies were done, gave it 2 coats of sanding sealer, 2 coats primer and 3 thin coats paint. After the paint is fully cured I might give it another coat. The mast will be next, as it’s attached to the top of the funnel. I still have some details to add, but my goal is to have the mast and funnel done as 2 separate assemblies, then I’ll bond them together and install. I want to have them completely fitted out and detailed save rigging before I attach the final assembly to the superstructure.
I’m hoping I’ll have this part completed by the weekend.
Cash

Hi y’all. So…worked all day yesterday…didn’t do Church today, got groceries and built up the mast. Now, it’s SUPPOSED to be a piece of obechi or basswood that you trim down and the round off the leading edge….I had a strip of medium balsa that was way easier to work. Instead of using the supplied wood parts for the supports for lamps and the like, I made them from 2 mm plasticard. I also made the base about 3mm longer, so instead of sanding the mating edge to match the curve of the mast I notched the mast to accept the base, giving me a better join. After that it was a simple matter to add the top spreader, primer, paint, paint ladder and install, then add the mast to the top of the funnel. I used a piece of brass wire as a connector and to add a little more strength to the joint, as I’m clumsy and that’s the first thing I’ll break in handling. Now I just need to install the funnel and lockers, and it’s on to the winch and sundry other details.
Cash

Hi y’all. I spent an hour or so after work finishing up the funnel/mast assembly. I had to build the…whatever it is that goes on the aft side of the funnel. There’s no drawing of how most of the fittings go together, but there are pics of the finished product. Kind of. Anyway, this fitting is made up of 2 brass hoops and a base. At first I was going to drill them, then run a brass rod thru the rings and the base. What I ended up doing was dry fitting the rings, soldering them then soldering that assembly to the base. After it all cooled I took a piece of scrap brass wire and potted in the bottom with ca, then painted the assembly. I then made a small shallow hole in the masts platform, cut the wire so I had a scant 1-2 mm protruding, and uses that pin to center the assembly as it was glued on.
I then mounted the funnel. Now, I had to cut the railings where it mounts on the upper deck, and sure enough they were just short. That actually gave me some “wiggle room” to make sure I had the funnel straight and true, but once the funnel was mounted I’d have a little gap, so I took some tiny brass eyelets and prepainted them, slid them on the rails with the base facing the funnel. I taped them back to stay out of the way. Once the funnel was glued in place and cured, I slid the eyelets against the funnel and used a tiny drop of ca to secure them. Might not be exactly scale, but to my eye it looks good and takes care of any gap.
Now it’s time for more rails, the anchor winch, towing reels, etc……
Cash

Hi y’all. Got the anchor winch built and installed today, along with the chains and ports for the non existent hawse pipe. I also added exhaust ports to the top of the funnel. Oh…I had a lipo that looked a little sketchy when I charged it. I put it into a fire resistant lipo bag and tried to save it, ended up shorting it out on the back patio so I could dispose of it safely. Usually these things die with a little smoke, maybe a lick of flame at the end, this one was different…..
Cash

Hi y’all. Got a little more done past few days. I built up the rails that support the towing ropes across the aft deck, and am almost finished fitting out the aft hatch. Nothing earth shattering here, all pretty basic, except the last rail took a little soldering. Now, I have a a mild complaint about the Billings instructions as they apply to the aft rail. There’s no pic of this thing mounted on the boat except for the plan view, and there’s no pic of the soldered on supports until you get to the last page. There is a pic of the finished rail with a soldering iron above it…I had no clue at all what this was about till I saw pics of finished boats…and every one of of them are installed a little differently than what I can glean from the “plans”. Anyway, they’re installed. I made the bitt on the aft part of the hatch from 2 plastic bitts that I modified and glued together, as I’m tired of dowels.🤣
Now, I need to make up some more railing, install the fire monitors and tubes, lockers, hatches and rigging..oh!! And ballast.
Cash

Hi y’all. Got more done this weekend and last week. Installed the tow hook, what I assume are robe winches on the side of the cabin, fire monitors and upper rails. Now, I had to make a command decision when it came to the fire monitor feed lines….they are SUPPOSED to run from the monitors, across the upper cabin, down the backside of the cabin and aft to just about the funnel. The parts in the kit that one makes the piping from are very stiff insulated copper wire. I intended to do just that but….there’s no way on Gods good green earth that you can bend the wires to shape and feed them under the railings, I tried for about thirty minutes. The Banckerts “manual” shows where to install, but no sequence. I installed the rails first, in essence, I muffed it…so I ran them down the backside of the cabin, terminating at the upper deck. If anybody asks, I’ll tell them that maritime law states that any ship in Texas waters can not have a tripping hazard on deck, and the pipes were rerouted straight down to the below deck pumps.🤣
I have a few more things to do. Some lockers, hatches and doors, a little rigging and the rudder linkage hatch..then it’s ballast, touch up and maiden.

Hi y’all. I took Friday off, had a couple of things to do, so after that was done I spent the rest of the morning and Saturday morning on the Banckert. She has doors, life rings, and sundry other items painted and installed. I need to make up the tow lines, then ballast and leak check.

Hi y’all. I did the ballast and leak test today…oh, and I damaged the superstructure! I hadn’t come up with a way to secure it before I did the ballast check, and sure enough, as I was walking into the living room I knocked it off and it hit the floor. Thankfully, the damage wasnt too bad, mostly the compass was knocked loose, and the upper part of the mast was damaged. I rescued the mast and ladder, and touched up the paint. The upper antenna mount and aerials were a total loss, I’m going to have to make a new one, repaint and secure, but that’s about it. I now have 2 pins coming down from the very forward deck of the superstructure into holes on the upper deck. I have to secure the aft part of the superstructure and that will keep the cabin in place.
I used large empty spice bottles filled with bb’s for the main portion of the ballast admidships, there’s already bb’s permanently epoxied aft, and 2 pill bottles with bb’s strapped together forward. I still have room to shift the battery to fine tune the boat.
A little repair, touch up and she maidens next Sunday!!😁

Hi y’all. Took the Banckert out for her maiden run today, and I’m pleased with it!! For and aft ballast was spot on, but she had a slight list to starboard. I decided to go ahead and run her that way for the day. Had her in the water well over two hours, probably a little less than an hour and a half run time, she used just over 50 percent of charge on a 2 cell 5200 lipo. She handled well, and the after maiden inspection showed below decks dry as a bone. I figure 1/2 to 1 ounce of ballast port side should be enough to correct the list.
I’ll post a pic and vid in a few. Thanks for the words of encouragement and comments, y’all are the best!!
Cash

A vid of our last run this past Sunday with some vid of the Banckert.

Hi Colin. I admit she’s got a bit more punch than she should have…but consider this: Carrol Shelby, a Texan, makes automotive history by shoehorning an American V8 into the AC Ace, thus transforming that car into the Shelby Cobra. I, a native born Texan, basically did the same thing with the Banckert.
Coincidence? I think not…😁
Cash
PS…I meant to add a comment, but I hit new blog post instead. On my IPad, when I try to delete the unused post it shuts down this website, so I used it to return a comment.