A few of us at Towne Lake Mckinney😀

A change from Maid Rosalind Thames cruiser blog posts! This winter I added a removable keel and rudder extension to the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter I built in 2017. I wanted to produce a hull that was truly accurate above and below the waterline, and with the correct lead in the keel and in scale winds she sailed ok, but to get a model to sail realistically, you generally have to add a lot of weight deep down. The last picture shows that for regular display, the ugly keel and rudder extensions come off and the stand's extended legs unscrew. She stands 6' 2" with her new keel, and 4' 6" long. The trials were successful. She sailed beautifully, even tacking those overlapping headsails flawlessly, which is generally quite hard to do with RC! I have up to now only posted blogs as they happen, but I have full documentation of this build and can start a blog for it after Rosalind is finished, if it's OK to publish something from the past. I added a teaser build picture!

https://www.facebook.com/modelBoatsTrainsPlanes/videos/800923610583750/

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Thank you Doug and Stephen for your help in getting the video to work. The stills give little idea of any movement but the video shows she was really trucking! Ed

Transferred this from my build blog. Quick vid of the starting - sound/ smoke /water exhaust sequence (water not plugged in, but can be started a few seconds later than the smoke). Smoke starts first to heat up, then air pump (timer for 5 seconds delay) then water (TX switch,) - could put in another timer to make it fully auto, but enough spaghetti there already. Also handy for future water cooling if the motors need it (fan cooled so probably not needed.) Left stick is held over to start the sequence, then released to turn the smoke and air off.

My Vic Smeed Thornycroft MTB has been sitting in dry dock over the summer, due to holidays but also procrastination due to my fear that when I finally launched her she'd go straight to the bottom...

Anyway, this morning I plucked up courage, took her down to Black Park lake near Slough and chucked her in. She appeared to sit well in the water. I gently engaged the throttle and waved a tearful farewell as she moved off 20 yards or so towards the middle of the lake. I took her round in a wide arc and back to port. I repeated this a couple of times and did some straight runs until the tiller mechanism jammed, fortunately she was within grabbing distance.

I was so relieved and pleased that she worked. She had a good turn of speed (nothing too dramatic) and seemed to steer well, keeping fairly upright.

There appeared to be little if any water ingress. The water cooling system for the ESC didn't work (I suspect kinks in the tube) but it didn't appear to be overheating. I'll attend to that and also the tiller mechanism before I take her out again.

Finally got my sea legs!

open day 2021 had 2 sessions - IC fast electric in the morning, scale sail in the afternoon...

"NAIAD" is a Windermere Yacht designed by Herbert Crossley.
This model yacht is a first "scratch" built RC yacht belonging to "full size" sailor Chris Gay.
Naiad is seen here undergoing her maiden voyage at the Pavilion Gardens Buxton in the company of Grahams - "ELLEN" the Bristol Cutter.

More photos here :- https://model-boats.com/places/60518#99293
Phil.

Spent a couple hours redoing and updating elctronics.

"Baltic Trader" - Built by Buxton Boat Club member Eric.
Listen for more info from Eric.
Also more photos here :- https://model-boats.com/places/60518#98839

SS Rovuma - 1914 -1957 "Tramp Freighter"
Listen to the information provided by Dave Cole . Dave is a member of the Buxton Model Boat Club.
More photos here - https://model-boats.com/places/60518

This is my first scratch build. I used hand tools and a jig saw to cut out the frame. and bulk heads. Keel and frame was cut out of plywood and the rest. of the boat is balsa. I out fitted with parts from various pieces I had pick up at hobby shops and suppliers online. The pilot house, stack and skylight is all hand made with wood and polystyrene fittings.
I downloaded the plans, altered the scale size and printed the hull and boat to scale. Again this was the first and I now am looking forward to another project.

Grahams Gaff Rigged Pilot Cutter !
Get close up and in slow mo ! - see the detail better.
Grahams "Build Blog" can be seen here :-
https://model-boats.com/blogs/86653

Also more photos here :- https://model-boats.com/places/60518

Phil.

Hope this uploads ok managed to film the boat without hitting anything.