New Members

Thanks, Ronald, for the warm welcome. One cannot help but notice how active a bunch this is. The atmosphere reminds more of a local club than an organisation spanning ten thousands of miles. Ian

3 minutes ago by 🇨🇭 IGinBasel ( Recruit)

Hobby Chit Chat

Batteries

Try to keep life simple - even building finicky and complex models. The Polaron charger has been serving me for roughly ten years, charging anything up (or down) to my camera and motorbike batteries. The Lipos in the Firesafe (clad in firebricks - safety first!) are up to 8 years old and all in (near-) perfect condition. The last pic shows 2 useful gadgets: a VERY noisy voltage monitor you can even hear when flying gliders and a de-charger which lowers Lipo-voltage automatically to storage state (storage voltage is IMPORTANT). Good when you have not emptied the battery; happens more often when running boats than flying planes . . . Both by the way cost so little I have a number of them. And I would never buy anything that has to do with electricity IN China. Yes I know, the stuff all comes from China, just like my Lenovo laptop. Differentiate! And when I fry things like ESCs I don't frown at the battery - I squint at the mirror. As I say: keep it simple and safe, don't change a winning horse. Your wallet and your nerves both say thank you. Ian

21 minutes ago by 🇨🇭 IGinBasel ( Recruit)

RC & Electrics

Question of the Day?

8 hours ago by 🇺🇸 DWBrinkman ( Commodore)

Website Related

Maiden of the "Bad As%" airboat

He certainly did Dave. Won't be showing face again for some time 😂

9 hours ago by 🇬🇧 HappyHaggis ( Midshipman)

Hobby Chit Chat

Animal and nature photos to enjoy.

Colin, I hope good things will happen to you in the near future. Looks like you've got your plate full. As for us I guess we asked too much for cool weather. Not much in model boating going on lately in our area. Very unusual. Already missed three meets and tomorrow will be the fourth, including me being sick missing one. A good chance to catch up on things that need to be done, especially getting the house back in order, and doing some model fix up. I am currently working on modifying a 1/16 scale toy semi trailer into RC control. This is a good scale and it matches my Springers and my armor. To all of you in the northern hemisphere I hope you stay warm. Lew

10 hours ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)

Non-Hobby Chat

Difficult Restoration's?

I have the Graupner plans for the cruiser Emden. I had the Wotan kit complete but enthusiasm died a bit and I sold her on. Roy

12 hours ago by 🇬🇧 roycv ( Fleet Admiral)

Hobby Chit Chat

A trip out

Hi philuk, Certainly was an interesting afternoon, reasonably priced cafe as well. Somebody evidently travelled over 100 miles. Lots of interesting stuff but keep your eyes open as it's not in order apart from the big machinery. You could easily spend around 3 to 4 hours in there. 😊

2 days ago by 🇬🇧 Doogle ( Vice Admiral)

Hobby Chit Chat

A cold blustery day for myself and my Picket

Thank you hermank and DWBrinkman. It was well needed and i'm off to the clubhouse to carry on some renovation work tomorrow morning. This is the smaller pond that i use as our main club pond is empty till late March. Have my battery on charge again and will see about a short sail tomorrow afternoon. I had a maiden of my little airboat too that i'll post shortly 😎

3 days ago by 🇬🇧 HappyHaggis ( Midshipman)

Hobby Chit Chat

Model slipway 1/16 RNLI Tamar Lifeboat

I guess since this is a lifeboat going out to make a rescue, the old song, “What do you do with a drunken sailor” makes a good application, he won’t be able to tell you anything about the reds and greens. He is just be glad you are there to rescue him.🤪😘🤢🧜🏽‍♂️

3 days ago by 🇨🇦 Ronald ( Fleet Admiral)

Building Related

Dutch sailing barge

Beautiful photos and videos, excellent navigation, Andy. A complete success, I'd say. Congratulations.

3 days ago by 🇮🇹 AlessandroSPQR ( Fleet Admiral)

General Resources

8 Channel Transmitter

I have the Radiolink T12D with 12 channel receiver. I'm about to sell it as needing more channels (Yes i know). Its a brilliant transmitter and really like the servo slowing function which helps keep turns looking more scalelike. Easy to master any programming and for the price can't go wrong

4 days ago by 🇬🇧 HappyHaggis ( Midshipman)

RC & Electrics

How much is too much? (If it ain't free and I need to volunteer then I ain't joining.)

As far as volunteering ... Our club averages approximately 55 members (plus or minus). For the 4-day Boat Show, we broke it down into 2-4-hour shifts per day, for a total of 8 shifts. We had a target of 5 members staffing the booth per shift. We had 13 members sign up, many for more than one shift. We easily handled all the shifts, and at times had more than the 5 we targeted. I thought that was a pretty decent turnout. As far as dues, we charge $45/year for a "Family" membership. Admittedly, we are pretty frugal, but that fee covers insurance, a year-end "Dry Dock" meal, the tugs, a tent for outdoor displays, the portable pond, etc. Dave B

5 days ago by 🇺🇸 DWBrinkman ( Commodore)

Hobby Chit Chat

Peterd has passed away quietly this evening

Peter’s wife, Marilyn and family, have extended their appreciation of this website’s expressions of support during this time in their lives. I took the comments from those who extended well wishes and prayers, placing them in an email. Then sent it on to the family representative who sent it on the Marilyn. Respectfully Ronald

6 days ago by 🇨🇦 Ronald ( Fleet Admiral)

Non-Hobby Chat

Identify model

Hello Andy-W., Perfect winter work! I would love to bring something like this to life too. But here at our club, the harbor construction is coming to an end. Then I'll have time again for my “cellar skeletons.” I'm excited to see your work! Good luck! See you soon, your Michel-C. PS: With a little imagination, you can achieve anything, as I did with my Dolores, a sternwheel steamboat.

8 days ago by 🇨🇭 Mike Stoney ( Rear Admiral)

Building Related

Edina Model Yacht Club at the Minneapolis Boat Show

Dave Thank you so much for that photo. Here was me thinking it was going to be a soldering iron job and circuit boards. That doesn't look too complicated, Regards Scott

2 days ago by 🇬🇧 HappyHaggis ( Midshipman)

Meet Selma from Norway 🇳🇴

Great stuff Ron! Many thanks to John!!! 👍😊

9 days ago by 🇺🇸 jumpugly ( Admiral)

Hobby Chit Chat

Adhesives

You might look into this product it might work for your needs https://www.amazon.com/Welding-Repair%EF%BC%8CCar-Automotive-Plastics%EF%BC%8CMetals%EF%BC%8CStainless-Steel%EF%BC%8CAluminum%EF%BC%8CIron%EF%BC%8C1-76/dp/B0CYGZ5GYF/ref=sxbs_sbv_search_btf?content-id=amzn1.sym.37132d36-da68-4ed0-8d23-842f0825e4d6%3Aamzn1.sym.37132d36-da68-4ed0-8d23-842f0825e4d6&crid=29HX8HGY0UGZ4&cv_ct_cx=3m%2Bscotch-weld%2Bdp420ns&keywords=3m%2Bscotch-weld%2Bdp420ns&pd_rd_i=B0CYGZ5GYF&pd_rd_r=e9075470-a50a-4de2-a892-3238ccd96e80&pd_rd_w=G3CIe&pd_rd_wg=U9X5I&pf_rd_p=37132d36-da68-4ed0-8d23-842f0825e4d6&pf_rd_r=DKFEBY70BCKMBASKXD1A&qid=1769126599&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=scotch%2BDP420n%2Caps%2C159&sr=1-1-a61ee601-6e56-4862-a8a2-1d3da5a5406f&th=1

9 days ago by 🇺🇸 bruce1946 ( Sub-Lieutenant)

Building Related

Sailing at the Toronto Boat Show

The Toronto International Boat Show (the official name of the the show) has been running every January at the CNE grounds since 1959. It went virtual during Covid.

10 days ago by 🇨🇦 ScouterChil ( Master Seaman)

Hobby Chit Chat

motor for large paddle steamer. Advice required

here is the progress on the front deck. Still trying to sort out a place to work on the 3 metre 35kg hull!

12 days ago by 🇬🇧 Hermione ( Leading Seaman)

RC & Electrics

Interesting sail on this Catboat

Fully battened sails are not unusual, especially in racing dinghies. Carbon fibre 'wings' have now taken over a lot of what were fully battened sails, on those more unrestricted classes. I would class the sail on the catboat, more by its shape which would be a gaff rigged gunter, although a true gunter would have the gaff vertical and tight to the mast.

12 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Lieutenant)

Hobby Chit Chat

4 vessels for sale

Hi mikec4. I have a member of my club who has shown an interest. We spoke on saturday and he is gettingback to me. I was asking £550 for her.if he declines do you want me to contact you again?.regards Rogal.

13 days ago by 🇬🇧 Rogal118 ( Captain)

For Sale/Wanted

Mary Ann 472

After making a Dory for her, I researched davits and made these yesterday. The only material suitable for the job in my workshop was some 3/16” quarter sawn oak. These will be sanded and painted along the way before declaring the model is finished. I didn’t like the idea of placing it on the forward deck as pictured here. If I did the type of rig seen in the last photos, there would be no main sail on the mast and boom.

13 days ago by 🇨🇦 Ronald ( Fleet Admiral)

Hobby Chit Chat

Sprite

Sprite Plus. Before gluing the side plates down onto the baseplate the motor assembly was taken out of the hull and the actual Maxi-coupling that will be used was fitted before the motor was reinserted into the hull. Once in the hull, the amount of shaft that needs to be exposed on the motor and the prop shaft to give a working clearance was checked along with the depth that these shafts sit into the coupling ends. The rigid coupling was drilled deeper than the actual flexible coupling to remove any movement when aligning everything solidly, so fitting the actual flexi-coupling that will be used allowed the side cheeks to be slid backwards slightly on the engine bed after any working tolerances were calculated. Once I was happy with the clearance and the exact amount of shaft that was needed to "bottom-out" the motor shaft and the prop shaft in the Maxxi-coupling, the new position of the side plates was marked on the engine bed. The motor was removed again and the solid coupling shaft was refitted before the assembly was put back into the hull. Once in the hull, the side plates of the engine mount were slid back onto the marks and super-glued into position. When the super-glue had set, the motor was removed from the hull again after it had been unscrewed from the side plates, but still attached to the cast alloy part of the cooling mount. At this stage the prop shaft inner was pulled out from the hull, and a "flat" was filed onto the end section that will be inserted into the 5mm Maxi-coupling. The shaft was then reinserted, and a 5mm collar was fitted to stop the shaft sliding out in the unlikely event that it should become detached from the coupling when the boat was out on the water (belt and braces). The motor plate will be roughed-up a little along each side of the motor mount side plates before an epoxy mix is pushed into the drilled hoes that run along the bottom of the side plates and then formed into a fillet to secure them more permanently onto the baseplate. Bob.

14 days ago by 🇬🇧 zooma ( Vice Admiral)

Building Related

VIC SMEED'S VIVACITY

Hey guys, just a heads-up regarding my Vivacity build; I'm transferring any future comments (and possibly re-writing some of those started here) to the Build-Blog section as I've 'formally' started work on the build, so I suppose that will all but finish this thread. Can I take this opportunity to thank all of you who have contributed, followed and given feedback regarding my comments and enquiries regarding this build, and I look forward to sharing my progress. Best regards, Nick

16 days ago by 🇳🇿 Nick Ward ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)

Building Related

Speedline models RNLI 1/16 Shannon.

Hi Ian Congratulations on your lovely build! 😎 she looks great on the water! 👍 thank you for the pic and your advice, its very much appreciated😊 that's perfect just what I was looking for! I think there's Allan key/grub screws on the trim tabs so I'll have a good look..maybe I'll be able to nip those up tight with your advive with 5 ° down and hope it holds!..or glue them! 😂

16 days ago by 🇬🇧 lukeH ( Leading Seaman)

Building Related

SHARK ESC Brushless

I will be fitting Shark ESC's into some of my Classic Model Power Boats this year Ronald. Most of my power boats have "forwards only" Sea King type ESC that are excellent, but the less expensive water cooled Shark ESC will also give me a reverse function that will be handy on our smaller club lake in Southport. I have seen other club members running with Shark ESC and they seem to work well enough and have not reported having any problems with them. Bob.

16 days ago by 🇬🇧 zooma ( Vice Admiral)

Hobby Chit Chat

RC Fishing Trawler for sale

Hi all, hope everyone is well. I have an RC trawler for sale if anyone is interested!..full working order with working deck lights, wheelhouse lights,radar and mast lights..12v battery charger, transmitter/reciever, ESC & all RC gear..battery installed ready to run.. 820mm in length, beam 300mm, draught 140mm...collection only from Bexhill-on-Sea east sussex area..looking for £600.. many thanks Luke 07738 786850👍

17 days ago by 🇬🇧 lukeH ( Leading Seaman)

For Sale/Wanted

Future Fairey Projects

Swordsman 37. When I restored my Rapier, it was in a sorry state - fuel soaked and twisted, so it was more of a "build" than a new kit would have been! Since I had a (more or less) blank canvass, I took note of the position of the rudder on my Vic Speed Remora, as it was designed as a "steering boat", and I replicated this on the Rapier. This may have only been a very small modification, but it worked really well and the Rapier steers beautifully. With this in mind, when the Swordsman 37 build starts I would use this same rudder position as it will be a similar size of boat to the Rapier and it also shares a similar deep-vee hull shape. The target is to make the Swordsman 37 drive and steer as well as my Rapier does, and I cant see any reason why it shouldn't. Having a "good looking" boat that can drive and steer as well as my (comparatively) "ugly" Remora would be the absolute "ultimate" model power boat that I would really enjoy driving in any weather conditions that our local UK weather can throw at it! Bob.

17 days ago by 🇬🇧 zooma ( Vice Admiral)

Building Related

Antique compass for a ship from the second half of the 18th century.

Alessandro Again, from your encouragement, I looked it up. Like the Bluenose, it wasn't fancy. It was known as a boxed compass. A simple but sturdy device mounted in wooden box, about 17.5 cm's square. Bluenose's compass would have been lost with her. This photo is from a compass that is 100 years old from the same town Bluenose sailed from

19 days ago by 🇨🇦 RossM ( Captain)

Building Related

Question of the day.

Well, I thought I'd never be 100% I think I'd better stop now while I'm ahead.😊

20 days ago by 🇨🇦 GARTH ( Commodore)

General Resources