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82 posts · Page 5 of 7
OLDHSLS
Able Seaman
1 / 4
Unknown launch resto
HI all, I was given this model in a rather sad state as it had been in a junk box in a farm out-building and had been subjected to the weather from time to time . it had been there for about 20 yrs or more and the balsa hull was 60% rotten . I think it was originally IC powered but had been fitted with a Graupner Jumbo 6v motor and an old style rheostatic sc, ( I did try using the sc but it sucked so much power I gave it a miss - also had no reverse)
Amazingly the motor and sc still worked and with a bit of oil and cleaning the motor is still running well ! I'm using a 1975 Futaba 24v 10A sc and 3cell LiPo which pushes it along nicely. I stripped everything and replaced large bits of the hull, (which was fun as every time you picked it up you would poke another hole in it it was so fragile !) I got it to the stage where it would hang together fairly well and glassed the hull which has made it like the proverbial "brick one". The rest was very careful sanding of the deck and cabin, (they were ply so fared a bit better) and a lot of little filling bits to get it right.
Nav lights and cabin lights all work from the micro switch board, the curtains are left over Graupner Commodore (1975), I've added a mast, new windows,flag pole, cleats, ladder and handrails. Any ideas as to its manufacturer would be great. I have seen another one on our local "Trade Me" web site recently.
1 comment
  • OLDHSLSAble Seaman
    Mystery solved,- it's a 'FAIRACRE 11', Modelmaker plan 709 from the late 50s-60s and not a kit as I had assumed. it had obviously been well built by the original modeller.
john saunders
Leading Seaman
Aerokits Fairey Swordsman
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
1 comment
  • r1950Recruit
    love boat
PeteG
Master Seaman
1 / 4
Fire Boat Work In Progress
This is my work in progress plus some nice angles of my boat. Colour scheme obviously not conventional but I like it. its some way off its maiden launch and this isn't the intended motor- that is still in the post! it will be fitted with a Graupner 600 8.4v and a Viper 20A ESC.This is an ebay purchase and came with some original brass items and an IC engine - hence the modification to the motor mount.The boat will probably sail initially at Blackheath.
Liked by circle43nautical
5 comments
  • PeteGMaster Seaman
    Hello Dave,I'm looking in to relocting the single servo and as you say the rear well would be ideal- my servo linkages are soft soldered to rudder via a long rod -? would that be the usual way of making the linkage?, I might need to look at this area! Also I think I need to keep all the units off the hull base and secured to a bulkhead ?
    PeteG.
  • Dave MVice Admiral
    HI Pete
    Soldered indicates the vintage of your model. Can be used but better solutions available. Don't understand why you fear the hull base. The lower the weight the better for stability. I will post a couple of pictures of my setup so you can get the general idea. Will have to post on your other blog re this boat. Cheers Dave
chrislang
Warrant Officer
New motor & battery test at Crealy
34" Fireboat
I tried out my new motor arrangement, ( Graupner speed 600 8.4v motor with a single 9.6v battery pack as recommended by dbninja ) in my Fireboat today. A bit choppy but all went very well at just above half throttle then I began to get braver and added on the power to be met by clouds of smoke and a truly blown ESC. ( See FORUM under Hong Kong ESC ) The new Fire Monitors by Peter HS93 also worked fine using a Vauxhall Astra washer pump, I'd hope to get pics but the sudden halt intervened!

Regards Chris
3 comments
  • chrislangWarrant Officer
    HI Roger
    My monitors were kindly produced some time ago by another member of this site who was unfortunately at the last request unable to make any more. You might like to have a go making suitably scaled down versions in the method shown by Pete Harvey on his 46" Fireboat restoration on his website ( link in the 'Useful Links' part of this site ) my initial effort was to try drilling out some white metal fittings- this only proved the soft cheese is probably a more suitable material!
    Water is pumped to the monitors using an ebay sourced Astra windscreen washer pump which works fine on my 9.6v setup.
    Good luck
    Chris
  • chrislangWarrant Officer
    HI again
    Just to mention that Monitors for the 34" boat are available separately from the 'Online Shop'section of this site. ( Don't think they are working however )
    Chris
chrislang
Warrant Officer
1 / 3
Test with new Motor at Crealy
I tried out my new motor arrangement, ( Graupner speed 600 8.4v motor with a single 9.6v battery pack as recommended by dbninja ) in my 34" Fireboat today. All went very well at just above half throttle then I began to get braver and added on the power to be met by clouds of smoke and a truly blown ESC.
( See FORUM under Hong Kong ESC )
The Fire Monitors also worked Fine using a Vauxhall Astra washer pump, I'd hope to get pics but the sudden halt intervened!
Regards
Chris
Liked by circle43nautical
john saunders
Leading Seaman
34'' Fireboat at Knightcote Model Boat Club
Here is my 34 in Fireboat that I built some 30 years ago and recently rescued from my loft and updated with an MFA850 with Mtroniks 40A ESC driving through the original shaft to a Graupner 55mm prop. Seen on Nov 25 just after we cleared the first Ice of 2010 from our club sailing water !
ads90
Warrant Officer
1 / 3
Fire Boat Identification
For my first foray into boats I have acquired what is like a Vosper Firefloat Mk.2 but it is different. The wheel house section of my boat is different, being longer, the mid-ship section having three windows in lieu of two and the stern is completely different in profile.

I have spent many nights trawling the internet to see if there is anything like my very detailed model but to no avail and I have even asked a few of my old work colleagues who are ex-naval men if they can help out in identification. I am wondering whether this could be an elusive Mk. 1 - the boat that was never put into commission.

I attach a few photos of my model in the hope that someone out there can throw some light on it. it is in very good condition and a few years old, is fitted with a Graupner Eco 600 motor on a single prop with 7.2 NiMh batteries. it is about 34" in length and 9" beam and goes really well, planes quickly and turns very tightly - in all a cracking boat. The numbers on the side of the boat are strange as they relate to what I believe is a coastal command unit - the numbers are not new as they appear to be original under the paintwork. Any help in identifying what actual boat it is modelled on would be appreciated.

Regards
Alan
Liked by circle43nautical
3 comments
  • StonemonkeyMaster Seaman
    From the look of that transom, is it earlier, maybe between wars?
    looks good whatever it is Alan.
    Dean
  • shavingsChief Petty Officer 2nd Class
    HI Alan, it reminds me of an air sea rescue launch I went for a ride in when I was an air cadet in the year dot! Had three packhard engines as I remember and went like the proverbial!
    Roger
dbninja
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class
Aerokits Fireboat at St. Helens MBC 07/11/10
Bit of fun with a video camera on my restored 1960's fireboat at my home club St. Helens MBC. had to be really carefull with the throttle and rudder sticks so the whole lot didnt end up upside down due to the camera position...

34" fireboat built 1965 restored late 2009 by me
running graupner 8.4v speed 600 on 8 cells (9.6v).

love the way the boat is in and out of shadow and sunlight throughout the video
john saunders
Leading Seaman
Original Aerokits Sea Hornet
I had always admired the lines of 1950s American wooden runabouts and built this Aerokits model when I was an apprentice at Jaguar Cars and it had stayed in my loft since completion nearly 40 years ago. Recently dusted off and upgraded with a Graupner Speed 500 and Mtroniks 40Amp controller and P35 prop. Seen here at Knightcote Boat Club on 25 October
Liked by mehmetalialtas
john saunders
Leading Seaman
Restored 1960s Aerokits Sea Queen
Original 1960s boat aquired this summer from the family a deceased former club member in scruffy, non running but basically sound condition. Was petrol powered at some stage and still had original vintage mechanical speed controller from a later electric power set up. Restored with two (secondhand) MFA850 motors in tandem driving a new single 20 in M5 shaft. . Using a 50 Amp Tornado speed control and plastic X55 Graupner prop.

Sprayed (Volvo) Flash Green Metallic with orginal decks stripped back and restained (using tea bags!) and relaquered

Planing gently on our club sailing water at Knightcote, Warwickshire on 25 October
Liked by mehmetalialtas
dbninja
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class
restored Sea Commander on speed 600
ok, my first ever attempt at posting a video on here and youtube..

my Aerokits Sea Commander restored but not finished running a direct drive graupner speed 600 8.4v on 40mm std 2 blade plastic prop. battery is 9.6v 8cell 3300mA nimh. sailing Sunday 15th August 2010 at Taylor park st Helens mbc

thanks
David
Liked by doghouse
5 comments
  • welshfenmanAble Seaman
    many thanks to you both.
    At this time I have no idea of the weight except to say that from what I can gather from looking at the rudder that this boat seems to from the sixties/seventies, and is quite a substantial vessel.
    She is undergoing a major refit.( spent the day rubbing down the inside of the hull, and removing paint from the toerail to the carlings.
    This looks like being a long job.
  • dbninjaChief Petty Officer 2nd Class
    welshfenman

    if its "that old" and is a 60's/70's built model that had an I.C. engine fitted..
    I would recommend you "glass-cloth" the outside of the hull..

    models built during this period tend to have been built with bio-degradeable glue! (cascemite/ boneglue. etc.) show it water for the first time in 40 years and your boat will revert to kit status and basically become unstuck! if the wonky glue doesn't do it then the diesel/glow fuel used in the 60's will have undone all the joints from the inside-out anyway!

    enjoy your restorations and read as much as you can on here

    db

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