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π Train and Hobbies show 2023
1 day ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Herman,
Let us hope that all members of this great forum last much more than a couple of years!!
We will then find out. My guess is that more "Old Guys" than ever will take up the challenging pastime to replace any that leave.
We optimists may even see a few youngsters - but nobody should bet on it.
Like it or not, the World has changed almost beyond recognition since many of us were keen schoolboys playing with boats. That was before work, responsibilities and families came along.
With much more time, better equipment, patience, skill and even money; we all now have the opportunity. We really must not waste it!!
Happy building and boating.
Dr. John Fowler. Leeds and Bradford. BBC. π€π€π€
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π¬ Re: Albert - mast fittings and sails
1 day ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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A first class effort Buck. I was also most impressed by your use of MrsBuck's sewing machine - I would not dare!!
Dr. John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBC. πππ
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π¬ Re: Aeronaut - Cabin Cruiser Diva
1 day ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Well done Greg,
This wonderful finish on a basically simple model shows the real satisfaction that can be gained from careful construction!!
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBC. πππ
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π¬ Re: Pilot Tender
2 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Dave,
New Model Boat Club members very often need a reliable and well-used model to sail. This is while they explore the many facets of our wonderful hobby further.
Such models as your Pilot Tender are really ideal for this; and can quickly turn new or even prospective members into keen stalwarts of our Clubs!
If in doubt - - offer it!!
With best wishes. Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBC. πππ
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π¬ Re: Libbeccio
2 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Dave,
As with Alice, another great small tug!!
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. BBC. ππ
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π¬ Re: Alice
2 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Alice looks really good Dave,
It only needs a small pool for challenging sailing around the bouys and very possibly with a small tow.
As with my own small tugs, it is also quicker and definitely cheaper to build than a big, heavy and traditional model tug, -- so what's not to like??
With best wishes Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford MBC. ππππ
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π The Pleasure of Building Models
2 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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I am pretty sure that a Mamod style fuel tray may be found at Tony Green Steam Models of Lincoln. Tel 01522 681989 website www.tgsm.co.uk.
Hope this helps.
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBC. πππ
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π Best Place To Get Assorted Packs of Balsa Wood?
3 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Greg,
With the demise of local model shops we are largely left with online and postal sources.
As well as SLEC, I have found Hobbies of Dereham Norfolk excellent for such supplies. There catalogue is a treat and I think they now go under a website Alwayshobbies.
Please also keep an eye out for stocks from modeller giving up or under deceased estates!
Good luck
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. BBC. πππ
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π¬ Re: VOYAGER
5 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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A Great model of a millionaire 's gin palace. Well Done!!
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford BBC. π€π€π
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π The Pleasure of Building Models
6 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Wow Greg, you put all too many of us to shame!!
We all, however, have a great love for modelling in its many forms. What is more, we enjoy talking to fellow enthusiasts - even from far far away.
That is why this forum is such a wonderful resource. Let's all make the most of it.
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBC. πππ
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π Mystery boat
6 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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That's a really difficult one!!
I have long held an interest in Edwardian and WW1 destroyers - as I love the first very fast steam turbine ships ( even still coal burning!) and very slender hulls.
I even bought a quite excellent book on the subject - The First Destroyers by Lyon. Many shipmates will have heard of the Great Powers' Naval shipbuilding race of this time - which also coincided with massive improvements in related technologies, submarines and aircraft.
This led to many classes of the new destroyers all designed to counter the real threat to Battle Fleets of new and very fast Torpedo Boats.
Even within each of the new classes of ships, contracts were let to different shipbuilding companies who then built different ships to the same specification.
When one sees similar competitions within the Navies of UK, Germany, France and the US; one begins to see the sheer number of different designs among many hundreds of small ships over a single 25 year period! ((( Please compare with time needed to develop, build and launch even a single new ship for the tiny RN of today, then one wonders about true progress!!)))
Anyway, after spending a couple of hours going through my books and plans without success, I still cannot answer your question!!
It may be just a self-designed or poorly-built model -- but I for one will watch the ongoing debate with interest!
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. BBC. π€π€π€
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π Accidents happen.
7 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Colin,
Really sorry to hear news of your accident.
I also feel pretty helpless not being able to offer more appropriate advice - but I am not that sort of Doctor!
In short get well soon.
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford BBC. π€π€π€
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π HA kits Slipper Launch
7 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Terry.
Many thanks for your super photos of the Slipper Launch build. My first reaction was this is far from being a strict beginners model. Hence with your progress to date, you clearly have little to fear from trying more complex projects in future.
in the meantime I hope the Slipper gives you a lot of satisfaction in the build and pleasure from sailing. In your travels, please keep an eye on charity shops for suitable figures to a common and appropriate scale - as many would feel an empty launch going round a steering course is hardly realistic.
Please post again if you have any questions and with best wishes.
Dr John F Leeds anmd Bradford MBC ππππ
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π¬ Re: Building The Footy Bob-About Sailboat Supplied By SLEC UK
8 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Greg,
I admire your perseverance with SLEC over the inadequate instructions.
Many thanks also for the super pictures of your little yacht. You will find the Footy great fun to sail on light winds and well worth the effort in building it.
While waiting for your hand to heal, you may wish to check out the simple rules for Footy class building and sailing on the Model Yachting Association website.
These are very simple and show how easy it is to design and then build your own little racing yacht.
Hope you have a great season sailing the Diva, Footy and Wee Nip before too long.
With best wishes. Dr John F Leeds and Bradford BBC. πππ
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π¬ Re: Schooner - "The Show"
10 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Ron,
A great entry and a wonderful project.
You have also shamed me into preparing a harbour photo entry for my own two-masted schooner.
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford MBC. πππ
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π Ballasting a New Boat
11 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Greg,
I think all the various responses to your post conclusively show that many model boaters are looking to save both time and money at every opportunity.
Also almost all expensive commercial ballast is only available by post or internet order. The resulting hefty freight changes will boost the delay and cost even further!
With best wishes Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford BBC. π€π€π€
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π¬ Re: Atlantic "Tug" [sic] Restoration
12 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Lew,
You have quite a project here! Many would agree that these Almost Ready to Run boats seem very toy-like and artificial.
That being said, the curved gunwales are an attractive feature which are often seem on foreign fishing or utility boats. Your boat definitely needs a wheelhouse and perhaps masts, navigation and other lights, a winch, radar scanner, registration numbers and a good paint job to set it off.
I would suggest some examination of books and\or websites to see if any particular design appeals to you.
If not, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a freelance design to move the boat well away from its toy roots.
If so, please bear in mind your chosen scale at all times, perhaps against the availability of figures. Here you are looking at 1\24 th (3 inch) or maybe 1\16th (4 inch) as the most likely scale. Obviously the wheelhouse windows, ladders, doors and deck fittings should all be scaled accordingly.
A simple sketch and full size cardboard templates are a good starting point.
In any case you have an interesting and challenging project - so much better than a prestine and new looking"toy".
Best wishes and good luck!
Dr John F Leeds and Bradford BBC. πππ€
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π¬ Re: PT 179
13 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Herman,
I too have many old IC motors I definitely cannot use -- and I would think that Belgium has at least the same environmental regulations as we in Britain.
Your wonderful old PT 179 could relatively easily be converted to clean and powerful brushless power. This would then give you the great experience of seeing it charge around the lake once more!!
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford BBC πππ
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π¬ Re: SPT441 and SPT409
13 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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A great effort with an imperfect Deans kit Buck.
Addionally, as they are both similarly fast and small they appear even faster on the water.
A great illustration that small models (even at the same actual speed) appear very much faster than large ones!l
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. BBC πππ
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π Train and Hobbies show 2023
13 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Many thanks Dave,
As you say, the Pandemic certainly accelerated an on going trend against all too many long established hobby shows.
I particularly enjoyed going to the Model Boat Convention at Haydock Park, the Elsemere Port Model Show and the Northern Model Boat Show at Doncaster.
Now all gone, and we in the North are just left with the Blackpool Show. This is now thriving after being brought back almost from the death by Ian Lewis of Component Shop.
As you say we must do all we can to ensure the success of the few shows still operating. Hopefully this will encourage new ones to start up.
In the meantime all Model Boat Clubs should do all they can to encourage visits at every opportunity by paid-up members of other clubs. Only in this way will our wonderful hobby recover and thrive.
With best wishes. Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBC. πππ
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π Train and Hobbies show 2023
13 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Really Buck,
I now feel a little guilty for publicising the show on this great forum.
As you know, I displayed at Harrogate with different clubs for many years. That so, the very poor promotion of this now returned show pretty well ensured its failure.
The rapid disappearance of hobby shows continues!!
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBCβΉοΈβΉοΈβΉοΈ
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π¬ Re: Bluebird of Chelsea
14 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Chris,
I have followed your blog on the build of Bluebird of Chelsea with some interest - and I am so pleased you are now entering the final furlong of a long and impressive build.
I have long held the Model Boats Magazine plan for the 1\24 th scale Bluebird. However, with all too many projects queuing up in my workshop I cannot see me starting it any time soon.
In the meantime I really look forward to seeing your wonderful model on the water.
With best wishes. Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. BBC. πππ
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π Retirement
14 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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We also have different stories; but in the whole 26 years since I " pulled the black and yellow handle" to eject from my stalled Air Force career, I have never ever, met anyone who regretted taking retirement.
Nobody can turn back time and few would deny that time passes all the quicker the older one gets. We must all make the most of the time we have. We can also (through our wonderful hobby) encourage others to do likewise.
With best wishes. Dr John F. -- Model Boat and Home-Made car fanatic. πππ
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π¬ Re: Hallet SK Drag ski boat
15 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Well done River Rat!!
A very colourful and definitely worthwhile project.
Just building the boat with your grandchildren has done more to spread the word for our wonderful hobby then many of us achieve from week to week.
Even greater benefits will also accrue as you teach them to sail, maintain and even repair the boat. Eventually one of more of your lucky offspring may return to keep our hobby going.
Well done again!
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBC. πππ
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π Rowing Dinghy 1/24 scale
16 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Chris,
Apart from very elusive commercial offerings of variable quality; please remember that dinghies on larger craft are always stored upside-down; or upright covered by a tarpaulin.
Therefore I have found that a simple soft balsa " plug" can easily be covered with strips of thin card to simulate clinker build and then stowed in the boat as per the real thing.
With two soft blocks either side of a harder keel, with a cloth cover - it is not too difficult. Definitely worth a try!
With best wishes. Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. BBC. πππ
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π¬ Re: Orca complete with crew
17 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Rogal,
Many thanks for the photos - a really impressive model!!
Each to his own, but I much prefer small water craft modelled to 1\24, 1\16 or even 1\12 scale - rather than far larger ships unavoidably modelled on a tiny scale.
With best wishes. Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBC. πππ
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π Masts for RN boats
17 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Steven,
I have tried all the methods now listed on this thread with varying results.
However on my last two launches I built a fold-down and then a totally removable mast - both in wood and styrene. This saves a lot of fiddly work with a soldering iron but I have to make do without mast lights.
It seems you can have it both ways! I'm either case, I think we all agree that a fixed mast of any kind is extremely vulnerable and is bound to be knocked off - or even lost - at the pondside.
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBCπ€ π€
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π Gailforce 9 at the lake today
17 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Herman,
And when we add the 1\12 or 1\24th scale factor, the effect of high winds on our comparatively tiny models is even greater!
I sometimes wonder why with careful selection of models to match the forecast condions; we still suffer rain, wind and cold to enjoy our hobby each week.
The answer lies in the sheer challenge and satisfaction that really sets us apart from other modellers. In short, we can see ourselves as something special!!
Indeed, it is only ice that curtailed my club's regular sessions - despite our very noisy two hovercraft!
With best wishes. Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBC. ππππ
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π¬ Re: Super barracuda
18 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Looks really good Herman.. At 48 inches with matching beam it is a very sizeable boat which will look very realistic on the water.
I have seen a number of similar designs over the years it all were smaller. Enjoy.
Dr John. F. Leeds and Bradford MBC. πππ
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π New builder
18 days ago by
π¬π§ johnf (

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Colin,
You are certainly not alone as very many members on this wonderful site built (and inevitably crashed!) countless aircraft in the past.
About 10 years back I wrongly thought that model boats would prove less of a challenge. However, I quickly found they are even more fun to build and sail than fragile aircraft - - with a far superior life expectancy! As a further bonus, I stopped losing my hair as soon as I made the switch.
As others have said, a puffer is an excellent first model; and like the real thing can be built with all kinds of atmospheric bits and pieces on it's deck.
I would, however, suggest not building one much over 24 inches long. This is as the beamy hull will lead to an extremely heavy model (without removable ballast) in a larger size.
Welcome and with very best wishes.
Dr John F. Leeds and Bradford. MBC. πππ
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