That's a great model kit. I have built several Dumas kits over the years and have never been disappointed. They allow you to use your imagination and skills; but my first RC project some28 years ago was a Billings Boats 1:20 USCG 44 foot Motor Lifeboat like yours with an ABS hull and wood superstructure. To be honest, I've been working on her for as long as I've been a father! Always adding details or overhauling, I reckon. A couple of years ago I took her apart and repainted the hull. Now I am periodically reassembling her with the original fittings. My present project is a Barracuda RC Boats 1:12 USCG 52' Motor Lifeboat, of which there are only three kits world-wide. The actual MLB "Triumph" (CG-52301, 2 were built in 1935) was lost with all hands during a rescue attempt off Cape Disappointment, WA in January 1961.
My Father built strong aircraft, and I always preferred boats. I overbuild my boats in the same manner. My weakness is that I can't wait for the glue to dry. Looks good & keep up the great work! GO CUBS!

Hello Folks,

Have gotten away from this project until recently. Am in the process of assembling the top deck. Have a question? .....
Has anyone used a glue gun in their assemblies, whether it be for only a few parts or more?

Anyway, here's where I'm at recently....

Seems, as if everybody has the same test tank.
I know I do! Unless you have a model 2 metres in length. 😊

Most of my model are too big for a domestic test tank so I build a simple trough in one corner of a sunken patio with plastic sheeting over a wooden frame. Only needs a small volume of water to float the vessel and ballast to waterline. Far less grief involved!
Dave

Had one myself when of similar age in mid sixties (now 65). Model was by Keil Kraft of Canvey island, Essex. Completed mine in 1965, fitting a Frog Marine 3.5cc engine and boy did it go! Sailed it mostly on the boating lake at Southchurch Park, Southend, Essex, and also once in the sea at Oostvorne in Holland, where I nearly lost it. I passed it onto my nephews in the 70's, not sure if they still have it, but if they do, I will pin photos. Meanwhile, have pinned photo of real thing.😎

Well you certainly don’t want to rush it ha ha

That's different, are you going to still use the clockwork motor. How does the rudder work. I see it has a wire from it to inside the boat. Also what is the nipple on the side sponson for?

yes still clockwork,The best improvements have been made by lightening the motor, drilling holes in everything and replacing a side plate with one made of alloy.It is just a nut on the sponson, they are adjustable for incidence.It will now plane on the sponsons "unsticking" the hull.The original was built when I was 13/14,the motor came from the family gramophone when my dad converted it to autochanger/amplifier,the wood came from the woodshed but I was short of plywood and realised the back of my wardrobe was plywood and was hidden behind clothes so when my parents were out I cut the bits I needed from it!,my mates christened it "the wardrobe".Performance is down to propeller choice and is a compromise between speed and runtime.I took it to a boating pond in a nearby town when my wife needed to visit it and a council "jobsworth" told me I was not allowed to sail it,"only yachts and electric boats on here sir"no amount of reasoning would make him change his mind and he escorted me out of the park!.

Here is the Mini 12 in action tonight in a light breeze.

Some people have all the Fun! Good looking Sailboat!👍

Excellent boats. i have scratch built a vosper 510 1/24 scale known as the long boat. Im also building a 73" vosper 379 which has become a bit of a project? its a bit big and i am not looking for trying to sail it in my local pond. last time i tried it i nearly chucked myself in the pond to the delight of some onlookers.

Thank-you. We use car drive belts to assist with launch and retrieval of the boats. They are easy to carry about, maintain their shape in the water and don't slip from under the hulls. these belts are about 900mm long so you won't have to bend far when launching.

Hi.Excellent boat.Do you have a dive tank fitted and if so what make.?
Thank Bill.