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Recruit)
Rear Admiral)
Warrant Officer)
Liked The Seguin 3 days ago
Liked Mechanism Mk 3 7 days ago
Liked Loss of Pictures on this site 11 days ago
United States
Recent Posts
📝 1930 Chris Craft runabout
4 days ago by river rat (
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Well I got the first later of planking finished up. Got the hatch covers started . The build is going good so far. Has anyone seen this Taiwan marking on a Dumas kit...its a first for me. The die cuts are sloppy. I wonder why an American company would do this. Is it a fake?😔
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📝 Filler to use on Styrene (large/thick areas)
6 days ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
I also use spot putty but you have to keep it really thin. If you go to thick it cracks when drying and takes forever to dry. Its good for filling small imperfections only. I would stick with light weight bondo for large areas. Hope this helps. Dave
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👀 37 Views
💬 Re: Mechanism Mk 3
7 days ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Wow! Just Wow! You are an Amazing man! Keep up the great work. Can't wait to see it underway. Thanks Dave
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👀 82 Views
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📝 Filler to use on Styrene (large/thick areas)
7 days ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
I also use automotive body filler. Bondo brand has a light weight filler that os easier to sand.
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👀 54 Views
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💬 Re: Mississippi River Paddle Wheeler
10 days ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Nice work. Hope to see more pics as you go. Dave
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👀 26 Views
📝 Loss of Pictures on this site
11 days ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
I have lost mine to. I cant see any pictures😐
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👀 50 Views
📝 Work stand
18 days ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
I just make mine out of half inch pvc with T's for legs. I also use the foam insulation that fits the pvc pipe. About 10 bucks total. Sorry this is the best pic I have. Keep up the good work! Dave
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👀 100 Views
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📝 Planking
21 days ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Well I had 1 more full day of working before the vaca... Got the birch plywood planking on the hull done. Got quite a bit of the upper structure and engine bay finished. What is the best sealer to use on the inside hull before I plank the fo'c'sle deck? Epoxy? Resin? Sanding sealer? Thanks, Dave
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👀 40 Views
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📝 1930 Chris Craft runabout
23 days ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Finished the bottom sub planking. Have a couple small spots to fill towards the bow. We are going on vacation for a couple weeks 😀 so no work on the boat 😔. I will update asap. Dave
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👀 48 Views
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💬 Re: Masts, Aargh take 2
26 days ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
I have used old fishing poles for masts and flag poles in the past. The taper is already there. Just cut at the diameter you need. if you bump them they are very flexible. Very hard to break. The down side is you have to paint them to match you boat. Dave
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👀 73 Views
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📝 1930 Chris Craft runabout
26 days ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Hey guys, pulled another old Dumas kit from the pile. This is my first large scale mahogany planked boat build. Hope I can get through it without to much trouble. Going with a 2s battery, 550 brushed motor and speed control from traxxas. Got all the framework and some planking done. I will update this blog as I go. Thanks to all who have helped me...Dave
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👀 77 Views
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📝 Mt Washington on Sale
1 month ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
I also got a text the Typhoon was $360. from Dumas this weekend.
Still a larger sum than i can pay now. It is a dream kit of mine... I stood on the dock next to one at the Madison Regatta in 1976...couldn't take my eyes off of it! beautiful boat! Maybe someday... 😔
Still a larger sum than i can pay now. It is a dream kit of mine... I stood on the dock next to one at the Madison Regatta in 1976...couldn't take my eyes off of it! beautiful boat! Maybe someday... 😔
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👀 42 Views
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📝 Dumas 1930 chris craft runabout
1 month ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
I think I will jump on the "latest greatest" train and go with a 3s setup. Its only money right? 🤔 Thanks for the info. Dave
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👀 48 Views
📝 Dumas 1930 chris craft runabout
1 month ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Hey guys, has anyone built this kit #1230? Looking for direction on motor/speed control. 2s or 3s motors are like 50,000 rpm. Seems like to much to me. I would like to be able to get on plane and keep it to a fast scale speed. Not ridiculously fast. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Starting the hull this weekend and will start a blog on my build. Thanks to all, Dave
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👀 60 Views
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📝 Slec Huntsman (Star)
1 month ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Beautiful workmanship! Great job! Can't wait to see her underway. Keep up the good work, Dave 👍👍👍
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👀 75 Views
2
📝 Miller American Hydroplane
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Pulled this old friend out of storage. This was my first build. Still looking good after all these years. Going to reinstall all the missing rc gear and nitro motor ( robbed years ago) and get her back on the water.
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👀 15 Views
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💬 Re: Mount Washington
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Thanks for the kind words Peejay. I hope to have a video on here by next week. Dave
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👀 37 Views
📝 Mount Washington
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Just finished this build, took 6 months to complete. Looking for my next project possibly the Delta Queen? Anybody have one for sale? This Dumas kit was a pretty good kit. I was lucky to find a fiberglass hull version from 2001. Its fully functional rc. I love the hobby and am glad to see its still doing great after all these years. Thanks, Dave
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👀 15 Views
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💬 Re: Dumas Mt Washington
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
I hope it does well. I here they can be unstable... Will deal with it soon... 😝
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👀 44 Views
📝 Dumas Mt Washington
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Well, Its in the case! I am bitter sweet on this one. Can't wait to get it done but now I am reflecting on all the frenzy and fun I have had for the last 6 months. I put some more pics for everyone... Let me know what ya think! I have to get on to the next one! Maybe a mahogany runabout...... Hope to get wet next weekend. I added 2 pounds of lead ballast to get water line right
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👀 44 Views
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📝 Dumas Mt Washington
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Adding all the detail parts. Working on lifeboat davits. Getting close to calling this one finished. Start rigging today. Hope to get finished pics within a week. Then its time to get her wet.... More updates to come....
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👀 56 Views
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📝 Dumas Mt Washington
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
A few more... My little gear motor... Drives the walking beam... Engineering is Hard...lol. Having fun with this one...
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👀 63 Views
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📝 Mt Washington details
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
I have been busy ...a few updates. I have assembled all major components. It fun when the last 3 months of making and painting parts you can start installing them! In 1 day you can see your time pay off! Few update pics. Its a frenzy! Lol Thanks , Dave 😋😋
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👀 63 Views
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📝 Steam power advice?
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
It is marked marine engine. It fires on butane (small tank on the end) that has an adjustable flame. It has forward, neutral, and reverse that can be servo operated. It also has an output shaft that is geared approximately 3 to 1. Maybe I can use a different style boiler? Not sure. I always dreamed of owning a real steamer. I will shelf it for now.Thanks for the videos and info. Dave
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👀 49 Views
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📝 Steam power advice?
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
I picked this little unit up at a yard sale a while back for $50. 😁 I have checked it all out and have run it for 20 minutes. Its a Wilesco D48. Now my question is... What type of boat would be the best candidate for this type set up? I am partial to work boats or any kind of river boat. This thing gets Hot! I dont think you can enclose it. Does anybody know what type boat the D48 was intended to be used in? Thanks. Dave
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👀 70 Views
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📝 Mt Washington Life raft details
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
As I am well into final assembly I keep seeing needed detail ( I always do this to myself) so I used some of the mesh material included with kit to create a rope floor and standard sewing thread to tye it all in. Took about an hour per raft to complete. Happy with the results. Thanks again for all the tips and kind words, Dave
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👀 69 Views
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💬 Re: Dumas Mt Washington
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Gary, Thanks for that tip. I have already tried it and it looks and works great! I am going to do it that way on my Mt Washington! So much easier for my sore little fingers. Heat shrink...who would have thought.....
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👀 69 Views
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📝 Billing boats Witte Zee
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Its a beautiful boat. I'm sorry to hear heath issues are forcing you to stop. Good luck and prayers sent your way.
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👀 104 Views
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💬 Re: Creole Queen Sternwheeler
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Hey Michel, the railings are laser cut from basswood sheets 1/8 thick. As far as the drive I used the motor mount from the kit with a dumas 120 rpm gear motor. The rubber o-ring belt is from the kit. I didn't want to cut a huge slot where the belt passes through the cabin so I drilled holes and used weather pack connector seals from auto parts store. They fit the belt and the hole tightly. Very simple and works very well. On a 20 minute cruise it takes on a teaspoon full of water. I used a 15 dollar chinese speed control and tactic receiver with no antenna. I have had really good luck with it. Not much load on it so the cheaper speed control worked perfect for this application. Look up my build log on here it should have pretty good pics of it. If not I can take more pics and get them on here. Thanks Dave
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👀 50 Views
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📝 Navigation lights
2 months ago by river rat ( Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class)
Thanks for all the info. I will also take your advice on painting port side board red. It doesn't look right green. I considered painting both black or white. I really appreciate all the input from all you guys. When in doubt ask about.
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👀 71 Views
