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Model Boats Website
Admiral)
Liked "Ouch " 2 days ago
Liked Perkasa, nearly finished 4 days ago
Liked Re: Finishing the hull 4 days ago
Liked Re: Comtesse 5 days ago
Liked Kupido fishing schooner 6 days ago
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United Kingdom
Recent Posts
📝 Speed controller or RC failed?
4 hours ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 23 Views · 2 Likes
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Thanks Dave 976 - model has been stored in garage for the last couple of months, having last been used in November - replacing wiring in a Billings Swarte Zee is not an easy option - access below decks in very tight - will keep testing on dry land, before next water test. Fortunately a water test is safe, as we have access to rowing boats to retrieve recalcitrant models. Replacing the wiring is a last resort.
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Colin H
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📝 Speed controller or RC failed?
8 hours ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 48 Views · 3 Likes
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Swapped channels as you suggested Colin, and all works. So replaced correct channels and all still works, just needed centralising the esc. So it seems that just unplugging and plugging back in servo cables into receiver cleared whatever the problem was - just goes to show that such a simple operation can solve a problem. thanks again
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📝 Speed controller or RC failed?
9 hours ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 49 Views · 1 Like
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Thanks Colin - will have to try swapping channels as I do not have a tester.
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📝 Speed controller or RC failed?
10 hours ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 50 Views · 3 Likes
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Went to use one of my boats at the weekend, and as usual tested before going out. Turned everything on, RC works fine for rudder, but motor just went full power with no control from transmitter. Had another good look today, and nothing obvious wrong. Any ideas which is more likely to have failed. RC system is a simple Futaba Attack 2 channel, and speed controller is an old Hunter Systems advance. Suggestions please.
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💬 Re: Billings Polar
14 hours ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 12 Views · 2 Likes
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Photos of the internals - first one shows the age of the model with an old fashioned rheostat for speed control and battery space in the forward hold. The others show the superstructure space with receiver velcroed onto the plastic gear box cover, which is required to stop the gearbox grease splattering everywhere. The gears are Meccano, and provide contra rotating twin propellers from a single motor. The motor is buried under the deck, and I cannot remember what it is. Just hope it never needs replacing!
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Colin H
💬 Re: "Ouch "
2 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 102 Views · 5 Likes
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Now that is model boating - with beuatiful models - well done Buxton
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📝 Bristol pilot cutter - Three Daughters
4 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 11 Views · 8 Likes · 2 Comments
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Based on the Sarik Hobbies Katie by David Alderton. Built to be a working version rather than a pristine yacht like the real life 'Breeze', which the original plans were based on. Only recently completed and undergone sea trials, where the usual odd bits were found to need sorting. So far only has her 'core' sails fitted. The topsail has not yet been made, and depending on how things go and her sailing credentials, will see if it is necessary, as storage with a keel to mast cap of nearly 5 feet, the extra 18inches of top mast ,may not be practical.
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📝 Rigging Thames Barge
4 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 31 Views · 1 Like
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See the build blog for Three Daughters to see her in action.
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📝 Sea trials
4 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 32 Views · 8 Likes · 3 Comments
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Finally got the Three Daughters onto the water. Cold, but despite the forecast of some breeze, it was noticeable by its absence. However, getting her to the water despite her weight was ok, and she sat to the water line perfectly. The leech of the mainsail needs tightening, as done sorting the mainsheet drum winch - sheet kept using the spindle rather than the drum, so need to resolve sheet tension/feed. Attended unusually today by my wife for the photo opportunities- photos were great, but the videos failed. Will now move Three daughters to my harbour and post further updates there.
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💬 Re: Billings Polar
5 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 29 Views · 0 Likes
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I will do some internal photos next time I get the boat out. It is buried at the back of the garage, and I only took a few photos in a hurry when sorting something else out.
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📝 Billings Polar
6 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 12 Views · 14 Likes · 5 Comments
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My first radio control model built about 20 years ago. Only needs 2 channel radio. Built to a budget, so has only a single motor, driving the twin props through a home made gearbox, using Meccano gears and sheet brass for the frame. Alignment of gears and shafts was fairly straightforward, although it is showing its age now, and the gearbox can be a bit noisy, even when well greased. Added the crew to give it a bit of realism.
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📝 Billings Zwarte Zee
6 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 12 Views · 9 Likes
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One I built many years ago, and still use regularly. The fire jets all work, powered by a car windscreen washer pump in the bow with an intake through the side of the hull. Jets shoot water about 6 feet, so can have fun when youngsters are watching and get a quick shoot of water. Motor is 12v, so same battery can power pump, which means a small extra battery for the receiver. The big problem with this model is access to main hatch under superstructure, so battery access is very tight. Main stern hatch has easier access, but the weight of the 12 v battery is too much aft. The contacts on the rudder servo, energise the pump, by swinging the transmitter to maximum swing with trim tab maximum. This was built with only 2 channel radio, so had to dream up a switch solution for the pump.
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📝 Rigging Thames Barge
6 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 21 Views · 2 Likes
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Target is this weekend - weather permitting. Will update the build blog if successful and then move it over to harbour.
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Colin H
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💬 Re: USS Juneau
8 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 70 Views · 4 Likes
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Wow - I struggle to store a 4ft boat - no chance for this size, except with a divorce! Good luck.
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📝 Rigging Thames Barge
10 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 35 Views · 2 Likes
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Thread is #21 3 strand twisted tarred nylon seine twine, as recommended by Sailtails. So it is about 2mm thick. Splicing involved magnifying glasses, as the eyes are not as young and clear as they were, and needle nosed tweezers. After doing about 20 odd splices I ended up taking only about 10 minutes per splice.
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📝 Launching cradle
10 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 76 Views · 1 Like
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Whilst on the subject - has anyone come up with a safe way to launch a 28lb yacht from a landing stage? So, I cannot get into the water, and cannot just lean down and launch. Stage is about 1 foot above water level, and my old ways of launching power boats is as described below with a launching cradle loops, but that does not work with mast and sails in the way, and cannot just hold onto the mast to launch as with lightweight yachts. Thoughts please?
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📝 Rigging Thames Barge
11 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 46 Views · 7 Likes
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AndyN - your wish is my command - just a snip of some of the splices I have done - I think in total there were about 21.
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📝 Rigging Thames Barge
11 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 49 Views · 3 Likes
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Sorry if I have missed the point AndyN - thought we were talking about creating neat rigging. I agree to use of finer thread for whipping a lifesize splice, but not in model scale. Leaving a splice 'open' in model scle also shows attention to detail.
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📝 Rigging Thames Barge
11 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 48 Views · 0 Likes
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Yep that's me - mad, but the end result is worth it. But at a scale of 1/12 I think it is justifiable. Smaller scale and then yes, maybe a fine knot sealed with super glue.
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📝 Rigging Thames Barge
12 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 49 Views · 4 Likes
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Depending how accurate you want to be in the standing rigging, it is always worth splicing rather than knotting - very fiddly, and obviously does not work with woven thread - have spliced all the rigging on my old Bristol POilot Cutter, and looks far neater than any other way of ending a rope.
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fireboat
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📝 Disaster voyage rebirth
18 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 59 Views · 1 Like
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That's appalling - good luck with the rebuild
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PeterJ
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📝 Praise for a company
28 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 47 Views · 1 Like
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Recommended them by my model shop in West Sussex - absolutely brilliant tools, especially for cleaning out fine slots such as scuppers.
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Colin H
📝 Guestbook
28 days ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 69 Views · 15 Likes
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I have only been a member of this site for a couple of months now, and I have never come across such a wide mix of people and skills, who are so friendly, with never a bad word said. The support and friendliness is quite brilliant in this day and age, when half the world is either fighting or arguing. Long may this frindliness and worldwide harmony continue.
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📝 Final tests
2 months ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 64 Views · 6 Likes · 3 Comments
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Finally completed test floating, and she sets perfectly to her waterline. A bit surprised as with about 17lb of ballast, the final weight is 28lb, and I thought she would be a bit low. As part of test, also checked dismantling for transport, which worked well. Now just need the right weather, as standing on the waterside with ice all around is not appealing.
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📝 lippo wind up
2 months ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 91 Views · 0 Likes
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Just finished building a Bristol cutter, using gel cell 6v, as the weight has saved cost of extra lead. Also use a 12v version in a tug, giving plenty of power, but also crucially easily powers a car washer pump, to make the fire jets work with a range of about 5 feet.
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📝 Complete?
2 months ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 75 Views · 8 Likes · 3 Comments
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All sails now made, and hoisted. Pretty pleased with the end result. Sheeting all in place, although I have left some of the lines a bit long, until we have completed the first few sailings and made any adjustments. Like any model though you see bits that you wish you had spent longer on making better, but for my first yacht, I think this will do. Will post sailing action when weather is more conducive to standing on the bank, and certainly when there is more breeze.
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📝 First sail hoisted
2 months ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 90 Views · 5 Likes
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Finally got the first sail completed. Pretty pleased. Made accurately to sail plan as per the rest of the boat, but should have checked and re-checked length of the luff. Not sure I have sufficient space to tighten it properly, so may have to adjust clew and head fittings.
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💬 Re: First sail
2 months ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 95 Views · 2 Likes
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Yes Ron, Gary has given me a lot of leads, from winch lines through sail making. He suggested cotton poplin for the material, and like many builders I adapted his sail making, so the seams are all zig-zag machine stitched to look neater and to make the hems lie flat, especially the leech.
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📝 First sail
2 months ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 95 Views · 2 Likes · 4 Comments
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Taken a few days, but being slow and careful. First sail I have ever made, now fully sewn, just waiting for eyelet tools to arrive, then an iron and it will be ready for hoisting. Just another 2 or 3 to go, deopending on whether to do topsail or not
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📝 Starting the sails
3 months ago by 🇬🇧 luckyduck ( Petty Officer 1st Class)
Petty Officer 1st Class)✧ 98 Views · 3 Likes
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Now starting the sails, right out of my comfort zone, but getting guidance from she who owns the sewing machine. So far material, thread, etc has cost about £15, considerably below the cost of Nylet sails, which are unaffordable to me, but I can understand why sailmakers are so skilled. This is hard just doing the short hem for practice.
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