HI fellow Modellers,
Another model from the RADMC fleet at the fleetshaven workshop and boat yard in Ponthir.This model was built using a Billings Kit, bought for me as a Christmas pressent in 2009. A graupner 6 volt steam unit is fitted in the funnel and to make the boat a little more realistic a maplin steam sound system has been used to generate the sound of the engine. A simple mod allows the revs to be linked to the engine voltage. The steam engine rotates using a stripped down minI servo, fitted under the motor housing on the deck, again linked to the main motor voltage. The two 9.6 volt AA batteries and control gear are mounted under the boats floor, forward locker, a minI servo for steerage is fitted under the rear seat and the receiver is located under the wood pile. Figures are self made from items obtained from the local pound shop. The modal can be seen sailing at Cwmbran Boating Lake or at shows the society visit. Hope you enjoy the pictures, Regards GreyWolf.
Here is my restoration (conversion) of a US Coastguard vessel into the RNLI Waveney Class Lifeboat. I think you will agree that it looks better in its new livery. Have put in two jp power 400 motors along with mtroniks auto tune 20 amp esc and am using 7.4V lipo batteries. First try out went very well, but that was the bath, will try her out on water in couple of days
Hi
Nice to see your model. I built the US Coastguard model and use similar motors and ESC. Lipo's were not common when built so I used a 12v 1.2amp sla. Goes well on the water but duration is not very long. I have a pair of brushless motors and controllers and intend to fit with Lipo battery. it would be nice to see pics of your model on the water.
Dave
HI Dave, Sorry for delay in replying, taking boat out on water for trials today will let you know how got on. As to changing to brushless, good idea I use brushless in a lot of my models, but if you have MTroniks escs you can use a lipo upto 3series (11.1v), they say this on their own website, so you could still use same motors with 7.4v lipo but change the esc. the only downside to using lipos is having to add more ballast to get waterline which is what going to find out today. Regards Steve
Ahoy
this model dont need any introduction because there are thousands upon thousands of these kits were produced and even being produce as I post this this build. I purchased this kit when it was first released in 1963. there was a discount store that sold anything from appliances to plastic models. I went in there one day to see what they have, there to my delight and surprise there was a stock table that must have had atleased a 100 or more of these kits they were sold for $11.95 but the only way the store could sells these they marked them down a little more then half price, the sale tag on the stock table and the kit was $ 4.95 with a steal of a deal I couldn,t refuse. I bought 4 of them for $ 20.00. the kit was a typical gimic model for that day it was designed and ran on 6 D cell flashlight batteries, opperating a cam gear box that opperated the 5 inch closed mount turrets torpedo tubes and the twin screws. Also in the kit you a choice of courses that could be set if desired useing a cam that worked off the gear box. 10 years ago I scuttled the gearbox and modernized it with up to date RC she runs on a 6 volt dumas electric motor with a gear reduxction turning two screws and speed control Boats
You say you bought 4? What happened to the other 3? I am always amazed at the deals available outside the UK. Perhaps if similar deals were available there would be more budding young modellers!
Please keep posting pictures of your models. it would be useful if you could also give size details as models to sail need to fit into our cars.
Dave
Ahoy Dave
Thank you for your reply I am honered. The other 3 were given away as Christmas presents. Deals of yesteryear are over with the price of plastic his 10 to 20 times higher then the price I paid back in that day. What once was a retail price of $11.95 is now $100.00 and going up.The details of the kit it is scaled in a odd scale of 1/225 giveing you a model length of 36 inch,s just under a meter. the kit came with a gearbox that opperated the turrets,torpedo tubes and turning the twin screws. in order to sail the selected course, there are 4 cams that ride off the gearbox circle, square figure eight, and straight . this was gimic model there were many in the 1950, through the 1960,s but much seriousness is applied to scale and RC these gimic models are now radio controlled. the insides are quite small to work with. But still large enought to modifiy it to RC opperation. get rid of the relic gearbox and 9.0 electric motor, you need to add a 6 volt motor and gear reduction box. speed controll and a new rudder linkage system. Still today the kit is still worth looking in to. The only modification I made as to the overal perspective of appearence is the Hull I am a retired navy man of 30 years I have a trained eye for destroyers I served on 4 of them. the kits hull from the bridge superstructure to the bow the camber is allwrong useing plastic surgury and sheet plastic that portion of the hull has to be raised up to the proper camber, I also added bilge keels the kit didn,t have them. all kits from the 1950,s throught the 60,s never paid that much attention to scale and detail. not much nit picken in that da neither.
For my first foray into boats I have acquired what is like a Vosper Firefloat Mk.2 but it is different. The wheel house section of my boat is different, being longer, the mid-ship section having three windows in lieu of two and the stern is completely different in profile.
I have spent many nights trawling the internet to see if there is anything like my very detailed model but to no avail and I have even asked a few of my old work colleagues who are ex-naval men if they can help out in identification. I am wondering whether this could be an elusive Mk. 1 - the boat that was never put into commission.
I attach a few photos of my model in the hope that someone out there can throw some light on it. it is in very good condition and a few years old, is fitted with a Graupner Eco 600 motor on a single prop with 7.2 NiMh batteries. it is about 34" in length and 9" beam and goes really well, planes quickly and turns very tightly - in all a cracking boat. The numbers on the side of the boat are strange as they relate to what I believe is a coastal command unit - the numbers are not new as they appear to be original under the paintwork. Any help in identifying what actual boat it is modelled on would be appreciated.
HI Alan, it reminds me of an air sea rescue launch I went for a ride in when I was an air cadet in the year dot! Had three packhard engines as I remember and went like the proverbial!
Roger
My Sun Tug MK25 version, originally adapted from a Lesro Sun Tug Kit, actually still being built [not quite yet complete] but seaworthy enough to get some testing time in the water. it has more than enough power to haul my dusseldorf along when the batteries are flat after some time sailing, so rather than pull the fireboat out, decided to let the tug do some work.
Powered by a hectoperm motor with 3:1 gearbox,twin 6v gel batteries,water pump to operate the fire monitors,engine sound, nav lights, interior lights [cabins] rotating radar scanner,
Mrs Froggyt996's Solent Class Lifeboat which is running on 2 x MFA 800 motors. it has 4 x 12v 7amp gel batteries and a P92 combined mixer and speedcontrollers from Action.
This is Baldrick, a Krick radio controlled canoe.Yes he actually paddles his way round the pond (calm waters only as he gets swamped easily).Manual speed control powered by 2 x c size batteries and 4 AA for reciever placed for and arft for balance,not fast but very good to watch.
Baldrick last outing was at Twyford Water works open day Twyford Hants and he has been asked back.
A very different model which needs a delicate hand to operate,but still fun.
My first post on site as a new member !
I can't take credit for the building this Deans Marine kit, my father did that some 15 years ago but as a static model. When he passed away the ship came to me and a few months ago I decided to make it seaworthy.
She used a standard MabuchI 540RS motor geared down using two 6v lead acid batteries - and runs for hours !
The pictures were taken at Peterborough Area Model Boat Club during our Sunday meet. I'm thrilled with it, very realistic at over four feet long, smooth and very manoeuvrable - Dad would have loved it :-))
I have a dozen or so RC boats, mostly vintage Aerokits and Veron, just bought my first Fire Boat to restore - more to follow I hope. Thanks for looking, Roger
