So, have given the Vosper RTTL a break as have this Palaform Griffin 600 Hovercraft itching to be built!

Having read a few build blogs on other sites, have decided to beef it up in places as we build as 3mm Depron isnt the strongest medium out there. I was going to copy all the parts to balsa and build it entirley from Balsa, but figured that would just increase the weight too much?

I shall finish the model in a psudo RNLI colour scheme!

So, as per manual, built the tunnel duct former from 6mm ply. This is where i deviated slightly from the manual by making the duct from 3 laminations of 1/32 balsa instead of the depron centre and balsa outside. I used some solarfilm backing to keep the drying balsa off the former to prevent the very wet wood bonding to it, this I found out with my first attempt that stuck firm to the former and was destroyed attemting to remove! its turned out great and after careful measuring, the rudder support was fitted (3mm Liteply substituted for the depron) and the whole thing sanded, sealed and primed ready to take VW Brilliant orange tomorrow.

I made the rudders from 3mm balsa and glass clothed 1 side. ive fitted brass tubes instead of the supplied plastic tube.

Last coupl of pics show the hull base with some balsa sheet added to give some extra rigidity without adding to much weight.

Hull formers in and setting. Duct finished and primed ready to recieve VW brilliant orange from a Halfords rattle can.

Im scrapping the Depron cabin and making the sides from 1mm ply/2mm balsa lamination for extra strength. Not worried about the extra weight as on Palaforms site you can get a liteply cabin conversion. Infact, Im not too worried about the extra weight that will be added in the build as the manual does state that it maybe required to add extra weight in the form of a battery or similar for on water use in a breeze to prevent the craft flipping over. I shall be saving weight with my motor, esc, lipo combo anyway.