Hi Nerys ,
What flag would the Royal Cape Yacht Club be allowed to fly ? - maternal great grandfather was the commodore for quite a while at the turn of the 19th & 20th century. Not a member but belonged to the much humbler (and far less expensive) Hout Bay Yacht Club - much more pleasant sailing water in a protected bay - based in Hout Bay harbour - unlike Royal Cape which is based in the Cape Town Dockyard and so exposed to the rollers which come up from Antartica.............

Saw Wellsboi was asking the same things over & over on two other forums - makes you think......

Hi Ron - getting along nicely - as Roy said nice to see an old kit built . Tempted to build P87 a Billings PT boat of an even earlier vintage . Have spare old Obeche planking which is what Billings used then - being lazy would draw up the parts for cutting on the laser.............

Roy - if you need a smooth finish for painting try using thinned polyester resin - between 20 & 30 % . Try it on a scrap piece first to make sure it sets - over the years have found that depending on the make can vary from 10% to 30% thinners - but at 10% does not sink into the wood well. Don't use it on deck planking obviously.............

That's it Doug - unlike the tenon saw it has no stiffener on the blade - but because its working on the pull stroke there is no need for one. very clever these orientals.............well worth the money - guaranteed you will not use a tenon saw again............. It also functions quite well as a ripsaw although I prefer using my black teflon coated Sandvik one............

Hi Ian - think a lot of our generation have bad hearing - some of it due to the Rock Bands. Can remember one gig at East Herts College by Tyrannosaurus Rex (before they became T-Rex) the music was so loud we adjourned to the neighbouring pub and could still hear them as if they were playing in the Pub...........
Mine you can thank also from a few years on a Game Ranch and to RhodAF who also did not worry much about ear defenders when starting jet aircraft..............
Like Nerys find it difficult to breathe with a mask - must be difficult for you too.......And as for hearing - even hearing aids don't do much and they whistle in the slightest breeze which is a problem living by the sea.

You and me Ian - still have quite a few items here bought from Lidl - including a blood pressure monitor used for years without a problem and about 3 dozen single handed quick grip clamps - the small 3" ones were about 2 for a quid - bigger ones at 6" were very expensive at a quid each - come in very handy for full size work. Oh yes and a Japanese type woodsaw which works like a dream - cuts on the back stroke - so very accurate. And to top it all a RC yacht with its own proper full size transmitter on 27.195mhz (changeable) which sails very well - cost a whopping 10 quid - complete with 12 AA alkaline batteries...........(less than a 7.2v Buggy Pack cost at the time)

Hi Ian - glad to see you are feeling chipper - usually low potassium caused by diuretics - ask me how I know.............

We are but spring chickens compared to Nerys - who seems to feel a little better from her last post but still a bit Woozy - lets hope she feels better soon.

Believe Bette Davis coined the phrase - old age aint for sissies - think most of us here on this site know what she meant - told the Doc on my last visit - think there's a bug that moves around causing pain in one place for a week or so then moves elsewhere causing pain there for a week and so on.........
As she's a relative youngster she just laughed.......

Found Bette Davis's most famous quotes...........

Old age is no place for sissies.
Getting old is not for sissies.
Strong women only marry weak men.

Hi Martin - tried 9 days ago with no response - most worrying was the returned undelivered email - often caused by the mailbox being too full on his particular address type.

Hope you feel better after the dialysis Nerys - you are an inspiration to us all .

At least that's one thing we don't have Cash - that white stuff only appears on the distant mountains for a very short while. Having said that it was sweltering weather of mid 30c followed a day later by an icy front from the Antartic...........

Detail coming along well as usual with your builds - good to watch ...........

Hi Cash - belated birthday wishes - a relative spring chicken compared to most of us. What did Errol give you ? Glad you treated yourself too.

Good to hear you enjoy cooking for yourself.

As usual you are making a great job of building the boat - lucky you too - you should be able to complete your wishlist if you stop adding to it now..........

At 15 years older (nearer 16) find it would take at least another lifetime...........

As an ex Rhodesian I find it strange that John should think the armament on a RTTL involved "troubles in Rhodesia" which is totally landlocked. The Naval activity that occurred was the Beira oil blockade by the RN some eleven miles offshore neighbouring Mozambique - which was unsuccessful except for closing down the Umtali refinery - causing my cousin to lose his job....(Oil then came through SA). No RTTL could have stood those sea conditions for long

The RAF also sent a Javelin squadron to neighbouring Zambia - The RhodAF Hunters & RAF Javelins used to do dawn patrols wingtip to wingtip down Lake Kariba - when asked by a RhodAF pilot as to what the RAF pilot would do if ordered to attack - the response was "have immediate radio failure"...........If A RTTL was set afloat in Kariba from Zambia Whitehall would have been fully aware that it would have been almost instantly blown out of the water by RhodAF or the RR Artillery should it venture out. So not very likely - also the it would have been a nightmare journey as most of Zambias good were delivered through Rhodesia..........The other routes would have been impassable and air delivery does not seem feasible.

The only other Naval activity involving Rhodesia occurred during WW1 when the Launches Mimi & TuTu passed through on their way to Lake Victoria to do battle with the German gunboats. They were guided by a Rhodesian "Big Game" hunter who had proposed the whole thing in the first place but he left after an argument with the eccentric Commander Spicer Spencer the RN had decided to put in charge..........

Thorneycroft built two small gunboats for use on the Pungwe river by Rhodesia - (the river is only navigable some 20 miles inland - well within Mozambique)- but I have never found any record or documentation for them other than a small item in a Thorneycroft history article read somewhere long ago.............

Hi All - wonder if anyone is still in contact with Joe727 - last activity in December - tried the email address I have for him - undelivered notification.

Brilliant Graham - make the rest of us look like amateurs

Hi JB - Martins eBay one looks like the place to start - add metal diffs and a good body - away you go .
Was thinking its a pity you are stuck with two transmitters - be nice to only use one like the old Futaba/Graupner F14 set they used for the German Rescue & Daughter boats..........

Hi JB - here's a pic of the 4wd for R620 or about $48nz - its about a foot long

Better get well soon Ian - not many of us model boaters left out here. Take it you are somewhere like Mediclinic and being taken proper care of. You are in our prayers.

The local Govt hospital turned away someone as they had no medical aid - nor beds available for "free" patients - (elderly patients are turned away on triage too) - a friend has purchased an oxygen generator for him to have a chance of recovering at home . It is capable of supporting two patients at a time which will be a great help if his wife also falls ill - the machine is intended for anyone here with the same problem and will be used for that purpose after he has recovered. Thank goodness for the generosity of some people - they have already lent us a generator & ups for my O2 generator to cope with the load shedding we experience quite frequently.

Unfortunately the majority population here don't seem to care much about wearing masks etc so you are always at risk when you go out. Especially dangerous for the at risk group like Ian . Have the same medical problem and getting on a bit - so better half tends to restrict my movements as much as she can.

Hi JB ,
If you read the news there is little or no doubt that the Chinese are covering something up - obvious by the way they behaved with the WHO delegation............ .

There was always a danger that once China had virtual control of the worlds manufacturing prices would rise stupendously. Unlike the rest of the world the Chinese tend to plan long term - the Wests greed for profit and cheap prices will come home to roost in the not so distant future.

I have been looking for a particular brand of 360o Mini servos - found on Banggood at R149 + transport (R 105 up to 6 of) - stumbled across a local Robotics site - bought them for R59 - large stock left from 2019 as they don't sell many - so going back for another 6 soon.............
Talk about price gouging ..........

They have already made great inroads in Africa - taken over a lot of manufacturing in SA & Namibia especially and in Zimbabwe have even taken control of Wankie National Park ! (now Hwange of course) . Bob Mugabe gave a lot of Zimbabwe to them for the help with his Chimurenga war. The "Canadian" based mining company which was ruthlessly destroying wetlands in SA turned out to be Chinese owned........... the list goes on and on

Glad I will not be around once they gain control of everything - someone commented here that this is the third World War we are in and we are loosing!

Hi JB - no problem with the plans but doubt you would be able to cut by hand - grille for instance slots are knife blade width, and a lot of the detail is given by a light cut . When you do get the axles let me know the width and we can go from there - Defenders have the wheels protruding outside the wings (so bear that in mind for the width of the body) - already has a wheel arch extender. Note its the original type Defender - not the version launched this year. Defender would be easier to convert than the Series 1 and would probably be more in keeping with the Flareline.
As to the 48km - the nearest decent shopping centre is 55km away from us - and if you you need specialist bits & pieces its more like 155km................

Hi JB - bought a whole off road vehicle to convert - very expensive complete with simple 2.4 ghz RC - all of about $33nz . Decided it was too nice to butcher . You could get one of that type as it comes with sprung shocks, good wheels & tyres etc . Only 2wd though the 4wd version is about one and a half times that...........

As to the body I can send any type file eg dxf dwg, jpg etc - most lasers run on dxf files. We charge R10/minute so Defender body would cost about $20 +material here. Nice thing is you can make it any size you want ................Just takes a little extra work to make it suit the material thickness............

Hi Bill - if you Google SRCMBC you will find a few more pics of a St Canute under members boats - look under tugs......
Had a Billings kit of St Canute whilst in UK - unfortunately had to part with it to help fund a return to SA. Got too expensive now - around 150 quid.
Even at small scale tugs are very seaworthy (if built right) and can survive some really bad storms at sea or pond depending what scale you are talking about . My 12" Lindberg Diesel Tug has been out in what would have amounted to a full scale hurricane (or Cyclone depending on which hemisphere) and handled it well.
But at least I have the plans and parts drawings of St Canute so when the 30odd other boats on the stocks are complete will possibly cut a kit.........
Like most of us however would need another lifetime to complete the wishlist .........

Hi JB - Already have the Bucket & Spade - big ones for the garden unfortunately ............
Have some small surfboards bought for the grandkids too - but too b cold here in the South Atlantic....
Herewith pics of the ones already found - See Banggood does have an agent there - makes it easier. The big set is metal - perhaps you should start with the right parts - can always send you drawings of a Series 1 Land Rover body - or the new Defender SWB . Can get them cut on a laser from liteply ...........there must be a service in Kiwiland surely ?????

Hi Jb - the tyres I was thinking about look like miniature tractor tyres or they have hundreds of rubber studs - rock crawlers seem to use them. Sure you could find a wide enough diff - the 1/18 scale ones are suitable for my purposes but they range up to 1/10 scale . 4wd would make a huge difference - Banggood has an agent in SA so deliveries are OK . Do they have the same in NZ?

Was going to use a miniature tractor to launch my 7" CC but the internal rechargeable batteries have expired and its too small to use standard ones. Pity because it only needed a small garden pond...........

Good One JB ........... Looks like you had a lot of fun - but as you say tow vehicle looks a little underpowered - has the buggy got the soft off road tyres ?- they do add extra traction - definitely better than the solid type

Checking Banggood under gears came up with front and rear diff units complete with steering arms quite cheaply (plastic geared) but also found a set of replacement brass gears for the units also reasonably priced - may well pay you to convert to 4wd using a new front axle........

(Wanted to motorise one of the self designed WW2 Willys Jeeps kits for our Laser, still have a couple unbuilt - and possibly another selfie a Series 1 SWB Land Rover)

Better half tells me I have never grown up - but are we not allowed a second childhood..........

Dear Doug - would like to apply for the Moderator job - NOT - would have to spend far too much time being tactful . Appreciate what you do - funny not many members want to be in committees or suchlike positions in Clubs either. Thankless job - Scale Captain of my old club in Lymington wants to step down after 10 or so years due to poor health - no takers so far as I know - nor for the treasurer's post who also wants out - which has been filled by the sole woman member of the club for about the same length of time.
So please carry on doing what you do - some of us are truly grateful for what Martin, Stephen and yourself do for the rest of us.................

Hi Ian,
sorry to hear about the Covid. Friends here in Gansbaai have just had it without hospitalization and have now recovered. Make sure you do the same...........

Belated Birthday wishes Nerys - Glad to see you are still going strong .

Hi Rick - do you mean fibreglass tissue or lightweight cloth? The only one I ever use is the tissue - marketed for use on walls after removing wallpaper etc to hide small cracks - used with PVA paint of course not Polyester Resin.
If I was able to obtain it would use the water based epoxy - very little smell and should imagine it soaks in a bit - plasticising the surface .
As it is usually use 20 to 30% thinned polyester resin without any tissue of any kind - it soaks into the wood and forms a hard plastic type outer layer. Use two coats if necessary - works well on Balsa, Obeche , Mahogany & Meranti - hardly sticks to real teak because of the oily surface .
Where strength is really needed there are many things you can use instead of fibreglass which is nasty stuff to use. They include nappy liners , roof membrane , paper towels (the type used for dishwashing, the material used by dressmakers to strengthen lightweight fabric - and of course tissue paper if you use model aircraft dope.

Hi Nonsuch,
we used Aerolite for our boats in preference to Cascamite which becomes very brittle with age and collision with a bank etc was enough to shatter a joint - believe it was made from eggs. Can remember having to help my Dad re-skin our small duckboat as it was built with Cascamite

Was only the 300 type available in those days - funnily enough the father of a friend (who was a fellow TF trainee in the RRAF) built Mossies as a lad during WW2 - they used presses but the layup was done by hand which he said was very hard work - and he ended up hating the smell of Aerolite. It was the only decent glue available up to the 70s when they developed acrylic resins and later the waterproof variety..........

Would not use Aerolite today because of the long drying/clamping time and smell - much better to use the quick grab white waterproof resin type or the Aliphatics.

Epoxy is also useful for small tough jobs.

Know that a lot of people use cyano types - but they can cause skin problems like epoxy and cyanide is poisonous........its not waterproof either - only water resistant.

The local boatbuilders (full size) use a polyurethane type glue Brummer "Balcotan" (dark brown & foamy like "Gorilla" original glue) but others advise against it saying it becomes brittle like Cascamite. Works well with fibreglass though as it sort of "melts" its way in .

If I were living in the UK I would use Deluxe glues - they give a great detailed list of which glue is suitable for what and everyone seems to use their water based epoxy coating resin . Such a wide range available - unfortunately out here choice is limited and any imports very expensive because of the horrendous exchange rate. Did bring some with when leaving UK but long since run out.

Hi JB - as I said R9 was probably the most famous of the Miamis - plethora of pictures of her - what an ignominious end for a great sea-boat which had been looked after so well for many years - on the slipway at least twice a year for removal of marine growth and a general check - she was still in great condition when she left Kens care. He had turned down an offer from the US for her too!
The unamed claimed he was going to restore her to original - should be taken out and shot.....
Just a general lack of interest in the past - especially by the instant coffee generation - if a computer cant do it for them - not interested. Same types that think those floating monstrosities now called cruise ships are great ...............
Probably of similar mentality as the new curator of the Maritime Museum who claimed that models are irrelevant.........
Great pics of the Kiwi boats by the way - good to see