Probably not Martin, but I'll figure something out, - perhaps some bituminised cloth made into a tube? Won't need much as the slots will be much smaller when it's all done. Just a bit large due to all the experiments, - plus they are quite high up, and I may be fitting a bilge pump. Was going to buy some boots from Ali Express, but the prices are stupid.
Ali Express is starting to get like HK, now that HK has been going down for a while,- every time you go back to buy the same item from the same seller, the price has gone up 1 or 2$. Everything's double the price it was 2 yrs ago and free shipping has been slowly disappearing! Going to be cheaper to build a real boat soon! Chinese are starting to take advantage I think, now that the govt has background control of A Exp and are probably trying to suck more money out of the sellers and A Exp as a whole, like they do with all large businesses there.
JB
A US Navy ARS ( Auxiliary Rescue Salvage ship), built to 1/48th scale. Twin screw with working radar, lights, anchor, and fire monitor. Built from a bare hull, with a lot of Thanks to Shapeways 3D printed parts. She is shown, at anchor, with a friend USN ATF ( Auxiliary tug Fleet) in the back ground.
Thank you. She was a challenge to build becuse the class changed aft the first three ships were built. All other after the third were completed with one aft mast and several different boom configurations. Interestingly, two of the original design hull went to the RN via Lend Lease and served the Australians. After the war they were sold to a British Columbian Tugboat firm and made historical reputations for themselves.
Hi. This is my 2nd scratch built boat since lock down began. The first was the H S L 103 finished 6/7 weeks ago. Still waiting to be tested outside of workshop. This one is built on a fibre glass hull,and has a length of 44 inches and a beam of 16. My power plant is twin out runner motors purple power. 600kv, running through twin 70 amp ESC and with 4 cell 5000 amp lipos feeding them. All accommodation is made using 6 mm three ply. And every fitting you see on the boat was scratch built by me. Lighting system is 12 v grain of wheat .props are three bladed brass 45 mm by prop shop
Changed from the single rudder to twin rudders (came up with a solution without going shopping) and have better steering now (probably too good😀) might need to reduce movement in the TX set-up. Will behave differently on the water as in the vid it's on a 30deg slope making it hard to steer, plus the slippery plastic strapped to the hull. Does good donuts though!😁
Looks like you’re having fun!! Airboats are tricky little beasts aren’t they? I have a little Hobbyking Swamp Dawg which is okay, but in windy weather she’s all over the place.
Hi Cash, lots of fun, and hopefully we are allowed out next week (lockdown to level 3 from 4)
so might be able to do some drifting with a bit more space on the big sports grounds.😁 Bit confined in my yard due to full size boats, trailers, trees etc, too much to hit😁
JB
have a crocodile that was a pond float so I took a hull that I had an put the electronic inside, fast the hull inside croc using a rubber band, added red LED for the eyes, I find that this is what kids like when our club does shows, runs good in our pond that we use
Taped some plastic on the hull to protect it and took it for a skid round the back yard, (you can see boredom is setting in😀). Can't wait to try it on the big sports fields (maybe bolt some wheels on it😁) and the big estuary down the road. Bit loud at the mo due to the wooden prop. More than enough power! Could do with more rudder travel and maybe a bit more area.
At last after 8 months I've finished my Vietnam River Gun Boat.
I've built this vessel using a made up fibreglass hull that pretty much measured up to the 1/9th scale with some modification that I wanted.
I will post photos of the build of the build over the next few weeks and answer any questions as they arise.
These pics show the initial hull modification underway.
Interested in your build of the Pibber River Gunboat. I have the Pro Boat version which performs well. Would like a bit bigger hull as there is not much room for normal size batteries.
Which hull did you use?
Also interested in the Patrol Craft Fast ( Swift boat)of the Vietnam era
"Genie" was a classic Marblehead 50" long. Designed by Vic Smeed, she had a hard chine hull construction.
This was my first "home brew" model yacht and I ended up building 4 of these in total - so pleased I took some picies.
Hi Phil, brings back a few memories. The guy who started producing glass Marbleheads in Auckland in the 70s (Fred Martin) lived just round the corner from me at Bucklands Beach. He was probably partly responsible for the large interest in the class in the early days. They weren't cheap even back then, but it's gone really stupid with the newer IOM boats being as much a $5000 these days. I know what I'd rather spend that sort of money on - a full sized yacht, Just ridiculous!!
It's become a rich couch yachties game. I see them where I run my boats, all turning up in their Land Cruisers, Mercs and BMWs, and most live in exclusive areas. Definitely not a kids hobby any more!
JB
Purchased original Rojair Mickey Finn from Ashton Models 35 years ago - hull suffered damaged so made a F/G mould before repairing and sailing. Made spare hull from mould and there she sat for 35-40 years. Original Mickey was sold many years ago but as retirement approached the burning desire to fulfill old challenges re-emerged.
So , after putting out calls for help, diagrams, photos or information on the model boat forums, thanks to "John Dowd" and a couple of other guys, I finally got round to resurrecting this fantastic little yacht.
This very large Vosper RTTL was active at the Oxford Model Boat Club open day on the 7th July. At aprox 6 feet long, it is the work of Terry Gregory (hull and electronics) and Paul Izzard( superstructure). It is a spectacular performer and beautifully finished though the enormous wake means that it is normally run solo on the water.
