This little boat was found under a pile of junk in an old cluttered bicycle shop which sold toys on the side. Was looking for a part for my sons cycle in the early 80's when it was found. One of the two relatively ancient (mid 80's) brothers who owned the place said they had had it for years and would sell it for R5. It was made in Italy of polystyrene as a kids toy - obviously there was a motorised version at one time and it had a rubber prop on a fixed shaft plus the top lifted off with three screws. It was quickly converted using a small (180flat) motor, small Graupner rudder, Billings 2mm shaft with the rubber prop and oiler tube, 4 AA batteries and 27mhz Futaba RC for a motorcycle . It was used for years at the Johannesburg MBC as a have a go boat for kids. Very slow so quite safe with them . Fast forward 20 years whilst living in the UK - strip it down - Speed 300 motor running on 6 x 2/3AA Nimh cells through the same RC setup. Now frighteningly fast for its small size (+-13") it leaps up on the plane almost instantly and has to be run in very smooth water (picture taken in its old mode). The few kids at the club water in the New Forest all want to have a go - sadly have to decline as its much too much for them to handle........ Its name on the stern is Guesta Festa which is Italian slang for Party Pooper (from a friend) - as its a model of an Italian 'Customs Interception Launch'............

This is a Lindberg Diesel Tug - originally from Pyro - built in the early 1980's . A little modified from original - brass railings - cabin roof altered - external piping on funnel - winch from lighter flint wheel etc lifts off for shaft oiler - cover plate lifts off for rudder access etc. Its very seaworthy - being able to run in what could be termed hurricane weather at scale size. Very watertight . Runs on 5 cell AA Nicads for over an hour. Motor is a 7 pole out of a early PC printer. Tam-tech 27mhz RC - uses the original kit prop - reinforced with paper washing up type towel. (Once ran it in our flooded back garden in Southbourne as it only requires a couple of inches of water). Overpowered - as tugs should be - runs at hull speed limit but can push/pull boats many times its own size..........

Built from a Rhodesian kit - kit produced for Model Products by a friend Mervyn Ward in Salisbury. Made from 'mugongo' a very light weight pale yellow somewhat dry dusty wood - meant as a replacement for balsa because of sanctions (looks like Jelutong but very much lighter in weight) Uses a 480 type Overland BB motor and a Graupner P30 prop with 4mm commercial propshaft. Much modified over the years - built in the 80's . Has sailed in France (Normandy,Brittany) UK (New Forest , Beale Park and a few other places)and many waters in SA. Currently under repair . Hull etc cribbed from Les Rowells Aerokits Patrol Boat but slightly different superstructure which lifts off entirely

This is my latest acquisition - unfortunately just started its journey and got as far as my sister near Southampton. Still many miles to go before it gets home. When that occurs will be doing a refurbishment.......... As a blog no doubt

Bought from Maplins on a Christmas sale for a tenner including a reasonable 2 ch 27mhz radio (it sticks to one frequency) - cost was actually less than a spare set of batteries. Probably the fastest boat I have owned and probably the fastest at my old club. It has a strange underwater section - U shaped with deep triangular sections enclosing the U and a flexible 28mm 2 blade propeller - nick named Darth Vader by our newsletter/site editor the name stuck.