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Non-Classic Fairey Builds
These come from the era of classic boats, including the 1960s and 70s and were timber hulled. The Fisherman 27 could be called a classic as it was a popular boat but I'm talking here in the context of models. I don't know of any of these being built and there certainly weren't any drawings or kits produced unlike with the classics like the Huntsman 31 etc.
These builds were borne out of my desire to build something different but still Faireys and were inspired by photographs found in books, which in the case of the River Cruiser, a small B&W photograph being my only source of information though with the hull being based on the Huntress made things easier.
ChrisF
4 months ago
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Other Classic Fairey Builds
In addition to the Huntress I'm building all the other classic Faireys at the same scale of 1:12. None of them are finished yet!
The first of these was the Huntsman 28, followed by the Swordsman 33 (raised aft cabin version) and the Huntsman 31 aft cabin version - this started off as the full rear cockpit version called the Sport which was primarily intended for off-shore powerboat racing, but as I'd sold off my big 47" aft cabin version and my number of rear cockpit versions was increasing I decided to convert it to the aft cabin version mid-build.
Chris
ChrisF
4 months ago
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Fairey Huntresses
I mainly scratch build my own models but when Dave Milbourn offered me one of the prototypes he'd built for testing the drawings for his scale 1:12 model it was too good to miss. This then set me on the course to build all my models to the same scale.
This included a Huntress Long Cabin version which features a stern-drive. Whilst wanting to build the classic well known Faireys I like to build some of their less well known ones as well.
Dave sadly passed away but I was then given the opportunity to obtain the second prototype which was even more detailed.
ChrisF
4 months ago
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My ARTR Plastic Yachts
I bought the HydroPro Affinity not long after I started the hobby to learn to sail and do some club racing. It is 650mm long and complies with the DF65 racing regulations. Like the more common DragonForce 65 it was built by Joysway and was introduced as a slightly cheaper model but as it used many parts from the DragonForce I doubt it was very viable and wasn't available for very long. I built it with the B Suit of sails for windier days.
A few years later I wanted something a little more competitive (the HydroPro is quite beamy) and so bought a DragonForce 65 which I fitted with the A suit of sails for less windy days - saves having to change sails!
ChrisF
6 months ago
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Recent Posts
๐ฌ Re: Port Area
23 hours ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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That looks great MC. Lots of nice little details. Lake is lovely as well.
Chris
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๐ TVR1A Steam Engine.
1 day ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Gary. I'll see what I can do.
Chris
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๐ TVR1A Steam Engine.
2 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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My neighbour has recently taken delivery of his Vincent which he has had rebuilt to Black Lightning spec. No front lights and straight through exhausts!
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๐ฌ Re: Real images vs. AI-altered images
4 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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More by luck than judgement!
It's better at some things than others. ๐
Must stop now!
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๐ฌ Re: Real images vs. AI-altered images
4 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Oh no, my poor boat! ๐ฎ ๐
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๐ฌ Re: Real images vs. AI-altered images
5 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Yes, thanks John, as I said it was your timely article that prompted me to have a go having recently thought about it.
You are bang on about having to pose and photograph a model well to obtain a good result as otherwise AI will add details which are often wrong. I had this with the windscreens on the roof and small masts which ended up in the wrong place or the wrong shape or both.
It is important to photograph your model at the angle you want it to appear in the image to minimise this happening.
Another problem I had was my models sitting too high in the water. Instructing it to place the boats lower in the water helped to some extent but then introduced distortion into the hulls as can be seen in the mooring image! It can be very frustrating! ๐
Chris
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๐ฌ Re: Real images vs. AI-altered images
6 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Allesandro - I don't really know much more than you. I only had a play a few weeks ago following an article I'd read in Model Boats magazine and a comment I'd posted about probably having to use AI to produce an image of my Faireys moored up at a jetty. I use PhotoShop as well but don't have the experience or skills to use it to produce a complicated composite image and certainly not a believable one. And as for one where movement and wash needs to be conveyed, no chance!
AI is very clever obviously and whilst it can be easy to produce an acceptable image it is not so easy to produce exactly what you want with accurate detail. The attached photo is one I produced and for a first effort isn't bad. But I then tried two boats moored up at a jetty and got mixed results. First result was OKish (but some distortion and errors) but subsequent ones weren't very good at all with the positioning of the boats not being right and boats' details getting distorted or wrongly displayed and even using multiple commands I couldn't produce anything I was happy with. Photo also attached showing two boats on the sea. OK in some respects but not all and depends to a large extent on how I photographed the two boats.
At the moment the versions available to the general public are very good at relatively simple things, particularly where you let it do it's own thing. No doubt some AI programs do/will allow greater control (commercial/expensive) but like a lot of things you need to be able to do a lot more yourself and the skills to be able to produce exactly what you want rather than AI produce what it thinks you want.
I haven't touched it since but will have another go at producing something better and what I want.
Chris
Edit: Photo added of single boat coming into harbour. Quite like that one!
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๐ Hoist the sails, a new site is on the horizon!
6 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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You can count me in, I'm using a PC, laptop and tablet and rarely my phone.
Chris
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๐ They are "Wooden Boats", but not scale models ...
6 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Good to see traditional craftsmanship being carried out to a high standard.
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๐ TVR1A Steam Engine.
6 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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It's your thread Gary so you can go off at a tangent whenever you want and it was my fault for mentioning motorcycles in the first place!
Some of my bikes are big and heavy and at 72 I'm noticeably losing strength so before long I'm going to have to make some painful decisions.
One of them is a Triumph 1200 Scrambler which I cleaned and fettled yesterday for a ride this morning. Photo of it on a previous run, my Tiger 750 and Lambretta.
One of my neighbours who is a bit older than me has one of the newer Enfield GTs.
I think we may have have posted our motorbikes on another thread! We shall have someone after us! ๐
Chris
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๐ TVR1A Steam Engine.
6 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Gary, don't say that, that's blowing my excuse to not get involved in steam!
My brother and I worked on many old motorbikes and cars when we were young, mainly to get them going and I carried out my one and only complete rebuild which was my 1959 BSA Super Rocket.
Then like many of us had a break until I was 40. Bikes since then have been more modern and mainly require servicing and maintenance though I've got a 1974 Triumph Tiger 750 which requires jobs now and then. I also have a 1962 Lambretta TV175 as I had a 1963 as my first road legal machine.
There were a couple of nice steam powered models down the club last week. There's a few members who are interested which is good.
Chris
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๐ TVR1A Steam Engine.
7 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Gary - The hatch isn't central! ๐ฎ As you say can be sorted if you wish, but you have to look for it because if you ignore the planking it doesn't look far off. The workmanship is just fantastic. It is going to look outstanding when finished.
Fortunately I've got my motorbikes to satisfy my mechanical fettling etc. otherwise I could see me being drawn into steam models!
Chris
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๐ Sprite
8 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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On the subject of paint, which I probably shouldn't bring up again! I'd used water-based in our back bedroom and our son's flat and it was alright and certainly being water wash-up is a big plus. As well as being less glossy (though OK for interior household) the frustration for me is on larger areas like window boards, where the quicker drying means it is difficult to lose brush marks, it just doesn't flow well.
So when doing some work in the bathroom a couple of weeks ago I returned to oil based, what a joy! It covers better and due to it flowing better I achieved a lovely, glossy finish with barely a brush stroke in sight! ๐
Chris
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๐ Sprite
8 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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I'd finished the drawings for the Sprite outboard version awhile ago and received the outboard but hadn't done anymore with it. Partly because of other things but also I hadn't used my A3 printer since changing the computer and when I came to I couldn't get it recognised on the wireless network under Windows 11, fine under Windows 10.
Sister-in-law wanting some photos (it's a photo printer) prompted me to get it sorted, which I did, with the help of a 10m cable, as the printer is in another room. This has enabled me to print off the drawings for Sprite, blimey it is going to be big!
Good job, the motor is a big old beast! I knew it was going to be quite big, hence the bigger Sprite and something that would look right with it, but it's still impressive when you get it out of the box. It's well made and will look good mounted on a model.
TFL do a smaller one, but it's flexi-drive which I didn't really want, but more importantly it's even more of a race boat engine, so not very tall and the bottom end is curved and not very scale like. As it is, the bigger one is a "short shaft" design and the low mounting has been a bit of a design challenge as will be this part of the build I think.
I also stocked up on thicker ply for the keel etc. and other thicknesses for stock so ready to go really! But other builds still require work!
Chris
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๐ฌ Re: Classic Model Power Boats
8 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Thanks Ed, I owe you a pint! ๐
Nick, yes, there are one or two models that look similar to the Faun albeit with hard chine rather than round hulls. To be honest the Faun wouldn't have seen the light of day if it hadn't been a Fairey as there are drawings and kits available for that type of boat with chine hulls. It was also practice for the plank on frame Fairey Fisherman 27 though the Faun is much smaller and simpler hull shape.
Chris
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๐ Building from plans
9 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Thanks Will, but as per my post I already have them. Sorry wasn't very clear that I have them in PDF.
I'm trying not to start any new builds! Though I've printed off the Sprite outboard project!! ๐ค
Chris
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๐ฌ Re: Classic Model Power Boats
9 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Thanks Bob, it attracted some compliments and questions. Trouble is it's more than a slight difference between turning left and right and I had to plan my route for fear of running into the bank! May be able to improve it a bit but as said not that much of a problem with a slow model which won't get a lot of use.
I don't know how you've managed without reverse for so long! I had to engage it a few times though that was down to me having the Tx in one hand and the camera in the other! My RTR boats don't have reverse but that isn't a problem if they run into the banks as they are grass. Have to watch out for the jetty and metal launching mechanism which I fell foul of once.
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๐ Building from plans
9 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Hi Bob
No plans but that's no problem as they are amongst some that Harry sent some time ago. I prefer them on the computer anyway as I can print them off to suit my carbon paper transfer method and make other changes e.g. size, though in this case it's probably fine as it is.
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๐ Building from plans
9 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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I've got that magazine - it was amongst some old ones I bought for a Fairey article.
Chris
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๐ฌ Re: Classic Model Power Boats
10 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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With the promise of good weather, which indeed it was, this morning was the ideal time to take the little Faun to the club for lake trials. It performed as I'd hoped pulling away smoothly with its brushless motor and maintaining slow speed when required, very slow speed in fact and no cogging!
Only issue, though not that important, is that it could do with a bit more port rudder. I suspected that this might be the case because even though the servo arm provides enough movement the system I've used doesn't transfer this to provide enough rudder movement very well. I'll look at it again but don't think there is much I can do about it. Not the end of the world and can be driven around.
Must put the finishing touches on it now and regloss the roof after undercoating it again!
Good to meet up with EdW as well and we had a good chat.
Chris
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๐ Animal and nature photos to enjoy.
11 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Moorhen family.
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๐ Animal and nature photos to enjoy.
11 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Who needs water-skis! ๐
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๐ฌ Re: Classic Model Power Boats
11 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Yeah, I haven't been able to do much with model boats for a few weeks as I had a few overdue jobs to do around the house and one of the in-laws came to stay. But that's done now though there are always other jobs to be done!
Of course it's that time of year again now when other competing activities are calling but I'm looking to restart model building again soon. Good news is that my wrists and hands are much better now.
Definitely sounds as though you have a glitch/problem as cogging is a constant issue as I said dependant on the motor/ESC choice and mainly the ESC. My use of Overlander motors and HobbyWing Quicrun ESCs have proved good at low speed.
You are wise to swop out the ESC now before something bad happens!
Chris
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๐ฌ Re: Classic Model Power Boats
12 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Bob, I might be wrong but I think cogging happens at very slow speed due to the motor/ESC combination not being able to provide a smooth and uniform speed/acceleration though I suppose that could be applied to your higher speed! But it shouldn't be happening so it does sound like a fault and could cause an incident!
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๐ A new naval project. What to do now?
12 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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My main area of interest are the earlier Fairey Marine boats with timber hulls and the Huntsman 31 and Swordsman kits have and are being built by many folks. Nothing wrong with that of course and indeed that is positive. I would have built them as part of my fleet if they were available at a scale of 1:12 (well the Swordsman was but not the version I wanted and kits are very rare now) but as it is I've had to produce my own drawings and scratch build which adds another layer of interest for me. Four of my seven Fairey builds are unique (I've never seen others built or drawings anyway) and doing the research and producing the drawings has produced a great deal of satisfaction.
Given what Hhager says about instructions and manuals I think I'd struggle with a kit! Apart from Airfix when I was young I've never built one. Having done the drawings I understand the construction (well mainly!) and change things on the fly.
My next two projects, the water-jet and outboard are also much modified or own design. But I'm really resisting starting them whilst I still have so many Faireys requiring finishing!
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๐ A new naval project. What to do now?
12 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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That's a diverse list of options there!
If it was me choosing, but I'm not of course and ultimately it comes down to what you want to build.
But based on the fact, that like me you like producing your own designs and scratch building then that immediately rules out 1, 2 and 4.
Given your comment at the end of 7 then yes I'd start drawing it (I get a lot of satisfaction from that and have drawn a few I haven't built yet and maybe never will) particularly as you're have just finished something with sails and given it's complexity sounds like a long term project again.
So that leaves 5, 6 and 3. 5 would be my choice as that is my main area of interest but for you it could be 5 or 6. Work on 3 whilst you are working on the design for 5 or 6. I usually have more than one build on the go at anyone time and combine these with drawing up future builds - I find this increases and maintains my enthusiasm.
Chris
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๐ Water-jet drive
13 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Hi Ed - some months ago unfortunately! I may go Thursday though now that it is warming up!
Chris
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๐ Water-jet drive
13 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Reminds me I must start building my water-jet project but I'm trying to be good and finishing off some of my earlier builds first or at least progressing them. I've already printed off the drawings (yesterday) for my outboard project even though I've only just recently completed the drawings for that and it should be the last to be built. ๐
Ed - is yours a TFL water-jet? If so I bought the 29mm version so if so yours will be a bit of a beast!
Chris
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๐ฌ Re: Classic Model Power Boats
16 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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I'm watching via the cable network but I'm missing some of the earlier episodes so think I will have to get a boxed set as I've still got a DVD/Blue-Ray player.
Harry, but you usually rebuild most of your bought models so worth the risk! ๐
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๐ฌ Re: Classic Model Power Boats
17 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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And apart from the square picture format it doesn't look too dated either unlike some programmes.
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