A change from Maid Rosalind Thames cruiser blog posts! This winter I added a removable keel and rudder extension to the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter I built in 2017. I wanted to produce a hull that was truly accurate above and below the waterline, and with the correct lead in the keel and in scale winds she sailed ok, but to get a model to sail realistically, you generally have to add a lot of weight deep down. The last picture shows that for regular display, the ugly keel and rudder extensions come off and the stand's extended legs unscrew. She stands 6' 2" with her new keel, and 4' 6" long. The trials were successful. She sailed beautifully, even tacking those overlapping headsails flawlessly, which is generally quite hard to do with RC! I have up to now only posted blogs as they happen, but I have full documentation of this build and can start a blog for it after Rosalind is finished, if it's OK to publish something from the past. I added a teaser build picture!

https://www.facebook.com/modelBoatsTrainsPlanes/videos/800923610583750/

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Thank you Doug and Stephen for your help in getting the video to work. The stills give little idea of any movement but the video shows she was really trucking! Ed

This is my first scratch build. I used hand tools and a jig saw to cut out the frame. and bulk heads. Keel and frame was cut out of plywood and the rest. of the boat is balsa. I out fitted with parts from various pieces I had pick up at hobby shops and suppliers online. The pilot house, stack and skylight is all hand made with wood and polystyrene fittings.
I downloaded the plans, altered the scale size and printed the hull and boat to scale. Again this was the first and I now am looking forward to another project.

well finally got there. she sits a little low in the water, but evenly along the water line. this was with the battery central to the hull. when powered up the centre screw alone moved her quite serenely and was very manoeuvrable. when power was added to the outer screws I would say she didn't plane well as she wasn't going fast enough. even with all props on full power, I think also she is to heavy and the battery too far forward.
So to remedy this I moved the battery back a compartment, positioning it over the 3 motors , it was a tight squeeze, but fitted just.
This sat the stern down a little and the bow up and gave the impression of planeing, she still not fast enough though. the scale speed still doesn't look right.
I'm going to have to have a rethink on this one. having said all this though she looked well in the water if i say so my self.
Roger

I built this model during four long years. my Lulonga is nearly whole scratchbuilt model (about 75 cm long) except the steering wheel and position lamps.
The model has a plywood and balsa hull construction ,plywood decks,from hard polystyrene sheets made superstructure,laminated with veneer. Sidewheels with skew paddles, two DC 12V independent electric motors with gearboxes controlled by ESC. Electric LED lights, steam sound module, sirene and horn.Tx/Rx 6 channel HK 2,4GHz.
completion expected in spring 2014
More infos about building you find at > www.paddleducks.co.uk <

some videos are here at Model Boats too >
http://mdlbt.com/19852

wiring diagram you can see here in my albums
http://tomarack.rajce.idnes.cz/RC_model_Lulonga#lulongaelschema1.jpg

I tried to put this up in the How To Articles...but it does not have url upload capability. So here it is. This is a very good video on how to work with fiberglass with odourless resin. It is very simple and should make those who are nervous about this process feel very confident.

Weather was perfect tonight for a test, so I did the 15km trip out to the Gulf harbour pond (most weed free pond) to throw the boat in. After a thorough under water hull inspection from the marine department, she was off. Everything worked ok except the silicone drive tube which had become enlarged due to soaking in the grease coming out the front of the jet shaft. It was slipping badly and probably losing about 60% of its' thrust. Manoeuvrability is excellent but reverse leaves a bit to be be desired. Steering in reverse is perfect but the thrust is not going forwards enough from the bucket. Might have to build in some nozzles to direct it better.

Smoke air and water are working as well as can be expected, (smoke is a bit wafty, but with too much air introduced it will disappear as it gets thinned out too much to see) I was not expecting miracles as this was a bit of an experiment (modified cheap jet unit with unknown abilities) but at least it shows promise😁. If I can find a coupling which is concentric it will solve the drive problem.

Trouble is, the Chinese insist on making a 4mm shaft, 4.95 (or whatever) which is useless for balance in a 4mm ID bearing for example. Fine for cars, but no good for boats or planes due to balance requirements (it's a mission trying to balance plane props due to this thinking,- they do it with everything) shafts for electric motors are a nightmare at times as the play they build in, can ruin an otherwise good motor. I might have to buy a flexible rubber/nylon universal or a collet style( preferable as these take up any undersize on shafts) to fix it. They included a spiral alloy one with the jet unit which is as loose as a rooster in a sock, and only good for slower things like 3D printers etc. One of these days they will learn how to machine things to fit.😐

Some details of Thor. - by Dean Ratcliffe.

Thor is a freelance design of a multicat vessel. These rather unusual ships are real workhorses, designed as a work platform, often with a hiab crane. The square hull gives a large flat deck, with plenty of open space for a work area or for deck cargo. The design also enables the vessel to be used as a tugboat, either pushing or towing and are often equipped with large deck winches and strong points for this purpose. A true Swiss army knife of the sea, able to adapt to most roles, some even have additional internal fuel tanks for refuelling other vessels.
More info found on -
Model Boats Website - BoatClubs & Lakes - Buxton Model Boat Club

https://model-boats.com/places/60518

Seen here at Buxton is - 'Ellipsis' an International One Metre Class yacht .
Built from lines drawings purchased from the designer Frank Russell.
Neville hand laminated the hull in epoxy glass, and the fin and rudder in epoxy carbon. Hull finished in cellulose paint.
Information provided by Neville Black.

Just a little run today & there was no Lobsters in the bay today The Model is a Midwest kit with a bass wood hull the kit had balsa wood & fiberglass but I like basswood instead for the hull . The name of the boat is from a Stompin Tom Conners song .

Just a little Hamilton Bay run of my scratch built R/C North Rock tug replica .The real tug was built in 1956 for the Alexandra Towing Co. Liverpool I took a little liberty in the color found out that the cabin was white & my ability to record with my I Phone & steer model ain't to good but it's a sturdy hull .

Scratch built 1:12 Shannon Ilfracombe 13 09

This amazing model is SCRATCH built (including the plug for the hull!!!) by John Sluman

Most fittings are machined metal, some incredcible skill in construction.

Boat in this video is running on brushed motors - it is now converted to brushless.

Steering and reversing bucket servos fitted and operating. Final adjustments will be made once re-fitted after hull is finished.