Aerokits Solent Kit bought as a present in the 70's. Worked on it on and off until 2000 when I finally made a maiden voyage. Two Buhler motors driving Prop Shop props with Bobs board and 12v 17Ah SLA. Radar works. Realistic scale speed and looks great on the water. To turn I have used micro switches to cut out one motor on full rudder. The large keel was causing the model to cease turning with both props turning. I sail with Crewe MBC at Boundary Park Lake. Oct 09. Have now found out that the cabin door on my model was only fitted to the last three builds 48-014,-015 and -016. At least I can give her a name once I have decided which to use.

I have just acquired this model via a swap for my Al Khubar Tug. I am in the process of deciding which actual lifeboat to model. This is based on the Metcalfe Moulding and is 1/12 scale at 52". in its present condition it has two Buhler motors and some early ESC's. Power is from a 12v 7Ahr dry cell. it looks great on the water but duration is not that great. I am preparing for a complete rebuild including re-prop shafting and different motors. I may rebuild the cabin as the moulding I have was only used on 5 Arun's and I may not be able to get enough details. I have sourced a plan and have detail pictures for City of Glasgow 111 (needs new cabin). Awaiting a book "RNLI Motor Lifeboats" from Amazon to help me progress. The present crew will have to be relocated to a 16th scale model! if I remember to take photos I will post a build blog.

This is my Sea Hornet which was rescued from Ebay see photo 1. Gray (Froggyt996) recognised it as a Sea Hornet even with the hideous cabin attched which the prvious owner had made. Also see the propshaft angle in photo 1 - would this have ever worked? Gray again restored this for me, I wanted a mahogany boat which looked like an italian speedboat and this is what he did for me see photo 2. Photo 3 sees the Sea Hornet on the sea at Southsea just after the start of the Round Britain Race in 2008. The receiver battery failed and a very nice Lifeboat Man from Southsea happened to be watching me run the boat and rescued it when it stopped running. it was put in dry dock over this winter to be tidied up again after a couple of years constant use and photo 4 sees it with its 2 new screens, re-varnished and 2 new rubbing strake. it is powered by 2 Graupner Speed 600 motors, a Ripmax sea sprint watercooled speed controller and 2 x 3 blade prop shop props on 2 x light weight shafts. it is also filled with bouyancy foam it case the inevitable happens which makes it quite heavy. it is ran on 2 x 8.4 volts nicad sticks and gives me a running time of approx. 20 minutes with quite a good turn of speed.
Marie (alias Mrs Froggyt996)

Please see my previous post for the story so far. Photo 1 shows my Lifeboat with its first paintjob and on its first sea trial on King Lear's lake, Watermead Country Park, Leicestershire. Photo 2 shows the boat with its completed paintjob and handrails having been fitted bought from Speedline models which are made of pewter so can be straightened it accidently bent. Photo 3 shows my Lifeboat on its first official outing at the Midlands Model Lifeboat Show at Dudley in May 2008. My crew have now been added also bought from Speedline Models 1/12th scale as they are the best quality resin cast figures I have seen. Strictly speaking they are too moderned dressed but I like the quality so I decided to fit them. The last photo shows it loving the rough seas again at King Lear's Lake at times having 10 to 12 inch waves.
Marie (alias Mrs Froggyt996)

This is my Aerokits Solent Class Lifeboat that was rescued from Ebay as a wreck see photo's 1 & 2. This was then lovingly restored for me by Gray (Froggyt996). First he had to skin one third of the hull as only two thirds had been skinned. He then had to use copious amounts of filler to make the hull its correct shape see photo 3, instead of the stepped hull as per the original Aerokits build. He then had to put the superstructure together as it had fell apart whilst being posted to us as it had been put together with a hot glue gun yuk!!!!!! Next started the painting as shown in photo 4. Please see my next post for the next stages of its rebuild.
Marie (alias Mrs Froggyt996)

This is the Hugh William Viscount Gough. She is a solent class lifeboat. She went into service in 1963 as the Stornoway lifeboat. She was there for around twenty years.

She then went on to Barra and ended her service at Dunbar. She was sold in 1993 and is now out in Malaysia.

I have scratch built her from the hull up. She has a fibre glass hull and the super structure is made from plasticard. She took four weeks to build. I have some bits and bobs to do to her.

She runs on two MFA 850 torprdos, but I am going to down size to 800's.

We sail her at Mote park Maidstone most Sundays and also at shows.

She is 48" long with a scale of 1:12

This lifeboat was a part-kit from Metcalfe Mouldings, being just a bare hull and superstructure. All the detailed work was scratch- built by my son and I did all the drive and electrics.

It is powered by two 540 motors through a single water-cooled speed controller and the props are about 35mm. My son and I sail it at our club water at Knightcote in Warwickshire. it is now about 4 years old and, (touch wood), pretty reliable.

The first picture here is the aerokits Solent Lifeboat.

The next picture is an aerokits Patrol Torpedo boat.