Members Harbour
2 Photos
3 Likes
Thornycroft MTB 49
My very first foray into model boat building and anything remote controlled. Took about 4 months to finish it using Vic Smeed plans.
nickcouldry
3 years ago
10 Attributes
Members Blogs
6 Posts
9 Followers
40 Likes
Newbie takes on Vic Smeed's Thornycroft 73' 9" MTB
I love making plastic model kits but I've always fancied making an RC model boat ever since I saw a Leander class frigate being made by Bob Symes on TV in 'Model World' back in the 70s. Having had no model boat building experience and no knowledge of electronics I considered myself more than qualified to 'throw one together'...
After half an hour on Google I found myself buying a set of Vic Smeed plans for a 1/24 scale Thornycroft MTB and a Belair kit for it. It was when they turned up that I realised what I'd let myself in for.
Firstly I did a 'dry run' with the Belair Kit. All seemed reasonably straightforward so I got down to chamfering the keel pieces. Then I started glueing all the bits together, leaving a 1/4" gap for the propeller shaft. I didn't have a set square, so used some lego stolen from my son to make one.
When my timber turned up I started to fit the chines and gunwale. I noticed my first gunwale strip had made the stem/bow/front bit too sharp. It needed a bit more curve, so I added a couple of 'spacers' to the inner strip so the outer strip would give a broader curve and ensured the inner strip wouldn't be pushed inwards by adding a strut from the stem reinforcement. I then started to apply the skin (1/16" ply), moving from stern to bow.
Of course it started really easily, but as I approached the curvy bits towards the front I started to use cardboard to make patterns for the pieces of ply I'd be cutting. Some of these I'd soak in hot water for a couple of hours so I could get a decent bend to them. I used PVA glue with superglue for when I couldn't use clamps and needed an instant strong bond.
On the hull pieces I decided to cut the apertures for the portholes, but wait until I'd varnished it all before fitting the nice shiny portholes I'd ordered from Amati.
So as you can see, the bow looked a right state - I didn't have any clamps capable of bringing the skin together neatly at the front. I knew that whatever I used to fill it would have to be very tough to withstand the knocks I knew it would get in this landlubber's hands. So I used milliput, an epoxy putty that sets rock hard, won't crumble and is waterproof.
I filled with wood filler, then gave it all a good sanding starting with coarse sandpaper, working down to a fine one. So here's where I'm up to - quite pleased as it looks the part and more or less symmetrical.
Now I need to think about what I'll be putting inside it to make it go so I can fit and seal the prop shaft, varnish and then see if she floats
nickcouldry
3 years ago
Recent Posts
๐ฌ Re: Thornycroft MTB 49
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
Hey Nerys - i'm pondering a Damen Stan Patrol 5509 (modified as Sea Shepherd's new anti whaling ship) in 1/72 scale - will have to scratch build most of it, including the interesting axe bow hull - reckon it will be about 30" in length - whaddya think?
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ฌ Re: Vic Smeed Thornycroft MTB maiden voyage
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
yes i was a bit taken aback when i weighed her, but to my untrained eye she seemed to sit ok in the water and i didn't really want her skipping over the ripples ๐
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ฌ Re: Thornycroft MTB maiden voyage
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
Thank Nerys - tiller arm popped off the servo - may fit a bracket to keep it in place :-)
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ฌ Re: Thornycroft MTB maiden voyage
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
Cheers Rick!
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ฌ Re: Vic Smeed Thornycroft MTB maiden voyage
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
hey jb - a hefty 4.5kg!
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Thornycroft MTB 49
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
My very first foray into model boat building and anything remote controlled. Took about 4 months to finish it using Vic Smeed plans.
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Vic Smeed Thornycroft MTB maiden voyage
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
My Vic Smeed Thornycroft MTB has been sitting in dry dock over the summer, due to holidays but also procrastination due to my fear that when I finally launched her she'd go straight to the bottom...
Anyway, this morning I plucked up courage, took her down to Black Park lake near Slough and chucked her in. She appeared to sit well in the water. I gently engaged the throttle and waved a tearful farewell as she moved off 20 yards or so towards the middle of the lake. I took her round in a wide arc and back to port. I repeated this a couple of times and did some straight runs until the tiller mechanism jammed, fortunately she was within grabbing distance.
I was so relieved and pleased that she worked. She had a good turn of speed (nothing too dramatic) and seemed to steer well, keeping fairly upright.
There appeared to be little if any water ingress. The water cooling system for the ESC didn't work (I suspect kinks in the tube) but it didn't appear to be overheating. I'll attend to that and also the tiller mechanism before I take her out again.
Finally got my sea legs!
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Thornycroft MTB maiden voyage
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
My Vic Smeed Thornycroft MTB has been sitting in dry dock over the summer, due to holidays but also procrastination due to my fear that when I finally launched her she'd go straight to the bottom...
Anyway, this morning I plucked up courage, took her down to Black Park lake near Slough and chucked her in. She appeared to sit well in the water. I gently engaged the throttle and waved a tearful farewell as she moved off 20 yards or so towards the middle of the lake. I took her round in a wide arc and back to port. I repeated this a couple of times and did some straight runs until the tiller mechanism jammed, fortunately she was within grabbing distance.
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Cabin cruiser hull?
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
Hey doug - thanks so much for all this info! Bluebird is close, but i think when i get round to the build i'm going to see if i can get plans for Mistral as it's just that bit broader in the beam and is closer to the Breda ๐
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Cabin cruiser hull?
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
wow - thanks for the tip - i've found some and they're pretty close (shape of the hull and also the curved transom)
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Cabin cruiser hull?
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
Brilliant - thanks Martin - very similar and some great reference shots! - i think i may have tracked down something that's pretty close - the 'Bluebird of Chelsea' which Sarik do plans and a parts set for - right length, just slightly narrower in the beam which I may be able to adjust if and when I build her ๐
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Cabin cruiser hull?
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
Hi all - I'm after some help...
I'd like to build a specific twin screw cabin cruiser (see images). I'd like to build it in 1/24 scale, so the hull length would be 26" and the beam 6.5". Does anyone know of any plans, hull sets or fibre glass hulls that would be close to what I'm after? Thanks in advance for your help ๐
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ฌ Re: Complete and ready to go...
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
thanks bruce - hope she performs on the water!
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ฌ Re: Complete and ready to go...
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
thanks JB!
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ฌ Re: Complete and ready to go...
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
thanks pete - just waiting for some decent weather ๐
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ฌ Re: Complete and ready to go...
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
thanks robert - i'll be keeping everything crossed...
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ฌ Re: Complete and ready to go...
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
thanks colin!
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ฌ Re: Complete and ready to go...
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
๐คฃ
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ฌ Re: Complete and ready to go...
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
thanks rick - i'm sure she'll look very atmospheric at the bottom of the lake covered in algae ๐คฃ
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Complete and ready to go...
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ฌ Re: Nearly there...
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
thanks rick - certainly been a learning curve for me...
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ฌ Re: Nearly there...
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
thanks martin! ๐ค
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Nearly there...
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ She floats!!!
3 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Battery set up
4 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
thanks toradog - i'll look into that - useful to know! ๐
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Battery set up
4 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
gotcha - thanks doug - could you recommend the correct type of wiring to get? (there seems to be quite a choice out there...)
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Battery set up
4 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
cheers for the tip doug - I've actually ordered exactly the set up you describe (along with 10 spare fuses - i'm bound to need some) - i'm thinking of positioning this and an isolation switch in the space under the front hatch in the bow along with the receiver...
i've got batteries on order (2x 3300 mAh 6 volt NiMh battery packs) - slowly getting there ๐ค
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Battery set up
4 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
And thanks for this - I prefer to make if I can - and it looks reasonable straightforward ๐
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Battery set up
4 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
Brilliant - thank you so much Doug for sharing your knowledge - i can move forward with a little more confidence now! ๐
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received
๐ Battery set up
4 years ago by
๐ฌ๐ง nickcouldry (
Petty Officer 1st Class)
Flag
Hi all - I'm currently putting together a Vic Smeed Thornycroft MTB. It's only got the one prop, which will be powered by a Fusion 3535-05 1500kv outrunner, complemented with a Seaking-30A-V3 ESC. I know next to nothing about batteries, but do know that I could use Nimh batteries in two (4 cell?) packs to power the setup (good to keep the weight distributed evenly). Whenever I can bring myself to look at batteries I'm immediately confused by the different set ups/amperage etc and have to have a quiet lie down somewhere...
Could any of you old salts help with a recommendation for a battery set up that would work for me? And one other thing - any recommendations for a decent mounting for the outrunner?
▲
โฉโฉ
No likes yet
This member will receive 1 point
for every like received