Sirius was the first vessel to cross the Atlantic under steam power for the entire journey in 1847.
The model is scratch built almost entirely from wood with an plank on frame hull. She is powered by two geared electric motors on paddles. She is radio controlled by 40 Mhz Radio.
The plan was very basic as you can see from photo, but there is a model in the Liverpool Maritime museum which I was able to photograph and copy.
When completed she was purchased from me by the Beale Park, Child of Beale Trust in Reading and is still on display at that site.
YET ANOTHER FERRY BOAT.
THE MODEL WAS BUILT BY MYSELF IN 2008 ON A FIBREGLASS HULL FOR WHICH I AM PART OWNER OF THE MOULD. THE REST OF THE MODEL IS BUILT FROM LITEPLY AND PLASTICARD. BEING WIDE BEAM AND SHALLOW DRAUGHT THESE MODELS SAIL WELL AND REQUIRE NO BALLAST APART FROM THE JELLY BATTERY.
IT IS TWIN SCREW AND TWIN RUDDER SO IS VERY MANOUVERABLE.
SS (RMS) Empress Queen was a steel paddle steamer, which was the last of its type ordered by the isle of Man Steam Packet Company She was chartered by the Admiralty in 1915 and used for trooping duties until she ran aground off Bembridge, isle of Wight, England, and was subsequently abandoned.
The model was scratch built on a modified fibreglass hull. The plans were obtained from Glasgow University and the model was nearly 7ft long with an overall beam including paddles of about 14 inches. She was independently powered with two geared motors from Wulitzer juke box components. I hope to do a build blog in the near future.
She was purchased from me by the Beale Park, part of the Child Beale Trust Reading.
This is my 54" Vietnam River Raider plodding along on Needham lake in Suffolk . Was originally an I.C engine but converted to brushless . I would like to one day convert again to water jet drives , funds permitting as I have seen how well they perform . The real boats we're powered by water nozzle so would definately look the part .
Another great MFA boat , never had one that didn't look good on the water . This is running original twin 850s but is soon to be dragged into the 21st century
👍 have you still got your fire boat as I have got one now and all the fittings I am still making it if you want to contact me please send a private message t t f n malc
My son's boat , started life leaking like a sieve and fitted with a brushed motor . The brushed motor did however serve the purpose of being a trainer for him to get used to the boat and controls . He now has a brushless inrunner water cooled and 3 cell lipo's giving great performance and duration . Home Surf is Needham Lake in Suffolk
I have a MFA Piranha almost finished in my shed and a MFA Spearfish I purchased from a model shop in Cromer. That shut down not long after I purchased it. That's still in the box as new. I intend at some point to put in a brushless motor. I have one already. I got both Motor and Speed controller the same as in the ProBoat 29" Blackjack. I already have the ProBoat Miss Geico that is a maniac on the water. So I'm hoping once I do the Spearfish that will also be awesome.
Hi Boatshed , Yes all MFA seem great boats . As for the Spearfish I have a Thumper Overlander in mine 2nd hand and cheap . if you want the wow factor in yours look to fit a Leopard brushless in runner as the result is fantastic . Look it up on YouTube couple of films of one ripping round a pond 👍
This was a very beat up and plain model when I bought it , but has cleaned up well . Original Power was from a Torpedo 850 and heavy 12v 7Ah lead acid battery giving run times of around 20 minutes of plod along performance . Now however Boat is powered by Thumper motor and 4 cell Lipo's giving over an hour of entertainment . Cut's a fairly mean wake too . Needham lake in Suffolk is it's home surf 👍
I'm lucky, I still have an MFA Piranha half finished, with a 540 motor in it.
Not quite finished. And an MFA Spearfish still untouched in the box.
I used to have a Spearfish with a Irvine 61 in and run great. Used it for many years on both Blackheath pond and Clapham Common long pond. Finally had to bin it 😭 after about 20 years due to quite a few run ins with the concrete pond sides 😯 . Still have the engine. But will hopefully put a brushless in the new one.
MFA Avenger / Spearfish. I'm running my Avenger on the Thumper type outrunner motor with a 45mm X prop (only because it was on from other motor useage). What's anyone else using on the thumper. Just put a 50X on, but the pond's frozen 😭 so haven't tested it. 😟
Bought these two for £50! The smallest is HMS Manxman, a scratch build, 6v electric motor drive. it,s just shy of 3ft long. The second ship came to me as apparently HMS Tanganyika, however, on looking at photos of the ship bore no resemblance. it is almost definitely a colony class cruiser of ww2. Possibly HMS FIJI, Nigeria,Jamaica,or Trinidad. The two pillars amidships with the orbs are not what these ships had(?). So much work has yet to be done. The second ship is 5ft 6inches long, made entirely of wood, with a Marx Decaperm 6v Motor powered by a large 6v 10ah gel battery which doubles as ballast, along with 5 large lead weights. Transmitter is a Futaba t6exa, the receiver and servos are Futaba also. I would be interested in knowing some tips about building techniques, best materials and paints for waterproofing etc. And maybe some opinions on it,s identity as swear it looks like HMS Fiji. I have browsed some lovely builds on this site so far, and they really are a credit to you all. Thanks. Gordon
This is Victoria, she was built from a Krick kit about 4 years ago, steam powered with a Maccsteam boiler and an SVS 10mm bore x 11mm stroke oscillator. She is currently taking a well earned rest after 3 years hard work, out 3 days a week, weather permitting. Undergoing boiler cleaning, engine overhaul and a bit of patching up of the woodwork.
Completed (nearly, still a few more crates needed) in July after a 2 year build on a Kingston Moldings hull. Not a scrap of plywood has been used, all made from Oak, Mahogany, Beech and brass. All fittings scratch built, boiler from Maccsteam in Macclesfield, engine TVR 1 A BB from Macclesfield model engineering supplies. Runs on 60/40 butane propane mix. Radio 3 channels used on Futaba 6EX 2.4 ghz set, 1 fo1 for fwd/reverse, I for steering.
