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My transporter helper

Hello everyone! Now finally, here's the rest of the transport helper. In order to protect the ship's hulls, I obtained and adapted insulation for heating pipes. In the last 2 pictures you can see the respective settings for large keels to smaller ones. Frame tested, but wait for spring. The workshop is now waiting for me to optimize it even better. A mess at the moment. . until then Greats Michel-Cl.

2 minutes ago by Mike Stoney

Blog

My transport helper

Hi all!! Today I gathered the material together. . The only thing missing now is the screws, nuts and washers . . . on monday I go to the shopping center with the shopping list I was able to have the sheets made by my former company. So see you on next day Greetings Michel-Claude

19 days ago by Mike Stoney

Response

Re: Power plant and propeller tubes

Great look for the power unit. Well engineered. Rick

35 minutes ago by Newby7

Blog

Power plant and propeller tubes

A few more basics had to be done with some assistance before we can go any further with the skins. The power unit is easiest fitted without the bottom and side skins. As this is a twin screw boat it’s most important that the prop shafts are perfectly parallel this most important when we consider the drive mechanism. We all have bits under the bench that we over bought at some time so I decided to make use of some of them. The motor is the first adaptation, it was bought for a much bigger boat but my idea was that it could be used to drive both props at once this is to be done with miniature timing belts hence the need for the shafts and pulleys to be perfectly in line to avoid any tendency for the belts to wander off the pulleys. You may notice that the shafts are different lengths; this is so the pulleys are supported to the maximum effect. I also had to put extra supports in place near the motor again to give extra support. It will also be seen that an extra support is temporally in place at the stern end to ensure the dimensions between the shafts is maintained until the skins are in place and additional strengthening is placed where the shafts emerge and where a skeg can be fitted along with two water take ups and two rudders.

1 hour ago by mturpin013

Blog

Vosper MTB379

As did another member on the site succumb to the charm of a grandson, I too have fallen for it, again. The first one was a cabin cruiser but apparently it really doesn’t go fast enough despite an engine transplant and a bigger prop and larger capacity battery. So “what would you like” –“a Motor Torpedo Boat please grandad” Enter the Vosper MTB379. My grandson trawled the plans service web sites and eventually settled on a 23”Vosper MTB, the plans were purchased and duly arrived a couple of days later, 3 sheets in all giving enough detail to build a nice example of the type. My grandson was keen to be involved in all aspects of the build but as always with an 8 year old he expected things to happen somewhat faster than a human being could manage. The first job was to prepare a building board with appropriate brackets and 90 degree supports to ensure a symmetrical build. Next comes the transfer the bulkhead patterns onto the wood I find the easiest way to do this is to scan the bulkhead parts onto A4 sheets single sticky labels, these are easily applied to the wood and very easy to remove after cutting out the shape of each part. The plans call for a number of the construction parts to be in balsa, however I’m not really keen on working in balsa so I decided to use “light ply” instead and using some thinner sections to compensate for any weight difference. We worked on cutting out the paper plans together and placing them on the ply. Then next comes the "constant supervision" part – using the scroll saw, he has used it before and became quite good, keeping a straight line in the most part, the saw has a protective guard around the blade and a pressure foot so is really quite easy to use although any lack of concentration can lead to an interesting profile. The novelty doesn’t last long and it’s time for him to go home until next week leaving me to complete the task ready for next weeks instalment. However its really important to get youngsters interested in the hobby and so far he has proved to be interested and quite good at it.

29 days ago by mturpin013

Forum

Sourcing timber

I use an alloy water-cooled mount in my boats - but I do like your idea and I will try it. The power loss from driving the fan should be quite minimal and it would be nice to find a use for all those prop adapters that do not get used. Where do you buy a fan like that?

2 hours ago by zooma

Forum

Sourcing timber

Has anyone used old Venetian blind slats for boat building ? I have found them to be excellent, the timber being light, strong, fine straight grained and free from defects. First remove the lacquer with a sander and square the edges. The slats I am using are about 36mm X 2mm. Two or more can be laminated to create thicker sections. I have added a few photos of my boat build. The hull is 1m long. The plan is to make two different superstructures for it, one a cabin cruiser (Fairey-Marine style), the other a pilot boat. The motor is a Turnigy 4240 740Kv which will run on 5S. Whilst the Hobbyking ESC is water cooled, I have added a cooling fan to the motor. With plenty of air volume/circulation within the boat I am hoping this will be OK.

12 hours ago by flaxbybuck

Forum

Aziz

Hi Jho, you need to reply on your original post or its doesn't make sense on its own.

2 hours ago by mturpin013

Forum

Aziz

Hello all. Thank you for the replies about the motor. If anyone has a list of what I need to get the boat moving that will be greatly appreciated. We got the Aziz but didn't come with any motors and stuff and we have no clue where to even start. Thank you all

4 hours ago by jho

Forum

Sourcing timber

I just noticed the fan for cooling , your motor (Turnigy) will have come with a prop adapter and I used this to mount a fan from a fan assembly similar to the one you have used but on the back end of the motor, works really well.

2 hours ago by mturpin013

Forum

Sourcing timber

MY PREVIOUS QUOTE:- "I have now been advised (thanks Doug) that "lime" wood is actually "pear"." DOUGS QUOTE :- Er no! I said that basswood (as it's mostly known in the US) is called lime in the UK. Main thing is - that your boat doesn't go pear shaped! As our antipodean friends might say 😉 😎 Very confusing...and not helped by that gin and "lime"! - so "pear wood" is known as "pear wood" and "bass wood" is known as "lime wood" - unless it is known as "Linden wood". I will try to remember that 🤣

4 hours ago by zooma

Forum

STRINGERS

I think I will just refer to the wood in my Venetian blind slats as "pear' in future as it is apparently not known by any other name . 🙈 🙉 🙊

4 hours ago by zooma

Forum

STRINGERS

What's the best wood for stringers. And who supplies 1m+ lengths at a sensible price please

10 days ago by Maverick

Forum

STRINGERS

Looking at the timber supplied by Cornwall Model Boats, they list both lime and pear, pear being a little more expensive. Some suppliers refer to lime as bass, but pear is a completely different wood. Cheers, Nerys

4 hours ago by Nerys

Forum

STRINGERS

You're probably right Zooma, but I can't get gin passed my nose 🙊 So make that a pisco sour or Cuba libre for me 😋😋 Cheers, Doug 😎

6 hours ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Sourcing timber

"I have now been advised (thanks Doug) that "lime" wood is actually "pear"." Er no! I said that basswood (as it's mostly known in the US) is called lime in the UK. Main thing is - that your boat doesn't go pear shaped! As our antipodean friends might say 😉 😎

6 hours ago by RNinMunich

Forum

STRINGERS

Yes maybe - but one would taste a lot nicer with a gin and tonic than the other 🤣😂🤣

6 hours ago by zooma

Forum

Aziz tug boat

https://www.mfacomodrills.com/index.html There was a discussion on motors for Aziz on Mayhem some time ago. A lot of folks use 550 or 555s without the gearbox (direct drive). If you use a 5 pole version you get more torque for your volts and smoother starts and running than with the 3 polers 😉 😎

6 hours ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Aziz tug boat

Hello! Does anyone know where I can get a motor for an Aziz boat or if anyone has one for sale. Thank you 😊

20 hours ago by jho

Forum

STRINGERS

Well Zooma, Understandable, both have four letters and sound a bit fruity!😋 😎

7 hours ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Aziz tug boat

Hi do you have a link to the website where I can get them?

7 hours ago by jho

Forum

Sourcing timber

I have just braved the snow and popped out into the garage to check the spacing of the regular oblong shaped "string slots" that are machined into every Venetian blind slat that I have. The distance between these slots is 16", so I can make one long strip of wood from each side of every slat, and end-up with a lot of 16" lengths from the middle that will be approximately 1" wide . These 16" lengths could be cut or stripped as required for future projects.

7 hours ago by zooma

Forum

Sourcing timber

Perhaps when I have made some strips I can use them for stringers I have now been advised (thanks Doug) that "lime" wood is actually "pear". They won't be a flexible or as easy to work with as obechie as it is a harder wood, but it would probably be really good for planking larger hulls like Tony is using it for on his dragon yacht.👍

8 hours ago by zooma

Forum

STRINGERS

Thanks for that Doug - I knew it was also known by another name - but I guessed at the wrong one 🙄🤣

7 hours ago by zooma

Forum

STRINGERS

No Zooma, Commonly called Lime in UK and Ireland and Linden in most of continental Europe. Like the famous Berlin avenue; Unter den Linden (Under the limes). Nothing to do with the fruit trees😉 Cheers, Doug 😎

8 hours ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Aziz tug boat

Hello, I use the MFA 540 geared motors in mine. You can by the direct from them or online

8 hours ago by Adey

Forum

Sourcing timber

I think my venetian blind slats are pear wood and look nice. Maybe I could run them through the bandsaw to make long strips from both sides? Most of the wood (from the middle of the slates) would then convert itself into shorter lengths as I hit the regular string slots. Its a shame to waste so much of the wood - but I should get plenty of 1/4" wide strips and lots of short lengths to make other things from in the future!

9 hours ago by zooma

Forum

STRINGERS

I believe that "bass" wood is another name for "pear" wood ?

8 hours ago by zooma

Forum

Sourcing timber

Hi, I used venetian window slats to plank my dragon yacht which is still in build, highly recommended! Tony A........

9 hours ago by TonyAsh

Forum

Slec Fairey Huntress

Hi Steve I was going to suggest as per the others i.e. use your batteries with a brushless motor but if you want to go brushed then something like the MFA 540 should fit the bill. Attached is from the Component Shop. I always reckon you need around 10k. RPM to get decent planing performance. That's the 34" kit isn't it and if so the extra weight of batteries other than LiPos shouldn't be too much of an issue. I don't know of any other builders of that kit on the forums and so it is unlikely that you will find anyone who has gone brushed so there is an element of suck it and see. Chris

9 hours ago by ChrisF

Forum

Slec Fairey Huntress

Hello all, I’m looking at building the Slec Fairey Huntress kit. Are there any better alternatives to the Slec advised motor etc, I was thinking of a 600 type brushed motor and nimh battery rather than the brushless and lipo route? Thanks

11 hours ago by DorsetSteve

Forum

Slec Fairey Huntress

It wasn't taken that you were questioning the designers judgement etc. Like I say, if it was me and i already had some batteries, I would go for a brushless motor and suitable speed controller, that if you found that your batteries didn't give the performance or duration you wanted, you could upgrade to lipos at a later date if you wanted to, plus the cost would be spread out then too. Will

10 hours ago by Madwelshman

Forum

Slec Fairey Huntress

Yes I appreciate that, I wasn’t questioning the knowledge of the builder/designer in any way, just wondered if anyone had used a brushed motor and nicads instead of the suggested brushless and lipos. I’ll probably price up the brushless and brushed alternatives and go from there. I have nicads from my car and truck rc days. I guess the weight of the nicad/nimh could be an issue compared to the lipos. Thanks.

10 hours ago by DorsetSteve

Forum

Slec Fairey Huntress

If you have the batteries, then personally, I'd be seriously tempted to go the brushless route, but not running lipos. As I said before, you would still have to buy an ESC, but if you got them both from eBay or Banggood, they'd probably cost you £50 or less for both items. That would also give you the option of changing to lipos in the future if you decided to. Will

10 hours ago by Madwelshman

Forum

Slec Fairey Huntress

Hi, just simplicity avoiding the hassles of lipo and the cost. Plus I have the batteries.

10 hours ago by DorsetSteve

Forum

Slec Fairey Huntress

I was going to say something very similar to Dave. The designer, who was a very knowledgable, talented boat builder and designer of model boat kits, would have spent a lot of time ensuring that the correct propulsion system was recommended. I never knew Dave M, but took advice from him quite a few times and he always came across as knowing exactly what he was talking about, especially when it came to Fairey Marine boats. You could go opt to go the brushed and non lipo route, but performance and duration would not be the same as a lighter, more powerful(size for size) and more efficient brushless set up. You could run a brushless motor on a different battery to a Lipo. The cost of a brushless motor and suitable speed controller wouldn't be particularly great, especially if you were happy to wait for it to come from China rather than buying in this country (eBay, Banggood etc), so if it's down to cost and already having a brushed motor etc, then maybe worth considering. Otherwise, try the motor and batteries you already have 1st. If you are happy with the performance and duration that's all that matters and if not, i suspect that it wouldn't be the end of the world to swap to a brushless motor afterwards, although I cannot remember what access to the motor and mount appear like after completion of the boat. Will

10 hours ago by Madwelshman

Forum

Slec Fairey Huntress

I suspect Dave Milbourne the designer chose the brushless motor to give the model the scale performance he desired. I searched our Boat Harbour section and there is at least one Huntress shown but no details of the motors used. I suggest you do a search and send a private message to the builder and ask for his help. https://model-boats.com/harbour?q=Huntress Dave

10 hours ago by dave976

Forum

Sourcing timber

That's a great idea, there are always some at our local recycling centre. Cheers Colin.

11 hours ago by Colin H

Forum

Slec Fairey Huntress

Is there any particular reason that you don't want to go down the brushless/Lipo route? Will

11 hours ago by Madwelshman

Media

Evening cruising with the old Maiami on Orewa River

Thought I'd take the old Maiami out for a run, as it's been a while. Nice evening for it.

11 hours ago by jbkiwi

Forum

Sourcing timber

I dismantled an 8 ft wooden venetian blind and kept the slats as I thought they were too good to throw away or burn. The only problem that restrict their use is the slots that are cut at regular intervals for the various supporting chords. To my shame I have only used a couple for paint mixing (after chopping them down at each slot).

11 hours ago by zooma

Forum

Sourcing timber

Morning flaxbybuck. Now that’s an interesting thought….No never thought of that one. Can you post some pictures of your work please. I am intrigued,as I am sure will be others. Regards Bill.

12 hours ago by Scratchbuilder

Response

Re: Chain

Well done Rick, looks a lot more realistic now. Cheers Colin.

13 hours ago by Colin H

Blog

Chain

With Colin's comments about slack in the chain looking more realistic put new chain in the stanchions. Thanks Colin. Rick

19 hours ago by Newby7

Blog

Dumas Victory tug

With I hate to say my golfing season slowly coming to an end and no project in mind for the cold months ahead a kit was looked at. Having liked the look of this boat for a number of years finally decided to order the kit. The notice came in that the parcel is ready for pick up.Will be picking up today. My intent is to open and photograph the kit before I start the build. As my last few builds have been scratch builds I didn't take photos of all aspects of the build. More to come. Rick

3 months ago by Newby7

Response

Re: Fairey Huntsman 28

Thanks Will I hope so! To be honest I haven't painted anything for years (except the house! 😀) and hope I don't cock them up! 😭

20 hours ago by ChrisF

Response

Re: Fairey Swordsman 33

Thanks Gary - the planked deck is fiddly to do whatever method is used but worth the effort. Though at the time I did 3, one after the other, and didn't always think so! That is forgotten though now and glad I did them. Bob & Will - the Swordsman wasn't my favourite hull when I was building them but once the superstructure went on it transformed it. I didn't really want to start on the detail work of the cabin doors just yet but I've had to do it so that I can fit the planked floor.

20 hours ago by ChrisF

Response

Re: Fairey Huntsman 31

Thanks chaps. Next year I'm determined that some of them will get on the water! 😀

20 hours ago by ChrisF

Directory

Fairey Huntsman 31

As with my other builds this model is being built at a scale of 1:12. Like the Swordsman there are drawings available but I like to alter things to suit the way I build and so did my own. Also I started building this as the Sport version - no rear cabin and large cockpit which were primarily built for racing. But I sold my big 46.5" Precedent Huntsman 31 (too big and wrong scale!") and so part way through the build decided to convert it to the more common aft cabin version. The Sport looks great but I will have a number of rear cockpit boats in the fleet. As with the other builds with a bit more work it will be ready for painting.

1 day ago by ChrisF

Response

Re: Fairey Faun

Bob - I did! 😊 Will - yes, I do have some space. Was thinking about a small servo, as not much force required and a rod fixed to the rudder shaft but hadn't thought anymore than that yet about the mechanics of it, but your idea could work. I've got a small servo as used in Huntress and River Cruiser that will do so will dig it out. I want to avoid having the servo at the front of the boat and using snakes if I can. I can always make more room if required. Chris

21 hours ago by ChrisF