Manta Ray from Ware House Hobbies USA.Powered by a Zenoah 26cc mod engine,fitted with Hitec radio gear on board battery indicator and a fail safe system.Appro 55/60 mph great fun although thinking of giving it up now.
Sometime around 1968 I found a small set of drawings, about A4 size, for Sct. Knud in (I think) Ships Monthly. So I enlarged to 1:32 scale and made my model plank-on-frame with GRP overcoat. She is powered by a 6V Pittman motor driving a self-made scale prop and 2:1 gearbox. Steering is effected via chain and quadrant as per prototype! Everything bar the anchor, anchor chains and steering chains is self-made using a variety of materials (brass, plastics, 'Perspex', and copper electro-deposited cowl vents). Recently I fitted her out with LED lights: interior, navigation and working. One might notice that I abhor a working boat looking like "Daddy's yacht" and so I apply custom dings, stains, oil spills, scratches, wear and tear to my tugboats 😀 My Knud runs as well today as she did 45 years ago and in all that time has only needed one repair to her gearbox!
My own design deep "V" hull with upper-works loosely to 1:15 scale replica of the Mitchell 31 boats previously used by various Hampshire constabularies in and around the Solent. The intention is to fit this model with a working, rotating, radar scanner using the servo motor and gearbox from an old video camera lens system; working lights including flashing blue police lights and a sound-alike "wee-wah" siren - just for the hell of it (and because I can)! Technical details: Hull length: 867mm. Construction: GRP layup with 1.5 and 3mm ply and balsa deck, cabin etc. Motor: MFA Torpedo 850. Propeller: X50mm plastic. Battery: 2 x three cell LiPo pack in parallel. Speed controller: Mtroniks Viper 25Amp. Radio: Hobby King 2.4GHz.
My son says this is way off a replica of the Solent police launches of that time: a) it moves too fast, b) it's not billowing black smoke, c) it's not making enough engine noise, and d) it's not towing half the Solent behind! 😀
HI fellow model leers.this is my latest model.Built in 1926' for the Ffyfe(bananas) family. Originally it was run on steam,but in 1939 converted to diesel,this was kept until 1957 when all the staterooms were replaced by cargo holds . She was then made into a feeder bringing eleven thousand boxes from Rotterdam to Southampton. She was scrapped in the seventies.my model of her was from 1926 the scale is approx 1/30th her length is 48 inches including bowsprit, and has a beam of 10 inch amidships. She is totally scratch built, plank on frame, all the decks are individually planked with black card in between , wheel house and all other parts are mahogany. She runs on a decaperm geared motor @ 6 volts, and the lighting system consists of 10 accommodation lights, port and starboard , wheelhouse, and both mast headlights,the large saloon skylight is also lit up with a set of disco lights on a separate circuit. The funnel houses a heavy duty smoke unit switched on by switching unit.
💭 Hi Chiefpurser, Stardust looks really good, did you have problems with buoyancy, and how much does it weigh, how do you transport and launch such a big model?
Looks a good pool, where do you sale?
HI thanks for the comments. No problems with buoyancy only 6oz lead to bring her upright, a bit tender but will be adding a further 16 oz of ballast before next outing. She will weigh 18 lbs. transport is not a problem back seat of the car. Lifting and lowering into lake with two strops. This is not really a big model. I have one at 58 inches. We sail in several locations in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. My next model is already on the stocks and will be a jet boat a bit like a super doper cabin cruiser, own design and scratch built as per stardust. Regards jim
I've at last done something with my mystery Orange hull, featured earlier, whilst in St Lucia last year I saw a launch used as diving support with almost identical shape called 'KIKA' so that's what it had to be!
Power from an old 600 Johnson type motor with 7.5v battery and 20A ESC, with prop & running gear from my oddments box. Tried her at Mangerton Mill last week, she goes well but needs a more powerful ESC as 15A fuses blow at 3/4 power, also veneer deck has started to bubble - so work in progress really!
My model of Soclaine (MGS) Built in 1985. Trawler kit originally called le Zenith 1/24 Scale. My name change is in memory of our beautifull daughter who went to heaven just over four years ago. Anyhow model is beautifull on the water powered by Como MFA 919 Series Electric Motor.
All power is from a lead acid 12 volt battery,lights, running gear . Using a simple set up of two channel Planet T5 Radio.
I sail the boat at Rutherglen Boat Club Glasgow. The weight of this boat is really awesome and I kept adding lead untill it was nearly Impossible to lift,must be getting soft in me old age.. 👍 lol Deck crane is made from odds n ends and an addition..IAN
Dear friend Dennis
Your kind words mean so very much to us and we thank you most sincerely for such a kind thought..Yes our wee lass was truly the gentlest kindest human being you could Imagine..See her here http://cheryl.hamilton.muchloved.com
HI Some new photos of my Hunstman sailing at Cwmbran this Sunday morning, running on a 11.1 volt Lipo with "a wait for it" 55X 2 blade prop through a 3:1 reduction gearbox on a Johnson 600.
Graham
This Model of the J. R. More tug which was one of the very last large Steam Tugs built on the Clyde in 1961.
Scratchbuilt from the 1:48 scale plans of a sistership the F.C. Sturrock with various modifications for J. R. More. Powered by twin 12v geared motors.
The J. R. More Tug is a large tug and still exists as a Museum exhibit at the Durban Maritime Museum and well worth a visit in South Africa.
My thanks to Keith Marks who was a Master of J. R. More and the F. C. Sturrock among others for his photographs, help and interest during the construction of this model and is now a good friend.
This video was taken at the Sumner Ponds which is used on alternate Thursday by the Southwater Dabblers MBC.
Video is not very good quality but will remake with a better video.
The fitted motors expired so had to open her up and have now fitted some more standard motors 400's I think but they work and run time is reasonable. The motors are coupled through 3:1 gearboxes and positioned more to the front so as to allow for a larger battery.
HI Jelly Baby
Regarding crew figures, I used SIKU which are 1/32 they are German and good quality. SIKU do farming toys and the ones I use are the Tractor drivers. I have fitted them on the seats in the rear of the bridge. They are available from the UK via
SIKUDIRECT.COM on the sites Page 3 4. Part No 7071 for a 6pcs @ £5.90 all inc or 0887 (2pcs) @£2.40 inc. I use them for other 1/32 boats as well.
Hope this info will help. Regards Doug.
Converted George Turner garden railways static boat for scenic layouts. 2CH RC with novel means of rudder/servo operation - geared via idler because of limited space.
Better than scale speed, a bit of fun and works well on very small through to large ponds.
Colour scheme references the bird of the same name.. Lots of cut outs to provide under deck access.
HI Capn. Jim,
I have a set of mouldings for one of these and was wondering what to do with it. What motor / prop / esc are you using ?. Have you any further photos. Would be very interested in any other details you can give .
John w.
There were several different versions using the same hull. Either way I think the conversion will be fine.
The prop is a standard item. I think I might have cut it down a bit but with the brass bush reused.
Receiver is a 2.4GHz Planet R6M (6gms MICRO 6CH) with a 1A Action ESC (with reverse). All housed in the forward cabin accessed through forward hatch (added by me).
Rudder control is achieved with a micro (cheap) servo tightly fitted into a styrene box below the stern seat. I attached a tube to the rear of this box to provide the axle for the idler gear. Nylon gears part of a standard set you see at trade fairs. Rudder an old KielKraft (1" wide and 1.5" deep blade). I've made the stern access in two parts the seat and a rear plate over the transom to ensure complete access to servo, rudder and gears.
I used a small old brushed electric motor from my 'come in handy box' on 6v. this drives a 25mm 3 bladed plastic prop via tubing universal joint.
A 4xAA pack of rechargeable cells is stored under the deck as close to CofG as possible and in a resealable bag. I can just remove it if required through a deck amidships. The main deck is planked and non-removable.
The switch and charge point is mounted by the helm and easily accessble.
All up weight is 295gms. Freeboard is fine even when a little choppy and she is quite stable. I was going to put a cover over the cockpit but have not found the need.
I do have some more photos and will try an upload them. Good luck, this was a very satisfying conversion and I still enjoy her as a quick an easy boat to prepare/handle/carry and operate.
This is a aero -naut toben tug it is kit built it has a aero-naut 6v geared motor it runs on a 6v 4amph sealed battery has a old type speed controller sliding arm type the battery last in excess of two hours its great with korts nossole steering the hull and cabin are abs and the most water proof boat I have ever sailed on Southport model boat club one of the fleet have changed the set up have a old mfa electro thottle esc in instead now yet to try the new setup
