Blog

Speedline 1/48th scale

Have started to build. Like all good builders I started with the stand. this comes with the model and Is laser cut from perspex. not easy to photograph!!! The hull has been trimmed and the chine strips and spray rails have been added. Also the slot for the prop shaft and the hole for the rudder post have been drilled. The final photo Is just to give some scale to the model. The unfinished project In the background Is my Sea Breeze. Cant wait to get to the electrics, I think I'll need a microscope!!!!

10 years ago by jeremy

Response

Hull finishing touches

Stuart - as you can see from the article in Model Boats, Colin has fitted a contrasting timber to the perimeter of the hull and up the centre of the bow and then infilled with planking. Another method is to veneer the deck and just varnish it or drawn lines on it with Biro or pencil before varnishing. SLEC do laser etched ply but the planks are straight. Really it depends on how accurate you want the result to be and how much time you want to spend on it. With my 28 build I'm just using birch ply and varnishing it whilst with my larger Swordsman 33 (but same scale) I'm going the whole hog and planking it. Chris

5 years ago by ChrisF

Blog

Hull finishing touches

The Hull has now had the finishing touches applied...Sanding Sealer, Eze-Kote, glassfibre sheet and hull chine bars added. The inside of the hull has been given a good dollop of Eze-Kote to seal it and waterproof it so next job is to fit the prop tube and motor before the whole hull gets a coat of primer... I've only just realised, but the kit from SLEC does not contain any decking, so I need to sort out whether to just go for plain mahogany veneer or try to find teak decking which is laser cut to fit with plank marks....any help or advice here welcome for a novice! (I can't find anything suitable on the internet). 😡

5 years ago by StuartE

Response

Basic hull construction completed

Great work on the hull Stuart. I built the same kit last year and really enjoyed the project, the is an awesome looking craft too and super light weight. in mine I’ve experimented with a few different brushed motors, trying to get scale speed versus “play time” balance. I landed on a 35 turn which at half speed is pretty good for scale speed and at full noise it really gets up and moves for a bit of fun. The last few runs I’ve seen up to 25-30 mins from a 7.2v Ni-Mh pack which has been great. Look forward to seeing your progress, all the best and enjoy the build.

5 years ago by ChrisB

Response

Basic hull construction completed

Nice hard work, well done i now usually get a glass fibre hull if i can. Ive run mine with Irvine 40, and 2 different brushless, 2075 kva and 1150 motors and all performed well 3 or 4 cell lipos, go for the biggest capacity 5200`s as the weight is no problem and double your run time. Pic shows latest motor i think its 2900 kva ill try it out soon. I seem to use the then take the motors out for other projects

5 years ago by vortex

Response

Basic hull construction completed

Hi Stuart - I have a Huntress which is the same length as your which was built by Dave M. it will be a little lighter as it doesn't have an aft cabin. it is fitted with a Turnigy D2836/11 750kV so the one recommended to you is a good choice. Chris

5 years ago by ChrisF

Response

Basic hull construction completed

Hi Stuart - I'm scratch building a Swordsman, albeit larger than your as I'm building at 1:12, so 33" long. I haven't worked on it for a few weeks but am at a similar stage with the hull in that I'm just about to sand the concave into the bow to form the flare. This is a stressful part and I might delay it and start on the superstructure! From the photos it's difficult to tell if you have overdone it or not due to the different materials breaking up the lines. it looks OK head on and from the side but when looking down towards the keel it does look a little excessve. I'm going to be building a 31 as well soon but again at 1:12 so will be from plans, either existing or my own. I've got three Fairey builds on the go at the moment and another on the drawing board, well PC. Chris

5 years ago by ChrisF

Response

Friday's Child Fairey 31

Hi Stuart, At 23" your is only a tad smaller than my 24" Sea Scout which I refurbished last year, look for the build blog 'Jessica - A Sea Scout restoration' on this site. I fitted a 1000kV 28mm Propdrive motor and Quicrun 16BL30 30A ESC from Hobbywing. including the ESC programming card the whole kit an' caboodle was just under 40 dollars from Hobbyking.com. With a 2S LiPo (7.4V) performance was sedate to adequate. With a 3S LiPo performance is 'twinkling' and a lot of fun to drive. Check out attached video links. Pt1: https://youtu.be/zPgYicA0yGw First run with a 3S LiPo. Pt2: https://youtu.be/oMUlSOaAREM 'The competition'! Pt3: https://youtu.be/b0BWJ3duzDw 'Final run', the Bier was getting warm Prop is a brass 30mm 3 blade from Raboesch. Hope this helps, Happy Sailing. Cheers, Doug 😎 PS Video is in HD 1080p, taken at the Ostpark Lake in Munich (adjacent to the Biergarten😉😁) May 2018.

5 years ago by RNinMunich

Response

Friday's Child Fairey 31

I would have thought the motor size would be given in the build instructions or on the plans given Dave Milbourn's (the kit designer) attention to detail. Chris

5 years ago by ChrisF

Forum

What size brushless motor?

Hi Stuart I think Dave Milborne used a 1000 or 1200kv 28mm brushless. You can PM on the model boat forum site. He is the kingpin on 's and is Fairley helpful guy . Canabus

5 years ago by canabus

Response

Friday's Child Fairey 31

Hi Boatshed....How is our refurb going? I'm currently building a new 31 from a kit bought from SLEC. I've just started so keen to get as much shared info on any "gotchas". I see yours has a single prop....what motor does it have? My kit is single prop and want to get the most economical/powerful brushless as I can, but as a novice, don't have much of an idea at present.

5 years ago by StuartE

Response

Fairey Hunsman renovation part 6

I'm following your Blog with interest as I'm currently building a 31 from a kit bought from SLEC. I'm building the hull from ply and getting the curves right on the hull skins is proving challenging. Mine has only a single motor and rudder. Good luck with the renovation work👍

5 years ago by StuartE

Blog

Hull progressing nicely!

OK, so the last 2 posts on the blog were from work undertaken three weeks ago. I am now up to the present day and have spent the whole week and weekend in getting the bottom and side skins on the skeleton of the hull and putting on the transom. Because the curves of the hull are quite specific on the , only one piece of skin can be fitted at a time, and then trimmed into place before the next piece of skin will fit. In the previous post I mentioned all the laser cut pieces are cut oversize.....fitting the skins was a real challenge! Following the instructions at this stage went out the window and I fitted the skins in the reverse order, but feel it was the best option. The instructions say built from the bow first and work back to the transom, but impossible to fit the pieces in this order, so I started with the aft and worked forwards. It also mentions to overlap the side skins with the bottom skins, but all I could manage was to butt the pieces together with a tight fit and fill with P38 afterwards. The pictures show the completed skins, trimmed, sanded and gaps filled with P38 and then sanded again. It now takes on a good shape, however the difficult pieces on the bow are still to be completed. These are formed of 4 pieces of solid balsa wood that need to be cut and sanded to multiple curves...… next weeks job! Once this is done then its on to filling again and re-sanding and finishing. Hopefully it would look more like a Hull rather than a hammer head shark!

5 years ago by StuartE

Response

First problem.......

Hello Stuart, all part of the challenge I’m afraid, but rewarding once you have used your skills and cracked it. I’ve yet to build a model of anything, especially with wood, where everything is cut to fit, ( I’m not sure if that is really possiible) Fairey is a lovely craft to build and plenty of references if needed to the detail of the real boat from http://www.faireyownersclub.co.uk/ Good luck, don’t give up, enjoy the challendge

5 years ago by Brianaro

Response

Fist eager steps...easy!

I do like the , maybe I'll build one myself one day. Following your blog with interest. Robbob.

5 years ago by robbob

Media

Mowe 2

I hadn't built a model of any sort since I was 15 years old and that was a control line aeroplane with a glow worm engine. 45 years later and regressing nicely back to my teenage years, my wife bought me (reluctantly!) a RC Boat Kit - Mowe 2. I had been wanting to build again for many years, but children and family and home situation did not allow. So, over the cold Autumn and Winter Months I carefully put my spare nights to good use, rather than watching night after night TV box sets and re-watching the entire James Bond movies, not once but 2 or 3 times.... Anyhow after 3 months...the finished product. I should have started a blog but didn't know of this site until a few weeks ago. Not a brilliant finished job, but a satisfying one, and it sails nicely on Bushy Park boating lake in Kingston-upon-Thames. Now o nto bigger and more complicated things...a Fairey 31. This time I'll do a blog....👍

5 years ago by StuartE

Forum

Precedent Fairey

I have for sale an unfinished Fairey 31, I started it approx 9 months ago as a project with my grandson but his attention has now turned to model railways, subsequently I have now lost interest in completing and sailing it, the boat is approx 90% complete and comes with new RC equipment battery motor etc, I am looking for £250 just to recoup the costs and to put to his new model railway. I live inStoke-on-Trent if anybody would like to have a look,

5 years ago by bthart

Response

Motor, mount & prop-shaft.

Thanks for your reply. I am more of a speed freak. I love the Vosper /MTB's style hulls as you can really push them to there limits, as I can also with the deep V style hulls. My Proboat Miss Geico catamaran I can run flat out even on turns. But am unsure about fitting an out runner, I have scaled down the Crash Tender to 28" and have just put in a small outrunner but very apprehensive of running her. This is because i'm unsure of overheating and catching fire. Silly rally as she is a fireboat. But as you have one in your Crash Tender with no problems, then I will finish her off and give her a run. Thanks for your help. I am watching this build as eagerly as I did your wonderful Crash Tender. I cannot wait to see the en result and some video of her on water. I'm sad I wasn't able to get along to the show this weekend.

5 years ago by BOATSHED

Forum

Propshaft Lubrication

Been reading some old threads with plenty of reference to lubrication but only one mention of what to lubricate with (mix of engine oil and graphite powder). I have just fitted a replacement propshaft (M4) to my 31 and fitted it with an oiler tube. So question is what to oil/grease it with? Steve

5 years ago by steve-d

Response

Friday's Child Fairey 31

Hi Brianaro, many thanks for that. i am about to go and check that out. As well as my old 70's wooden Precedent , I also have an MFA Spearfish still in the box not touched yet. I had one back in the 80's with an Irvine 61 in it and it was a great fun boat. I did plan to do the same again with it but with the constant banning of using IC engines on the ponds around area's in the UK I suppose it will end up brushless. I know they are if not faster then IC now but the cost battery wise, now being retired the funds aren't as easily found now. The sad part is I still have 2 new SC 91's, 1 new SC 61 and a Irvine 120 all still new, never been run. I think there might also be an Irvine 61 that has no box. As well as a Zenoah 26c all pimped up in purple only run in ready to be put in a boat. Shed full of both engines and boats, some boats still new in the boxes still waiting to be built. Hopefully I will get to build them before I pop me clogs.

5 years ago by BOATSHED

Response

Friday's Child Fairey 31

Hello Boatshed. There is lots of information and picture of the real Fairey products on faireyownersclub.co.uk there are some books listed there too. I’ve been making the President kit and gained lots of detail information from the club and the author of one of the books Good luck

5 years ago by Brianaro

Response

Friday's Child Fairey 31

Very nice, Thanks, I love them.

5 years ago by BOATSHED

Response

Friday's Child Fairey 31

A small selection. I have plenty, mail me if you want more. Steve

5 years ago by steve-d

Response

Friday's Child Fairey 31

I am a great fan of the Fairey Boats I have a Precedent model and would love to see a couple or three pictures of a real life one. Last time I saw one was back in the early 1970's on it's way out of Newhaven harbour.

5 years ago by BOATSHED

Response

Friday's Child Fairey 31

Yes I have some pictures. Why the question? Steve

5 years ago by steve-d

Response

Friday's Child Fairey 31

Have you got any pictures of Fridays Child?

5 years ago by BOATSHED

Blog

Friday's Child Fairy 31

This is a refurb. I built her from MM plan 1061 many years ago and recently found her in the loft so she has likely been up there for 19 years. The basic construction is OK but the paint is peeling and large chunks came off when I tried to pull her out of the carry cradle. She had no name and was in a basic colour scheme but I plan to now paint and detail her as Friday's Child which is registered Southampton and lives in Yarmouth IOW. I've started sanding but it is going to take a while.

6 years ago by steve-d

Forum

Does anybody recognise this old boat

She looks to me like a scratch built project on the lines of Fairey /Swordfish although from some angles has the look of an early Broads cruiser. Whatever with some TLC I am sure she will both look and sail well. The Fairey designs were very popular craft in fact still are and the designs were copied a lot 'back in the day' Good luck and please post some pictures when you have completed her. Regards Chris G

5 years ago by ChrisG

Forum

Modern electrics

Hi all, Not been araound for awhile as I have been playing with aircraft as well, I have however found time to scratch build a Fairy which I now want to upgrade to modern electrics, a brushless motor and esc etc, should I avoid lipo's due to the heat issues or can I use them ok. The hull is 42 inches long any suggestions on motor size would be appreciated, also esc size, the boat seems a bi on the heavy side. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

5 years ago by deltaman

Response

Cooling coil

Good to see another Fairey. What size is your ? I'm busy scratch building three different Faireys at the moment and the 31 will be a future project. I've got one of the Precedent 46" but it's too big and heavy really. Chris

5 years ago by ChrisF

Response

aeronaut classic

I am also upgrading the prop shaft, I have purchased a 4mm shaft to use that has a decent outer casing. All other boats I have built the side chine rails have all bee 1/4 x1/4 inch rails. I am just so disappointed with some of the substandard use of certain parts. I just feel for the price they are cutting costs to up their profits on the boat. I have built a few of the older AeroKits like the RAF crash tender, Sea commander, Sea Queen and Sea Hornet as well as the Precedent Fairey , and these all have a substantial set of side rail to fit and even the bulk head pieces are a much better thickness of ply. I would just not recommend the Aeronuat kits to anyone myself now. I was just going to fit a standard Gruapner speed 400 motor in but still unsure. I was thinking maybe a brushless may just be a bit overpowering her. but as I say still unsure, I may put in a brushless yet who knows. Keep us informed on here as to you progress I am keen to see your finished model. I suspect yours will be finished well before mine as I have shelved the build for now. Happy modelling.

5 years ago by BOATSHED

Response

New bits

Hi Steve, The lipo situation is I always use HobbyKing https://hobbyking.com/en_us/new-items.html?___store=en_us, a good choice and very fast delivery, regarding prop and size, on my I use a three bladed prop in brass 30mm M4, and silicon wires, loads of places but I always use The Component Shop https://www.componentshop.co.uk/, hope this is of some use to you😉 cheers Peter

5 years ago by Rookysailor

Forum

Various PLans for sale

I have the following plans available for sale:- Tug Jan by SMB-Bauplan 1:25 two sheets £12.50 MV Benarty by Nexus Plans 1/96 six sheets £25.00 Clan Ross by Martins Models 1/96 two sheets £15.00 SS Jason by Model Maker Plans service 1/16" to 1 foot 2 sheets £15.00 International 6 metre Class model yacht by Marine Modelling 1 sheet £10.00 Fairey Marine by Vic Smeed 1 1/2" to 1 foot two sheets £15.00 ClochLight Clyde Puffer Model Maker plans 7 sheets £25.00 SS Chelford 3 island Steamer 1/8" to 1 foot 3 sheets £15.00 Associazione Navimodellisti Bolognesi Agip Livorno Scale 1:200 5 sheets £20.00 Any one interested or would like to make an offer please let me know. Many Thanks

6 years ago by merchant67

Directory

(Pleasure Craft)

A friend gave me this half built in 1978, it has sat in my loft till 2 years ago when I decided to throw it away as it was all twisted and the hull had been built all wrong, but I thought I would have a go at trying to finish it off. The wood had dried out so had to replace a lot of it but this is how it turned out, it’s a great rough water boat and fast too, one of my favourites. (Motor: Irvine 60) (10/10)

6 years ago by Biscuit

Forum

Brushless motors (again)

Again, as not wanting to nick someone else's thread. 31 currently has a geared (belt) brushed motor which was probably quite a good spec. many years ago. I don't remember how quick it was but having watched brushless boats running this morning in Southsea I have decided now is the time for change before I start painting. I've been reading various threads and gleaned some info but it is still a minefield. Whilst this boat (original) is twin screw I am not yet ready to go that far so will stay single screw. A thread suggested 3639 -1100KV which is fine as a spec. but there are a zillion different makes and models for that spec. Cornwall models seem to offer 6 or 8 so I am looking for more specific advise for make and model of each piece of the power system...motor, ESC, battery, charger. I'm not going to say 'money no object' just that I don't 'need' to buy bottom spec. I suspect there will be as many different suggestions as 'Cornwall' have motor makes but something good will come out of it. Many thanks Steve

6 years ago by steve-d

Forum

Brushless motors (again)

Hi Steve I started with the Hobbyking 3639-1100 kv in my with a 2 blade 40mm prop, 3S 5800mah Lipo and a car 60 Amp ESC. Upgraded to the 100Amp car ESC and a straight change over to the 3648-1450 motor. All from Hobbyking. Good units and have no problems. Also a the price will not break the bank book!!! Note, change the uni-joint to metal as the plastic ones will not handle the power and break. Canabus

6 years ago by canabus

Forum

Who's at the helm?

I need a helmsman for my 31 in 1:12 scale. All I'm finding is dolls house dolls or gnarley fishermen in sou'westers. Need a man or woman in casual cloths. Any thoughts? thanks Steve

6 years ago by steve-d

Forum

Painting

I have a 31 model I am refurbishing. The paint is peeling off from age, the muppet who painted it only applied one coat (Me), the Humbrol enamel was probably too thick for the fine grain of the birch ply and spruce. I am planning to start with cellulose sanding sealer as it is nice and thin so should get a good key into the grain. So.. What paint should I use over the sealer? Some parts of the ply I want to look like teak deck planking so first I think I need a stain. Then line in the planks with fibre tip pen followed by what type of varnish? Some of the spruce needs to look like mahogany so do I stain it or use some sort of paint? Thanks Steve

6 years ago by steve-d

Forum

Painting

Except on Rivas and the like Martin😉 (and restored Sea Scouts of course😁) Both my pics were taken from 31 For Sale ads. Rather like the curved planking, but would be a devil to do! Planks would have to be pretty thick to stop 'em warping while trying to curve 'em 😲 Way to go Steve 👍 Joggle jiggle, what's it matter so long your mojo works 😁😁

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Response

Friday's Child Fairey 31

They are a great looking craft, I am restoring one myself, please be aware that red paint may contain lead, so wear a mask while sanding. My restoration is of a old Fibre glass hull I intend to install twin rudders and motor shafts and go brushless, I am building the superstructure from scratch with some help from old plans. I want to have a swordsman type cabin.

6 years ago by CB90

Forum

window/windscreen material.

Hi chaps l need some clear plastic/perspex for windows. some .75 to 1mm. anybody out there know where l can get it from.l need it to replace the broken screen on a . JimDogge.

6 years ago by jimdogge

Forum

window/windscreen material.

Perspex is a bit brittle if the screen is curved, but my last Perspex that thin came from a picture framer who had quite a stock of it. Worth a try. Martin

6 years ago by Westquay

Response

Fairey Hunsman renovation part 3

Hi That boat will look great when it's finished. The hull of the 31 is the sleekest of the lot. I'm looking to build an aft cabin version in the near future but at some point would like to build a Sport version. As per part 1, yes the scale of 1:11 is a bit strange, will have to ask Dave Milbourn how that came about.

6 years ago by ChrisF

Forum

Chine Spray Rails

I have a modav 31, which heels over quite a lot on turns even after slowing down. I was looking at the chine spray rails at the rear of the boat (see picture) they do not dip below the outgoing angle of the hull as shown on the plan (see picture). Would a triangular fillet located under the existing chine strip to simulate the plan for a length along the hull from the transom improve the heeling over in turns?

6 years ago by Will-I-Am

Response

Modav 31

Aha! Now I've learned something too👍 Thanks William Actually I've been busily changing all my 'frayed' 😲 plastic props for cast brass ones. Cheers, Doug

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Response

Modav 31

Doug, Thanks for the reply, as far as I was aware the S type plastic props were less pitch than the X type plastic props. if your 35 mm metal prop is 1.4 pitch then it is similar to the X35 plastic prop I used in the first video. I think I need to investigate diameters and pitch a little more. Last week running my I had an X40 plastic prop on and it was too large and way too fast, a friend running a 34 inch fire launch runs an X 35 so I may go back to look at a 😎35 mm dia metal prop and look at the pitch. Regards Ian

6 years ago by Will-I-Am

Response

Modav 31

Hi William, S, X35 !? No idea😲 I assume they are terms from the racing world which I have no particular interest in. My intention wasn't to make her into an offshore racer. As it is she's well over scale speed, but fun to run, and that's what counts ain' it? 😉 Gives a good long run time, 1 hour plus, using a Propdrive 2830 BL and a 3S 4Ah battery. All up weight 1974gm. LoA 24", beam 8.5". My prop is simply a 35mm ca 14 pitch from Raboesch. Actually wanted the one with a blunter hub but they weren't available when I wanted it. The pointed hub variant is actually more like as fitted to larger naval units in WW2. Sorry🤔 Cheers, Doug 😎

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Response

Modav 31

Doug, your sea scout runs very nicely, is the prop an S or an X35 prop. I am looking to try mine again with a standard S40 prop. Regards Ian

6 years ago by Will-I-Am

Response

Modav 31

Looks the same as the one in my Sea Scout William. For size idea; the prop is 35mm. And it works beautifully, see trial vid. https://youtu.be/zPgYicA0yGw Cheers, Doug 😎

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Response

Modav 31

CB90 the rudder is the one supplied with the boat way back in the 1970s . See picture do you think it is too large?

6 years ago by Will-I-Am