Hi Ron

I bought a few off Ebay a few years ago to use in my 1:12 scale Fairey builds. They aren't too bad but some of them are still a bit cartoonlike. I will still see if I can get some better resin or 3D printed ones.

They are Fisher Price Loving Family Doll figures.

May 1978 issue

MMM refers to the Toronto, Ontario Canada club

Metro Marine Modellers

Interesting reading everyone’s comments and the cartoon too. Nice figures in your cartoon. Where did you find them?

My first ever radio controlled model boat was one that I built from an Aerokits kit of the Fairy Marine Swordsman in the 1960's.

I had not had it finished too long before I met a fellow Swordsman owner (Roland Steemson) at the Bath Model Boat Club who was also running his Swordsman and we became good friends and often met-up to run our boats together in different locations.

Roland was an excellent craftsman who fitted-out bars for Watneys (a local brewery in Trowbridge where he lived) so he worked with wood every day, and built his model from a set of plans by Phil Connolly.

Both models were the same size and looked identical, but his had a lift-off superstructure which gave a much easier access to the fuel tank and receiver battery.

My Aerokits Swordsman had an integrated construction with access via the lift-off cabin tops and proved to be a much more weather resistant construction that could be raced in the open sea, unlike my friends plan built Swordsman that could have its superstructure blown off completely if hit by a wave or heavy wake.

My current pair of Swordsman models that are under construction come from different sources - but both look like they came out of the same mould !

One is a scratch built model based on the Aerokits plans and some drawings from Chris, and the other was bought as a part built Aerokits model.

Bob.

Thanks for posting Ron. I used those and the Aerokits kit drawings as the basis for my Swordsman build which I must finish!

What's MMM Rod, is it a forum?

Chris

Hi Dave

Five versions of the Swordsman plans !!

Harry

Was this the one featured in Model Boats June 1970?

If so, I have it in the loft, I'll get it out when I get back from the lake this afternoon.

There is a small cluster of guys in MMM who simply adore this style of pleasure vessel.....i hav brought your post to their attention.

I hav found a nearby photoshop who does excellent work enlarging or downsizing engineering drawings. We may ask to borrow your finds🤔

I know some of you are fans of these model boats. Skimming through some older Model Boats magazines from 1970, I came across these plans.

Let me know if you’re interested in seeing them in a better photo shot.

Ron