Yes I guess that it might have been a bit difficult. Never mind, it is good to chat with you through this website if that is all we have available at present (barring Star Trek Transporters!!!).
😯 👋

Yes I have looked at battlecraft too. They have a good selection of deck fittings but as you say a bit pricey.
I am going to be at the Ellesmere Port Model Boat Show this weekend (Saturday). There might be some traders there with what I am looking for, but would still have liked contacts on the net for future reference.
Are you going to be there Lauriem 💭 (not sure if you live close enough).

Well I been an gone an doneit!!! 😊 😊 . I bought this little monster. Lovely kit in good condition and appears everything there (the guy who sold it me said it was all there and I trust him). When I get finished on the ol' Smit, I will be getting on to this first chance. I have been doing some web search and I am presently finding it very hard to locate 1/24 figures for crew. HSL Mouldings is one and reasonably priced, and Deans Marine also do a few. Does anyone know of any other suppliers in the UK I can go to for competitive quote or quality comparison for a 1/24 scale RN Crew. 💭

Thanks for the info. My friend let me take the model 49" Perkasa away to evaluate over next few days. Building plans look very straightforward, and not another nightmare to undertake as has been the case with this Smit Rotterdam. Thanks though to a very patient spouse, I continue to make headway on it.
My only concern now is the fittings and such for the Perkasa that are not supplied with it. I guess a good browse around the internet will remedy that. it was too late to put build progress photos on this website for the Smit but I will be doing for the Perkasa. Thanks for all of your help, advise and the links.
Bill.
😊

HI Lauriem,
I was speaking with one of my colleagues on Sunday and mentioned your problem. He said not to use the false keel because in the speed boats I mentioned, the longitudenal centre of roll is low to start with, and the keel would help more to reduce sideways drift when turning a buoy.
Whilst rudder off vertical would tend to contribute towards the dig in and potential roll, he asked about how high the motors and other fittings have been mounted and if possible to get them as low as possible. 💭 , being so lightweight being plastic in the main (I presumed its plastic) a tendency to roll would be more likely than a weightier moulded fibreglass hull. Sorry this is out of my knowledge range but I hope these comments might help.
You mention your Perkasa. I have been offered a full kit (45" is it, the bigger one anyway) second hand at a very reasonable offer price. is this a good and straightforward kit to build. is it "plank on frame" or "plate on frame" (I imagine plank because of the way the bows curl under). Furthermore, what engines would you recommend for such a beast and would they need water-cooling. I imagine that induction motors would be recommended because of their power but I have got to ease up on my spending.

Your comments regarding stability are very helpful. Given that free-board is low, there is obviously not much can be done with ballast to create better stability, you have put me off this particular type of model. Just as a wild idea though, do you think maybe a couple of false keels below the waterline running the underside length of the hull to just before where it curves upwards for the bows would help in stopping the skid and roll with every twitch of the rudder? I have seen these used on model speedboats to give slightly better lateral stability without interfering with speed. Obviously, with being plastic and fairly lightweight, the boat would want to flip if pushed too hard in a turn, as would its full size counterpart, but hopefully these would reduce the amount of roll in slower turns.

This particular version of Schnellboat is one I have been looking at for some time to build after I complete my current project of Smit Rotterdam.
Being Scratch-built, I think you have done a particularly good job of it. Did you draw up the plans for this yourself or are they available on the internet for purchase. if I dont build this next it would be one I would like to build in the future.

Quite a difficult boat for a newb to build. (5/10)