Forum

Question of the Day?

Rubbish!

37 minutes ago by Rowen

Forum

Question of the Day?

Hi All, Given that it's always popular in December (and I've now figured out a way to get multiple-choice quiz questions very easily), how many of you would enjoy a non-competition based fun question of the day, each day? In a similar way to December's one, it'll be on the home screen each day, with four possible answers to choose from. Maybe a rolling leader board and linked forum thread to discuss questions (but not reveal answers until the following day). I know we're talking about at least 365 nautical/shipping/maritime/sailing/boating quiz questions here! But I now believe its possible to put together with little effort 😉 perhaps useful to onboard a volunteer researcher mind, to double check questions and answers before they're made live. So if anyone would like to do that, let me know too. Thoughts on having a Question of the Day? Stephen

2 years ago by fireboat

Forum

Orca with a full crew looking for jaws. ( filmed in slo-mo)

Thanks for your comments GaryLC. I ran and ran the movie many times to authenticate the finer details, some parts contradicted each other then I found that 3 boats were used and the continuity wasn’t always spot on. Well that’s my excuse for straying to my own version in places. Here are some more shots of the cabin internals, I really enjoyed this part of the build.

40 minutes ago by Rogal118

Forum

Orca with a full crew looking for jaws. ( filmed in slo-mo)

Today at the pond, after 4 weeks of flooding then freezing ice, at last I was able to get out and about. The pond was flat calm, no wind and weak winters sun. A pleasant afternoon in all. I took Orca after some minor repairs and enjoyed sailing her. Here are some latest photos and a video. https://youtu.be/cjiYBBVqOK8?feature=shared

6 hours ago by Rogal118

Forum

Orca with a full crew looking for jaws. ( filmed in slo-mo)

I just had to reply and congratulate you on a really fine and detailed build, it certainly looks very convincing and authentic. I love the lengths you have gone to, plus the first Jaws was the most convincing, see if you can get hold of that sound track from the film. Regards, Gary.

4 hours ago by GaryLC

Response

Re: NEW GLASS ON FOAM CATAMARAN PROJECT

jumpugly, Yeah, it was brisk here yesterday morning as well. Dave B PS That is -24 Fahrenheit!

9 hours ago by DWBrinkman

Response

Re: Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

Hei Roy! Hy all! >>> First of all, bravo to the great boats! I've just been amazed lately . . .👍👍👍 @ Roy: Clear answers to crazy questions! It was similar for me . . “Do you trust your grandchildren to do this?” “ Crash or no crash, they have to learn at some point! ” That day, it was exactly this older member who asked me this question . . and unfortunately had a little “bang”! What's the saying? Mop your own front door first . . . I would like to say that my grandchildren are more careful than your grandpa. And why is that? Because they know how else they can annoy the ‘old man’ 🤣🤣. Your Michel-C.

12 hours ago by Mike Stoney

Response

Re: NEW GLASS ON FOAM CATAMARAN PROJECT

look on the positive side Jump, at least your city ain't on fire, and you can probably go ice skating❄️ JB

12 hours ago by jbkiwi

Response

Re: Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

Phil!

13 hours ago by jumpugly

Response

Re: NEW GLASS ON FOAM CATAMARAN PROJECT

Dang! Looking good JB! I wish I had a sunny day to spray paint, but it's -2 degrees here this morning! 😭

13 hours ago by jumpugly

Response

Re: Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

Hi i have just finished building this model i to am pleased with the final look of the 🚢 Philuk👍

15 hours ago by PhilH

Response

Re: Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

My favourite story when I was a member of the Black Park club is as follows. After I got to know my future daughter in law who is from Germany she expressed interest in my model yachts etc. So with son as well I took some models to the lake. I passed my sailing fishing boat over to her, showed her the controls and she took charge and launched her. Over my shoulder an unknown voice said "I wouldn't let a woman run my boats" I replied. "That's because you do not know any ladies who thrash a Tornado Class (Olympic) catamaran up and down a lake 7 miles long". He turned away! Roy

16 hours ago by roycv

Forum

Question of the Day?

Roman, you have obviously offended AI and it’s out to get you 🤣

16 hours ago by EdW

Response

Re: Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

Hi Dave, yes Les was the name I was trying to remember, I do hope he is still with us and doing well. It is so easy to lose touch. Today I am off on my delayed Birthday treat for a meal at the top of one of those high towers in London. The best bit is spending the day with our daughter, just the two of us, and weather permitting we shall probably walk down to Westminster Pier and go for a boat ride on the Thames. Roy

16 hours ago by roycv

Response

Re: Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

Roy - Yes, the Hanwell club was small in numbers but big in characters! Small chap with a gravelly voice could well have been Les. Last time I saw him was at Black Park on the day I was there with my daughter and took on the custodianship of the Boulogne Etaples. I hadn't seen him for years as I had been living in Finland, so I asked him if he remembered me coming to the lake with my little daughters. Oh yes, he said - and then I reintroduced him to my elder daughter who was then a tall slender blonde in her early 30s. He could hardly believe so many years had passed. Yes, you had the Aeronaut Victoria from me last year when I became frustrated at the lack of space I had/have in this house. I hope to see it on the water sometime. I still have an unstarted Aeronaut Queen which is probably going to remain unstarted as it is a fairly big model to store once built. The same applies to the Sea Queen kit, also unstarted. Too easy to tap a few keys on the laptop and a few days later have another large box to accommodate!

17 hours ago by Oxford-Dave

Response

Re: NEW GLASS ON FOAM CATAMARAN PROJECT

Thanks for the positive comments guys, a way to go yet to finish it properly. Other full size jobs on the go at the same time, so it's paint some, then off to another job. JB

20 hours ago by jbkiwi

Blog

NEW GLASS ON FOAM CATAMARAN PROJECT

Now the sea trial has been a reasonable success, and the new mods have been done, (not tested but have to be an improvement) it was time to start making it look pretty😀 Major rain and wind (24mph ave with 35mph gusts) the last few days and 20deg C, but today, blazing sun and 28deg C so ideal for painting. Disassembled everything, cleaned up and painted the aluminium beams with an etch primer, then black enamel to finish them. Hulls were primed with an epoxy enamel primer, then a first coat of the sunset yellow epoxy enamel topcoat was applied. Showed up a lot of minor areas which needed re filling, but that can be done once the first coat is completely dry. It's going to take a few coats to get it all done, but it's looking ok so far. Thick undercoat will fix most of the minor problem areas, or maybe body putty. Colour is almost exactly the same as on the full sized boat which was good. probably take a week to finish the painting, then should be good for another test. JB

20 hours ago by jbkiwi

Blog

NEW GLASS ON FOAM CATAMARAN PROJECT

Started on a 1m catamaran on the weekend as another design as you go project. It will be modelled roughly on the 18' Ron Given (NZ) designed 'Hustler MK2' 'A class' catamaran I restored in 1979, (pics) and so far it's progressing ok. Hull is from three 25mm strips of polystyrene laminated using foam safe contact spray. Laid the 2 blanks on a flat board with 2 4" nails through each to stop them moving, and weighted them down for a day to set. While waiting, I cut the decks from 5mm ply and shaped the bow sections. When the blanks were dry, I glued the decks on with lots of PVA glue, (which sticks foam well to wood,) and weighted them down with clamps sideways to stop them from moving. Left them for 2 days to set in my warm shed then gave the bows a rough shaping. Next was the fun part, shaping the hulls using a Surform file which creates a major mess with lots of vacuuming needed. The beauty of it is, is that the basic hulls were shaped and tapered (bow to stern) in about an hour. The laminating seams are used as a guide when shaping, plus eyeballing and straightedges. Today, while the deck sides were still parallel, I set the hulls up in the work table and routed out preliminary spaces through the deck for winch, rudder servo and radio. Tomorrow, I'll hopefully be routering a side taper to the decks, (hulls will taper bow to stern on bottom and sides) The hulls will then have to be refiled to the new shape. Shaping is done 90% with the Surform, then longboard sanded and hand sanded to the final shape, later to be completely sealed and glassed. Crossbeams are 12mm ally tube with orange conduit bored to a tight fit and epoxied to the ends, then steel saddles epoxied over them. The whole tube/saddle assemblies will also be drilled and screwed together to prevent any tendency to turn. Center beam will probably be a double like the 100% cat, (yet to be worked out). Would be nice if they could be made like the originals, but welding thin ally tube might not be feasible. JB

2 months ago by jbkiwi

Forum

Question of the Day?

Wonder why, as I get more correct answers, my score goes down?

23 hours ago by Rowen

Response

Re: Paint issues

GWS Jock🤞 Stiff upper lip old chap😐 😎

24 hours ago by RNinMunich

Response

Re: Model engineers lathe

A fine bit of engineering, despite age I am still very much on a learning curve. This is for Zooma, your ex Super Seven is nicely settled in and working fine. It fits in really well since I modified my workshop with a small extension. Looking good for a 1958 lathe. Regards, Gary.

1 day ago by GaryLC

Forum

Question of the Day?

Deja vu³ 🙄 😎

1 day ago by RNinMunich

Response

Re: NEW GLASS ON FOAM CATAMARAN PROJECT

She appears to be wicked stable. You have done an admirable job!😊😊

1 day ago by ToraDog

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Re: NEW GLASS ON FOAM CATAMARAN PROJECT

LOOKS GREAT, SAILS GREAT, WELL DONE! U! & It's a cat! 'B J'. 👍.

1 day ago by B rian J ames

Response

Re: Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

I thought 'my darling son'??? (sarcasm Sheldon), (questionable on many accounts), was going to 'just through out' my unfinished models, but No. He has 'thrown'! much other useful & or saleable 'stuff'! He's 'thrown out of the will'! 👎

1 day ago by B rian J ames

Response

Re: Re: Air boat

Today my tidy well organised bench? is more untidy, disorganised & invisible under accumulated 'stuff' than U would believe. THINK POSITIVE! : - IT IS! 🤔 deep thinking, doesn't 'deep clean'! 👎

1 day ago by B rian J ames

Response

Re: Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

For sure has a lot of fine details. It’s a model that says a lot about the builder. 😎

1 day ago by chugalone100

Response

Re: Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

Hi Dave I used to know a few Hanwell club members, they were also interested in the RC lorries etc. I used to go and have a chat with them at the Ally Pally exhibition. Names escape me but always had a laugh with the small chap (in stature only as his models were great) I think he smoked a lot! Well a gravelly voice anyway. One of our own members left us to join Hanwell club. I quote and you can work it out. Everyone brings happiness to the place they are at. Either when they arrive or when they leave! I sold a few models from an estate of a friend, to them as well (sailing boats). I think I had the Victoria kit from yourself too. I have had a couple of set backs but on the mend again now and will be into my shed as soon as the weather improves. Our exhibition is 27/28 Sept. 2025 regards Roy

1 day ago by roycv

Response

Re: Re: Model engineers lathe

Hi Peter, thanks for you nice comment. A tool maker in the aircraft industry would have been very interesting. What parts were you make tooling for and were they press tools or plastic molding tools? I always used to admire toolmakers in plastic industry as they would spend hours polishing the dies with diamond paste etc to bring up the mirror finish. As a machinist, I don't think I would have the patience. Cheers Ian

1 day ago by IanL1

Response

Re: Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

Museum scale I like to call it! Excellent!!!!

1 day ago by jumpugly

Response

Re: Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

Looks lovely, a lot of detail 👌

1 day ago by Doogle

Response

Re: Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

Thanks, Roy - I was never a member of the Black Park club, but sailed there as a member of the Hanwell club. I'll definitely try to make it to your club's exhibition, so long as it doesn't clash with something else I've already agreed to do.

1 day ago by Oxford-Dave

Response

Re: Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

Hi I know several of the members, so just what I like to hear! The club also come to our annual exhibition Dave, you would be most welcome. (St. Albans) Roy

1 day ago by roycv

Forum

Slipway trent class build details book.

Hi everyone, I'm not new to model boat building. I've just purchased the slipway trent class lifeboat, I've got all plans but no building details instruction book. If possible could I buy from someone please. It would be a great help thanks. zippysrainbow@gmail.com 👍👍👍👍

1 day ago by Captainzippy72

Response

Re: Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

Nice find and I hope you will enjoy it for many years, add some details of your own to it.

1 day ago by Ronald

Directory

Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples

This is a boat I was lucky enough to be offered when I was visiting Black Park lake near Slough with my daughter. We were taking it in turns to sail my Billing's Samson II when a pleasant chap asked if would be interested in buying the Boulogne Etaples he had with him. It had been built to a very good standard by a friend of his who had since passed away, and he had been asked to dispose of his models to people who would appreciate them. He wanted only a token sum, plus my word that I'd look after it. There were several local club members there who had been trying to buy it, but I discovered they were mainly interested in putting it on ebay for a tidy profit. The model spends more time on the shelf than it does on the water as the detail work is quite fragile, but when I do take it out, it attracts a lot of attention due to the fine detail work of the original builder. I have since bought a kit for the same model, simply because I get fed up with telling people that I didn't build it when they inevitably ask whether I did. The attached photos show the detail work (taken in my 'workshop') and the on the water picture was taken at Hinksey Park in Oxford.

1 day ago by Oxford-Dave

Response

Re: Fairey Faun 17

Before removing the motor mount from the base I've glued the securing nuts in place with epoxy. The keel and frames have also been glued together in readiness for planking, my timber order having arrived. The notches for the stringers have been filled with timber as I've decided on planking longitudinally and they are not required. Chris

3 days ago by ChrisF

Response

Re: Model engineers lathe

You can't beat a Myford lathe for use in a home workshop (in my opinion), and you have certainly made good use of yours. Nice work - well done 👍

2 days ago by zooma

Forum

Ice Breaking

It seems that my enthusiasm for ice breaking was unfortunate, as one of the ESCs in my Robbe Police Boat has refused to run in reverse since. I suspect that trying to use the props to pull it back into the water when it got stuck on the ice has overloaded an ESC. The boat uses one for each of the two brushless motors and I use differential motor control for docking manoeuvres and for other modeller's boat rescues. I had a message from a clubmate last night to ask if I had had any problems with the mix as I gave him the settings and he is using it in a town screw boat. He described the problems he is having and they are identical to those I am currently trying to cure. The set up in my boat has worked faultlessly for 3 or 4 years of regular sailing. I plan to test and re-test the tx mix, the rx and each of the ESCs and motors again to try to find where the fault lies.

2 days ago by Oxford-Dave

Forum

Ice Breaking

I arrived at the Oxford MBC's Thursday afternoon get together today with my rather well used Robbe Police Boat. There was only a small strip of water available due to ice, so I set about methodically breaking it up with the police boat - which still bears the scars of previous years' ice duty! I managed to clear enough open water for the couple of yacht racers to sail their Fiestas, and the ice breaking was good fun. I don't think the police boat is really heavy enough or sufficiently vertical at the bows to perform as an ice breaker, but it was more practical than using the light Fiestas for the job. Every year I do this, and every year I plan to build a tug with a reinforced bow and with plenty of weight in it. And every year, I completely forget about it until the pond is iced up again!

13 days ago by Oxford-Dave

Response

Re: Paint issues

Hi Jock, I hope it's nothing serious. Happy recovery and good luck.

2 days ago by AlessandroSPQR

Response

Re: Paint issues

Stay looped in and best wishes on a solid surgery and speedy recovery Jock! 👍

2 days ago by jumpugly

Blog

Paint issues

I have seen Krylon in the stores and certainly will give it a try. I have to give it a rest for a few days as I have to into surgery tomorrow.

2 days ago by JockScott

Blog

Scratchbuilt Esso Deutschland 1:150

When I first posted a thread under ... a dreamproject.. I didn't realize it was the wrong forum category. So here is my built blog. I will spare you the original introduction as I have made progress which and most of you are already familiar with my project. The hull was built merging 2 methods on a simple keel plate from plywood, bow and stern structure bread and butter and hull in between 3mm planks on frame. The entire main deck is intended to be removable with a drainage irrigation system of plastic corner moulding (from a building supplier) along top of hull and flush at poop and back deck structure. The deck is made of 1/4" plywood skeletal structure incorporating midship deckhouse. Hull glassed with lightest cloth available after 2 coats 2-epoxy sealer and paint primer followed by final coat except top (above waterline) grey will be applied once I have finished doing any necessary adjustments. There have been a lot of them since I realized many inaccuracies in dims etc. I wasn't happy with. Here are photos in the progress (some may have already been posted in the original post. More a bit later next week.

12 months ago by JockScott

Response

Re: Paint issues

Hey there Jock! Fantastic hull, I only hope my American Scout can be as smooth! On styrene I'd give the Krylon Fusion line a shot. Smells to high heaven, but drys hard with a high gloss...will require multiple light coats as opposed to the Rustoleum line of Painter's Touch paints which cover well in one shot. I am a fan of the Tamiya paints, but not of the Testors spray paints, although they do have decent coverage. It's the least they can do considering the can size. As per usual, always do test strips and let everything gas out completely. Any gloss clear top coats should be tested on whatever you use to avoid any horrible unforeseen mishaps. Remember, if you think it's dry, it's not.

2 days ago by jumpugly

Blog

Paint issues

Thank you Alessandro. Having advanced to the first Deck structure I had already cut out the deck material from Arborite. For you Modellers a very unusual choice but I like its finish, hardness and virtually indestructibity. When I did the back (foc'sal), midships, main and poop (aft) decks the Tamiya paint, I had chosen for colour preference, not adhering and easily chipping off. I then painted all decks with standard Hardware shop spray paint first and second the Tamiya on top which worked great. I tried the same when finishing the styrene deck walls for the first deck (white) but noticed the regular spray paint seems to react with the styrene giving it a rubbery feel and in some places. After sanding it and reapplying I wasn't at all satisfied with the result. As I couldn't get Tamiya white in the rattle can bought Revell acrylic with disastrous effect. The paint's texture seem to become mottled although I had sanded all surfaces. Does anybody have any experience with painting Styrene. I also can't find Tamiya white at my local stores and I am not sure using the Revell. I could resand everything and try the Revell again since I already have otherwise I need to find Tamiya somewhere else around town.

2 days ago by JockScott

Forum

American Scout C-2 Freighter

Thank you Alessandro! I am going to try a 540 35T with a slightly over scaled prop...but not too big. Should be interesting to see if it cruises calmly. Considering the beam I am a more than a bit concerned. 😉

2 days ago by jumpugly

Forum

American Scout C-2 Freighter

Happy New Year me hearties!!! Starting 2025 off right! Leveled the table, laid new foam core, set up a cutting station, and we're off. The ancient Sterling Models American Scout C-2 AJ5 Freighter. Lining up the lower deck that will serve as the build foundation. Be patient gang, it's going to be a long slog. 😉

21 days ago by jumpugly

Forum

American Scout C-2 Freighter

Hi Jumpugly, this ship is turning out really well, but I'm amazed (once again) by your speed. Bravo. You have already prepared the housing for the electric motor. Whichever motor you choose, he will have to be happy with the splendid doghouse you are preparing for him. Regarding the right choice of motor, I am preparing a mini guide for you (generic indications, no formulas); I hope you find it useful and enjoyable. The problem is always the translation, I would like to avoid writing incomprehensible things.

2 days ago by AlessandroSPQR

Response

Re: Port Hole installation

Hi Jock, I'm very happy that you continued the work on this model. I love that you updated us on your progress. This account is very informative.

2 days ago by AlessandroSPQR