7 Photos
10 Likes
Oppie
Way back when, there used to be a company producing grp hulls, they were based in Holyhead(?) or nearby, the business was sold, and I discovered they had some pieces for the Oppie, I bought them, constructed the model, sailed it, was impressed, so much so I embarked on the construction of the other exact 1:4 scale models.
stotty1111
5 months ago
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9 Photos
11 Likes
Steam Power
Not strictly marine based, but the Stuart D10 is destined for a 1:12 Customs Launch, Active, built by Cox & Co Falmouth 1912, and stationed at Gravesend until the '30's.
Kit of castings, machined and built by myself along with the horizontal engine.
The others have been bought at knock down prices over the years!
They all need sprucing up!
The boiler was bought several years ago from an Australian outfit, at the time it seemed incredibly cheap, but was probably caused by the exchange rates between the Australian dollar and the pound!
It came complete with lagging, planking and other bits and pieces, cannot be exact as I cannot find the box with the pieces in, cannot remember if it was complete with burner!
I now have the thermal blocks (ex night storage heater) to construct a hearth to continue with the installation etc.
Photos of 'Active' to follow it is stored at the club house!
stotty1111
5 months ago
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9 Photos
22 Likes
Oystercatcher
Here we have Oystercatcher, another product of the noughties.
The full size boat is designed for inland waters, weekend cruising, it can be used as a floating tent using the spars and sails.
Designed by Conrad Natzio of East Anglia, it is designed for garage construction, using 6 sheets of marine ply or even water resistant ply.
I met Conrad at an exhibition at Alexandra Palace, had a chat with him was given plans of several of his designs, chose to build Oystercatcher, kept in touch and was invited to a weekend expo at Beale Park, adjacent to the Thames, he used my model on his stand, a very nice man!
The model is an exact scale of 1:4, I enjoyed the build, but the control was not an easy installation, the boat being so open.
Went on to sail her at an exhibition held in Swansea at the Maritime Museum, they had a pond there so was able to try sailing, it worked well, but I felt I needed to add a keel to bring a little more stability, but house moves etc got in the way.
Makes a nice static model!
I will endeavour to get more photos when the wind is calmer!
stotty1111
5 months ago
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2 Photos
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Mini Submarine
Another toy, courtesy of Amazon 7 or 8 years ago.
I bought the beast for about ยฃ12 / 15โฌ. It was on offer!
I use it at model exhibitions where there is a pool.
The sub is about 15cm/6" in length, complete with basic r/c system.
It will sail forwards and reverse, turns to the right and left courtesy of water jets, and by use of 2 buttons on the top corners will submerge and resurface. It has rechargeable batteries inside, these are recharged by use of a fly lead from the tx!
The main users are children and sometimes adults who want to have a go!
It generates lots of interest, so much so that sometimes children join the club and go on to build small freelance fishing boats - the majority of models are fishing and military boats, we have the Brest naval base close by and several fishing ports.
stotty1111
6 months ago
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13 Photos
24 Likes
1:4 scale Clinker Dinghy
Built around 2000 whilst I worked as a Technician in the Design Technology section of a local senior school, built at home, but with pieces produced in the woodworking shop, having access to a plethora of workshop equipment!
Sailed somewhat unsuccessfully back then, I had problems finding sail material for its Bermudan rig, my idea was to convert to gaff style rig, never got around to it, however now with more choice sail cloth wise I might have another go, however my sailmaker died some time ago!
The major problem sailing was the launching and retrieving, the weight was around 8 - 9 kgs(18lbs), and with age that is probably more of a problem, although here in France there is more attention given to those sort of problems!
The model won a gold award at a model show in Concarneau in 2003, after which I was invited to join my local club in Chateaulin -- the best move I made!
stotty1111
6 months ago
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Classe M / Marblehead - Ca Suffira / That'll do
Another Classe 'M' or Marblehead, designed by Paul Lucas , lives somewhere around Brest.
When we first arrived here in France the house had a central heating system fitted, all the rads were old fashioned cast iron thin column jobs, they needed sandblasting and re furbishing, found a guy locally who agreed to do the refurb his quoted price was on the high side,however when we went to collect I spied some grp hulls, we got talking, he had produced the hulls(he always had an eye to make money. I negotiated a price for the rads and 3 hulls, still got 2 spare, I think the 2 were the first 2 off the moulds, a bit rough but recoverable. He also supplied plans and after finishing the house refurb construction began. Did it at my local club, no english speakers so a little problematic. I followed the instructions initially then seeing easier solutions started doing my own thing. i had lots of finger wagging etc from the french members(they are very tunnel visioned) However they were complementary about the final product.
That is the reason for the name, That'll do thats near enough and the french equivalent, me thumbing my nose at them again.
More photos / info 'en route' eventually.
stotty1111
3 years ago
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Quad
And another piece of silliness, Quad bought cheaply years ago, a crude r/c system was originally installed, replaced by a 40mhz system and then later, a 2.4ghz system, It has working lights, a piezo buzzer in series with a flashing orange led mounted on a short piece of tube to raise it above the heads of the rabbits. The rabbits were bought in a typical cheapo visitor shop in Knaresborough, end of season bargains, ยฃ2 the two.
my wife used to circulate at exhibitions here a la frog, transmitter in hands, the reaction of small children was always amazing!
stotty1111
3 years ago
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8 Photos
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Bloodaxe
Here is a Classe M, Marblehead, of the late 60's early 70's.
An early resin hull which had received quite a lot of modification. I think it was vane steering originally, then a very crude conversion to r/c, mainly by inserting a tupperware container, half set into the deck and then crudely glassed in. Cost more to collect than I paid for the boat, a trip from near Kidderminster to West London and back.
The hull leaked in several places, and, an attempt to seal it had been made using thickened varnish, strange idea, not by me, it didn't work. Stripped the varnish using cellulose thinner, acetone applied sparingly, when clear lightweight glass tissue was applied internally then a coat of slightly diluted resin. This was followed by a keel box, the original was by a long bolt through the hull. a new keel and lead weight made, new rudder fabricated, then the usual controls installed. A new front bumper was formed from silicone sealer. A new system of sail control also created.
Initial sailing trials carried out in 2019, not fully finished(Covid arrived)First impressions, sailed ok, hopefully as well as my other Classe 'M', a Cedar Clube, french design by a local competitor, Paul Lucas of Brest, now that is a performer. Hopefully listed later when i have found the photos of construction!
Apparently Bloodaxe is the name of the design, it's by a guy living somewhere around London, still alive and a club member somewhere, but no reply when I tried contacting the club.
More to follow eventually
stotty1111
3 years ago
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4 Photos
4 Likes
Toy R/C Kayak
Another toy, this time a Kayak, bought in a Brest toy/model shop 18 years ago 15โฌ.
Had a crude r/c system installed, forward/reverse and direction, single speed! Another for bath time.
Opened up the kayak to view the r/c system, room for a 27mhz system, which was duly installed using a home built speed controller and mini steering servo. I should have said, there is a rudder under the rear hull for direction, the paddle push rods just operate in a vertical oval pattern.
Another for use by children at exhibitions. Ran well for 2 or 3 seasons then locked up, investigation revealed a gear box with stripped nylon teeth. I had a g/box with brass gears originally destined for a 00 gauge diesel loco! An adapted modified mounting was made and installed, success!
Continued in use over the years with upgrades to the r/c system etc.
The last time out whilst packing up a tx fell on the paddling mechanism and the two push rods were broken. Have not opened it up to assess the viability of a repair, but probably a goer as the system is in abs plastic so with plas weld or similar it should soon be back in action.
I also need to produce a rubber seal for the paddle system etc, I have a wooden mould for this, and with talc and latex solution shouldn't be a huge problem!
I will post more photos of the internals etc when I get around to making repairs.
stotty1111
3 years ago
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6 Photos
5 Likes
Anni P Toy Tug for the Bath
My nephew had acquired a farm property in Normandy, whilst visiting him, we went to have a look around the site, He had a skip there for all the rubbish, when I looked in it there was this little tugboat. I asked if I could have it, the response was yes, but radio control it! I like challenges, and here is the result!
All original pieces removed and then a r/c plan was made, originally for 27mhz kit, successfully installed and the system worked. After that the various UK exhibitions with a sailing facility available were attended and the transmitter was handed to children to 'have a go' -- 30 years ago, a novell concept at that time, still a little so!. It has continued over the years via new motors, batteries, r/c systems, 40mhz and now 2.4 ghz.
Speed control is by a home built digi proportional unit which works extremely well!
Some working lights as well!
Long may it continue! ;-D
stotty1111
3 years ago
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3 Photos
2 Likes
Thunder Tiger Volans Tri marin
One of my few new purchases, from Hobbyking, a slight price reduction for the Xmas season!
What a great mistake, enjoyed the build, sailing the beast a very different experience.
Sails like a brick / nail! Even in the lightest breeze it turns turtle, have tried demounting each of the 2 sails, always the same result --- a real piece of cr*p.
Hopefully this year I might get better results, my ideas are either to mount a ballast weight normally used on a 'Footy' at the base of the keel or a small wing at the bottom, or even a combination of the two. I cannot add too much ballast because that would reduce the flotation level where the two outriggers would be waterbourne as well.
My advice AVOID it!!
stotty1111
3 years ago
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6 Photos
7 Likes
1:4 exact scale Optimst International
1:4 scale Optimist, built 20 years ago to Optimist Association plans, the idea was to be a dual role model, for exact scale static competitions and also for r/c free sailing. The r/c setup being demountable with replacement by a scale forward seat/bench -- never happened!
The original keel was a vertical ply job with a lump of lead at the bottom, power was from a 4 or 5 pack of 'd' sized cells(for ballast) across the stern with the figure sat on one side, hand, velcroed to the tiller arm, sailed like a bath, tendancy to 'dig in' at the front. The 2nd keel was made with a swept back aspect and the same lump of lead, now sails properly.
I need to find a 1:4 figure or a 1:4 scale head to refresh the whole thing.
stotty1111
3 years ago
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3 Photos
2 Likes
Commodore Graupner kit of the '70's
Another find in a French field selling house clearance 'stuff', cost 30โฌ but that included parts for the same model, 2 x Miniperm motors(380 size) a speed controller and a servo, I thought the parts equalled more than the 30โฌ!
It is the current project, the hull is ready for painting, haven't got very far with the superstructure renovations as yet!
stotty1111
3 years ago
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2 Photos
1 Like
Sea Jet Robbe
Yet another 2nd hand kit, already started but the builder died.
Basically a fresh start, some mods along the way with battery placement.
I will add a link to a sailing event 2020 with a short Youtube piece showing the Jetski on the move!
It is featured about 13 mins in then also Krake about 16 mins in!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14HsbblXXBY
A little freedom after the first period of lockdown here!
stotty1111
3 years ago
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9 Photos
7 Likes
Lively Customs Launch, built 1912 by Cox&Co Falmouth, based Falmouth
Lively based on yard drawings, Cox&Co Falmouth, built 1912, and on station around the Fal estuary. Very similar to Searcher by Vic Smeed, in fact I would think Lively was his inspiration!
The model is to 1:20 scale, 33" oal, bread and butter construction, I had lots of offcut pieces of 1" balsa blocks, then the rest is traditional.
Powered by a 380 sized motor thro' an aero gearbox at 3:1, 6Ah lead acid battery and lots of lead ballast, working lights, NB, no navigation lights, there is a picture in Kings Cutters, obviously only on station daylight hours, a novel concept now!
Again a steady model for steering competitions!
Currenty under construction , Active, a sister launch of 1911, to a scale of 1:12, to be steam powered, 54" oal engine, reversing Stuart D10, boiler Scotch type(return tube) --- progress is very slow!
stotty1111
3 years ago
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10 Photos
3 Likes
Krake
German kit, an Ebay find, vaguely started, and a challenge to fit 'stuff' in.
Water jet propulsion. Originally not very good when going astern, but after the addition of a deflector panel at the rear, is now now an excellent steering competition boat.
Has working lights!
The eventual situation, see photo, is to build a trailer to carry Krake behind at the same scale r/c Land Rover!
The wine bottle is to give an idea of size!!
stotty1111
3 years ago
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9 Photos
10 Likes
H G wells
Graupner kit, bought 2nd hand from a Dutch model shop situated opposite the shipyard who built the full sized boat, Jules Verne. The chap who commissioned the full sized boat was German, he also commissioned the model on a visit to the yard. He went bankrupt, the 2 items lay dormant for some time then, an American bought the full size job and continued with the construction. When finished the boat was sailed to the USA, she rests in Los Angeles(last info I had) - bought the just started kit, stripped back to basics, and slowly completed it, with colour scheme changes also a name change but still with a science fiction link -- living here in France it was me thumbing my nose at the frenchies!!
Has working lights and radar.
An excellent competition boat, finished 2nd in the 2019 Brittany / Pays de Loire championship, quite an achievement as I am not in the least competitive!
stotty1111
3 years ago
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