Thanks to a suggestion from Martin, I've gone with a thinner material for the foot treads, rather than the cast resin version. I have used some chrome aircraft trim as a backing for the rims, and some textured heavy art paper for the treads. The paper is attached to the chrome with double sided tape. The chrome trim has an adhesive backing as well, so the whole thing can be just pressed in place. Might have to have a second go, as these aren't trimmed too accurately.

Painting is almost finished, apart from another coat of varnish required on the transom. Re checked all the extras today and made a few modifications to allow some of the tubing to run a bit better. Stereo, smoke system and water pump are all working well, couplings are done, props and rudders are on and rudder linkages redone (thanks to HKs rubbish clevises I bought about 3 yrs ago,- absolute garbage, wouldn't use them on a $2 toy. ! ) I robbed some SIG aircraft clevises off the last crashed plane, and re adjusted everything. Bit of a mission as there's not lot of room for fingers where they have to go.

Did a video of the start-up and music system, but for some reason, when you put it through YT, it gets the sound and video all out of sync by miles. Tried 3 videos, - all the same, can't be bothered wasting time with it, must be set up for flash gear or phones perhaps, - works perfectly on the computer! Had trouble before with it randomly chopping bits out of the videos I posted😠.

Foot pads look too small so will do some larger ones.

Fitted most of the deck fittings yesterday and have made upholstered covers and side padding for the rear cockpit/ motor recess. Motors are fan cooled so hopefully won't get too hot. covers are removable for topping up the smoke reservoir. Deck fittings are attached using thin (1mm) black exterior double sided sponge tape, in case they ever need removing. Engine cover vents are bolted down and mounted with 2mm EVA sponge pads. Still have to try and bring the shaft oiling tubes through the deck and make them look like fuel fillers. Still the transom to give another coat of varnish, and then it will be close to tank testing.

Started on 'glassing' the screen (sides done, -fronts cut but will be fitted after screen frame is screwed down using the tabs on the back of the screen) - need to buy some more epoxy to strengthen a couple .

JB

Finished airbrushing a final coat of clear varnish on the transom and fitted a fire extinguisher 'just in case'😁 Transom's looking a bit shinier now, so that's about all the paint done hull wise. Just a few more bits to go now,- screen, oilers and a bit more trimming. Weather's rubbish at the moment, so not rushing.

Got rid of another job today by making the oiler tubes and stoppers, and trying to make them look a bit like fuel fillers. They ended up a bit higher than I would have liked, but I can't push the silicone tube down too much, or it will fall through the deck.

Drilled 6mm holes in the deck for the silicone tube, and glued down some brass washers for trim. The cap was made from 4mm brass tube, soldered to a brass washer, (leaving about 3mm protruding one side to locate it in a 4mm hole I'd drilled in my board)- a 3mm deep piece of 6mm ID brass tube was then soldered to the underside of the washer to fit over the silicon tube which protrudes from the deck. Bit of a tricky operation, trying to center the 6mm brass tube on the washer.

Once that was sorted, the piece was then turned over, and the long side (plug) of the 4mm tube was pushed through the 4mm hole in the board, and pressed down hard into the board to keep everything in place for soldering the top. The top of the washer was flooded with solder, making the top domed. I used a 1/2" drill to hold the parts and polish them up.

The plugs fit well, but I'm not sure how well the silicone tube will stay put in the brass deck washer, once it gets oily. Might have to use a threaded aircraft fuel fitting to secure the tubing better if it causes a problem. Should be easy to fill the tubes like this, rather than trying to fiddle round inside. The ideal thing would have been oiler tanks like I used in the ST, (last pic) but no room to fit them,- also not high enough.

A bit more done today and last night (or should i say early this morning💤) Epoxied the tabs for the screen screws and drilled the holes. Added strips of 1mm black EVA sponge to the bottom of the screen frame to take up any irregularities (ie my rough building work😁), marked and drilled the holes in the deck, and screwed the frame down with four 2x8mm brass screws. Fitted the screen 'glass' (not very well as nowhere to hide glue) only gluing the corners, as the frames have glass stops added.

Looks ok, but a shame about the scratches, (from the art shop,- people sorting through sheets and scratching them, - hard to stop with acetate sheet anyhow,- very soft) - won't see it on the water 🙈

Added the rear engine cover magnets with 3mm washers for them to pull on. Covers shut nice and firmly after a bit of fine tuning. Added a bit of upholstery behind the fire extinguisher I had missed also. Not worried about the lights just yet, as I have to be able to get into the electronics store for a micro dip switch. Still waiting for the pinstripe for the boot topping, as the couriers are behind with all the on-line shopping lately (a week so far to come from 20 km away.)

Just that and a flagpole (I think) to go, and she'll be taking a dip, (forgot the temporary stand I have to make, ('alternate mobile stand' coming later) Still will be a hassle getting material for it at the moment, unless I can scrounge up something round the workshop. Last 2 pics are the oiler set-up. Extra local girls should be turning up soon hopefully.😁 (airhead's still in China)🎈

Couldn't help myself😁 had to add some 'drip trays' to the oiler/fuel fillers, Used aircraft 'chrome' self adhesive trim, and punched the 10mm holes gently with a wad punch on hardwood before cutting to shape. Chrome painted the fillers (1st coat)and painted the props and rudder with artists acrylic metallic bronze, (needs another coat) to hide the black plastic props. That's almost it except for the pinstripe, which should be coming shortly.

Thought I'd post a pic of the skippers present GF - doesn't say much, and not a lot up top unfortunately, but I'm sure if she finds her head she'll come right.😁

Went down Friday to the sports ground pop up testing center, and had the nether regions of my sinuses probed, (bit like ET), and got a text at 2am next morning with a neg result. Slightly dissappointed, as I was hoping I'd had a small dose, as I'd been feeling a bit off for a few weeks, and thought I might be getting a natural immunity. Never mind, all clear and ready to launch shortly. Still need a launching cradle as this boat is too slippery to get a grip on and launch by hand. ( a smidge heavy as well).

Knocked up a flagpole yesterday, - brass tube and plate, with a dowel sanded and filed to shape in a drill. More chrome paint and varnish and it's ready to stick on. Hopefully getting some deliveries tomorrow to help with the finishing touches.. Fingers XXXd.

Pinstripe finally arrived Tues (took 12 days to come 45KM,- 35 min drive normally) so thought I'd throw it on to see what it looked like. Having a crack at a name on the transom which is proving fun, due to the dark colour. Have a way of getting round it, but it's quite time consuming.

Oiled the shafts for the first time and ran them for a bit (sounded nasty with no oil,- good Chinese quality mini bearings)- might end up replacing with Teflon bushes eventually. Oilers worked well at least, - bit too well, oil spray on my table! - too much filling pressure.😮 Quietened them down anyhow.

Found the 3s 3000MaH LiPo wouldn't fit on the port side any more, as some extra tubing and wiring had been added. I've now used one in the stbd side, and a 3s 2200 MaH on the port side. Just crossed the feed leads to opposite sides, so the 3000 feeds the side which powers the sound, RX, rudder servo, and 1 motor, and ESC, - and the 2200 just has to power one motor and ESC. Worked out quite well, and saved a bit of weight. Getting ready to re fill the test tank once this rubbish weather passes.

Gave up trying to match the print colours to the mahogany on the transom. Thought it might work like a number of plain colours I've done on the planes, but the mahogany has too many colours and just won't come right. Almost had it after about 20 tries, but once I sprayed the decal it changed colour, so gave it a miss. Last one ended up like this which is cr..p and not what I was after.

Problem is that printed colours are not solid enough for clear decal paper on dark colours, and are pretty much see through, hence having to use white and to try and match the background, (plain colours are quite easy). There is no white, silver or gold, so choices are limited as to what you can do. Vinyl is limited to coarser text (and stupidly expensive here per letter to get made in small 1 off sizes), so I'll have to have a look at different methods maybe someone laser cuts them.

If you look carefully, you will see the grain pretty much matching,- that's the copied photo showing, you are not seeing through the decal. Just the colour is wrong, and I don't have a flash enough program to correct it,- but you'll get the idea. (see reply to Martin below for method)

Also bought a launching device yesterday which should do the trick once modified. Collapsible and folds flat, and cheaper than I could make one from timber or plastic pipe. $40 cheep