"....Appears to be very original and again testimony to how versatile Les Rowells model designs can be.."

I never thought it was very original - it's a copy from one designer made in the modelling style of another - that of Ernie Webster, who was the lad who designed the EeZeBilts for Eddie Keil. And it's a small Sea Queen!!!

A little like modern music - hip-hop sampling? If anything, it shows up the versatility of the Eezebilt construction technique. I was surprised to find that it coped quite well with 26". As J Barry points out, you need to keep a straight keel, and 26" of thin balsa can make that a bit difficult. Perhaps ply would be better?

Mind you, the OSA in the same series is 32", and keeping the keel straight on that is even trickier. And OSAs are a bit unusual, there aren't many kits around for them.

Perhaps you will find the next EeZeBilt even more original (if such a thing is possible!)?

I like the idea of a small Sea Commander. Appears to be very original and again testimony to how versatile Les Rowells model designs can be.
We are very lucky these days that they are still popular and give us a chance to build the great model boats of yesteryear.

😀 Boaty

It looks really nice; you made a much better job of yours than I did!👍👍

Are you sure you can remember THAT night JB?😁
"Woz 2 uvver geezers occifer"

"...How far along are you?..."

Mine....

I was just wondering why I have been demoted back to Leading Seaman; I wasn’t even in the bar that night........🤔

I sourced all the wood from SLEC in Norfolk, who I can highly recommend; although I did buy some Mahogany, and Obeche stripwood from Hobbies, who were also very helpful. Build was straightforward, the key (as I remembered from my youth!) is to keep everything symmetrical, and watch for any twisting of the keel. Post some pics as you progress. How far along are you?

".....this is my sea princess in the making smaller than a sea commander at 23" long......"

Actually designed as a half-size Sea Queen. How are you finding the construction? And what wood are you doing it in?

Good man👍
😎

Absolutely, Doug!

this is my sea princess in the making smaller than a sea commander at 23" long

Very tidy build JB👍
I trust you are going to fit a rubbing strake to the deck edge 😉
Maybe a spray rail along the chine?
KUTGW, cheers, Doug 😎

Looks very good!

Just thought I’d post some pics of the work in progress.Obviously not finished but getting closer. Made a whole bunch of mistakes on the way, but it is the first build since the last one in 1974! I originally bought the Sea Commander plans from a chap on eBay, but they were so bad that I eventually drew my own, with quite a few mods to the original, as you can see. Will keep plugging on.......

Well said that Man 👍
Greetings Down Under from 'Up Over' 😁
Doug 😎

Greetings from Australia,
Hi mate, Model boat building is the most rewarding hobby.Great for us oldies to while away the hours in retirement. I have been boat building for 30 years and cant give it up. Enjoy your hobby and be proud of what you build. You get better as you progress.
Regards
Sid

OK Guvnor, I'll get back to work 😁
Think we're on the 'back straight' now.
Cheers, Doug 😎

Now now children let's not start another war by hijacking another thread. Taycol is a superb motor whether refurbished to modern standards or totally original, so please let's not waste any time arguing.
Cheers Colin.

Evenin' Dodgy,
You do know the expression 'tongue in cheek' don't you? 😁
Anyway, I've got enough on my plate already😲
All the best, Doug 😎

"........Hi DG,
Hmmm! They can always make a donation to our site and read my refurb blog😁
Anyway, I'm not sure they'd like what I'm doing with Colin's motor.😲
They tend to be 'Patina purists'! 🤓......."

Oh, I'm sure that they'd be only too happy to encourage any interest in the Taycols - original or modified. But I fear that they would have problems making a donation - they are strictly providers of free information, use only open source software and won't even run adverts on their site to defray their expenses...

Sounds a good choice, do you know what the thrust ratio is,?? 45/50

Hi DG,
Hmmm! They can always make a donation to our site and read my refurb blog😁
Anyway, I'm not sure they'd like what I'm doing with Colin's motor.😲
They tend to be 'Patina purists'! 🤓
Pics show where we're at, output end is done, brush gear end is a bit trickier! Details in a blog update shortly. Cheers, Doug 😎
PS This is my second 'Taycol Tale' 😉 Last year I renovated my Target and converted it to run off a modern ESC, forrads and backuds as Martin would say😁, for use in my fish cutter. Which might get finished around 2025🤔

".....Ref your motor: I'm multiplexing myself between repairing fences and refurbing your motor! Reassembly has started; first new bearing is in, will tackle the second tonight. Illustrated 'right up' 😁 to follow.
Cheers, Doug 😎..."

The Taycol website would appreciate a write-up if you have an interesting 'Taycol Tale' to tell....

Colin, thanks for the input; I’m using a Graupner 45mm 2-bladed nylon, which was a recommendation from a local hobby shop.

I also tend to use Sla batteries a model this size should easily be able to take a 12v 7ah battery, some of my models I have to use 2 batteries, 1for ballast or in parallel to give longer running time. The 660 motor should be fine, what size prop are you going to use.
Cheers Colin.

'Right On' Colin 👍😁
My first Boss (part owner of a small sub-contract outfit I worked for during my Sandwich Course days) used to say
"If you've never made a mistake you've never made F... All"! 😲
He was a bit of a rough diamond but a great first Guvner!

Ref your motor: I'm multiplexing myself between repairing fences and refurbing your motor! Reassembly has started; first new bearing is in, will tackle the second tonight. Illustrated 'right up' 😁 to follow.
Cheers, Doug 😎

I would appreciate some input as to the type of battery. My inclination is to go for a lead-acid, as I would like the additional weight. I feel that most models look too light on the water.
The motor is a mtroniks 660 with a Viper Marine 25A ESC.
Any advice would be appreciated!

If you don't make mistakes then you don't make anything, good luck with the commander. I'm doing a commander refurb on my dad's old one from the 50's. RNMUNICH is doing the motor for me it's an old taycol supermarine. I'll be doing a full right up after Xmas.
Happy modelling, cheers Colin.

After reading what I just posted, I should add that I am still making some of the same old mistakes, also!

Making slow progress on the Sea Commander hull as time permits; funny that after more than 30 years you somehow remember things you thought you had long forgotten! Lots of fun though.....

Gern geschehen Gerd👍

Doug danke

WEEEE wouldn't tell 'er now WOULD we chaps!? 😉
All together now ...
NOOOO 'COURSE we WOULDN'T 😁😁😁

Guys
The Jig is finished for Sea Queen, I have designed it in such a way that the 46" RAF Crash Tender that I have as kit from VMAW will use the same jig.. Will be fitting to MFA 850's on this as the original had two props. Built one of these many years ago fitted with a Taplin Twin sold it when I moved to South Africa.Not allowed to run IC Boats at the 2 clubs I belong to
My wife must never know how much my hobby costs

Cheep cheep, cheep cheep, twitter twitter!
Here's another 'old Bird' 😁 No! NOT me U 'orrible lot😉
Around 56-58 years old.
Can remember Dad bending the skins; bow end over his knee, aft end jammed between his feet. While watchin' telly (Z Cars, Bruce Forsyth?) and busily smoking Kensitas so Mum could have the coupons for a set of cut glass wine glasses. Très Poash! Cheers, Doug 😎

Dave,
that makes your Crash Tender the same age as mine! I also have a Sea Urchin that's 58 years old. My son has a Sea Rover that was mine. I might have to get that back off him as he'll never do it. it has a nasty twist, but that's how it came. I'm sure I can get rid of that with some suitable bracing. its great bringing these old birds back to life.

Cheers,
Martin

SLEC do have a good reputation and its great that the classic kits of old are back in production.

The Sea Commander is one of my favourites as I restored one many years ago but foolishly sold it to fund my karting activities four years later.

However in 2011 I found another one and restored that. This one I am keeping along with the 34 inch Crash Tender of 1962 vintage that I restored in 2014 being one that the former owner
was about to place in a skip.

I am interested in a Sea Rover as its a boat I never had. in the early 1960s when we lived in Liverpool, dad would take us up to Fleetwood to see the Aerokits display and watch the steering event on the big lake.

Nostalgia aint what it used to be.

Boaty😆

Hi Gerd, Schau die URL Links an. There are dozens of photos, and some build blogs of the same model.
Mehr als genug für 'Inspiration' denke ich!
Ein einfachen Google Query schmeißt hunderte aus.
Servus, Doug 😎

Hallo RNinMunich, ich suche KEINEN BAUPLAN , den besitze ich bereits, ich suche Fotos von einem gebauten Modell, vom Orginal gibt es schon so gut wie keine

,trozdem danke

Abend Dampfgerd, Schau mal hier-
https://www.google.com/search?q=Speranza+model+boat&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b
Several Blogs and sources of plans.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Speranza+model+boat&client=firefox-b&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi85vzh2ZrdAhVG46QKHQ-lBAwQ7Al6BAgFEA0&biw=1920&bih=954

https://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/Model-Boat-Magazine-Cabin-Cruisers.html#SID=2605

Grüß aus München, Doug 😎

Thank you Onetenor
Looks like nobody have that beautiful boat build, not in Facebook Groups, not in RC groups , other forums and nothing on Google.
The real Speranza was a Renato "Sunny"Levi design, he was know for his fast deep vee hulls, Levi help by the Vic Smeed Scale plan. She is a very fast Boat and i build with 2 brushless

😊.

Best thing I ever did was deal with SLEC as an aeromodeller. I have a fuselage building Jig that I am using to build a new Sea Queen. The idea is to ensure no twist on a 46" hull. Just making the blocks to allow for the Skeg will post pictures soon😊😊

Dampfgerd sorry no pics Too long ago aged 15 in '58 No camera then.👍 Vic Smeed ? could have been but thought it was a Veron kit which would likely as not have been Phil Smith.
P.S. try Googling for the Speranza model boat
John

It's a disgrace how bad some plans are from the suppliers. I bought an aircraft drawing to make a De Havilland Hornet Moth. it was about 15 quid...more than enough and was so appalling when I got it back that I had to redraw large parts of it. Arguments about accuracy are one thing, but when the side view and plan of the wing is different it's time to cry "foul".
I paid what I thought was an appalling amount for Harold Underhill drawings of a Scottish Zulu fishing boat, but at least they were very detailed and accurate. Mind you for that price they damned well should have been!
And don't even get me started on the plans drawn by Gary Griswold of runabouts and mahogany hotrods. I made the one called, (wrongly) Excaliber. it would not support a sigle fair batten through any of its frame's notches, so I added little bits of wood and took some out with a cutting disc until they fitted. Then I realised it was twisted, so had to add a strong diagonal brace while I corrected all the notches. Fortunately, after they were all corrected the brace came out and finally I was able to add skins. I figured it looked like a Greavette racer, so have built it like that. But no thanks to the lousy drawings.

Cheers,
Martin

Thanks, Brianaro, as a youngster I could never afford a kit the size of the Commander; the Sea Urchin was the best I could do!
I bought the plans for this model from a chap on eBay for £12.50. The full-sized single sheet is fine, but the tracings are almost worthless, so I drew my own.....

Hallo Onetenor
you write from Speranza have you Photos from your Model, is it the Vic Smeed Speranza?
I have the Plan and search Pictures to inspiration

Hello. I have a soft spot for Sea Commander, I built one somewhere around 1964/5 when I was 13 with the help of my brother in law. I enjoyed the build and painting and buying fittings with my pocket money. I remember the long drying time of Cascamite wood glue! I think I had Frog petrol engine and Macgregor radio, all purchased from Roland Scot. After a couple of years I sold the boat and bought a new Moulton bicicle. I wish I still had both now

Thanks Westie. Phil Smith I believe ( could be wrong) Plans available all over the shop about £12:50 . I'll have to be happy with that I suppose.😊👍

True Doug, but equally a chap has to have a cuppa and lunch, both of which (as now) I take at the pootah desk, not having a Klevvafone, like everyone else.
Just made the chain guard, btw.

Martin

Sign of a Forum Junkie Martin! 😲
"Goin' quiet?" My leg extremity! 😉
Get back to your Vincent you 'Old Dutch' you 😁😁
Gotta pay de bills somehow🤔
Cheers, Doug 😎