Recent Posts
π Mystery boat
5 days ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Lew, I'm fairly sure it's a German torpedo boat built circa 1890 but I haven't been able to find any pictures of one. Various classes were built in the latter part of the 19th century -some having as many as 48 built others more experimental and 6 or less. This is a rare find!
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π¬ Re: RNLI Plymouth
20 days ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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There's one of these moored in brick Kiln lake off Whale Island. Interesting to know there is a Vic Smeed plan. What's the size of the model -is it static or powered?
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π Nerys @ 90
2 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Nerys, a very happy birthday! As it happens I'm at sea today in the Solent on a 34ft Nelson conducting a committal of ashes at sea service. When we are back and warmly ensconced in the Ship pub I'll toast you with a tot of Captain Morgan!
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π Maiden voyage disaster
2 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Feel for you! A toy!! I think not... re the bite suggest you get some magnesium paste from the chemist and apply that on plaster. It will draw out any impurities in the skin. Rebuild and give us a maiden voyage pic!
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π Model Boats Magazine - Eventide
3 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Neil, looks interesting. Do post build progress. What is her length overall?
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π¬ Re: Guestbook
3 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Well said John, ownership of ready to sail models is never the same as ownership of something you have made yourself, whether that be scratch built from plans, put together from your own design, or built from kits. And if you are a scratch builder, like myself, it's a much cheaper hobby!
For Christmas (and birthday) my sons and daughter gave me some plastic display boats to make. Some are so small I have to use a lighted magnifying glass to see and fit some parts! Apart from the continual pleasure of seeing them, the building of them not only informs of their construction, it develops the power of patience and keeps you away from brain stultifying TV!
Tony A..........
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π Billings St Roch
3 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi, I've seen your model of HMAS Sydney on YouTube -very impressive, must have taken many months to make. Can understand why you built it, this ship has a very special place in Australian Naval history. With the loss of 645 men in November 1941 after engagement with an armed German merchant ship, I've often wondered why the captain chose to remain underway and not order abandon ship. Had he done so it's likely many would have survived as the ship broke in half underway and sank quickly.
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π Billings St Roch
3 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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I'm very curious about the warship in the background -can you enlighten me as to what? Super build by the way. Not a kit man myself (except for plastic models) over the years, mostly I scratch build. What you say concerning the C of G has been an issue I've had to overcome when building from plans. Currently that applies to the Dragon yacht I'm building -on hold at the moment. Tony A.....
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π¬ Re: Revamping a Damaged Model Schooner for a Non Profit
3 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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beautiful job! Can you tell me how you painted the hull surface to get that finish?
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π My little Victory
3 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Martin, I take my hat off to you... it's a marvellous piece of work. As a scratch builder myself I fully appreciate the effort and planning that's gone into doing this. Well done!
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π¬ Re: Suhaili
5 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Sails really well, you've done a good job, well done!
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π¬ Re: How to get a very smooth varnished finish
6 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Duncan, I'm assuming you didn't thin the varnish which I think would have embedded small dust particles and built up to six coats 50/50, then rub down with 2000 grade paper. given you are where you are, I suggest rubbing down with 2000 grade paper, brush and then wipe down with white spirit when it's truly hardened. I would give it 5 days. Then finish with 2 coats of 30/70. Again leave to harden in a dust free enclosed area. You shouldn't need to use polish -suggest you just polish with a dry soft cloth.
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π Charts
8 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Nerys, totally agree, if that is entirely true it's a baffling decision. Whilst I fully understand how the majority of mariners are committed to use digital navigational aids there are occasions when instruments fail and if they do at sea out of sight of land celestial and sun navigation skills have to be used and that means having charts, not to mention the absolute necessity of inshore waters charts. I can only assume that the RN and Merchant Marine will always ensure a supply of up to date inshore water charts that record depths and current movement changes.
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π Old model ship can anyone help
8 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Beautifully made -museum quality. I think you can assume it is a Royal Navy 4th rate frigate late 18th century likely saw service in the American revolution where relatively lower draft vessels of 50 guns were built and commissioned expressly for that purpose. I can't determine from the photos the entire placement of guns. it's just possible it is HMS Antelope -if it is there's quite a bit of history about her.
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π¬ Re: Condor
8 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Looks really good. if you have some close up pics it'll be good to see the detail and your winch arrangement.
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π Sea Trials going GREAT
9 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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looks good Ron!
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π¬ Re: Pride of Baltimore 1981
9 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Impressive! With the dagger keel fitted it would be great to see a video of her. question -is the topsail sheet controlled?
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π Looking for these
10 months ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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These are thole pins. A wooden pin is πfixed in the gunwale of a rowing boat to which, by means of a grommet, an oar is held when it is being pulled. A more usual method is to use two thole pins close together, with the oar between them. They are a substitute for a crutch or a rowlock.
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π¬ Re: RRS Discovery
1 year ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Most interesting! I will follow your build. Are you planning to RC sail her?
Tony A.......
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π sail control ????
1 year ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Paults, we will have to see what Jim does with this sail control set up, I've never come across it before. It appears to operate to spill the wind if the wind gets too strong. I can't see how the boat would sail on a reach or close hauled unless it was rudder controlled. It's over to you Jim -perhaps you can do some dry land sailing to figure out how it's supposed to work!
Tony A...........
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π sail control ????
1 year ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Jim, as for the cutter it's likely late 19th early 20th century, anywhere between 40 and 50ft long, possibly an Irish sea boat. Re the sail control -first time I've seen one fitted like this. Given the depth of the model (you don't say how long overall it is) in relation to its beam it could have been intended as a static display model. The sail area is such it could easily be knocked on its beam ends, so I think the method used is weighted to spill wind and keep the boat more of less upright.
Looks interesting! Tony A..........
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π cutting oak
1 year ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Jim,
what make of bandsaw do you have? I've an Einhell TC-SB 200/1 which I've used to cut iroko. Provided you don't push the piece through too hard, it works just fine. A working tip for anyone using an Einhell -do ensure you have a a good suction to vacuum the dust, because residue dust can cover the motor contacts and prevent restart.
Tony A...........
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π Sourcing timber
1 year ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi, I used venetian window slats to plank my dragon yacht which is still in build, highly recommended!
Tony A........
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π¬ Re: My (not yet complete) workshop
1 year ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Very impressive! Showroom status -maybe a little less tidy when you start modelling?
Tony A......
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π Pond Yacht Sails help
1 year ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Mark, if you can get hold of an old bed sheet, they were mostly made out of Egyptian cotton -and that's the best cotton material. Cotton poplin as it's called has a very tight weave and the weft yarns are generally easier to see -again often got in bedsheets. When you draw out the sail take into account weft and warp runs of the cotton. Suggest you look and learn from this video
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π Dragon 'Bluebottle' Yacht
2 years ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi All,
as time allows I continue with my dragon yacht build. Having completed the planking, here's a reminder of the keel and backbone structure made from iroko in which I fitted the rudder tube, rudder, propeller shaft, and the keel weight -designed to enable the centre of buoyancy to be lowered as required to maintain stability under sail.
As you can see in the next pic the hull upright in the building jig, made to ensure it can be used as a base for measurements when building topsides. Next I removed the frames which had been taped to the ribs, sanded and painted the hull and keel in white undercoat -four coats.
The plan is to have all working parts, including the winch and the closed circuit to work the sheets under the deck, so I planned out the inside accordingly.
I soon discovered the 9" motor tube was not long enough and replaced it with a 12" tube which I had to run under structure I have built to house the mast and secure the winch, both of which are 'hidden' in the cabin. Next I made a tray to take the battery. Fitted the electric motor and the servo to the rudder, which is angled in line with the rudder tube.
Next I decided on having a filled part to the forward part of the cabin structure to house the mast sleeve. The mast is slightly angled as per plan and I'm using part of a fishing pole set for the mast, which does match the specification on plan and is tapered -as per plan.
Next I'll make cockpit which like the cabin top can be removed -then try to work out how to get the winch to work as needed!
Tony A..............
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π Dragon 'Bluebottle' Yacht
2 years ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi All, Here's part 2 of my Dragon build -planking. The transom is mahogany and the planking is basswood, the ribs and frames are pine. I invested in a bandsaw before starting this project -an Einhell and cut my planking using a 32 tpi blade. The frames and fitting ribs are held in place by the stops you can see on the building board, and until the planking was finished hadn't glued the keel and spine & the motor shaft and copper tube were a push fit only -which was just as well as you will see in Part 3!
Used a PVA strong glue to glue the planks to the ribs, stem and stern. When the pins were removed the sanding before white undercoating covered up all the holes -in the next stage the hull will be lifted from the board turned over and a jig made -then I can start thinking about what I'll do with the inside!
Regards,
Tony A..........
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π Dragon 'Bluebottle' Yacht
2 years ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Nerys, it's installed through the stern post and the rudder is cavitated to give the propeller clearance.
Regards,
Tony A...........
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π Dragon 'Bluebottle' Yacht
2 years ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Gerhard,
I'll be posting again shortly -do you plan to build an RC Dragon?
Regards,
Tony A.........
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π Dragon 'Bluebottle' Yacht
2 years ago by
π¬π§ TonyAsh (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Nerys,
I've been reading your posts over the months and delighted to know you are getting out and about despite your health problems. Re the renovated Bluebottle, I've not seen it, even though I've been out on the Solent waters over past months and at the Cowes weekend. No doubt it's back in Leith now. As for cheating.... well, necessary if I'm to have a fighting chance to have the model sail well. I'll be posting again shortly part 2 of the build.
Regards,
Tony A.........
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