After inspecting my new acquisition thoroughly, I found numerous cracks in the paint and some flaking, so investigated further and found almost all the seems had sprung.
Over the next few weeks I intend to restore her to a seaworthy and long lasting model I can enjoy.
The sequence of pictures and notes will help understand what I'm doing at each stage.
Picture;- 1 is what it looked like when I got her.
2 is the inner workings,
3 is cabin and electrics removed.
4 visible cracks.
Next step is to clean away the old paint and see whats underneath hopefully nothing too disastrous as I don't want to scrap her.
Well I'll leave it at that and start work now, hope I'm not boring all you experts, as this is only my second restoration.Don't hesitate to but in and tell me I'm doing it wrong. By the way this is my first ever blog.Thanks Colin.

Well an afternoon in workshop has give me a clean outer, and as suspected all joints showing signs of opening. Think one of main problems caused by the use of steel pins, they have all rusted and only the paint was keeping it all together. So I've replaced pins with brass ones and used a syringe to put epoxy glue into joints, have removed paint using hot air gun and scraper, followed by a light sanding with small orbital sander which has given me a pretty good surface, which will only need minor filling.
Will add more info after supper.
Thanks Colin.

HI all,
At last I'm able to continue rebuild thanks to wife letting me use kitchen.
The pictures show my next step, I've coated hull in sanding sealer followed by sanding to a reasonable finish. Then coated with Eze-Kote resin from Delux Materials, then sanded back lightly. I then covered with 24gsm glass cloth using Eze-Kote, which is very easy to use, I think that another resin coat will make it ready for priming with a filler primer from Halfords car paint range.
I'm doing this work at the same time as going through the same operations on my wife's Fairey Swordsman restoration.
Just off to rub down for last resin coat, will update in a couple of days.

Have now re-fitted the running strakes, using c/sunk brass screws and gorilla glue. And am now trying to remove as much of the old paint from inside, so that I can try and re-seal the keel joints and bulkhead joints. When stripped out will probably use a liquid resin to re-seal before adding motor and servo mounts. then it'll be painted white inside before working on re-decking using mahogany planks.

Have now finished stripping inside of hull and deck. Stripped and cleaned cabin frames and replaced rotten frame wood ready for new roof, have started to rebuild cockpit well, using some salvaged ply from my spare wood box, (wife say's trash box). The roof is being made from 1/16th marine ply. As I'm working on hull at same time, I tend to do 1 thing on hull, then while glue is setting I do a part of cabin/cockpit unit, I've just put the first 2 planks on deck, so doing write up while glue is setting.
Right now its time for a nice cuppa tea while I trim the next few planks.

Well 5 hours work done on deck planking, hope you like my contrasting grain scheme, I think it will look good when finished with about 6 coats of varnish.
The planks have not been sanded yet. I just wiped with damp cloth to show grain for photos. The planking is 9mm x 2mm which was left over from my wife's dolls house project.
The light planks are hand cut pine. I' sticking them down with Evostick wood glue.

After about 10 hours more the decking is all in place and rubbed down ready for varnishing. So hope to finish hull prep in the next few days, then on to the painting and varnishing.
I will also be fitting the cabin roof's before commencing with the painting, as I like everything prepared before the painting starts.

Well fellow modellers I've been so busy this last 2 weeks that I forgot to post progress report.
As you will see from the attached photos, the deck has had 3 coats of varnish, it should have been 8 or 10 by now, but the air temp and humidity has slowed it's drying time. Have painted and fitted out the roof and cabin section, then made some new doors and control center and chart table.
The wife made 2 seats using a wire frame and upholstered in real leather ( an old handbag.) Then gave me 2 figures for the family crew.
Made the new mast from a chopstick, made all new Brass Deck Fittings. The wife is making Fenders at present.
No wind screen at present as it shattered as I was trying to re-fit it.
Well that's all for now, this boat and my others will be on display at Abbergavenny show this weekend.

Sorry for delay, but here are the photo's that wouldn't upload yesterday.
Anyone out In the Abergavenny area on Sunday or Monday, please look In on the steam and vintage show, where you can find me In the model tent.