Excellent videos Mike, the slo-mo really does help to make the scale far more realistic. 👍😀
Rob.

A fine looking model Mike, congratulations on another successful build.
Rob.

Hi Mike.
I'm sad to say that the Big St.Albans Model Show has to be added to that list ☹️.

The committee have just this week made the difficult decision to cancel the show because of the current uncertainties. We are all disappointed to have to do this but hope to stage the show in 2022 if all of this damned Covid has gone away🙄.
Rob.

Nicely made Mike.
Good use of cross halving joints on the frame 😀👍
All you need now is a loofah and a rubber duck 😆🦆

Terrific work Mike, you've nailed it!
I admire your skills and persistence and the end result was certainly worth all the effort.
Rob.

Hi Sy.
As always I'm amazed at your rate of progress 😮😀
You did well to get the glass cloth on the hull all in one piece without any serious wrinkles 😀
Real planking is sooooo much nicer than laser etched and adds a real touch of class to any model. I found that once you got into the rhythm of layng the planks and caulking strips the process was relatively quick but always rewarding.

Hi Stephen.
It's good to see you back in the workshop, I do admire the precision of all your work.
Keep up the great work 👍.
Rob.

Hi Sy.
I have used the expanding type Gorilla Glue for joinery work and that's very good as it expands into the grain and fills any gaps in yer mortice and tenon joints, (yes..... I can still make all the joints I was taught in woodwork class 😊) but I've not used their PVA though.

Hammerite...that is indeed the stuff I used inside my Crash Tender, but I used the 'hammered effect' finish as it's more tolerant of brush marks.
Once it has dried and 'cured' it's makes for a very hard, durable and waterproof finish.
Rob.

Very rapid progress as we've all come to expect from you Sy 👍😀.

I'm following your build with great interest as I very nearly bought the same kit.

I have always used Titebond II PVA glue which is 'water resistant' and far better that ordinary white PVA which is definitely not!

There is also Titebond III which is apparently a 'waterproof' PVA if you really want 'belt 'n braces'.

With the hull properly sealed with fibreglass and resin externally and a thorough paint finish internally I don't think you will have much to worry about.
KUTGW 👍👍.
Rob.

Hi Sy.
What a week indeed!
I'm so jealous of your Spitfire flight as will be most on here too 🤗!
The springer is coming on really well, keep up the great work 👍.
Rob.

Congratulations on completing such a wonderful model Graham 😀👍
She certainly looks beautiful on the water.

It looks like you had a 'camera boat' following her so I'm looking forward to seeing some interesting video soon 📽 😉.
Rob.

Hi Sy.

"Any new builds from your good self planned?"

Yes, there's a new one lined up from a kit but it's still in final stages of production and adjustments to the CAD files. Hopefully won't be too long now 🤞.

In the meantime I'm still catching up with DIY (house painting) and gardening (landscaping and then some new turf) so I've got plenty to keep me busy at the moment.
There's a good chance of my club doing a show in September and I'm also hoping to show my boats at the IMBS at Warwick in November too if all goes ahead as planned.
Rob.

Congratulations on another spectacular model and a successful maiden voyage Sy😀👍.
The video of her performing looks great and she's very confident even in choppy water.
The water ingress may indeed just be splashback from the drives as mentioned.
Now take a break and get that DIY and decorating sorted 😉
Rob.

Hi All.
I have posted two model shows on the Events page that I am directly connected to as an organiser or exhibitor.
Perhaps I could ask others to post the shows that are now confirmed for 2021 such as the Blackpool show and the Midlands Model Engineering show at Warwick and any other that are now going ahead.
Cheers 😀👍
Robbob.

The St.Albans and District Model Engineering Society are pleased to announce that we are holding our annual Model Exhibition on 25th & 26th September 2021.

This incredibly popular local show is always well attended and there are lots of things to see and do for young and old and many local model clubs and societies will be exhibiting too!

The Tamiya Truckers will be there too with their amazing display of R/C trucks, construction machines and military vehicles.

Radio control model aeroplanes, helicopters, drones and hot air balloons on the flying field and a big model boating pool too for displays by local clubs and 'Have-A-Go-Boats' for the youngsters!

Watch our YouTube video of the 2019 show to see what to expect.

More details and ticket availability to be posted soon.

https://stalbansmes.com/

🔗

The BIG St.Albans Model Show 2019

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Hi Mike.
Check the ESC is set for NiMh batteries and not LiPo with a voltage cut off ?
I made that mistake on early runs of my Crash Tender.
Rob.

Hi Sy.
Congratulations on completing another masterpiece 👏 😀.
Supreme workmanship and finish as always.
So onto the next project then......and just like everyone else I'm intrigued as to what it will be after considering the 'clues' that you have given us.
Looking forward to seeing some video of this one and the RHIB too.
Rob.

Hi Mike.
If all the leds are on a common switched circuit why not use common supply rails to the panel for all so that you only have two wires. Alternatively you could reconsider backlighting the panel as I suggested previously.
Rob

Hi Sy.
Just loving your work 👍😀👍
The detail is quite amazing and Im looking forward to seeing the finished crew figures.
Congratulations on another marvellous build...so what's next I wonder?
Rob.

Hi Colin.
That's a real tragedy ☹️
Such a shame that it couldn't be saved.
Will the boatyard's insurance pay up to re-build ??
Rob.

Hi Martin.
I just tried it out and........ IT WORKS!!!!👍😊
I went into an old build blog post of mine and successfully re-arranged the order of some of the pictures.
A BIG BIG THANK YOU 👏 to Stephen (Fireboat) for implementing this long awaited improvement.
There's no excuse for getting your 'photos in the wrong order now folks 😀.
Robbob.

Hi Doug.
I did post the PDF graphics sheet for the life raft containers decals right at the start of this thread and they are in a variety of sizes too 😀.
Rob.

Hi Bill.
It was mturpin013 describing how to make them for his Thames River Police Launch.

https://model-boats.com/blogs/78377?sort=ASC

Look for "Adding the bulkhead formers"

Robbob.

blogs/78377?sort=ASC

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Hi JB.
The decals are reasonably easy to generate from freely available logos and images on the web and I am usually able to generate any that I can't find.
I use Adobe Illustrator which makes the job quite easy 😀.
I print my decals on paper that I get from 'Mr.Decalpaper' on either clear or white background sheets using a Canon MG5750 printer and the results are exceptionally good.
Rob.

https://mrdecalpaper.com/

🔗

Hi Pete.
I'll send them to you as attachments in a PM.
Rob.

😂🤣😂
In your dreams shipmate !!

Hi Martin.
There's something to be said about sploshing preservative over a fence panel that is quite satisfying as it doesn't require quite as much finesse and a steady hand as when painting model boats 😆.
I can do a 6' x 5' panel in ten minutes....two coats !! 😂🤣
Rob.

My Southampton Pilot Boat is finished, as can be seen in my build blog, and I'm awaiting a new build project to materialise so in the meantime I have been catching up with domestic DIY and gardening.

However, as nice as it is to do all of that it is quite tiring and so by way of a bit of respite I thought I'd take a break and sit quietly, and make up some graphics for the life raft container on the pilot boat as it did seem a bit bare.

Unfortunately I don't have any clear 'photos of the graphics on the real boat's life raft so I've had to use a large degree of 'modellers licence' to simulate what seem to be the ones most commonly seen.

After looking at lots of 'photos of life rafts I assembled a set of graphics on the containers that I researched and also made up some others that I could not find.
I used Adobe Illustrator to make up a sheet of these graphics in various sizes and printed them out on some clear decal paper and sprayed some gloss lacquer over the sheet.
They were applied to the container using some setting fluids and when dry I put some black banding cut as very thin strips from some self adhesive vinyl. All of this was over coated with some more clear lacquer to fix and protect them.
Fitted back on the boat they certainly enhance the look of the life raft container 😁.

If anyone would like copies of the graphic artwork that I have made for my boat I would be very happy to supply a .pdf file on request. All you would need to do is print from the file onto suitable decal paper to make your own.
I attach the PDF sheet of these particular graphics as an example.

'Spose I'd better get back to painting the garden fences now ....☹️
Robbob.

blogs/71877?sort=ASC

🔗

Hi JB.
I do recall that it was a rather crisp winter's day but the lake was ice free and it was a very pleasant boating session and attracted lots of spectators who's interest and questions we always appreciate. 😊
It all helps to raise the profile of the club and encourages young lads and lassies to look at the boats as carefully crafted models rather than 'toys' ........and more importantly we pick up new members to the club from time to time too 😊
Robbob.

http://www.stalbansmes.com/

🔗

Hi Jeremy.
Just as an update on the present condition of the St.Albans boating lake, currently it's suffering from an excess of water which ordinarily would be very welcome during the summer months however the resultant flooding has rendered unusable for boating as the council have fenced off the lake until the levels recede ☹️
The club are planning to have a sailing day at the first opportunity when the Covid restrictions allow and by that time the lake should be in a usable condition.
Kind Regards.
Robbob.

PS. I have added a link a sailing day that a few of the club members had at the lake in Jan 2020!
Little did we know that it might be the last for some while !!

Boating on Verulamium Lake 5th Jan 2020

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