Very nice, this looks to me like 'Vivacity', a model boat which was designed by Vic Smeed. The age is abouit right although the original was 54" in length not 60.5". Check out http://www.myhobbystore.co.uk/product/16679/vivacity-mm652
Roger
HI Roger,
Thanks for your comments, when originally built by my dad in 1964, it had an aft cabin with center well deck and was based on a real boat that my family owned up to 1967, she was sixty feet six inches over all and was used for family holidays from the early 30's, powered by a Perkins diesel. The model was dads gift to me for my 15th birthday. The aft cabin was changed to a well deck after damage sustained while in storage for about 20 years. And as the original, plans, photos, and the original boat had all gone I did the best I could to preserve the model.
Thanks Colin.
Thought that some updated photos were in order this boat is now running on a 3 cell 11.1 volt 5100mAH Lipo no ballast and a 40mm brass prop at Cwmbran 30/05/2012
HI Huntsmanman, The boat was a President Plywood kit from 1975, and is quite heavy by todays standards its 5Kg /- a little bit depending on what batteries I use at the moment its a 5100mAh 11.1 Volt lipo. The run time is reasonable dependant on how long I run it at full power. Hope this helps. Graham 😊
Hi, I'm sorry if these pictures are on here already, I did search through and couldn't see any.... I'm after a few peoples opinion on colours etc 💭 As the pictures are all black and white (grey scale) it is difficult to get the colours correct. A lot of model boats seem to be grey on the deck with white roofs, some with wooden decking, some just white and any number of variations. I'm trying to rebuild mine to be as close to the real thing as possible. in my opinion it looks like the top is all in white (as it matches the shade of the "FIRE" sign). The handrails appear to be brass ends with wooden rails?? Most of the other fittings seem to be either white to match the boat or silver for the tie-offs. The spot light seems to be darker than the monitors so I'm not sure if that is a dark silver or maybe black? Any thoughts??? 😉
I was sailing my 34" fireboat at Portsmouth's Canoe Lake a couple of weekends ago when someone came up to me and said he had been a member of the crew on one of the two actual Vosper Fireboats, and that the cabin sides should be a light blue colour and not grey as on my model - ( I still like the look of the grey though! )
Regards
Chris
There is much talk about colours on these old craft,some say Grey, others say Light Blue, and again White also comes into play, These craft were only in service for between 5 and 6 years, during their time in service they underwent maintainance and modification, I have spoken to guys who served on them and on one occasion they had not got enough paint to repaint the mast white, so it got painted Brown, how many of you out there have ever seen one of these craft with a Brown mast?, also you will see that 93 had no breeches connector behind the main cabin, 94 did, most photo's avilable of 93 show no suction hoses on the aft well foam boxes, 94 did, look closely at the photo's and you will clearly see two different types of monitors fitted and in one photo you can clearly see one of each, for what its worth my opinion is Pick a date Pick a colour, I know what we painted ours as taken from V/T drawings.
Best of luck, kind regards,
Pete D.
At last I have a Fairey Huntsman (34 inch) that appears to work, The photos are of it last Sunday at Cwmbran it needs a little extra ballast at the rear but once added it should be OK. it's running a Johnson 600 through a Graupner 3:1 gearbox at 9.6V with a 50mm brass prop, I may also try dropping the prop to 40 or 45 on the next trials.
This model was originally scratch built in 1964 by my Dad as a 15th birthday present for me,the length over all is 60.5" with a beam of 17.5" and a theoretical draught of 3.5",not sure as to the actual design but it is meant to be 1/12th scale, it was originally powered by a 12 Volt windscreen wiper motor out of an old Mercedes car, and the radio gear was a home made system as well, but both are now well beyond repair and I am fitting an MFA 800 Motor with a Fusion Aquapower ESC rated at 125amp. run by a new 2.4 Ghz radio system.
When I get to sea trials stage I will send Update and possible video footage.This boat along with the rest of my harbour, will be on view at the Abbergavenny Steam Rally this weekend June 3rd and 4th(Sunday Monday) in the model section marquee.
Here are a few pics of my Scout which wwas originally built in 1958, but left in my parents loft when I left home in 1966, but thankfully still there when my Mum asked me to clear the attic for insulation installers last year.
So far have cleaned it and fitted a MabuchI Brushed motor of unknown power, but appears to work well at 6Volts running a 2 blade plastic prop 30mm 'S' type.
Havent got round to fitting radio gear yet, so have done tests as a free sailer, setting rudder on a slow arc and watching as I walk round pond.Will update as soon as next stage is complete.
Thanks and no restoration work yet, but may have to coat hull as some seepage at joints.Will hopefully be able to keep model integraty without too much trouble.
HI just completed/refurbished an old and somewhat poor and sorry MFJ Fairey Fantome, complete stripdown repaint and new shafts/motors etc.
Now for some water trials to see what mods are required.
Hi
Thanks for your interest,I have fitted two 850 motors and work on 14 cells just for short bursts, this has proved to be fine with my other boats.
Regards
Have been resurrecting this old 34 1/2" FIREBOAT which was originally built in 1958 from an aerokits kit, for the last 12 months. Went for first sail at Cwmbran on Wednesday, and I am pleased to say it performed very well, But needs a little tweeking to get balance right as she sits a little low at the bow. Having been given some great advice by the local club members, I will be moving the motor and mount further back, and reducing size of prop as it used too much power. But still I'm happy with the performance and the fact it didn't leek. Will update as soon as I've done the mods.
HI Dave thanks for comment, Cwmbran are certainly a friendlyand helpfull bunch and I'll be joining their club along with my wife, as she's now got a boat restoration of her own to do.(FAIREY HUNTSMAN 1/12th scale)
Ill update as soon as I've had chance to do mods,
trouble is an86 mile round trip to do testing runs on safe water at Cwmbran.
HI Colin, This is a big thank you for your families help at Cwmbran last wednesday, if it had not been for your sons help my Sea Commander on its first run would probably be at the bottom of the lake. it's dry now but will need major work on it as some of the plywood has delaminated slightly. The motor, Receiver and servo work but the speed controller I think has died. I look forward to your next visit, on Sunday I sailed my 40 year old 34 inch Fairey Huntsman and think that I have at last got it to run reasonably well. Graham J from Cwmbran Club
Just thought I'd show you guys my boat with the "too fast" brushless setup. I have now put a smaller motor and turned it down on the controller. Almost lost it though 😁
Roger
Thanks for your comments, when originally built by my dad in 1964, it had an aft cabin with center well deck and was based on a real boat that my family owned up to 1967, she was sixty feet six inches over all and was used for family holidays from the early 30's, powered by a Perkins diesel. The model was dads gift to me for my 15th birthday. The aft cabin was changed to a well deck after damage sustained while in storage for about 20 years. And as the original, plans, photos, and the original boat had all gone I did the best I could to preserve the model.
Thanks Colin.