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SouthportPat
Commodore
Testing The Dusselforf Fireboat with The FRSky TD Receiver at SMBC - 14 May 2025
The History
The Düsseldorf fire-fighting boat was developed and built by the Rheinwerft company of Mainz-Mombach, and it is operated in the Ruhr industrial region of Germany. The vessel is designed specifically to cope with disaster situations, such as a ship on fire, a major oil leak or a harbor system in danger of explosion, and its fire monitors, operating at a pressure of 10.5 bar, can hurl water or foam 145 feet high and a distance of up to 310 feet. The two V-12 engines produce a total of 930 kW (1260 BHP), giving the boat a maximum speed of around 23 mph.

The Model
The Romarin kit of the Düsseldorf fire-fighting boat is large and capacious enough to accommodate all the equipment required to emulate the wide-ranging facilities of the full-size vessel. Optional working systems include the fire monitors, crane, anchor winch, radar, searchlights, blue light, horn and siren, and also the sound of the diesel engines. The plastic hull is moulded in thick-walled material, and it offers plenty of space for the numerous mechanical and electronic parts required for the auxiliary working systems. The model is propelled by two proven MAX Gear power systems, giving it an impressive turn of speed. Four large rudders guarantee extreme maneuvering capability both forwards and astern. The fire monitors can be swiveled horizontally and vertically from the transmitter, and with the recommended electric geared pump they can fire a jet of water a distance of 20 feet. If a working boat crane is fitted, the vacuum-moulded rowing board can be raised, swung outboard and lowered to the water in true scale style.

The TD SR12 receiver is equipped with a triple antenna (2×2.4G & 1×900M) design that provides multi-directional wide coverage for the remote signal and is designed for RC users who want to benefit from resilience and long-range in their radio communications.
TD SR12 also provides a socket that can be used to connect the NFC Switch panel to enable the built-in Power Switch function. Dual-power provides a safe and efficient way to power the system with your power sources connected via a pair of standard XT30 connections. The dual-power consumption system is designed to operate in balance mode, where it consumes the power line from either power source depending on which has the higher voltage. With a built-in black box module, the data (Power & Signal related) under unusual status during the flight can be recorded by TD receivers.
The configurable 12-channel ports are a big feature of TD SR12, each channel port can be assigned as PWM, SBUS, FBUS, or S.Port. With the FBUS protocol, the Tandem series receivers can open up the possibility of seamlessly pairing with multiple telemetry devices (Neuron ESC, Advance Sensors, etc.) as well as simplifying the builds setup.
Liked by Wolle and Ray and
MouldBuilder
Admiral
Dusseldorf Final monitor Operation
Further information can be seen on my build blog. This is the first of three monitors to be completed. Now on to the other two.😀
Liked by Martin555 and Julio and
4 comments
  • MouldBuilderAdmiral
    Hi Bruce.
    I have got it working but not before carrying out some modifications.
    Firstl was one of the geared motors would not fit as it wanted to go through the deck cover. I made a small tool box, cut the cover and covered the end of the motor.
    The second was that the lift height would never get the boat over the railings. I added a 40mm spacer to increase the height. All is good now.😊
    Liked by Martin555 and pressonreguardless and
  • jbkiwiFleet Admiral
    Excellent job Peter,



    JB
    Liked by Martin555 and pressonreguardless and
DWBrinkman
Rear Admiral
2022 Parade of Boats fireboat video
Several boats have fire monitors, which are a huge hit with the kids
Liked by Madwelshman and stevedownunder and
2 comments
  • RowenCaptain
    Very interesting - has anybody any plans or even good pictures
  • DWBrinkmanRear Admiral
    Rowen,
    Mine is an Aquacraft Ready To Run boat.
    It is modified slightly from the "out of the box" original, but basically true to the RTR version.
    Dave B
    PS I'd be glad to send any pictures you would like ...
Aquaflite
Able Seaman
1 / 4
Fairplay
Modified HegI Fairplay V tug built by My late Father. Mods include bigger 65mm Prop in a brass kort nozzle, working fire monitors, lights, radar, engine sound and grappling hooks to rescue nitro boats. Built 1980-81.
Liked by hightide and Colin H and
1 comment
  • figtree7ntsAdmiral
    Very nice looking Tugboat reminds me of the Robbe Neptune! I had one lost at sea unfortunately! 😭
tduggan
Leading Seaman
dusseldorf fireboat
built this one after the first one was stolen which has turned out for the better. Has working fire monitors,anchor,bow thruster,sounds,searchlight,lightsand a bloke on the back having a wee, which in turn acts as a bilge pump to tell me there is water in the boat
Liked by DannyZ and circle43nautical and
6 comments
  • mbrownhillRecruit
    Hi I am just starting to build a Vosper fire tender using Robbe fire moniotrs. I already nixed the vertical motion but is there any other recommendations you would make before I go any further?

    Thanks

    Martin
  • circle43nauticalChief Petty Officer 2nd Class
    BRAVO ZULU! That fireboat is amazing!
raj002
Able Seaman
1 / 4
RAF Crash Tender
This is a Kitshack 46 inch Crash Tender. Nearly finished with a bit more detail yet to finish powered by 2 1400 kv brushless motors running on car speed controllers at 7.2 volt. Goes like stink! Has working rotatable fire monitors which are scratch built
Liked by doghouse and circle43nautical and
2 comments
  • mbrownhillRecruit
    It looks great - I am just starting to build one. Do you have any recommendations on the fire monitors? I am going to use Robbe and make them rotate.

    Do you find the twin motors too much ?
  • raj002Able Seaman
    I made my own from bits of tube and old coins for flanges. The nozzle is just sleeved down with progressively smaller tube till it squirted about right. Pump is a standard grapnel unit. Hopefully this link to a photo blog will work. https://picasaweb.google.com/102817163504371499744/RAFCrashTenderModelBoatBuildKitshack46InchVersion
    The link will give you details of the motors and speed controllers and the props I used. it's quick!
    Liked by Inkoust
bigmacmodels
Leading Seaman
1 / 4
The real/original RAF crash fire tender
Hi, I'm sorry if these pictures are on here already, I did search through and couldn't see any.... I'm after a few peoples opinion on colours etc 💭 As the pictures are all black and white (grey scale) it is difficult to get the colours correct. A lot of model boats seem to be grey on the deck with white roofs, some with wooden decking, some just white and any number of variations. I'm trying to rebuild mine to be as close to the real thing as possible. in my opinion it looks like the top is all in white (as it matches the shade of the "FIRE" sign). The handrails appear to be brass ends with wooden rails?? Most of the other fittings seem to be either white to match the boat or silver for the tie-offs. The spot light seems to be darker than the monitors so I'm not sure if that is a dark silver or maybe black? Any thoughts??? 😉
Liked by circle43nautical
4 comments
  • chrislangWarrant Officer
    I was sailing my 34" fireboat at Portsmouth's Canoe Lake a couple of weekends ago when someone came up to me and said he had been a member of the crew on one of the two actual Vosper Fireboats, and that the cabin sides should be a light blue colour and not grey as on my model - ( I still like the look of the grey though! )
    Regards
    Chris
  • Pete DMaster Seaman
    There is much talk about colours on these old craft,some say Grey, others say Light Blue, and again White also comes into play, These craft were only in service for between 5 and 6 years, during their time in service they underwent maintainance and modification, I have spoken to guys who served on them and on one occasion they had not got enough paint to repaint the mast white, so it got painted Brown, how many of you out there have ever seen one of these craft with a Brown mast?, also you will see that 93 had no breeches connector behind the main cabin, 94 did, most photo's avilable of 93 show no suction hoses on the aft well foam boxes, 94 did, look closely at the photo's and you will clearly see two different types of monitors fitted and in one photo you can clearly see one of each, for what its worth my opinion is Pick a date Pick a colour, I know what we painted ours as taken from V/T drawings.
    Best of luck, kind regards,
    Pete D.
tompallister
Petty Officer 1st Class
1 / 3
Irishman
Model Slipways kit with fire monitors and bow thrusters. Powered by 2 x MFA 2.5 : 1 motors on 6 volts via Action P94 mixer ESCs. Sails mostly at Tynemouth model Boat Club
Liked by circle43nautical and chugalone100
3 comments
  • junkanoopunchRecruit
    where can I buy this tugboat from
  • tompallisterPetty Officer 1st Class
    It is a "Model Slipway" Kit and is listed on their web site ( www.modelslipway.com ) as Yorkshireman as this was the sister tug. The basic kit costs about A£270 and running gear, bow thrusters, fire monitors and radio gear costs about another A£250. The kit is really for those with modelling experience as it has a few challenges for the inexperienced. Hope this helps
tompallister
Petty Officer 1st Class
1 / 3
46 Inch Aerokits
This is my 46 inch fireboat. it is a 1960s Aerokits model that I was given about 18 months ago only partly started (frames and stringers). it is powered by 2 x 770 watt brushless motors with 4s lips and has working monitors and an Action Noisy Thing sound system. it is pictured here at Tynemouth boating lake where I an a member to of the Tmbc.
Liked by Gascoigne and circle43nautical
4 comments
  • tompallisterPetty Officer 1st Class
    I'll get some pictures when I next see it as it is kept at my Mums place in the NE where the lake at the Tynemouth club is big enough to take it given its speed and size. if you are blowing fuses, make sure you haven't over greased the shaft. I did that once and really only a light greasing of the inner shaft and some light oil on the bearings is all that is required. Also try a smaller prop. You may not get any reduction in Speer as the motor may rev faster and at lower amps. I've just taken the 50mm 3 blade brass props off mine and put 45mm 2 blade plastic racing props on and she runs faster and smoother. Hope this helps.
  • StonemonkeyMaster Seaman
    HI Tom,
    Many thanks for your comments, much food for thought. I look forward to seeing your photos when you've next been to your Mums.
    Rgds
    Dean
Gregg
Sub-Lieutenant
1 / 4
Sun Tug 25
based on a Lesro kit of the MK21 Sun tug. This slightly later version was fitted with fire monitors for handling tankers in the thames esturary as well as normal docking duites of liners and freighters.
Fitted with a decaperm 3:2 geared motor and twin 12v 7amphr batteries, it can run for several hours, even when towing other boats around the pool.. Fog horn installed, lighting system, working decca radar, Illuminated map desk and decca unit on the bridge.
Liked by circle43nautical
BOATSHED
Captain
1 / 4
RAF Crash Tender
HI to all you Fire Boaters,
I have decided to finally bring my Fireboat out of the closet and up for inspection.
This is the first of my many boats I am showing, I will probably show others in the future.
I started to build her back in 2006 after being off work and having a shoulder operation. She was not going to be a R/C boat, just a bit of something to do whilst on recovery.

I have a 34" still in the box unmade, purchased back in 1994 from Aerokits.
I drew round all the parts and then shrunk them on my scanner. She is 27" long I think that's
just fraction over 1/20th scale . She is almost all balsa except the 2 under skins that are balsa laminated with 1/64th ply. The hand rails are 1/4" balsa blocks I cut from a strip and the rail is ally tubing.
The mast is made from plastic strip from packets from the model shop.

When I returned to work she was put into the shed and left unfinished.
I stumbled across the Fireboat website and registered in 2009 when I was off work once again. This then made me think more about working on her again and I decide to turn her into an R/C model. So out she came and I fitted an Electomax Delta 480bb motor and a M3sonik esc.
I also purchased a couple of Robbe fire monitors, put them together shortening the nozzles and cutting the bottom of the base of to try to look a bit moreto scale. I know they are not the correct type but if I want to go down the road of getting them working then these ones will.

Then off I went to Wilkinson's and bought some paint. Then set out to paint her, as I brushed on the paint it seemed to be drying almost as quick as I was painting her. Dragging the paint I had just put on with next brush stroke. What a TOTAL DISASTER !!. I gave up on her and back into the shed she went.

2010 arrived I started again rubbed the paint down a bit and bought some Tamiya spray acrylic and started spraying, underside red, it seemed look all right. I used a nice new roll of low tack masking tape, taped up the underside and the decking and sprayed on the black on the sides. I thought that look all right. Took off the masking tape, which also took off the red paint and the dope from the decks. Another DISASTER. Back in the shed she went once again.

A couple of months went by and I was up in Norfolk on my own boat and watching the workers in the boatyard, ideas came to me and when we returned home, out she came and I repainted the sides
and then with red oxide paint I painted her undersides to make it look like antI foul paint. I used some white stripe to cover the join of the two different paint colours.
I had bought some roundels in Anglia Model Shop in Gorleston and some lettering in a shop in Norwich and after painting put these on.
Not looking fantastic but passable I was a little happier with her, but still not satisfied, back in the shed she went again.

Now after so much nagging from my brother out she has come, I've started again. He talked me into changing and trying a brushless motor and a smaller esc he had in his tool box from his helicopter he was shelving as its rota head was damaged beyond repair.
I have now fitted them and if they work I will change the esc to a forward/ reverse esc in the future at some point.

Sea trials are still away off more than likely in the spring, because the decking has yet to be painted. That will be the next job.

I think that's all for now, as I have probably bored you all to tears. I hope update as I progress further.
Just to let you know I'm Tom (alias BOATSHED).
Liked by circle43nautical and cenbeth and
6 comments
  • SquirtgunLeading Seaman
    I was cruising the blogs, and saw this from 3 years ago, I'm guessing you're retired now%uD83D%uDE06! We're able to finish it? Your perseverance is commendable.
  • BOATSHEDCaptain
    HI Squirtgun, up to no she still hasn't changed, and is still unfinished.
    I did take her out and try her on Clapham Common Long Pond, a bit of a disaster ☺️ , the prop that was on her was a 4 blade 40 mm, was a bit to big and would not steer and tended to react to the torque and pull one way 😭 .
    I have since purchased three smaller prop's 20,25 and
    30 mm 3 bladed brass props. will have to experiment with these at some point.
    Sadly what with work and trying to get some work done on a classic car I have, I haven't had chance to do anymore 😭 .
    Haven't retired as yet, that date isn't until August, but as the law has changed, you do not actually retire anymore I'm told from work, you either work on until you decide or you just resign now.
    So I will get some more done soon but have just been to busy on the classic car.
    Thanks for asking and when done more I will post it.
    Kind regards Tom (alias BOATSHED )
    Liked by Inkoust

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