This is my 46 inch fireboat. it is a 1960s Aerokits model that I was given about 18 months ago only partly started (frames and stringers). it is powered by 2 x 770 watt brushless motors with 4s lips and has working monitors and an Action Noisy Thing sound system. it is pictured here at Tynemouth boating lake where I an a member to of the Tmbc.

this is my boat built from the aerokits plans. she is the 46 inch version, power is from a brushless motor and lipo set up. sailing trials over easter hols weather permitting!

Bought off ebay, where else! Had been started as a cruiser, with one very small electric motor,then put in a loft for goodness knows how many years.Replaced prop shaft with 2, 40mm r/h and l/h props, 2x 540 motors running through 40a esc.Radio is 27mhz. 2ch. would like to swap to 2ghz to get rid of the unsightly aerial! I am awaiting some plasticard windows to Improve the looks and will slowly add fittings as and when.I tend to sail it every now and again on the boating lake in BUXTON, no-one has shouted as yet,though I'm not sure the swans approve.!: The photo on the water was just as the power was running down, none as yet at speed.It is very manoeverable with the twin rudders,almost on the gunwhales at speed.

HI to all you Fire Boaters,
I have decided to finally bring my Fireboat out of the closet and up for inspection.
This is the first of my many boats I am showing, I will probably show others in the future.
I started to build her back in 2006 after being off work and having a shoulder operation. She was not going to be a R/C boat, just a bit of something to do whilst on recovery.

I have a 34" still in the box unmade, purchased back in 1994 from Aerokits.
I drew round all the parts and then shrunk them on my scanner. She is 27" long I think that's
just fraction over 1/20th scale . She is almost all balsa except the 2 under skins that are balsa laminated with 1/64th ply. The hand rails are 1/4" balsa blocks I cut from a strip and the rail is ally tubing.
The mast is made from plastic strip from packets from the model shop.

When I returned to work she was put into the shed and left unfinished.
I stumbled across the Fireboat website and registered in 2009 when I was off work once again. This then made me think more about working on her again and I decide to turn her into an R/C model. So out she came and I fitted an Electomax Delta 480bb motor and a M3sonik esc.
I also purchased a couple of Robbe fire monitors, put them together shortening the nozzles and cutting the bottom of the base of to try to look a bit moreto scale. I know they are not the correct type but if I want to go down the road of getting them working then these ones will.

Then off I went to Wilkinson's and bought some paint. Then set out to paint her, as I brushed on the paint it seemed to be drying almost as quick as I was painting her. Dragging the paint I had just put on with next brush stroke. What a TOTAL DISASTER !!. I gave up on her and back into the shed she went.

2010 arrived I started again rubbed the paint down a bit and bought some Tamiya spray acrylic and started spraying, underside red, it seemed look all right. I used a nice new roll of low tack masking tape, taped up the underside and the decking and sprayed on the black on the sides. I thought that look all right. Took off the masking tape, which also took off the red paint and the dope from the decks. Another DISASTER. Back in the shed she went once again.

A couple of months went by and I was up in Norfolk on my own boat and watching the workers in the boatyard, ideas came to me and when we returned home, out she came and I repainted the sides
and then with red oxide paint I painted her undersides to make it look like antI foul paint. I used some white stripe to cover the join of the two different paint colours.
I had bought some roundels in Anglia Model Shop in Gorleston and some lettering in a shop in Norwich and after painting put these on.
Not looking fantastic but passable I was a little happier with her, but still not satisfied, back in the shed she went again.

Now after so much nagging from my brother out she has come, I've started again. He talked me into changing and trying a brushless motor and a smaller esc he had in his tool box from his helicopter he was shelving as its rota head was damaged beyond repair.
I have now fitted them and if they work I will change the esc to a forward/ reverse esc in the future at some point.

Sea trials are still away off more than likely in the spring, because the decking has yet to be painted. That will be the next job.

I think that's all for now, as I have probably bored you all to tears. I hope update as I progress further.
Just to let you know I'm Tom (alias BOATSHED).

Built from Aerokits kit originally but rebuilt/modified many times since then!
Twin 540's (geared) 6V Pb Gel battery for drive. 3 Blade 50mm props (contra rotating) lights (cabin, running Ights and searchlight) on 4.5V Deacs. radar scanner and winch on same supply, radar display screen on a single AA 1.5V.

Fleet Systems radio and speed controllers, Futaba rudders servo, RCME servo driving cam/micro switch unit for lights etc.

I built this boat was built as a tribute to my dad who built an original Sea Commander for my brother and myself in the 1960s, and is called Lady Kathryn after my other half.
The pleasure I had building and sailing this model has inspired me to to look for my next aerokit project.
Hopefully that will be the Sea nymph this was my first attempt at building.

A few more photos of before and after. it's possibly an Aerokit, Dumas or similar from he 60s or 70s. Have also added a new shaft along with the other bits.

Welcome all fellow model makers .
Here is restored 1950s Aerokits wreck which was picked up at a antiques fair . She is running on MFA torpedo 500 motor & 7.2 volts 4600 nimh Battery which should make her get up and go !! The other small boat is a Aerokits 1950s fasts patrol which will be the next restored model .

First trials of freshly restored 1970s Aerokits Swordsman rescued as a wreck from ebay (I was the only bidder it looked so bad....!) earlier this year. Was diesel powered and had loads of lead ballest glassed into hull which had to be cut out and replaced with new ply with the rest of the structure lightened and stiffended with new ply. Now fitted with Turnigy 600 Typhoon Brushless and 90A Seawing ESC and 55 min Graupner prop. Handling is excellent and turns really well using a small size Graupner rudder with fast acting large angle Hobbywing servo. Joined my collection of 34 and 46 Fireboats, Sea Hornet, Sea Queen and Commander, all restored over the past 3 years. Aerokits have come into their own with clean and quiet brushless power we could not dream of in the 1960s

Aerokit Fireboat 34"
Boat was given to me in poor condition approx 30 years ago, no running gear and most fittings missing or broken, originally powered with IC motor.
I have installed a 43A 700KV Outrunner Brushless motor, Model No : XYH42-50 and a Hobbywing Seaking 60W / Reverse Program Brushless ESC bought from Giantcod, powered by a 3 cell 2200 mAh Lipo battery runtime 15 to 18min, the prop is a 42.5mm 2 blade racing prop. I am well pleased with the performance of the boat.
I belong and sail at the Hartsholme Electric Model Boat Club, Lincoln.

first time on the water for my latest build, 23" model of british power boat co. 68ft type 3 hants and dorset raf high speed launch,
power is speed 400 driving 35mm three bladed prop, 7.2volt 3300mha nimh planet 2.4 ghz radio,
scratch built, I used scaled down drawings from my aerokits plans then gave the frames more shape to replicate the curves of this boat, the forward section where diaganally planked.
then sides and bottm as normal with sheet ply, deck is teak planks.
I sail on the rotary pool at penzance.

Hi" fellow model boat members " . I thought I would put some photos of my 1970s restored Aerokits sea commander . it running on a speed 600 motor with a 50 amp speed controller on 7.2 power pack at 4600 mh . finished in Antique Ivory white and Mediterranean blue with a varnished walnut finished deck . I like to take all my rebuilds to my local boating lake which is at Sheringham Norfolk and meet up with my old boat friends . Sheringham is very popular with holiday makers and the local people a like .