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Grandsons Elver

This is one with a difference - found this 15" Elver vane sailboat by Vic Smeed in a 1980 copy of Model Maker (revived). Made up two kits to sail with grandson. Laser makes cutting out so easy - but also highlights the shortcomings of old plans. This is one of the kits - spot the deliberate mistake - forgot to do the cut out for the skeg. Easy enough to rectify as its only 3mm Balsa. Keel Skeg & from 3mm Liteply - vane from 1/32 ply

5 years ago by redpmg

Blog

Billings Fittings Kit!

With help from RNinMunich "DOUG". With help from RON from Canada. I was able to Purchase the Old Billings Smit Nederland Fittings Kit! From a dealer in Canada, who RON saw had the Fittings Kit! Who then told DOUG who then told RON. That I was Building The Smit Nederland Tug! Anyway the rest is history! Thanks, Guys the Brass Becker s. Are already in place! And a Special Thanks! To Ken Saunders from Canada. For having the Fittings Kit! I really lucked out!👍👍👍 As you can see there's a big difference. In the now Acrylic Becker s! Versus the old unavailable Brass Becker s!

4 years ago by figtree7nts

Blog

Main Cabin!

Today I worked on her Main Cabin! And yes, There was steaming involved! See both port and starboard sides! Have a slight angle towards the front! And there's a slight incline as well! You first start by assembling. The deck which is comprised of 4 pieces of wood! I used epoxy for this step. As I wanted for the deck to be strong! I then glued the aft cabin wall! I then steamed her port side. Bending it ever so slightly! I then glued the front of the Main Cabin wall. I then did the same for the starboard side! Next, I glued the aft end of the Main Cabin wall. To the aft end of the Main Cabin deck! I sand and filled where needed! Lastly, I glued the Main Cabin Deck! To the Main Cabin itself! Special Note: I have ordered the Smit Nederland Fitting Kit. It should arrive by next Tuesday morning! Thanks, To all who made this possible! Now my Smit Nederland will have. The original Brass Becker s!

4 years ago by figtree7nts

Blog

Kort Nozzles and Becker s!

Kort Nozzles supports were easy to assemble! It about 6 pieces of formed ply! Just had to glue them together! Set aside to dry! Oh, I didn't have wood sealer. So. I used thin Cyano to seal the wood! I'm sure others may disagree. With that technique! But, It's just temporary. Until I can order some Ezecoat! Recommended by RNinMunich "Doug"! After working on the Becker s. For a day and a haft! I am finally finished with assembling them! They should completely dry by Saturday morning! Surprisingly, they do work! But, I feel that the brass ones will be better! Tomorrow Saturday, I will be laying the deck! As after working with the becker s. I found I can disassemble them when needed! But, may have to glue them in place. After, I receive the brass ones!

5 years ago by figtree7nts

Blog

Acrylic s, Oh My!

Today I also worked on one of her s! The new s are made of Acrylic Plastic! They used to be made of brass! Its very time consuming assembling them! First you have to take apart the Acrylic pieces! Be very careful! It splinters easily! It's almost like working with glass! Oh, It helps to have Acrylic Glue! You can't use any other glue. But that's made for Acrylic Plastic! I had purchased to different viscosities! As I wasn't sure which to use! I ended up using the thin viscosity I had never worked with Acrylic Plastic! There's a first time for everything! I took all the acrylic pieses. I put them on a piece of tape. So the tape could hold the pieces in place! I then ran the glue across the pieces! You have to make sure the pieces. Are tight to each other! The glue starts to hold within a few minutes! It'll take 24 to 48 hour for the glue to fully set! I have one completed and one to go! I am currently working on purchasing. The old fittings kit which comes with the brass s! I decided to assemble the Acrylic s to show. What they look like! I find them to be weak in design! And look forward to getting the Brass ones! This is what's holding me up! See the post are high in the hull. And you also have to tighen up. A small nut that holds the in place! It would be some what difficult to reach. After the deck it laid! So, for now I'll work on a few things! Once I have recieved the Brass s. It'll be full steam ahead!

5 years ago by figtree7nts

Blog

Waiting Game!

As I am currently waiting for the Kort Nozzles. They should arrive in a few weeks time! In the mean time! I am in the process of purchasing. With the Help of my good friend RON from Canada. The original Billing boats Fittings Kit! Which RON found and thought of my project! Which have the original Brass s! The newer kits come with Acrylic s! They don't seem to look very strong! I am going to build the Acrylic s. Just to show them being built! So, for now I will play the waiting game. There's no rushing planned on this build! But, eventually I'll start the build! Once I have recieved all my parts!

5 years ago by figtree7nts

Blog

Box content of Smit Nederland!

The Smit Nederland contents in a nutshell! There's quite a bit of supplies. The Prop Shafts have to be assemled! The s also have to be assebled as well! Her props look to be balanced! But, off hand I can't tell right now! Will have to check them later! There are a few plastic bins. With hardware and cast brass hardware! It looks as if my pictures. Came out in reverse sequence! Sorry about that! Never mind they came out ok!

5 years ago by figtree7nts

Forum

Transmitter Mode 2

Hi Rowen Thanks for tip 👍 I'll give that a try when I get back from Spain mid April. Off to Malaga on Monday ☀️☀️ I agree. Two stick control is great for tanks, only practical solution! But hopeless for boats, especially at high speed. So far even my twin screw boats all run off one ESC, BUT I now have 3 and 4 screw ships as well. So I'll be experimenting with the P94 dual ESC / mixer from Action / Component Shop. Which can also run a third motor through an external ESC. How do you control your centre motor using this mix arrangement? I have a digital subscription to Model Boats mag. Which issue is your article in?? Cheers, Doug😎

5 years ago by RNinMunich