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Liked Re: Classic Model Power Boats 6 hours ago
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Liked Re: Stiletto superstructures 5 days ago
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💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
6 hours ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave (
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I don't think I have ever seen a balance point specified for a model boat, which is odd as coming from an aeromodelling background, it is always marked and failing to get it right is usually disastrous.
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cenbeth
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💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
2 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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The print shop I use is on a small industrial estate in Witney, about 6 miles away, but it's our nearest town for shopping, etc.
They charge me £3.60 to scan a plan, but I don't know what costs to print one. The machine decided to print the Waverider so they gave it me foc.
Scaling up (or down) should simply involve telling the printer to print at 120% or whatever degree of enlargement or reduction you want.
They charge me £3.60 to scan a plan, but I don't know what costs to print one. The machine decided to print the Waverider so they gave it me foc.
Scaling up (or down) should simply involve telling the printer to print at 120% or whatever degree of enlargement or reduction you want.
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💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
2 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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I popped into the local print shop again today, and left a few minutes later with a PDF of the Lesro Javelin plan in case anyone fancies building one.
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💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
2 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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That's a nice idea, Bob, but I can't imagine where they'd have found the brushless motor & ESC or the Lipos back in 1975!
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Madwelshman
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
3 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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The Waverider is my idea of a real classic. I can still remember yearning for one about 55 years ago, and I finally managed to achieve that wish. It was quite a task to build for a youngster as the wood was quite chunky and hard to shape with my primitive tools and skills. I did eventually finish it, but my interests had changed and it was never fitted with the motor I had bought for it (Decaperm), and the radio (Gem 1+1) had already been allocated to an RC glider.
I never found out what happened to my Waverider, I suspect my parents gave it or threw it away when I left for university. 😭
I never found out what happened to my Waverider, I suspect my parents gave it or threw it away when I left for university. 😭
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Madwelshman
📝 Adding a Reverse to Forwards Only ESC?
4 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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You can reverse the direction of a brushless motor by swapping two out of the three connections between the ESC and the motor. It should be possible to use a servo to do that, though with the cost of brushless ESCs, I am not sure it would be worth the effort.
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RodC
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
4 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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Yes, the plans look identical except in size. Which came first, I wonder? I could trawl through my extensive collection of Model Boats magazines, but my indexing only cover the magazine contents, not the adverts. Maybe I should add them, shouldn't take too many years!
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💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
4 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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I really need to complete the Arrow before starting anything else - I started the Arrow over five years ago, and it has just sat in the loft looking unloved since then.
Finally I have gathered all the parts up and transferred them to my bench, but I need to move it out of the way every time I want to do any work on the boats I regularly take out.
A bit of Arrow building makes a pleasant change from fettling the fast electrics after every day out at the lake!
Finally I have gathered all the parts up and transferred them to my bench, but I need to move it out of the way every time I want to do any work on the boats I regularly take out.
A bit of Arrow building makes a pleasant change from fettling the fast electrics after every day out at the lake!
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Madwelshman
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
5 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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Well, I did say 'around' three feet!
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Madwelshman
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
5 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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I've got a few boats to finish first - but there are no rules about building them in order! I prefer models of around three feet, more than that take up too much space, less and they're harder to see on the water.
I've got more than enough to keep me going until I'm at least 110, but I doubt I manage that. Doesn't stop me from buying more though!
I've got more than enough to keep me going until I'm at least 110, but I doubt I manage that. Doesn't stop me from buying more though!
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Madwelshman
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
5 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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I have just taken delivery of the of the Lesro Javelin plan and building instructions.
The plan looks to be in good condition, so I think I will be future proofing this one as well by taking it to the same print shop that scanned my Waverider plan last week.
The plan looks to be in good condition, so I think I will be future proofing this one as well by taking it to the same print shop that scanned my Waverider plan last week.
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Madwelshman
Ronald
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💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
6 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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I like the look of all of those options, may well use one or a composite of several when I reach the superstructure stage.
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Madwelshman
ChrisF
💬 Re: 48" Aerokits Sea Queen
7 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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I couldn't see any means of clamping the the skins to the keel if I fitted both together. The instructions do suggest fitting the deck hatches into their location (without glue)to keep everything straight. Seems to be working so far.
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Madwelshman
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
7 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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I just had a thought - in the loft I have a large collection of Model Boats magazines, most of which I have catalogued, so a quick search on my laptop revealed that the Lesro Stiletto was the subject of a kit review (along with the Lesro Pilot Boat in the July 1982 edition. Ten minutes for removing unbuilt model boat kits later, I had the magazine in my hands, and for anyone interested I will include a photo of the two page article with this post. I have also collected some pictures of the Stiletto on line (avoiding the multitude of ladies footwear!) and I think it should be a fairly straightforward job to convert the rather plain Arrow into the visually more interesting Stiletto.
The picture was taken in natural light in my modelling room, and the part-built Arrow supported the magazine perfectly.
The picture was taken in natural light in my modelling room, and the part-built Arrow supported the magazine perfectly.
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Madwelshman
zooma
Ronald
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
7 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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Thanks for that piece of information - I might well have simply made the superstructure in one piece as a lift out and wondered how to keep the water out!
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Madwelshman
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
7 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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Thank you for confirming my thoughts on the Stiletto/Arrow pair and the larger ones as well. Once I have finished the Arrow hull, I might convert it to a Stiletto as it looks better (at least to my eyes) than the rather flat Arrow. Or possibly do both.
Just had another thought, would the superstructures be interchangeable (between each version of the same size)?
Just had another thought, would the superstructures be interchangeable (between each version of the same size)?
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Madwelshman
💬 Re: 48" Aerokits Sea Queen
7 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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I have several boxes of balsa and ply offcuts - and I do use pieces from them now and then.
I was planning the keel and chine stringers ready to add the second bottom sheet of ply to my Arrow and realised I was was carefully collecting up the shavings and putting them in a bag - they will contribute (very slightly!) to heating our house in the winter when I burn them in the wood burner. Very little gets thrown away.
I was planning the keel and chine stringers ready to add the second bottom sheet of ply to my Arrow and realised I was was carefully collecting up the shavings and putting them in a bag - they will contribute (very slightly!) to heating our house in the winter when I burn them in the wood burner. Very little gets thrown away.
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Madwelshman
Ronald
💬 Re: 48" Aerokits Sea Queen
7 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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Recycling old plastic bags can become an addiction - especially when you start saving even more of the “better ones” as being perfect for storing all your other plastic bags in….😂"
I think this a disease that affects most modellers, it is a sub-set of the the 'that'll come in useful some day' syndrome.
The main problem is that when we need that thing you carefully saved the odds are we can't find it, or suddenly remember that we threw it away a week or two ago, which is something we fail to admit to and still turn the place upside down searching for it!
I think this a disease that affects most modellers, it is a sub-set of the the 'that'll come in useful some day' syndrome.
The main problem is that when we need that thing you carefully saved the odds are we can't find it, or suddenly remember that we threw it away a week or two ago, which is something we fail to admit to and still turn the place upside down searching for it!
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Madwelshman
Ronald
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
7 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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I don't think I have ever seen the Lesro Arrow or Javelin in the flesh/wood, but from the full page adverts in Model Boats I suspect that the Javelin is essentially a scaled up version of the Arrow (or the other way round) and the Javelin and Rapier share the much the same superstructure with each other in everything but size.
I spent far too much time reading and re-reading Model Boats magazines when younger! I still have an almost complete collection of MB and quite a good run of Model Maker mags as well. A lot of Vic Smeed's plans were featured in them in the 50s and 60s.
I spent far too much time reading and re-reading Model Boats magazines when younger! I still have an almost complete collection of MB and quite a good run of Model Maker mags as well. A lot of Vic Smeed's plans were featured in them in the 50s and 60s.
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Madwelshman
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
7 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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Hi Bob, the current build is a Lesro/Slec Arrow which I bought in kit form in June 2020. Yesterday I attached one of the bottom skins, hope to get the second on today or tomorrow.
The last time I skinned a hard chine boat was my first Waverider over 50 years ago!
The plan I bought from ebay is for the Lessor Javelin, which I think is the budget version of the Rapier with a simplified superstructure. I may well convert it with the help of a few photos that are floating about on line.
What motor(s) did you use in yours?
Cheers, Dave
The last time I skinned a hard chine boat was my first Waverider over 50 years ago!
The plan I bought from ebay is for the Lessor Javelin, which I think is the budget version of the Rapier with a simplified superstructure. I may well convert it with the help of a few photos that are floating about on line.
What motor(s) did you use in yours?
Cheers, Dave
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Madwelshman
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
7 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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Just seen the mention of the the TFL Pursuit - removing the shaft for cleaning and re-lubing is not too easy, getting an allen key into that tight space under the the rear deck is hard enough, but actually loosening and tightening it is even worse.
I haven't tested the speed of mine yet, but it is more stable than my others fast electrics, so probably slower.
I haven't tested the speed of mine yet, but it is more stable than my others fast electrics, so probably slower.
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💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
7 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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I can't be sure of the year I bought most of my permagrit tools, but I am pretty sure it was at one of the big annual Sandown shows. I would have been some time before 1996 as I moved to Finland in that year and I already had them at that time.
Some of mine look a little rough, but I haven't noticed any reduction in their ability to sand through anything we are likely to use in our boats.
Some of mine look a little rough, but I haven't noticed any reduction in their ability to sand through anything we are likely to use in our boats.
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💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
7 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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I quite like the Alpha, I put a small GPS speed recorder in mine last time out and the highest speed was 46 mph, not bad for an unmodified cheap mass produced boat.
I knew that the Inception was the same boat as the Alpha as when I first took my Alpha out the flex drive exited the model the moment I hit full throttle. It also took the rear bearing and prop. There were no shafts in stock in the UK, and they cost about £16 plus each. I bought half a dozen Inception shafts from China for under two each and they arrived in a few days. I haven't lost another since. I think it was due to an error in the Alpha instructions which state that there should be 0.5mm space at the end of the shaft. I think that when I hit the throttle the flexishaft shortened and pulled itself out of the collet. I now leave 3-5mm and have not had any problems.
The original shaft and prop, etc. are still at the bottom of the lake, which is quite large and deep, so I think it will be there for quite some time!
I knew that the Inception was the same boat as the Alpha as when I first took my Alpha out the flex drive exited the model the moment I hit full throttle. It also took the rear bearing and prop. There were no shafts in stock in the UK, and they cost about £16 plus each. I bought half a dozen Inception shafts from China for under two each and they arrived in a few days. I haven't lost another since. I think it was due to an error in the Alpha instructions which state that there should be 0.5mm space at the end of the shaft. I think that when I hit the throttle the flexishaft shortened and pulled itself out of the collet. I now leave 3-5mm and have not had any problems.
The original shaft and prop, etc. are still at the bottom of the lake, which is quite large and deep, so I think it will be there for quite some time!
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Madwelshman
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
7 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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re the fast electrics - I bought my first one (a Joysway Bullet) about three months ago having see some FEs in action at the Mid Thames club.
It was rapidly joined by another Joysway, the Alpha 6s, and then Traxxas Disruptor, a TFL Pursuit, and a mk1 Traxxas Spartan.
If I take three boats to the lake I need enough batteries for two runs each, which is a lot of charging and maintenance for a six runs of maybe 5 minutes each.
I'm planning to take a scale boat or two next week and maybe one FE.
It was rapidly joined by another Joysway, the Alpha 6s, and then Traxxas Disruptor, a TFL Pursuit, and a mk1 Traxxas Spartan.
If I take three boats to the lake I need enough batteries for two runs each, which is a lot of charging and maintenance for a six runs of maybe 5 minutes each.
I'm planning to take a scale boat or two next week and maybe one FE.
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Madwelshman
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
7 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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Chris F - I have had most of my perm grit tools since they were first available in the modelling market, and none have worn out - that must have been a lot of sanding!
I think my arm would give way before I could wear out a perm grit.
I think my arm would give way before I could wear out a perm grit.
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Madwelshman
ChrisF
📝 Question of the Day?
7 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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It is rare that I know the answer before I see the options, but usually it is fairly easy to work out which is most likely to be the correct one.
I would never dream of checking the question on line in search of answer, I never cheat.
I would never dream of checking the question on line in search of answer, I never cheat.
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GARTH
Nickthesteam
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💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
8 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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The Rapier does look good on the water. I also run fast electric boats and while I enjoy a bit of speed, most of the time I can't see the FE boat, just the rooster tail! Fun, but tiring.
I appreciate that a bit of weight helps the boat to cope with rough water, but my main reason for using thinner ply for the keel is to reduce the amount of heavy planing and sanding required.
It's great to know that there is still an interest in these older designs.
I appreciate that a bit of weight helps the boat to cope with rough water, but my main reason for using thinner ply for the keel is to reduce the amount of heavy planing and sanding required.
It's great to know that there is still an interest in these older designs.
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Madwelshman
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
8 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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I haven't seen the Javelin plan yet, but I suspect that I will modify the structure as these to reflect the much lower stress that an electric motor will place it under due to much less vibration, and especially having to start a diesel or glow plug engine. I am pretty sure that the structure of these much-loved old designs were made to survive frequent starting with a leather cord. A little too much compression or fuel could easily lock the engine up which would place an enormous strain on the engine mount.
We are lucky to be living in an age of vibration free (so long as the motor and shaft are correctly aligned), easy to start (just open the 'throttle' stick with more than enough power to replicate the original performance or even to exceed it.
We are lucky to be living in an age of vibration free (so long as the motor and shaft are correctly aligned), easy to start (just open the 'throttle' stick with more than enough power to replicate the original performance or even to exceed it.
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Madwelshman
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
8 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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I have the plan for the Arrow, as supplied with the SLEC kit, and that doesn't show the bulkheads except in a small scale isometric drawing, which confirms their shape, but the dimensions can be taken from the position of the bulkheads on the top and side views. All straight lines except the curve for the deck, which can easily be determined from the side view giving the height above the inwales, and a french curve to complete the shape.
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Madwelshman
Ronald
💬 Re: Classic Model Power Boats
8 days ago by 🇬🇧 Oxford-Dave ( Midshipman)
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I now have a PDF file for the Norstar Waverider plan. I will go through the odds and ends of broken wood that I was sold as an almost complete model, but I think the plan has enough information on it for most modellers to work out the best way to make the parts.
I will be building it once I have finished the Lesro/SLEC Arrow.
I have also just bought an original plan and instructions for a Lesro Javelin on ebay which should be with me sometime next week.
Is it good practice to simply post the plans here, or is there a risk of falling foul of copyright law?
I spent quite a few years locating and getting permission to use all kinds of photographs for various BBC TV programmes, so I am aware of copyright and know better than to be caught out!
I will be building it once I have finished the Lesro/SLEC Arrow.
I have also just bought an original plan and instructions for a Lesro Javelin on ebay which should be with me sometime next week.
Is it good practice to simply post the plans here, or is there a risk of falling foul of copyright law?
I spent quite a few years locating and getting permission to use all kinds of photographs for various BBC TV programmes, so I am aware of copyright and know better than to be caught out!
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Madwelshman
Ronald
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