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Deans Marine Air Sea Rescue Launch (ASRL)
Another boat that I bought and brought back to regular use. The model was being sold by the club I am a member of (Oxford Model Boat Club) as it had been donated by a member who was sadly suffering from health problems.
I have documented the work I did to the boat, mainly the replacement of the prop shaft and motor, and then more recently having to move the motor forward to accommodate a stronger coupling after the first one broke when I ran over a submerged branch in the water.
The model was returned to the water a few days ago and ran even better than it had before.
I expect to be getting quite a few hours on the water with this boat this year - Deans Marine boats certainly do sail well!
Oxford-Dave
4 months ago
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3 Photos
30 Likes
Billing Boats Boulogne Etaples
This is a boat I was lucky enough to be offered when I was visiting Black Park lake near Slough with my daughter. We were taking it in turns to sail my Billing's Samson II when a pleasant chap asked if would be interested in buying the Boulogne Etaples he had with him. It had been built to a very good standard by a friend of his who had since passed away, and he had been asked to dispose of his models to people who would appreciate them.
He wanted only a token sum, plus my word that I'd look after it. There were several local club members there who had been trying to buy it, but I discovered they were mainly interested in putting it on ebay for a tidy profit.
The model spends more time on the shelf than it does on the water as the detail work is quite fragile, but when I do take it out, it attracts a lot of attention due to the fine detail work of the original builder.
I have since bought a kit for the same model, simply because I get fed up with telling people that I didn't build it when they inevitably ask whether I did.
The attached photos show the detail work (taken in my 'workshop') and the on the water picture was taken at Hinksey Park in Oxford.
Oxford-Dave
6 months ago
8 Attributes
10 Photos
12 Likes
Model Slipway Tsekoa II
This model was bought ready built just over a year ago, since when it has been stored in its transport box waiting for me to have time & bench space to restore it to its original condition.
I have started and sold on two of these in the past, the first had very little done to it before I sold it when I moved abroad, and the second was some ten or more years later, which was sold when I moved back to the UK.
I am attaching some pictures in the hope that someone will recognise it and know its history.
The model was bought from someone near Southampton, but he hadn't had it long and didn't know much about it.
The wooden box and display stand are well made and the stand has Dave Metcalf's name on it, so I wonder whether this was one of Model Slipways demo models at some time.
If any of this looks familiar, please let me know. I am always interested in the history of the models I 'rescue' and restore to working condition.
Oxford-Dave
6 months ago
3 Attributes
1 Photo
19 Likes
Graupner Glasgow paddle tug
This model is one I have wanted for years, but I thought I'd never find one after Graupner folded.
However, I found this on ebay and it was only a little over an hour's drove to collect it (I couldn't imagine the damage a courier would do to a boat this heavy & fragile).
On getting it home, I replaced the radio with one of my own, and took it to the Oxford Model Boat Club's regular Sunday morning meeting. It floated well and at the water line, and the paddles turned, but far too fast. The 6v lead acid battery was refusing to hold charge so it was replaced with a NiMH.
On checking the boat over when I got home I found it to be completely dry inside, which was a relief, and on checking the motor it was an MFA geared 540, with a ratio of 2.5:1 at the output shaft, which then drove the paddles through a further 3:1 geared reduction.
After a little thought, I drove over to my local model shop (Howes) and bought two more MFA geared 540s, one at 11:1 and the other at 6:1. I decided to fit the 11:1 first, and next time out with the new motor and a good 6 cell NiMH pack, the Glasgow performed perfectly. Much easier throttle control with the higher gearing. The boat makes headway even when the paddles are revolving so slowly that I can see each individual paddle.
The boat needs a bit of attention to the details, but that will be done over the winter.
Overall, it was worth waiting for, though I am sure I'd have appreciated had it fallen into my lap earlier.
Oxford-Dave
6 months ago
6 Attributes
3 Photos
13 Likes
Billing Boats Samson II
I originally bought the kit and started to build a Samson II over 30 years ago, but I sold it unfinished when I left the country.
So, when I returned to model boating a few years after returning to the UK, I snapped this up when I saw it on eBay.
My timing wasn't the best, as I had to drive from Oxford to Cannock the day after Boxing Day 2018. The model was in fair condition, but had a pair of fairly high kv brushless motors turning racing props - hardly appropriate for a harbour craft!
I spent a week or two removing the shafts (they were at the wrong angle) and changing the motors for a pair of brushed 385s.
The model has seen plenty of time on the water, and is still in use.
Oxford-Dave
6 months ago
9 Attributes
4 Photos
13 Likes
Robbe W3 Police Boat
This is my most often sailed boat - it looks great on the water and has a fair turn of speed. I bought this from an estate sale and re-motored it six years ago, and since then it has seen more time on the water than all my other boats combined.
It's looking a little rough now, due to the use it has had and because it was attacked by an angry swan which flew across the pond and jumped on it!
Oxford-Dave
7 months ago
0 Attributes
7 Photos
2 Likes
Deans Marine Motor Gun Boat
I bought the Dean's Marine kit of the Motor Gun Boat from Harrow model shop in the early 90s. I set to and built it without any problems, and it was soon on the water. It was a lovely model to sail, both at my home water (Black Park, near Slough) and at the various open events I took it to over the next 2 or 3 years. Sadly, I sold the model when I moved abroad in 1996.
Nearly 30 years later, I still missed that boat, so bought another kit at Dean's Marine Christmas open day a couple of weeks ago.
I plan to get it finished ready for the better weather of the late spring.
Quite a few of the cast resin & white metal parts in the kit are in the process of being replaced by Dean's with 3D printed versions, and I am looking forward to preparing them to fit the model.
I am attaching a few pictures of my first MGB, the static pictures were taken in my daughters' paddling pool, the action shot was taken at Black Park.
Oxford-Dave
7 months ago
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Members Blogs
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SHG Shadow
I built an SHG Shadow in the lounge of our small flat in Acton (West London) over 40 years ago. I powered it with a Webra .20 and sailed it mainly at Black Park, near Slough, and also at Prince Park in Eastbourne.
I have no recollection of what happened to it, I assume I sold it when it became difficult to find places to use IC engines.
About 18 months ago, I saw a just started Shadow for sale on ebay which was only about 15 miles away, so I contacted the buyer, pressed the banknotes into his hand, and when I got home and unpacked it, 40+ years evaporated, just looking at the kit.
It had been started, but I decided to remove everything the previous builder had done and start again. Hopefully the pictures will show the brushed motor and crude speed controller.
I trimmed the hull back to the correct line, replaced the prop shaft and rudder, and installed a 2836 1000kv brushless out runner. At that point, some other boat sailed into my life and the Shadow was put away until the warmer weather made it possible to glass the hull and deck together without stinking the house out. Somehow, I managed to drift through the summer without thinking of the Shadow, but retrieved it from the loft yesterday and decided to take steps to finish to and get it on the water, years after it was started.
I have several (at least!) boats to build or restore, but this one is currently top of the pile.
Oxford-Dave
4 months ago
1 Post
3 Followers
6 Likes
Model Slipway Tsekoa restoration
I bought this boat second hand about 15 months ago, built and supposedly ready for the water, but although the exterior looked good, the shafts were rusted into the shaft tubes.
The model came with a transport/storage box and a display stand. I have discussed the model with Dave Metcalf (formerly of Model Slipway) and sent him some pictures and he has told me that it is one that he built - so this model is definitely worth returning to the water.
Other than minor cosmetic issues, the prop shafts and tubes are the only issue. I have removed one without any collateral damage (not easy as DM had installed them very thoroughly!) and have made a start on the second.
I now have to decide what to replace the shaft tubes with - the underwater fittings and the hole in the hull are for 8mm tubes, so my choice is limited. The de-luxe option is a pair of Raboesch prop shafts & tubes - but at a price - ยฃ120 for the pair, or I can use the simpler but equally sturdy tubes from Model Boat Bits, who have supplied the majority of the prop shaft assemblies in my other boats and all function well. The cost for a pair of these complete with oilers is ยฃ32.00 - quite a difference.
As this is not a high powered or fast vessel, I am inclined to go for the latter option and save myself nearly ยฃ90 in the process. As a pensioner, I do not have unlimited funds available.
Does anyone have any other opinions on my choice? It is a lovely model with an interesting provenance, but I suspect that the MBB shafts will be good enough - the model was originally fitted with similar shafts.
Oxford-Dave
5 months ago
4 Posts
5 Followers
18 Likes
Deans's Marine 63' ASR restoration
Thirty plus years ago I built a British Power Boats co. Motor Gun Boat from the Dean's Marine kit, and sailed it all around the south of England at various shows. I sadly sold it when I was moving abroad, but never forgot the great little boat.
Last December, I was shown a Dean's 63ft ASR (same hull as the MGB both in model and full size versions) which the oxford model boat club was selling as it had been donated in order to help the club raise funds.
The motor (540), ESC and rudder servo plus Tx & Rx were removed by another member of the club and a little money changed hands.
Got it home, and started working on it. Obviously, I needed to replace the drive and radio components, as the prop shaft and stern tube simply fell out when I picked it up - I think it was held in mainly by the motor coupling!
The coaming around the deck edge had definitely seen better days and was held together but patches of plasticard. I moved the entire coaming and replaced it, with a light wooden strip to help it sit against the edge of the deck.
I then turned my attention to the stern tube. I had a spare of the same size (bought a while ago from Steve at Model Boat Bits) and set about removing the mass of filler that was intended to hold it in place. Once the filler was removed, a rather large hole was revealed.
At this point, I visited Dean's Marine for their Christmas open day and bought a second MGB kit, as I still wanted to replace my old one and also because the dimensions for mounting the prop shaft, etc. were the same for both the MGB & the ASR.
I have followed Ron Dean's advice and added an inner stern tube support as a precaution. Just a piece of 1/8th ply held in place with microballons and cyano.
Two months or so later, I now have the ASR hull ready for the final placement of the battery tray & radio gear, which shouldn't take long. I will then make a start on its sibling the MGB.
Oxford-Dave
5 months ago
Recent Posts
๐ Question of the Day?
3 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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I'm sure that was the same question as yesterday, slightly rephrased. I got it wrong yesterday and answered exactly the same today - still wrong!
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๐ Question of the Day?
3 months ago by
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As a native of Oxford, it would have been disgraceful had I got this one wrong!
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๐ Question of the Day?
4 months ago by
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I feel like I've been answering the same two questions for a week or more.
One the plus side, I am back on the top 20 list.
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๐ Question of the Day?
4 months ago by
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Yet another recycled question. Perhaps the AI keeps asking until everyone gets it right!
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๐ Question of the Day?
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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Same here, just made it back up to 50%
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๐ Question of the Day?
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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More submarines, the AI is obsessed with them!
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๐ Question of the Day?
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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I reckon that Calypso should be the right answer based on the number of us who selected it - including me!
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๐ Question of the Day?
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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OK, so it was easy enough to answer this one yesterday a week or two after it was previously asked, but asking the same question two days in a row is taking it too far (or maybe too close).
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๐ Question of the Day?
4 months ago by
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That wasn't too difficult, I am sure I have answered the same question with the same answer recently on here.
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๐ Question of the Day?
4 months ago by
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Yet another submarine question! And yet another wrong answer as I know nothing about subs!
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๐ Question of the Day?
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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Strong sense of deja vu with today's question.
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๐ Question of the Day?
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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I chose the only answer that seemed feasible for the date given, and for once, I got it right!
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๐ฌ Re: French fishing boat
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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Looks like a Billing's Boulogne Etaples. I compared your photo with the model I have on the shelf and they are very similar.
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๐ Progress today
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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My current Shadow was barely started when I bought it, so the only aroma it possesses is the smell of the resin used to mould the hull & deck.
Like you, I have spent very little on it so far, spare receiver & ESC, spare motor and motor mount, spare prop shaft & tube. I even knocked up a stand for it from some scrap ply.
I've got the motor in today, and connected to the prop shaft, but had some decorating to do so couldn't make the connectors for the ESC - hopefully tomorrow.
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๐ฌ Re: SHG Shadow
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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I know that Howes motor - a clubmate had one at the pond recently. That's a much bigger motor than I'm planning to use, which is a 2836 out runner, 1000kv, starting with a 4mm two blade brass prop and a 3S lipo pack.
I actually bought the prop in Howes yesterday, I live about 30 minutes drive from the shop.
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๐ฌ Re: SHG Shadow
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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Neil W,
What size & kv of brushless did you replace the ic engine in your shadow with, and how many cells do you use?
Having restored a Deans ASR recently, and after a few weeks having to move the motor, I want to get it as close to right as I can first time with the Shadow.
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๐ฌ Re: SHG Shadow
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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That does look good. I will have to replace the superstructure, probably with plasticard. I remember the vacuum formed superstructure as being quite fragile - especially with a i.c. engine.
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๐ฌ Re: SHG Shadow
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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The Shadow was the last IC powered boat I had, spent years after than flying RC planes, all glow powered.
I have to admit that I don't miss the oily that went everywhere, but the boats did go well!
I think I can get the same level of performance with a brushless now, and with a lot less weight (and zero mess). I was running a Deans Marine ASR today with the same size motor I will be putting in the Shadow, but 3S Lipo instead of the 2S I use in the ASR.
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๐ฌ Re: SHG Shadow
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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I used to walk along Noel Road to reach West Acton tube station when we lived on Pierrepoint Road.
We were living in a flat on Horn Lane when I built the first Shadow. Over 40 years ago, but I can still see the houses and shops around Acton in my mind.
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๐ฌ Re: SHG Shadow
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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Zooma - my current Shadow is orange, but I seem to remember that my first one was yellow. No mobile phones back in the early 80s, and film was expensive.
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๐ SHG Shadow
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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I built an SHG Shadow in the lounge of our small flat in Acton (West London) over 40 years ago. I powered it with a Webra .20 and sailed it mainly at Black Park, near Slough, and also at Prince Park in Eastbourne.
I have no recollection of what happened to it, I assume I sold it when it became difficult to find places to use IC engines.
About 18 months ago, I saw a just started Shadow for sale on ebay which was only about 15 miles away, so I contacted the buyer, pressed the banknotes into his hand, and when I got home and unpacked it, 40+ years evaporated, just looking at the kit.
It had been started, but I decided to remove everything the previous builder had done and start again. Hopefully the pictures will show the brushed motor and crude speed controller.
I trimmed the hull back to the correct line, replaced the prop shaft and rudder, and installed a 2836 1000kv brushless out runner. At that point, some other boat sailed into my life and the Shadow was put away until the warmer weather made it possible to glass the hull and deck together without stinking the house out. Somehow, I managed to drift through the summer without thinking of the Shadow, but retrieved it from the loft yesterday and decided to take steps to finish to and get it on the water, years after it was started.
I have several (at least!) boats to build or restore, but this one is currently top of the pile.
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๐ฌ Re: Wallasey Model Boat Society Videos
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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I have visited the pond and met some of the guys who sail there when visiting my wife's cousin who lives in Wallasey. I hope to be able to hide a boat in the car for the next visit.
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๐ Question of the Day?
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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My stab in the dark missed by a mile. I refuse to cheat by searching the internet for the correct answer - therefore most of my answers are guesswork.
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๐ Question of the Day?
4 months ago by
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Pure luck on my part today. Took a stab in the dark and got it right through the heart!
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๐ฌ Re: Re: Deans Marine Air Sea Rescue Launch (ASRL)
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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I took the ASR along with me to the Oxford MBC's regular Sunday morning meet at the pond. The boat was on the water for over three hours, with a battery change after two hours. Ran very well, no problems at all.
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๐ฌ Re: Deans Marine Air Sea Rescue Launch (ASRL)
4 months ago by
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Yes, it has already proved itself to be a very versatile boat - in other words, a lot of fun!
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๐ Deans Marine Air Sea Rescue Launch (ASRL)
4 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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Another boat that I bought and brought back to regular use. The model was being sold by the club I am a member of (Oxford Model Boat Club) as it had been donated by a member who was sadly suffering from health problems.
I have documented the work I did to the boat, mainly the replacement of the prop shaft and motor, and then more recently having to move the motor forward to accommodate a stronger coupling after the first one broke when I ran over a submerged branch in the water.
The model was returned to the water a few days ago and ran even better than it had before.
I expect to be getting quite a few hours on the water with this boat this year - Deans Marine boats certainly do sail well!
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๐ Success!
5 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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I took the ASR to the Oxford model boat club's Thursday afternoon session at the pond, and it behaved perfectly. It seemed a little faster, and definitely quieter, but the move forward of the motor by an inch and a half has made very little difference.
I took two 2S 2900 mah lipos, changed them over after about 90 minutes on the water.
Sometimes it is hard to beat a good simple boat that simply works as it should.
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๐ Question of the Day?
5 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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I got today's question right, but my overall percentage has gone down. Something isn't working as it should, I think.
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๐ฌ Re: coupling trouble solved (hopefully!)
5 months ago by
๐ฌ๐ง Oxford-Dave (

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DG - that short double coupling looks very interesting - and very smooth in the video. May I ask where you found it? Looks ideal for my boats with not enough space to install a double Huco coupling.
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