Blog

Command Boat 90

Scratch built at 12th scale from pictures and profiles of the internet. The boat was originally built in Sweden a class of fast military assault craft originally developed for the Swedish Navy by Dockstavarvet Speed: 40 knots (74 km/h) Draught: 0.8 m (2 ft 7 in) Length: 15.9 m (52 ft) Overall; 14.9 (48') Complement: 3 (two officers and one engineer); Up to 21 amphibious troops with full equipment Armament: 3 × Browning M2HB machine guns; 1 × Mk 19 grenade launcher; 4 naval mines or 6 depth charges . The Model I was attracted to this boat due to its great performance and maneuverability, this was mainly due to the use of twin water jets as the main propulsion, this is a trade off with efficiency. So my start point was to collect as much information as possible about the boat this involved collecting pictures and profiles of the craft from various sources. http://www.dockstavarvet.se/products/combat-and-patrol-boats/combat-boat-90-h/specification/ Eventually I found some plans of sort :- http://laurell.today/boats/combat/plans.html My Dad was a boat builder in the days of wooden yachts, and had showed me how to make plans and frames from a line drawing. I went about this first by creating a prototype about 24 in long out of light ply. I then created full size plans of the model to be made. Pictures of small prototype finally painted plain green. The Main model Used my to print out the frames onto paper, cut them out and used them as templates for the ply ribs. The construction was simple chine style, with 1.5 mm ply. I tried to build jet drives but failed to produce a effective unit. So reverted to propshafts which worked out well with better control and the boat can spin on it own axis by putting one engine in reverse the other in forward and adjusting the twin rudders. That it for now, hope it was of some interest

6 years ago by CB90

Forum

Re-purposing an old Hull.

Doug I think Dodgy meant for Colin to look at the site so as to give a bit of guidance when needed - not for the kids to gawk at.............. Besides most of us now use the net to research things we want to know about, inspiration and the practical way of doing it......... Its one of the things we do on this site - an exchange of ideas.......... The kids would use the net for projects for history, geography etc so why should they change their methods when building boats....... Interesting that my own son who is in IT - who has been very much locked to screens for many years - now he has his own son is very much into practical things - and uses s purely for work & communication.

4 years ago by redpmg

Response

Re: Build now finished

Hi Davejw, Thank you for posting the video, but unfortunately it will not open on my . Martin555.

4 years ago by Martin555

Response

Re: (Naval Ship) PT 109

Thanks for that link. I will watch that later and connect the up to the tell and see it on the 50". I went out just after I last wrote on here so I've only just seen it. 👍👍 I think she is now something to do with a Sea Scout group and moored possibly at Lowestoft.

4 years ago by BOATSHED

Response

Re: Electrics

WOW Ian, That is some circuitry, excellent job. You will be making s next LOL!! In fact i think that is a disguised as a ship LOL! Martin555.

4 years ago by Martin555

Forum

Cruise ships

It was about twelve years ago that I did the Norwegian Coastal Voyage with Hurtigruten on their MS Polarlys. At the time I was spending a lot of time with my sister in France and all my photos went onto one of her s. However, if you google Hurtigruten ships, they all come up in far greater detail than I could have ever given. Decide for yourself, but I like the MS Lofoten and the MS Nordstjernen. During the eleven day voyage, we passed one of the other ships going in the opposite direction every day so saw quite a few. I can't remember where it was, but at one place we stopped, there was a Hurtigruten museum with the original ship, preserved out of the water and a wonderful museum full of models pf their ships. The whole thing was an unforgettable experience which, if my health allowed it, I would love to repeat. Cheers, Nerys.

5 years ago by Nerys

Response

Re: Exhaust Smoker

Hi Graham, I think the pumps I am waiting for are the the same as you've shown here (round micro air pump), saw a diapragm pump somewhere but can't remember what site (Ali Express I think) There are some very flash ones but they are above $50 for the basic one (might be a mini piston pump I think) American lab equipment co from memory. Re sounds, the ones I use are car versions by GT Power which have around 50 car sounds loaded, and a few make good boat sounds. Unfortunately they don't have sounds for Napier Sea lions or Rover Meteorite V8 fireboat engines (but there is a V8 sound which I use in the ST and MTB and another sound in the HSL which are quite suitable. There are diesel sounds good for tugs etc and various others. The start up and shut down is a cool feature. They are about the only thing I've seen that's half decent, as they are actual sounds, not artificial. I think they run off an internal SD card and the sounds (from start up to full revs) are split into lots of small WAV files, and when the throttle stick is at a static position, the sound in that file keeps looping till you move the stick, (quite subtle on a lot of the sounds) You can hear them in the ST vids. I was thinking, if someone was clever they might be able to get the proper sounds and write a new file, (you can plug the unit into your and open the sound files as well as some adjustable features). probably have to figure out how the files are linked to the player in the unit and how the TX signals them to play ? JB

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Forum

Post code

Could the c in jjc be console (as in ) not as in giving comfort too 😊

5 years ago by marky

Forum

Age of steam

Mate, I like your oscillating engine and your great video. I have been steaming for eons and am fascinated at the steam pressure gauge at the start registering pressure , though I cannot read the actual pressure gauge numbers and what seems a lot of condensate ( so what ) and after a short while the pressure gauge drops to near zero or thereabouts and stays there for the full run and yet your water gauge glass is so very FULL ( yippee) , such a good pump till it, the glass water gauge eventually shows it has not too much reservoiur water left for the run and the pressure gauge STILL shows near zero to indicate the end of the run , do you have a faulty pressure gauge ? Maybe the Mamoli tube should be inverted to the pressure gauge as you may have it filled with water? I do not know. On another matter, my club Webb identity picture shows my model 56 inch Cervia steam engined Tug which I replaced the Stuart 10 to the Stuart twin 5/8 bore and stroke same as yours ? I think, which may be their still selling 11mm or so bore and stroke (me, still imperial and not modern ). My little twin pushes the Cervia displacement 44lbs hull like a rocket , such power. In my latest model build I am struggling with a 46 inch long hull with a Stuart 10 twin AND it is the Kitchen rudder ( that is the struggle) which I have done several times. My mate who is "radio modern" says he will fix/train my transmitter 2.4 ghz on his my two rudder cup servos to do "mixing " like Ailerons to impart opposite throws so that the Kitchen cups will then turn such that "I have left and right rudder" in addition to normal opening and closing of the Kitchen rudder cups. I was not to impressed with the threaded screw tiller and the triangular wings mine is ALL brass to impart strength, as you have ALL on a base that imparts steering .I just found I lacked hull room for a swivelling base in my needing a beefy apparatus, as it weighs about 20 to 26 pounds at a guess, so far a lot of finishing still needed ,I love to build big, such is . Though I got off the track, your thoughts on the pressure gauge may be revealing to me ! Regards Lyle.

5 years ago by Lyle

Forum

Anyone building a Smit Nederland?

Perhaps he has had so many nozzles deliverys that he is unable to find his . Martin555.

5 years ago by Martin555

Response

Re: 40'' Seaplane Tender, first test run

RE- Excellent video jb, what program do you use Hi Rooky, thanks for that, I am using the Cyberlink Video Suite progrm (basic) which came as an free option with my . Can upgrade but will cost and will probably loose this one in the process. I have the camera on my bike helmet which seems to work ok (as long as you set it on the right angle!) and no chance of dropping it. About as close to eye view as possible. Vids a bit jerky as I am looking round to see where the $1500 yacht is (and the buoys) camera is a 'Sportscam' Chinese thing, which I bought here for $100 and was almost as good as a Go pro till I scratched the lens and tried to fix it (hence the fuzzy spot)Has touch screen and remote as well. Tried to find another one but no luck. JB

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Forum

Marine steam engine wanted

Thats fine, I can see with an enlaged view on my as opposed to my phone, I think its a paper one ?

5 years ago by mturpin013

Forum

Fast attack craft

Re-Yes I agree that you require a certain amount of knowledge I understand what you are saying Martin but young people these days have grown up with electronics and I don't think they will be scared off to easily. If my son (for example) wants to know anything, it's straight out with the smart phone and looking up everything to do with the subject (wouldn't bother to ask one of us fossils, except as a last resort😐). I've been using s for around 33 yrs, and he's 26 and knows way more than I do. Like most people now, he has a (smart phone) in his pocket every day. All we had was a phone glued to a wall and later (if we were lucky) a brick. JB

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Forum

Night Watch

Yes, DG you are right, but I'm afraid at my age I think I'm lucky to be able to use a to do as much as I can. I know many of my contemporaries who have even less of a clue than I do and wouldn't dare even look at one. I am lucky in having a younger partner who is much more versed in such things and I will pass your information on to her, so that she can help me out and look at Doug's video. Nerys

5 years ago by Nerys

Response

Re: 40'' Seaplane Tender, new build Z7

"Buildings 100+yrs old are still standing but many designed using s fall down!?" Not to mention Stonehenge, the Pyramids (well - some 0f 'em🤔) or the Pantheon JB😉 Mathematically perfect, without even a slide rule! Been inside a coupla times, magnificent. And Roman concrete, as in the dome, is better and harder wearing than ours! "unless someone had programmed that particular solution in to give it a choice." ... and even then the idea had to spring from the mind of the human programmer. Hope I'm not around when s start programming s!😮 😎

5 years ago by RNinMunich

Response

Re: 40'' Seaplane Tender, new build Z7

Re - I discovered that some years ago while cleaning and restoring a 12" mode. It's amazing what the brain can come up with in certain situations. Imagine trying to program a to suddenly think of a solution like that, out of nowhere and in a nano second. People think s are fast, -calculations definitely,- but to come up with a simple solution (like use your handkerchief for sail material or covers) never! unless someone had programmed that particular solution in to give it a choice. They'll never take over, we're far to quick for them. 😊 They have their uses (I'd have to take a sailing ship to the Northern territories to talk to you guys) but we managed before! Buildings 100+yrs old are still standing but many designed using s fall down!? JB

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Blog

Painting

Trying to juggle refit of the new workshop with keeping the build going so did a first primmer coat on the whole boat, looks good and As Im away on holiday next 2 weeks it wil give it time to harden off so any minor defects can be seen to before final pimer coat , and then some colour. Sorry about poor quality pictures, I am working on a very old and don't have any picture editing facilities. (my totally failed and Im awaiting a new delivery so maybe off line for a while)

5 years ago by mturpin013

Forum

Night Watch

Hi Doug, We have been out all day and switching the on when we came in, could find no posts from you at all and knowing your normal behaviour wondered what had happened to you. Our journey today to the realms of Gracie Fields 'Rochdale Hunt' (that dates me) was to inspect a new(old) vehicle for use in the dockyards of the South Wales Flotilla, There was a requirement for a VSMV for conversion to mobile accomodation as I mentioned to you a while ago. If I tell you that VSMV stands for very slow moving vehicle you will understand that Alice has acquired her milk float. It will be delivered in a few days time. I too am following the parliamentary shenanigans with great interest. Don't forget that I have family ex pats in France who are worried to death as to what is going to happen. As an immediate thing which has been going on since the Brexit referendum their pensions have been cut in line with devaluation and that has hurt . No doubt you've noticed this too. Again, like you, they have the worry of all the other things that could hit them if Boris gets his way. I won't mention my feelings about the Boris/Trump tie up. Peas in a pod comes to mind., and rotten ones at that. I thought you would appreciate our weather conditions. Much of our rain is local to us, Drive to Swansea and it's dry. Go over the mountain to the Towe and Teifi valleys and there'll be bright sunshine Pleased to hear all the regular crew are on board ready to deal with whatever the sea and circumstances can throw at us. Calm seas and fair winds. Cheers, Nerys.

5 years ago by Nerys

Forum

Fishtailing

What would cause my little boat to “wiggle” on the pond? I have set the rudder tweaking with rudder settings on transmitter. The boat on a straight line course will wiggle or fishtail. I can post more photos from my , this IPad has limited photos of the model.

5 years ago by Ronald

Forum

Workshop

I'm back! 😊 Keep the cheers down a bit lads (and lass😉) think of the neighbours😁 Switched on the PC and spent half an hour or so twiddling me thumbs while the latest MS cock up patches were downloaded and installed!🙄 "Configuring Windows DO NOT switch off - or throw it out the window!!" Didn't get the fence wood either🤔 Everyone else, his brother and his dog had the same idea to go to the DIY centre today☹️ Did get the groceries though, so now off to make me a chicken Madras! 🔥 CU later 😎

5 years ago by RNinMunich

Response

Re: 40'' Seaplane Tender, new build U

Hi MT, sound units are actually for cars but have a choice of 58 sounds from V8s to diesels and are the only ones I've seen which seem to sound ok. You have to go through all the sounds and try them through the throttle range but there are a number which sound ok for boats. You can also plug them into your and make a few changes such as throttle sensitivity, turbo sound and volume etc. The sounds are proportional, from starting to full throttle and are all WAV sounds which seem to be split up into small 'samples' and as such, some are not quite linear but are useable. There are 2 different models, One is the 'GT Power' sound and lights model - version 2 (the better I think) which comes with all the pre wired and plugged LEDs needed for a car, (h/l, t/l, indicators etc) and comes as a module and separate speaker, (you can plug 2 speakers into this module for better sound). The other model is the 'GT Power' Car Engine Sound 'mini' which is just the sound module and speaker in one box. This works the same as the version 2 model but at present I'm having a problem with the Mini, which has the wrong model for USB adjustment installed, (sounds can be selected manually on the module but when you plug the module into the comp and open the module control panel, it's for the wrong model, - sound files are still viewable though) I'll have to contact GT Power for a fix (going by their on line help page, they seem quite ready to sort problems out and give solutions) Cost is around $56 NZ for the version 2, and around $ 51 for the 'Mini' version which is comparable to most other sound units available, but with more features than some. Apparently, if you send the GT Power tech/help guy a complete WAV sound file (ie, start, idle, and steady slow acceleration to full and back they will make a sound file for your unit and email it back to you,(yet to try but would be brilliant if true) Units are sold on Ebay, Ali Express and Banggood (and many other model shops) and it's worth shopping around all of them, as there are big price differences. These are also sold as GOOL RC sound units but are made by GT Power. ( http://www.gt-rc.com/en/msgBoard.jsp ) You will see the home page on there. I use a number of their products such as battery chargers, rev counters, battery checkers etc and all seem very reliable and work well. I don't think they sell direct, but they are sold everywhere. For Rooky Sailors benefit, the motors are Gool RC 540-45T 7.4V brushed car motors which have ball bearings and replaceable brushes (motor is rebuildable). Haven't tried them on the water yet, but the 45T (12000rpm) should be tourqy enough (different turn Nos are available) John B

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Forum

EeZeBilts From Keil Kraft

I used one years ago called Rhinoceros, which boat builders were using. It is 3D and a lot of fun. Does rendering and has a library of std shapes (polygons, triangles, splines etc) which you can grab and contort into anything you want. Been meaning to see if it will work on my new , (I took it off an earlier machine as it took too much memory to run) and never put it back on the next machine. The machine I have now would run it no problem if it was compatable with 8.1 (must drag it out and try it) my older machine is on Vista so it may work, Used to work on 2000 but might be too old now which would be a shame.

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Forum

EeZeBilts From Keil Kraft

Well I have spent most of the afternoon trying to get my head around this CAD program. Slowly losing my temper So I decided to put the laptop away before I threw it out of the window. Me and s are definitely not the best of friends. A lot easier with this iPad. Martin555.

5 years ago by Martin555

Forum

EeZeBilts From Keil Kraft

Problem with the modern world is its expensive. Back when I started modelling with my dad in 1955 kits could be bought for shillings, my aerokits fire boat was 35 shillings(£1.75) Now the same kit is over £200. I can buy a car at the auctions for less. It's the money grabbing manufactures pricing us out of the world of modelling, even though it costs less to produce now than 40 years ago. Mostly done by controlled robotic lasers, even the packing is automated. My 5 year old grandson is mad on lego, and is just getting started with mecanno, both my wife and I enjoy watching his modelling, and his imagination is a wonderful thing to see. He is also a keen boater with two rc boats of his own, and he is also leaning to control my large scale tugs. I'm sure if we persevere he'll be a fine modeller of the future. Cheers Colin.

5 years ago by Colin H

Forum

EeZeBilts From Keil Kraft

Problem is that we are all living in our past and the young ones today have too much other electronic stuff to play with. People can't go anywhere without a phone in their hands and using their spare time telling everybody what they had for lunch that day. I tried to get my son interested in planes but he was more interested in s, (built his own big gaming with water cooled everything, fans and lights everywhere for around $4000 ) and he and his friends play games against people on the net from all round the world. As WQ said they can buy anything off the net, so why spend all that time staying inside, building a model when you can buy a nice ready made one which you know will work. A good example of how they look at models was, - I was flying one of my planes one day when some young guys turned up with a new Kyosho Calmato. They had no idea how to fly it so I tried to give them a few ideas (like taxi round for a start for a few hrs to get the hang of it on the ground) but no- straight off, full up elevator and into the ground. They all went running over with their phones, laughing and taking pictures. Made no difference the plane cost around $500 ( they all turned up in flasher cars than mine) and they just picked it up and threw it in the car, (could have been repaired quite easily but they were going to bin it.) We had to make do, but young people just have so much choice and disposable income, they don't know what to buy next. You only have to look at how they treat a nice car these days, most just thrash them to death and buy another one. Everything is disposable today.

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Forum

Motor reversing

Hi peter, Attached a pdf of the allowed frequencies here. You'll notice that the UHF 433MHz frequencies mentioned somewhere amongst this sub stuff haven't been available for RC here since 2008! Lower French frequencies? Puzzles me. Attached is also the UK and European 40Meg chart and channel numbers. Both bands start at 40.665 !? Possibly some rogue channels in France. The French ALWAYS do their own thing😉 Surprises me that you can run a 35Meg set on a 40Meg crystal! Wouldn't have thought that the rest of the circuit would resonate properly. (Psst! Don't tell anyone but when I first came here all I had was a 35Meg Sanwa set. I used it for my destroyer cos I didn't 'ave nowt else, until I could afford to buy my first Graupner MC-10 '' set.) Quantum leap😉 Cheers, Doug 😎

5 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Skipper and mate.

Hi DG, Here are a few photos from a book that I have. Showing the process that I use. It might be useful. I also use a digital magnifying camera linked to my for the small detail work. Martin.

5 years ago by Martin555

Forum

Batteries in a DX5e

No, Doug, I don't think it caught on with VW, although M-B made a lot of it later with a very crude version and I didn't really think anyone would OK the replacement of an air bag with a glass screened monitor! Daft idea! The CNC machined carrier for the rear central arm rest mounted was 10,ooo Dm of work and even that had a glitch that had to be filled with metal powder filled resin and covered with a small sticker! The PCs in the boot were intended to be miniaturised, of course, but Siemens and VW fell out, so none of it ever happened. I couldn't find out how to remove the automatic gearstick, so I sawed the bugger off! Took a team of "mechanics" a day to come down from Wolfsburg and replace it! But, all in all, it was the best contract I had in Germany. Martin

5 years ago by Westquay

Forum

3D Printing.

HI Martin - think a lot of modellers buy cowl vents, guns . bollards , lifebelts , anchors etc , and for instance when building liners or similar large ships you find you have to make several hundred of the same item , easiest is to cast them from an original - so the 3d printer is just another tool - the same way the Laser is. What has made a real difference is the assisted drawing programs like Corel and Autocad . Without them the 3d printers & Lasers would be useless. In Corel and most others for instance you can zoom in to a drawing up to 45,000%. Gives you spurious accuracy as you could never actually cut that closely. Our laser for instance the cutline is about .3mm so when cutting small items you actually have to increase the size of the cutfile at narrow sections to allow for the width of the cut .

5 years ago by redpmg

Forum

3D Printing.

I had never mastered CAD until I found Designspark Mechanical, a free download from RS. It is so easy to learn and there are loads of tutorials on you tube. There is something immensely satisfying in drawing something up on the then watching it appear before your eyes. Learning Designspark and making the parts for my MMS went hand in hand, so instead of measuring off the plans and drawing on to ply or plastic sheet, I measured off the plans and re drew into CAD then printed the results. If you think anyone would be interested I could do a start to finish thread to demonstrate.....

5 years ago by Nickthesteam

Forum

3D Printing.

I must admit I have been looking on utube quite a bit and have seen a lot of tutorials. I have also seen the results that some friends have done, and I am extremely tempted but me and s are not the best of friends. I could spend hours and hours making a small thing for my models then I have tried to draw something simple on a CAD program and made a right pigs ear of it. I know that practice is the key but patience with a is a different thing. Martin.

5 years ago by Martin555

Forum

CNC boat kits...?

Bit of an update on my CNC router. All up and running now and I am well chuffed with the results. I abandoned the Arduino based controller and opted instead for a Duet 2 WiFi board, a 32 bit controller with on board drivers. The machine can be loaded with a job directly from my /laptop/mobile phone and progress monitored from same. I have also added a 7 inch Paneldue touch screen display for when my daughter is hogging all the internet bandwidth. It has been going for a couple of weeks now and I haven't stopped making stuff, all for other folks! I need to find some DXF files for model boats now. I have a set of plans for a Lysander aircraft that my mate wants me to cut out for him, so far my efforts to convert PDF into useable vectors have come to nought.

5 years ago by Nickthesteam

Forum

Coming soon.

First introduced to Monty Python by a workmate who showed me a tape of them when they were at university and doing skits on the university stage. A friend of his in the UK sent him the tape which he'd filmed at that show, and was so impressed that he had to share it. One of the skits was something to do with a Wang (we actually had the first one in NZ at the surveying company I worked at - used for survey calcs by the only guy in NZ who could operate one) and something to do with them coming home and finding someone had stolen it, or as they put it "someone's ripped my Wang off". Still remember that from around 73/4. Funniest, most clever group of guys ever, and will never to be emulated again unfortunately.

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Forum

Guidance for newcomers to the site :-)

"when you go back your blurb has gone and you have to re-do it?" Are you using the Mobile App JB? I don't get this phenomenon on the PC! See attached pic of me on the as proof. (Download and display in your photo / graphic viewer to see the GIF animation😉) Elle es ne pas vu!

5 years ago by RNinMunich

Response

Re: WTC/Sub Driver.

Go for it Peter 👍😊 As my German friends might say (with a wry smile😉) 'Es wird schon schief gehen!' Literally 'It will go wrong already!' 😮 Meaning in a curious wry sorta way 'Do it, you can't go wrong!' But when you have it finished and working you'll need to get- A waterproof video camera, preferably remote control and low-light capable, Telemetry and video capable feedback modules and display unit, Optional VR headset to see what the sub is 'seeing' in real time ... 😉 It's much like buying a , then you need- Display, Printer, Router / LAN hub, Optional WLAN Optional external drives for back ups / mass storage ... You have been warned 😊 But it's a lotta fun👍 Both the challenges of the build / outfitting and the sailing Cheers, Doug 😎

5 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Invalid Files

Hi Red, I must admit I would not like to run a site, I struggle to operate a . And I think that Stephen dose an excellent job of running this site and sorting out the problems. Martin.

5 years ago by Martin555

Response

Re: Aero-Naut Classic

Great post fantastic project - most of use Li-Po batteries without any issues allbeit in portable or laptop s, some cell phones, portable chargers and elsewhere. Heck, a standard alkaline 1.5 or 9 volt battery can cause issues if not properly used or placed under stress. But - I’ve made mistakes myself and come close to bad issues using power sources improperly or without heeding instructions such as using them full out without allowing them to cool. it’s all about using caution and precautions, understandably accidents do happen though

7 years ago by Brucef102

Forum

Invalid Files

Hi Doug - not all of us possess dumb phones - still use a desktop PC - not a laptop either. I see it was not I that was wrong ! Stephen - know that s don't do what you want them to do- only what they want to do. Worked as a systems analyst for a few years - could not wait to get back to being a boring accountant ! No need for apologies - think its a thankless job when you only get moans when you get it wrong - never praise when you get it right

5 years ago by redpmg

Forum

Abergavenny steam and vintage show.

Hi Colin . would be quite reluctant to admit how many half finished boats I possess - shall we say quite a few, at present there are about 15 completed that are still with me . Gave my grandson a large Ripmax speed boat - loves it but restricted to their swimming pool which is a bit small. (lots of home pools in SA). Making up a kit from a Graham Goodchild design to build with him when he visits in August. - easy and a more appropriate size. Tried to get my son interested but he was among the first of the IT generation - so s got him to the extent its now his life's work. Did not help when aged about seven he fell into the harbour at our clubs dam whilst running my Rhodesian Patrol Boat - very proud of not getting the transmitter wet - but embarrassed and seemingly lost interest after that. Now he is a lot older and moving with work to Seattle it might be easier to get him interested as its got a lot of sailing places around............. Saddest loss was a boat given by an old friend of the family - an aluminum hulled motor yacht driven by a Taycol "Star" via the then usual 4 1/2 volt cycle lamp battery. Saw the same hull on Ebay also with a Star fitted some years ago but was unable to come up with the 50 odd quid they wanted. Think it possibly could have been a Basset Lowke yacht hull available in those long ago days , to fit out with your own deck & superstructure as our old friend did.

5 years ago by redpmg

Forum

how did your sailing day go?

Open day to day at South Shields model club, And the SUN came out just for us - a few more pics to follow when I find where they are on the :-) Anyone interested that's Don Walkinshaw's Bluebird with a home made jet engine. Pisces II owned by Bob Kirtley and this held the World Speed record for steam powered hydro plane at 122 mph (tethered) John

5 years ago by JOHN

Forum

Sea Commander restoration.

Hi there folks, a little late, but now we'll under way. The Hull was stripped and stabilised as it had quite a bit of delamination, once solid I coated with 0.03mm glass cloth and Eze-Kote. Then primed with filler primer, followed by a good rub down with 1000 grit wet and dry. Primed again and rubbed down between coats, 4 coats. Top coat is Fiat caprice blue, 6 coats wit rub down with 2500 wet and dry between first 5 coats then I used G3 rubbing compound. It's now ready for lacquer. But I have to rebuild the cabins first. I have fitted the new propshaft, prop, water pick up and outlet. Also the new rudder. Have cut away the old diesel engine mounts and made a platform for the Taycol Supermarine motor which was rebuilt and modified by RNmunich (Doug). Was hoping to get her ready for the steam and vintage show at the end of the month. Some way to go but I have a goal and will try to achieve it. Cheers Colin. PS. I can't get the pictures to upload from the app. I will try to use the tomorrow.

5 years ago by Colin H

Response

Re: HMS EXETER.

My Exeter is a type 42 Destroyer. Unfortunately I don't have the equipment to scan and being old school I can only just work a . I have no details of her that I can post as she was sold many years ago. I seem to end up selling my boats mainly to fund the next one and as I have no transportation to get me anywhere to be able to sail them. I end up just ballasting and testing them and that's it. Also as I am not a member of any club the only thing that keeps me interested in this hobby is being able to message members like your self, and by looking at all of these fantastic models that other members have made. Martin

5 years ago by Martin555

Forum

Hints & Tips

I think a hints and tips section would be a good idea. Not only will it help fellow modellers but hopefully it will encourage the new Guys to the hobby of model making. We a losing so many skills these day as the younger generation seem to play games instead of using there hands to create something and to master some new skills. Martin.

5 years ago by Martin555

Forum

Model Boat crew....

I think I understood that - it looks as if using s is getting very close to being a general option for people instead of being an approach that only specialists would consider. I have successfully made up a CNC cutter and am starting to use it to cut model boat parts. I had no prior skill in that field and it cost me about the same as a Billing Boats Absalon kit. If people will put their work up on the web for free download then we can create a very useful resource for the modelling community. All someone who wanted a 1:8 scale winch would need to do would be to download the file and take it to the local library or MakerSpace for a cheap replica. I think that this is the way things are going, although the model parts companies are going to be very unhappy about it...

5 years ago by DodgyGeezer

Forum

Model Boat crew....

I may have not made it clear but when I say you can make figures in Make Human they only exist in the (not physical items). All the programs make things on screen only but between them you can end up making a file that you can load onto a 3d printer and make the physical item. I had a go at it and then left it . I would now have to start the learning curve again. (Edit) I just thought you probably mean physically do the sculpting. I guess with the right skills that would work. My mistake. Les

5 years ago by lesfac

Forum

New Website Has Finally Arrived!

Hi Michael, Try changing your browser! Even try rebooting your ! Cheers, Ed

5 years ago by figtree7nts

Forum

New Website Sneak Peak

Hi Stephen. Congratulations on the successful transition to the 'new look' website. After a quick stooge around the site my first impressions a very good. I'm viewing on my tablet at the moment and everything seems to work ok on that, and I'll try it out on my mobile and desktop soon. I have a build blog update to add later today so it will be good to see if that has changed much. Well done ( can't find the thumbs up emoticon??). Rob.

5 years ago by robbob

Forum

Mclaren Clockwork Submarines U50

"... I dare say that with the necessary skills it probably would be easier,however it would be quite difficult for me to hold cardboard templates against a monitor screen. The whole ethos of what I do is somewhat Luddite in nature,to use basic tools,free materials and as little technology as possible...." I'm not sure where the cardboard template comes in? if you want to put it into a you use a scanner - if you want to take it out you use a printer. They are usually the same machine... I'm not dissimilar to a Luddite - the KK EeZeBilt sites are all about making things from raw materials and using household detritus to create fittings. But s are just another tool - and can be as basic as you like. I still lament the passing of DOS, because I felt that you should understand how tools work before you use them, and Windows made it impossible to know where all the bits were going... One advantage of computing technology is communication. You are illustrating this at the moment. All I was thinking was that your skills, experience and work could reach a much wider group of people. There are, for instance, kids in Australia building EeZeBilts because the data to do so is on the web: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAHJbJieV0o

5 years ago by DodgyGeezer

Forum

Mclaren Clockwork Submarines U50

I dare say that with the necessary skills it probably would be easier,however it would be quite difficult for me to hold cardboard templates against a monitor screen. The whole ethos of what I do is somewhat Luddite in nature,to use basic tools,free materials and as little technology as possible. As we spiral towards a total reliability on technology and s I want to demonstrate what can be achieved with basic inexpensive stuff that most people throw away. Am I living in the past? dreaming of days when things were simpler? absolutely,I exhibited at Makers Fair in Newcastle in 2018, of over 300 other stalls there was only a hand full of us that actually made anything, everything else was technology based and made in China. Cheers.

5 years ago by mactin

Response

The motor cover.

Could you have fitted a small fan inside the engine compartment to cool the motor and put another grill on the end of the engine cover for the fan to remove the heat from? if this makes sense to you, I know what I mean but unsure if you would understand what I mean.

5 years ago by BOATSHED