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📝 what am I recent acquisition
4 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ (
Vice Admiral)
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Have you measured the length and compared it to real boats of the style you want to make it? This way you can figure out some sort of scale for it. If you want to salvage the hull (if it looks good and sturdy) is to build from the deck up a more realistic rendition of something close. Sometimes it is impossible and not worth the time. The prop placement and rudder look funky. I also took the liberty to roughly compare it to the Fairmile D boat via PSP as a quick check. The hull lines look quite different.
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📝 what am I recent acquisition
5 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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Looking at the various parts designs and materials, I would suspect this is not based on any real boat. For example, the thickness of the wall on the pilot house is overdone by quite a bit. The way the superstructure sits down in a step inside the cutout to access the inside would probably be a water leak problem which leads me to believe the builder was not very knowledgeable about model boat building (other issues noted). The deck looks like real flooring.
I agree on what Roy had said about this model had a home made upper part (deck and above). However, the transom has a curve to it so that might knock out the Fairmile style (although I am no expert in that matter). The hull looks to be plank on frame with a gunwale on the sides only. Hull's deep cracks might be from some sort of unsupported (no fiberglass) coating on it.
Lew
I agree on what Roy had said about this model had a home made upper part (deck and above). However, the transom has a curve to it so that might knock out the Fairmile style (although I am no expert in that matter). The hull looks to be plank on frame with a gunwale on the sides only. Hull's deep cracks might be from some sort of unsupported (no fiberglass) coating on it.
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📝 Question of the Day?
6 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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I took a stab at the VSP question without looking it up on the internet and lost. I am amazed on how many get these question right. Congrats to those who knew all the answers (100%) without having to look the answer up.
As for the effectiveness of having a model boat (on our pond and probably other ponds), I think that it would be a nightmare with vegetation. We occasionly have problems with conventional propellers fouling. Pools like on SubWaterFilm would do just fine.
Lew
As for the effectiveness of having a model boat (on our pond and probably other ponds), I think that it would be a nightmare with vegetation. We occasionly have problems with conventional propellers fouling. Pools like on SubWaterFilm would do just fine.
Lew
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📝 3D Printed Models
9 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
Vice Admiral)✧ 27 Views · 4 Likes
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ABS is a very common material and has been around for quite a long time. 3D printer filament in ABS is a quite common use in recent years.
You might have seen (and still see) ABS on cars, for instance door handles and other trim. Usually black in color. Some might have faded to some shade of gray. One might of heard of these breaking due to a combination of UV exposure and fatigue.
I'm sure that any breakdown of ABS can be controlled by a protective finish and for models I always paint my ABS prints. For real cars they have a spray coating that brings back the dark black finish that seems to absorb into the ABS. Makes it look new and feel again.
Bottom line is to protect the ABS with an opaque paint even if you are using black ABS and want a black finish. You will probably be happy with the results.
There are many "tricks of the trade" for 3D printing that many experienced users know about and doubters don't. This includes making hollow parts where you can specify the amount of infill. Take for instance a basic shape like a cube. You can make one with all six sides having a solid surface and the inside varying from empty up to completely full automatically. One can make virtually the vast majority of various shaped objects this way. (See photo with tops cut off.) This is only one example of the advantages of 3D printing.
Lew
You might have seen (and still see) ABS on cars, for instance door handles and other trim. Usually black in color. Some might have faded to some shade of gray. One might of heard of these breaking due to a combination of UV exposure and fatigue.
I'm sure that any breakdown of ABS can be controlled by a protective finish and for models I always paint my ABS prints. For real cars they have a spray coating that brings back the dark black finish that seems to absorb into the ABS. Makes it look new and feel again.
Bottom line is to protect the ABS with an opaque paint even if you are using black ABS and want a black finish. You will probably be happy with the results.
There are many "tricks of the trade" for 3D printing that many experienced users know about and doubters don't. This includes making hollow parts where you can specify the amount of infill. Take for instance a basic shape like a cube. You can make one with all six sides having a solid surface and the inside varying from empty up to completely full automatically. One can make virtually the vast majority of various shaped objects this way. (See photo with tops cut off.) This is only one example of the advantages of 3D printing.
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📝 3D Printed Models
10 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
Vice Admiral)✧ 39 Views · 3 Likes
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What I was getting at is if someone makes a claim that rather than use a 3D print there is a stock material that is better and more resilient.
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📝 3D Printed Models
11 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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Has anyone out there made parts for model boats out of a durable, resilient, or a combination of both beyond the various materials used in standard home printers (resin, FDM, etc)?
I'm not talking about specialty materials such as metals or glass. The type of material to compared a 3D printed part would be along the line of wood, plastic, etc. that would most likely be from stock that would need to be made from raw stock such as round, flat or sheet, or even from a cast molded liquid or gel.
Lew
I'm not talking about specialty materials such as metals or glass. The type of material to compared a 3D printed part would be along the line of wood, plastic, etc. that would most likely be from stock that would need to be made from raw stock such as round, flat or sheet, or even from a cast molded liquid or gel.
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📝 3D Printed Models
11 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
Vice Admiral)✧ 41 Views · 4 Likes
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😎Nick, my 3D printers are enclosed from the manufacturer. The 3D prints in ABS are strong. Not long ago I got some white ABS (I usually use black) as a friend wanted white railings. Saved him a lot of time as there were a lot of railings.
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📝 3D Printed Models
12 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
Vice Admiral)✧ 45 Views · 4 Likes
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The choice of materials for 3D printing has been expanding quite a bit. It was recently been posted "...if I had 3D-printed the part, but it certainly wouldn't have been as resilient." This statement indicates to me that they know absolutely nothing about 3D printing.
I put this reply appropriately under this topic rather than as a reply to the build. Don't knock 3D printing if you haven't tried it. I understand that there are people that would find 3D printing difficult but don't make a false statement about something which could deter others from considering 3D printing as another tool for model building.
Lew
I put this reply appropriately under this topic rather than as a reply to the build. Don't knock 3D printing if you haven't tried it. I understand that there are people that would find 3D printing difficult but don't make a false statement about something which could deter others from considering 3D printing as another tool for model building.
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📝 Big question
15 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
Vice Admiral)✧ 26 Views · 3 Likes
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Murlough, I just gave you a bunch of likes to help you get motivated on posting more on this site. Keep it up. Lew
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📝 Big question
16 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
Vice Admiral)✧ 58 Views · 7 Likes
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I guess so. At 81, I have a lot of unfinished models to work on. Adding the ones that in the "boatyard" and "drydock" probably half of my fleet is down or incomplete. Good news is that I don't have any unbuilt kits but ideas on what I would like to scratch build. A lot of work ahead.
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📝 Sprite
17 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
Vice Admiral)✧ 35 Views · 9 Likes
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Bob, here (photos) is what I made as our club's rescue boat. I designed it to fit the boat and 3D printed it with some rubber padding added. Easy to remove with the two screws going into brass inserts mounted in the thickened deck. I know this is not a blunt "nose", but shows it can be done regardless of the bow shape.
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📝 Stuffing boxes, shafts, and props (revisited)
17 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
Vice Admiral)✧ 43 Views · 2 Likes
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Roy, so far I have been using M4 inserts. I make the hole in the props hub a medium press fit with some superglue so it aligns with the insert pretty good.
I don't build (or even have) speed/racing boats. I don't classify patrol boats as "speed boats". Thus I have no interest or issues with specialty shafts. Just keeping it simple with my scale boats.
Lew
I don't build (or even have) speed/racing boats. I don't classify patrol boats as "speed boats". Thus I have no interest or issues with specialty shafts. Just keeping it simple with my scale boats.
Lew
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📝 Stuffing boxes, shafts, and props (revisited)
17 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
Vice Admiral)✧ 72 Views · 9 Likes
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I noticed that props and shafts seems to be popping up in different subjects again. As it has been a while and there are new members on model-boats.com, perhaps this should be discussed again. As usual, chime in with your opinions.
Some of my boats (usually kits or RTR models given to me by others) have factory made shafts and props.
My focus here is on home made shafts, stuffing boxes, and props.
Seems some people go to a great extent to make the shafts and stuffing boxes (materials, bearings, etc.). I make my own out of copper/brass tubing (usually K&S) soldered together. There is a gap between the shaft and outer tube filled with Vaseline (petroleum jelly). I also added a filler tube near the motor end. Make your own length. Simple and no leaks over all these years.
As for props, the last few I designed as 3D printed them using ABS. Sure, I can't get a high polished brass finish on them but then I haven't seen many ships with that kind of finish. Virtually no expense, just time. If I want more, no problem. I probably spend less time in making a prop than searching for one. Two, three, four, five blades, whatever. ABS is tough but I can always print another. Not to mention replacing a lost prop.
Anyway, that's my opinion.
Lew
Some of my boats (usually kits or RTR models given to me by others) have factory made shafts and props.
My focus here is on home made shafts, stuffing boxes, and props.
Seems some people go to a great extent to make the shafts and stuffing boxes (materials, bearings, etc.). I make my own out of copper/brass tubing (usually K&S) soldered together. There is a gap between the shaft and outer tube filled with Vaseline (petroleum jelly). I also added a filler tube near the motor end. Make your own length. Simple and no leaks over all these years.
As for props, the last few I designed as 3D printed them using ABS. Sure, I can't get a high polished brass finish on them but then I haven't seen many ships with that kind of finish. Virtually no expense, just time. If I want more, no problem. I probably spend less time in making a prop than searching for one. Two, three, four, five blades, whatever. ABS is tough but I can always print another. Not to mention replacing a lost prop.
Anyway, that's my opinion.
Lew
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📝 Sprite
18 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
Vice Admiral)✧ 33 Views · 3 Likes
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Yes Bob. It was the worst storm we have ever had in the 60+ years I have been living in Florida. After replacing all the flooring and windows plus other work we are dry. Still trying to get things sorted out. We lived through the nightmare waking up to water on the floors, slipping and falling and hope no one has to go through anything like this. However, others have experienced much more damage. Five houses down from us a house burned completely to a concrete wall shell during this storm. Fire rescue could not respond because of weather conditions.
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📝 Sprite
19 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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Rod, could be. In my case (during Hurricane Milton) I could have ran my boats up and down the street and completely around my house, across the pond, and up into my garage (new harbor?). I had about 4-5 inches of water in it so all my boats except the sailboats could maneuver in it.
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📝 QOD for Alessandro
20 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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Hint: it has to do with the continuing inversion process of micro gas particles.
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📝 Sprite
22 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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But the junk mail keeps coming at the US taxpayers expense here. We gat a lot of days where we just get junk mail only only to throw it away. What a waste.
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📝 Sprite
23 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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Cost of most, if not all, hobby products has risen significantly. Weird thing is I was looking for another "dasmikro" sound unit (actually several) and the average price was about 4X as much as the same one I bought several years ago. These are cheap units and are massed produced where the price should be about that of a TV remote control. However I have seen them many times that in some places. The same unit price runs from $9(US) up to $60. Same photo, same info.
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📝 Lost Transmitter
24 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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Transmitters are not universal and that is a very common problem to not being able to bind. The question should be what is the value of the boat you have this setup in. If you have a lot of work and/or expenses in it get something dependable. There are a variety of low cost systems that are dependable and have a better range. Don't put junk electronics in a good boat. Lew
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📝 Three Springers at the SSMBC meet.
26 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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Phil H, not really based on one particular boat that I noticed. There are so many designs out there for the real boats.
Examining on the size of the boat and human figures I derenmined that the best combination would be in the 1/16 to 1/18 range. They can be a smaller boat, say 20 feet at 1/12 scale, but the cabin would need to be taller. Also, I noted that the odd shape of the hulls seem to be for those in the mid 20 feet length range.
The actual original Springers (models) have a one design specification for the size, hull shape, propeller, motor, and battery. This is so they can be used in competition (racing, games). This is why my models based on real boats that have two motors/props and I have only one motor/prop.
Lew
Examining on the size of the boat and human figures I derenmined that the best combination would be in the 1/16 to 1/18 range. They can be a smaller boat, say 20 feet at 1/12 scale, but the cabin would need to be taller. Also, I noted that the odd shape of the hulls seem to be for those in the mid 20 feet length range.
The actual original Springers (models) have a one design specification for the size, hull shape, propeller, motor, and battery. This is so they can be used in competition (racing, games). This is why my models based on real boats that have two motors/props and I have only one motor/prop.
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📝 Three Springers at the SSMBC meet.
27 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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Phil, the "Springers" are fictional model based on "truckable pushboats" being about 25 feet long. They are most often used in ponds, lakes, rivers where the boat is transported on a trailer. The pilot house can be removed so the load is not so high. The job they perform is usually moving work barges, but the can serve other needs.
The one Springer with the man holding a pole (back of the group) is based on a boat that moves floating debris away from the locks on the Little Goose Dam out in Washington State.
Lew
The one Springer with the man holding a pole (back of the group) is based on a boat that moves floating debris away from the locks on the Little Goose Dam out in Washington State.
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📝 Three Springers at the SSMBC meet.
27 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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Phil H, yes it is. Pretty hard to do with Springers. They are small and quirky. Lew
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📝 Three Springers at the SSMBC meet.
28 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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Finally, after quite a while (post hurricane Oct 2024) we are getting back to normal for our Suncoast Scale Model Boat Club meets. Good day today, not too hot and a mild breeze. No rain.
I didn't get a lot of photos as I did not have my camera with me. The zoom on the phone doesn't do justice with boats in the water.
However, I did get a photo of three of the four Springers (all based on real boats, one being local) together that I built. (Two are my son's.) We started to do a push off but my battery was running low and barely got back to the dock. Best model boat fun that I had in a year!
Lew
Sunday, September 21, 2025
I didn't get a lot of photos as I did not have my camera with me. The zoom on the phone doesn't do justice with boats in the water.
However, I did get a photo of three of the four Springers (all based on real boats, one being local) together that I built. (Two are my son's.) We started to do a push off but my battery was running low and barely got back to the dock. Best model boat fun that I had in a year!
Lew
Sunday, September 21, 2025
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📝 Disappointed
30 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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Ronald, actually I would venture to say that we agree on many things. Occasionally we all "hit that little bump in the road". Life's not perfect.
I use our sewing machine often. I used it on sails as well as Civil War tents and uniforms, as well as other clothing. My wife asks me to do sewing for her as well. Must be that mechanical instinct in me. I hope I don't get mislabeled because of this.
Lew
I use our sewing machine often. I used it on sails as well as Civil War tents and uniforms, as well as other clothing. My wife asks me to do sewing for her as well. Must be that mechanical instinct in me. I hope I don't get mislabeled because of this.
Lew
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📝 Disappointed
30 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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I agree with both you.
First, craftsmanship is the goal. Next is time and resources. You can't make everything with a carving knife so that is where a variety of tools comes in. These are the resources the builder has. More is better but there is a cutoff and that is cost, space, and ability.
My build used a variety build methods. So tools typically are hand tools, powered, and 3D printing. One other is purchased parts. Where I worked as an equipment designer it was "buy before make" (unless one can justify the cost.).
Lew
First, craftsmanship is the goal. Next is time and resources. You can't make everything with a carving knife so that is where a variety of tools comes in. These are the resources the builder has. More is better but there is a cutoff and that is cost, space, and ability.
My build used a variety build methods. So tools typically are hand tools, powered, and 3D printing. One other is purchased parts. Where I worked as an equipment designer it was "buy before make" (unless one can justify the cost.).
Lew
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📝 Ammusement
1 month ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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Maybe you misunderstood her. Do you play the sax? Lew
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📝 Sprite
1 month ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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30 inches? I know that I am not the only one that uses a Springer tug as a rescue boat. The Springers are 18 inches long (very easy to transport) and with the two "tow knees" (vertical push bumpers) are very handy. With a short length they are highly maneuverable.
Lew
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📝 2nd voyage on Lake Paterno of the 1:60 scale model of a schooner-armed steam gunboat, assisted by a
1 month ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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A few of you got it right about history, especially on that of the model you have. Plastic kits might have a short paragraph on the history of the kit printed on the side of the box. Perhaps that instilled in me to do the same for those that I have, whether a kit, scratch built, etc.
I do this with my tanks, vehicles, and my boats: I have a log book for each model which contains build information, drawings, photos (model and real boat), as well as the history including the marine architect and build yard plus specs. (See photos.)
Maybe an overkill, but I usually include info on the model for future repairs such as paint brand and color, electronics, parts info and more, and even instructions on how to open the model if it is complicated.
Also, Ronald, I agree to put this subject to rest. Let those out in Washington State figure out what they want the mountain to be called.
Lew
I do this with my tanks, vehicles, and my boats: I have a log book for each model which contains build information, drawings, photos (model and real boat), as well as the history including the marine architect and build yard plus specs. (See photos.)
Maybe an overkill, but I usually include info on the model for future repairs such as paint brand and color, electronics, parts info and more, and even instructions on how to open the model if it is complicated.
Also, Ronald, I agree to put this subject to rest. Let those out in Washington State figure out what they want the mountain to be called.
Lew
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📝 2nd voyage on Lake Paterno of the 1:60 scale model of a schooner-armed steam gunboat, assisted by a
1 month ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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And the point... ? Lew
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📝 Ammusement
1 month ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Vice Admiral)
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Humor me some more. I am still trying to figure out why men get hernias and women get hysterectomies. - Lew
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