This video shows four New Zealand frigate models, at 1/48 scale, radio-controlled, HMNZS Canterbury leads, then Waikato, Otago and Taranaki. All models built from scratch, from Navy plans.
Build time about 6 months each. 1970's era idea based on a photo of these ships taken sailing in Wellington Harbour.
6ft loa, RC, scratch-built, grp hull. 10 yrs old.
Sold to private museum.
Am building my 3rd RC model of HMNZS Taranaki, Rothsey class frigate. Over past 40 years have built many RN - e.g.
Force H, Med., 1943, such as Illustrious, Sheffield etc.
Refer www.modelboats.co.uk January 2014 issue.
My main request is that I can establish somebody UK with
similar interest, despite my living NZ but unable to attend
your excdellent sights.
HMS Nelson, scratchbuilt to 1/8" scale. Powered by two motors driving twin contrarotating shafts with three blade props. She sails on Lake Lisgar, Tillsonburg, Ontario.
I decided on Nelson as she took part in Operation Pedestal, from which I made a 1/216" waterline model of SS Ohio, the ship that saved Malta.
She took a little over 600 hours from solid chunk of basswood to launch. Probably info collection took as long!
Guess most of you have heard of the Khetanna, Jabba The Hut's sail barge from Star Wars. I looked around on the net and to my big surprise, the search engines did not spit out radio controlled versions of this model. Which made me think, and then decide to built my own.
It is scratch build, based on a "scudder" hull, a design by Glenn G. I printed a few pictures of Khetanna from the net and used those for guidance in the process.
The superstructure is a combination of balsa and ply wood. in the Star Wars tradition, the boat is propelled by a jet propelled engine. To finish it off, a Lego version of Jabba was added for extra detail.
It was a fun and fast project to built, maybe a dozen or so evenings.
(scratch) building is my passion and only sail the boats with my son about once a month. We've got a pond near Newcastle (AUS) harbour which is pretty good (providing there's no weed in it) but the disadvantage of this pond is salt water, meaning a proper rinse of the models is needed after each sailing session. Recently we have moved our sailing sessions as well to the liberty pond in town. The model captures the audience, the vast majority recognize the Khetanna immediately.
Happy sailing.
A few pics of my partly scratch build RTTL from Kitshack. Picked this up from Ebay as a first kit.
Has a few printed balsa hullparts but lots of templates to cut out. Plans also show lots of topside details.
Powered orignally by 2 MFA 500's and 2 7.2 NiMH with 35mm props, OK but run time poor.
Complete change, 2 400's and downsized to 25mm props, much better run time and good on the plane.
Next upgrade is to LiPo batteries.
Next build is likely to be an Aerokits Sea Hornet or Sea Breeze.
Really fine looking model. The detail really adds to the finished model.
Glad to hear you have chosen to go for smaller motors and props. The weight saving will really have improved the performance, and LiPos will make it sparkle. if your ESC(s) do not have some sort of cut off for low volts I suggest you fit a warning device to the LiPo to prevent over discharge.
Be good to see the model running on the water!
Dave 😀
Indeed Dave, charger, batteries, alarms and charging bag on order!!
Sadly although my ESC's (tamiya TBLE02's) are Lipo compatible research says their cut off limit may be too low so fitting the alarms too as a fail safe.
hoping to get some video once its running consistently.
I decided to build from scratch HMS Blake, I used the Jecobin Plan for HMS Tiger 1/96 scale. This was the first ship I served on in the Royal Navy 1976 to 1979. The hull is supplied by Scalewarships.com, the fittings, Scalewarships.com, John Haynes Fittings and SIMAR; the running gear from GT Sitek.
The build is nearing completion and now requires the guardrails and the decks fixing in place.
HI Martin. I would love to see that as I'm finishing a 1/72 scale one. I brought a 70% built Hms Marlborough but converting to an RN one,thinking either Kent,Lancaster or Somerset. I've had to do a couple of mods like changing the Vickers to a kryton version etc. it was mostly tugs n trawlers when I joined but there's more grey funnel stuff now and a few subs as well including my Trafalgar class so it's worth coming down.
Regards,Glenn.
This is the start and test of the Piaggio ,
built by me and my friend it is scratch built and took about 4 mouths to do
and powered by a Grunpner speed 600 ECO
It is an rc model that consent the customizing of the cockpit cabin but it comes in cheap colours (red, yellow and gray) so I decide to go to a real nautic shipyard to paint with nautical lacquer in a real creamish White! added some decal for water line and lights and scratch build anchor
Completely scratch built using balsa wood and Mahogany strips for the decks and bridge and the free plan by James Pottinger issued in Model Boat Magazine November 1996. The plans were well drawn at a scale of 1:93 how ever I doubled the size by just transfering each measurement directly onto the wood and a few card patterns were made when panneling the hull.
Powered with twin 12 volt motors, two 12 volt lead acid batteries and two 1 3/4" props I am well sattisfied with the end result. A full build log with pictures can be found on the ''Leith built Ships" web site, or look under ''The Loftsman"
here are some photos of finished project on the water at pickie pool bangor she is powered by 540 motor and 60mm prop winch radar lights al in working order she tows the net well stacks of power
this boat is scratch built inc winch rgds Robert waterson angus
scratchbuilt from ply and balsa wood powered by two Caldercraft 750 motors to 40mm props only took about three months to build as a winter project its not perfect but was never meant to be more than a toy, 54 inches long and gives a good response in speed and handling
This particular version of Schnellboat is one I have been looking at for some time to build after I complete my current project of Smit Rotterdam.
Being Scratch-built, I think you have done a particularly good job of it. Did you draw up the plans for this yourself or are they available on the internet for purchase. if I dont build this next it would be one I would like to build in the future.
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