Chug!!!!!
Thank you for your suggestions!!!
And the ride is simply…

Jumpugly:
Your model looks like a very good candidate for using a small touch-up spray gun and decanting your Krylon Fusion.

I’ve used that rattle can before and still keep a few in my arsenal.
When you decant your favorite color, thin it with the proper thinner and spray a light mist coat first, then a medium coat, and finally a wet coat, waiting about 30 minutes between coats.

Doing it this way gives you much better control over the finish and helps avoid runs or orange peel. The same principle applies even when spraying straight from the can, but with the gun you get a lot more control.

That’s what I would do… but I have a serious case of Modeler’s Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, so I tend to overdo things a bit.

Here is the type of spray gun I would recommend.

The truth is that for many years I did a lot of wood finishing, spray work, and even some car painting and restorations, so I got very used to working with spray equipment.
This is my 1973 Volkswagen Beetle, which took me 19 years to restore. Still one of my favourite projects to this day.
😎

Hi Chug!
I am a rattle can guy all the way. In this particular case I will probably go with the gloss Krylon Fusion as it dries harder (and a bit quicker) than the Rustoleum sprays.

Jumpugly:
Curious what you’d go with for the main finish coat — spray can, airbrush, or touch-up spray gun?
Any pros/cons from your experience?
😎

Jumpugly,
You remind me of myself at 20—I also worked in a body shop doing plastering and priming.
Priming really brings out every little flaw, especially those nasty raised wood fibers.

There’s a simple way to avoid that:
Before priming:
Sand smooth (220–320 grit)
Lightly dampen the surface
Let it dry completely
Sand again
If it already happened:
Fill the cracks
Lightly sand the primed surface (320–400 grit)
Wipe clean and re-prime
I’ve used several crack-filling putties with great results—shown here.
😎

Morning Jump,

Your Grandfather was absolutely right - the primer/undercoat takes no prisoners!

Bob.

Your unlimited hydroplanes bring back memories of watching thee races on Lake Washington during SeaFare week in Seattle when I was a kid. We use to cut the hydroplane hull shape from plywood scraps, pound a couple nails through the top and tie a 12’ length of twine to the nose, so that they would fly across the “water” making noises while pulling them behind our bikes racing around the neighborhood. Fond memories.

I sure yours will be there too on your lake in the Catskills. Are you able to run several at once as you have a few of these hydroplanes in your harb’r?

Seeing this one in the water will be exciting.

Jumpugly,

That Dumas hydro is coming along very nicely.
I love the weights you’re using to clamp things down—great idea! I’m going to have to try that.
😎

Yessir Bob, I am on that one! There will be no excessive speed runs although the folks that did the resto have always felt that speed runs were a possibility, but the Museum engineering team and the resto team are embroiled in a bit of political/emotional football. No matter the issues, it will be a very interesting watch!

Hi Jump.

I saw this and thought it may interest you?

Donald Campbell's Bluebird K7 is set to return to Coniston Water in May 2026. The event will take place from May 11 to May 17, 2026, marking its first return since the tragic accident in 1967. This historic event will celebrate the 70th anniversary of Donald Campbell's first world water speed record achieved on Coniston Water.

Bob.

Hi Jump,

I am really looking forward to seeing your Dumas Hydroplane finished.

Your blog takes me back many years to when a fellow club member of the Bath Model Power Boat Club built a hydroplane in the 1960's and run it on our local River Avon..

His was powered by a 22cc Ohilisson and Rice brush cutter engine and looked very impressive on the water.

Your model has a nice classic shape that I really like the look of, and it makes an ideal stablemate for your Bluebird.

Nice work 👍

Bob.

You've done a great job of "straightening" her out. Good that you managed to save the ply as it looks to be good quality and a testament to the strength of the construction given the weight of the bricks etc.

22” of snow and more coming later this week.