29 Posts
23 Followers
289 Likes
Modified Stiletto project
Making a bit of a start on my stretched Stiletto (more a Stilapier) at the moment, as it had been put aside while I had a play with a surface drive to fit to it, if I could get one working (see under surface drive experiment, in forum). I've shelved that idea till I can find a suitable universal for it, and have decided to use a modified cable drive instead (see under 'converting a cable drive to a standard drive', in forum) I wanted to settle on the drive type before starting fully, to make installation easier.
The Stiletto has been stretched to 38 1/2" by blowing the A4 sized drawings up to AO paper size. I've left out the usual internal locking structure so as to create more room and ease of access to the internals, instead, the whole cabin will lift off, rather than a few 'lids'. All the new positions have been worked out using top and bottom datum lines (pic 1). The deck camber has been changed but the deck sheer left in. A few other mods will be made as things progress.
I started by cutting out the keel, breast hook and new ply bulkheads, then cut the centers out of the bulkheads notched them for the stringers and reinforced them. I made a new universal building jig (under model framing jig, in forum) to hold everything in place, (right side up and upside down), and set everything up on it. Glued all the bulkheads bar the transom to the keel, (keel has shaft tube slot previously built in by cutting the keel on the appropriate angle, separating the 2 pieces by a shaft tube diam, trenching 2 side plates to suit the shaft tube angle and diam, and gluing/clamping them on using the building jig to hold them flat and straight.
I've made a cut-out for the motor in bulkhead 3, and bent the cable drive to suit. A motor mounting plate will be made later. Cable drive will have a V brace made to suit once the angle has been sorted for prop clearance etc.
Getting hard to find some modelling supplies (namely spruce strips for stringers and balsa) now so there might be some slow patches in the building.
๐ณ๐ฟ jbkiwi
14 hours ago
5 Posts
10 Followers
63 Likes
Aeronaut Jonny
Hi all, I started a new build during Christmas and I'm just about ready to start painting the haul so I figured its a good time to get the build log going.
I've had this kit for about a year now, purchased from Bauer in Germany along with with the recommended equipment including their Schottel Drive system. The plan is to have the two Schottel drives, a bow thruster, one working Anchor (possibly two in the future of off the same winch), a sound system, two working radars, working spot light with pivot in pitch and yaw, always on nav lights and interior lights, RC working main winch and manually operated bow and side winches, tow separate working fire monitors able to rotate individually, possibly a smoke generator and final an auto bilge system This comes to a total of 18 RC, unfortunately I only have 16 available so we will have to see what ends up in the ship.
So far I have the drives and bow thruster all fit and ready for assembly. I then built up the frame work and made the holes for the fire pumps and bilge. then had to build the lower deck house so I could fit the deck in the right place on the ship. Once the deck was dry fit I cut the scuppers then glued the deck down. I then set to work making the deck splash proof by installing and extending the kits coaming. I also add a drop floor under the aft hatch that I'm hoping will allow me to keep the water that gets on the deck from leaking down into the haul. Now I've got the Bulwark stanchions and handrails just about complete. I also started work on some of the deck items as I need the locations to work out some of the modifications I'm working through.
I hope to start painting the haul soon, I'm going to try brush painting this ship as I was able to find some nice paints at an Art supply store and I don't have much access to a place to spray paint in the winter. I do think I will spray on the primer first and hope it helps absorbed some of the brush marks.
๐จ๐ฆ Westwind
14 hours ago
2 Posts
3 Followers
5 Likes
Yard Sale Find
Because I can't figure out how to download a video on this web site I just pause the video & photographed the image of my Yard Sale Find It was such a lovely Canada Day morning went to the pool & ran the model checked for leaks, balanced model with a little lead test O/K I did have a tiny leak which I think will be fixed up with a little hull paint.
๐จ๐ฆ GARTH
1 day ago
1 Post
6 Followers
15 Likes
Naxos Laser sheets
I am finally just getting going on the "short kit" of the Naxos fishing boat from China. I call it "short" because there are no instructions (posted somewhere on the web) and only a minimal amount of parts, but the fiberglass hull is beautiful. And the laser cut pilot house and deck parts (what there is of them) are really really sweet. However, a huge amount of kit-bashing is in the offing on this one!
As a side note, on a personal level. I am heading on a cross-country trip for a few weeks and it is always my habit to leave a project undone so I have something to look forward to when I get back. Call it habit or superstition...it's just me.
๐บ๐ธ jumpugly
3 days ago
5 Posts
4 Followers
56 Likes
Aeronaut Pilot Boat
Hi yโall. So, the โMysteryโ has maidened, and handled her sea trials with flying colors. My bench was busy the past couple of weeks with repair and minor restoration of our antique โPom Pomโ aluminum Christmas tree. Weโve had it since the 90s my wife found it at an antique store and brought it home. She still thought it wasโฆ.errrโฆtacky, and that I was quite out of my mind, but once I had it up, trimmed, and the color wheel shining on it she changed her mind. It needed some sprucing up and minor repair to the branches, as the tape that holds the aluminum โleavesโ was failing, so I used a little ca and almost as good as new!!
AnyhowโฆIโve been looking at the Aeronaut Pilot boat for a few years, finally pulled the trigger a few months ago. Itโs a fairly well thought out kit. Itโs a traditional built up hull, but all the frames, keels, etc are laser cut abs. It comes with that, hardware, metal etched parts, itโs nice. I was off today, so I started the hull.
The kit comes with a precut cardboard jig for the hull, the frames have tabs and the jig is marked as to what frame goes where. Frame number 5 is also the motor mounts. The slots that are pre cut are a little too wide for a speed 400 or 28mm outrunner, but there were punch outs for the correct spacing, so I drilled those and marked them. You add the keel first, then the deck and chine stringers. The main โfunโ was sheeting the hull with the precut abs sides and bottoms. The hardest part was getting the bow seam right. I tried to do it as the instructions stated, using tape to hol everything in place, but I finally had to do it by tacking the sides to the bow, bending and occasionally cursing till I got a good fit. The bottoms were just about as bad, but I got it done.The instructions do tell you to glue to the keel and stringers first, then the frames if theyโre touching the sides, so I did that. Thereโs also use of copious amounts of Stabilit Express used to fill any gaps, etc. Thats next up. I plan to lay in some balsa for filler in places to sturdy up the hull, then I have to build the transom. Once thatโs done I need to get a couple of 900 kv outrunners ordered, then I can start mounting the running gear. I plan to add lights, and this boat has provisions for a lot of lights. Sheโs going to take me a while to buildโฆstay tuned!!
๐บ๐ธ Cashrc
4 days ago
19 Posts
6 Followers
107 Likes
52' Motor Lifeboat Victory
One of my nine-year projects is coming to an end. I am sad to see it completed in some ways, overjoyed in others. Many projects have been begun and shelved over those nine years; some are in the trash now.
What is known is the 213' WMEC-168 Yocona is hit or miss whether my attempts to waterproof a static hull will be successful. So on hold or a side project.
The Gunboat Philadelphia is on-going at work between shifts.
PBY that doesn't Fly I will place on hold, pending possible actual flight. (That will put three aircraft inline to be completed.)
The battleship North Carolina....Big. Not so complex as physically large undertaking.
SO, begin at the beginning as I tell my students. I pondered purchasing the laser-cut kit from Canada, but it is just frames, deck, and pilothouse. Yes, it is 1" to one foot scale, and would match my 44' MLB perfectly, but $286 plus shipping? For me too much, I will build at 1/24th scale for now. Small enough to store, big enough to detail and outfit with running gear.
My 44 MLB, is a leaky, but I am installing an automatic bilge pump. I get so much joy out of running it, and I will have the tri-fecta of MLB's 36', 44', and 52'. The 213 should be complete around the time I finish, so four CG projects in a years time, plus the Philly is a quick build. So, it is a year, year and a half plan.
This will be a slow one.
Non Boat picture is project that is almost complete.
Kevin
๐บ๐ธ KevinH
9 days ago