See there’s a couple of posts about the RTTL. I remember the mast being an interesting build - there’s more about the build at

blogs/117928

hi there

Nice project to start on. I am unsure if you are aware of the history of these boats. I found the more you delve into the history of them, the more complicated (shall we say) they become. Some of the boats began life as a Hants and Dorset hull with 3 motors and shafts and ended up having only 2 motors as they were converted. One I do know was fitted with an Oerlikon gun on the rear cabin. They were a bit notorious for splitting the hull open, as they were prone to diving off waves; this was due to the fact that both props and shafts turned in the same direction giving the hull a corkscrew movement. Some hulls were fitted with a wedge shape right at the rear to try and help with this effect. I built a model of the RTTL a good while ago; and I believe it is in my profile dockyard. Here are a couple of photographs which I have managed to find on my computer. I know my build of my model was originally on Mayhem - but after a few crashes of Mayhem a good few pictures have gone missing of the build.

There is also one here of the towing target which the RTTL used to tow.

John

Here's my n.i.b. Kitshack Vosper Target Towing Launch kit which I've just unearthed! I collected this personally from Kitshack's small production facility at Bursledon, Southampton about ten or eleven years ago. I may build it (or list it for sale on that well known auction site), but as I see a few historic posts refer to the mast assembly, I have attached a photograph which may be of interest to some.

This boat is getting even more interesting, found the old website of the person restoring 2748. Have a plan forming of building the model to be 2748 from the mid 1950s before the addition of the centre roof, as she would have been when towing targets from Plymouth.

So the next challenge is to find some pictures of a typical target and see if I can make a 1:30 scale one that has some directional stability

https://web.archive.org/web/20211227071329/http://classic-wooden-ship-plymouth.c

Hi Dave976

Many thanks for these, much appreciated.

As the Kitshack 28" RTTL was very similar, if not identical to the Veron kit I've made contact with Phil Smith's son who has the archive of the Phil Smith designs including the boats he produced for Veron. I'm getting the Veron plans, hoping there's some detail on how to construct that mast/antenna.

Hi Neilw
I have books on RAF launches and attach photo details and brief histories of several craft of your type. Hope this helps
Dave976

Well, this has already taken an interesting turn. Turns out that RTTL 2748 that my father remembers in Gan is being restored and is about 4 miles away from me. Pic shows her in Plymouth above her in Gan, though it looks like she has been converted to Mk1B spec with the engine room deckhouse, so now there's a question of building her as a Mk1A or as per the later conversion.

Think this one is going to require more research as she was also at RAF Mount Batten (not far from where is is currently in Plymouth) before the conversion.

Hi Neil,

It should be a great model. I have a Get ON RTTL I bought as a kit back in 1974 - and still have to finish.

I think we (and certainly most other model boaters) -- have found it is far easier and quicker to buy\ collect\ receive older boats, kits, plans and projects than to sit down and build them properly!!

Additionally, I have repeatedly found that when my model boats are left undisturbed overnight in the workshop for any time, they definitely tend to reproduce!!

In this respect, our countless projects act very much like rabbits!!!

With best wishes. Dr John F L&B MBC

Thanks Richard, much appreciated

I have lots of RTTL plans, MOD documents etc. Don't know how to get them to you though, I'm a site newby. Oh, just seen the sidebar that suggests adding photos/files, I'll try that.