The four tugs in this clip are all 1/24th scale and are scratch built,they are the Ionia, The contest, the cervia and The Atlantic Cock, in their real form they were all River Thames Tugs.all of the models were built within the last 11 years and are all still going strong. Unfortunately all of the real tugs are all scrapped now except for the Cervia , she is now preserved in Ramsgate Harbour Kent.

J. R. MORE - LAST OF THE LARGEST STEAM TUGS BUILT ON THE CLYDE. The best looking tugs ever built!

This model is scratch build at 1:48 scale of the SAR&H Durban tug J. R. More, which was the last large steam tug built on the Clyde in 1962.
It took over 2 years to complete this model, which was my first scratch build from the modified plans of a sister tug called the F.C Sturrock, which was also stationed at Durban as the shift tug for that harbour. Other tugs of the class were also stationed at Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

The J. R. More was the newer day tug in Durban, most often used to service the Union Castle ships and others in, out of Durban and remembered by so many visitors to South Africa of that time.

This model tug on the water has differential motor control, software linked with the rudder, can go about on the spot and a delight to sail as a model, capable of 6 or more hours on the water. Working Rotating Radar, lights and woop-woop sounder as per the original tug. I would also like to install the Telegraph bells, however these would drive fellow modellers to distraction, as they were a very distinctive sound and very regular, Implanted and well remembered by the crews and those in and around the harbour, even today. The engines on the other hand were almost quiet and by all accounts very reliable.

This model is ballasted mainly by two 7 Ah 12 Volt SLA Batteries for the main drive motors and a 2 Ah 12 Volt SLA (Aft ballast) for the Lights, Radar and Sound unit. All up weight is 14Kgs and capable of above scale speed from the two MFA 6:1 ratio Geared Motors driving two 4 bladed 70mm screws.

This model has onboard charge regulator circuit, built-in minature dual volt meter to allow quick on-board voltage inspection and single plug-in charge and regulator socket for charging all 3 Batteries together.

The actual full size J. R. More tug still survives and can be visited at the Durban Maritime Museum in Durban, South Africa. Local supporters are undergoing essential repairs, restoration and preservation with private and company financial support.

J R More is the only surviving large steam tug left of this class and as Important to the skills of the Scottish shipbuilders of the Clyde.

Well, it took 24 years of "on again-off again" building but now its finished. I started the model the day we put the CAMPBELL in commission(I'm a plankowner) in 1988.The model measures 6 feet in length and is scaled at 1:48. The entire model is scratchbuilt from wood (hull, superstructure, deck) and few commercial parts were used. it's powered by two Dumas 12 volt motors as a direct drive system. I had hopes of adding working features such as lights, rotating radar antennas, articulating gun, working anchor but I was just happy to get it finished! it will probably make at least one run at the lake come springtime but the models ultimate "homeport" will be a museum, at 6 feet in length(and 40 pounds of ballast) it's a bear to handle just to get it into the car for transport. Still, I'm happy with the results, it was a model of a lifetime(but I'd never build another one like it)! 😉

Finally finished the project. This boat was built from scratch. I took pictures and measurements from a real fireboat that I operate. I built it on a 1/12 scale using wood that I had left over from scrap. This was my first project boat. I was able to get a lot of technical information from this forum. So thanks guys. I have really fallen in love with boat model building. I have wired the boat and am waiting on two model electric outboards to mount on the transom. it took almost 6 months to complete. 🕊

Finally finished the project. This boat was built from scratch. I took pictures and measurements from a real fireboat that I operate. I built it on a 1/12 scale using wood that I had left over from scrap. This was my first project boat. I was able to get a lot of technical information from this forum. So thanks guys. I have really fallen in love with boat model building. I have wired the boat and am waiting on two model electric outboards to mount on the transom. it took almost 6 months to complete.

This boat was built from scratch. I took pictures and measurements from a real fireboat that I operate. I built it on a 1/12 scale using wood that I had left over from scrap. This was my first project boat. I was able to get a lot of technical information from this forum. So thanks guys. I have really fallen in love with boat model building. I have wired the boat and am waiting on two model electric outboards to mount on the transom.

another photo of my asrl figures are modifyed american 1/32 multI pose airfix a 400 motor a 20amp esc and a 7.2 buggy pack it planes just great took it out today ran for over 3/4 of a hour and the motor never got hot it work a dream now to get my whaleback on the water same scale same firm but with mods on southport model boat lake today sunday

Hi, I'm sorry if these pictures are on here already, I did search through and couldn't see any.... I'm after a few peoples opinion on colours etc 💭 As the pictures are all black and white (grey scale) it is difficult to get the colours correct. A lot of model boats seem to be grey on the deck with white roofs, some with wooden decking, some just white and any number of variations. I'm trying to rebuild mine to be as close to the real thing as possible. in my opinion it looks like the top is all in white (as it matches the shade of the "FIRE" sign). The handrails appear to be brass ends with wooden rails?? Most of the other fittings seem to be either white to match the boat or silver for the tie-offs. The spot light seems to be darker than the monitors so I'm not sure if that is a dark silver or maybe black? Any thoughts??? 😉

This model was originally scratch built in 1964 by my Dad as a 15th birthday present for me,the length over all is 60.5" with a beam of 17.5" and a theoretical draught of 3.5",not sure as to the actual design but it is meant to be 1/12th scale, it was originally powered by a 12 Volt windscreen wiper motor out of an old Mercedes car, and the radio gear was a home made system as well, but both are now well beyond repair and I am fitting an MFA 800 Motor with a Fusion Aquapower ESC rated at 125amp. run by a new 2.4 Ghz radio system.
When I get to sea trials stage I will send Update and possible video footage.This boat along with the rest of my harbour, will be on view at the Abbergavenny Steam Rally this weekend June 3rd and 4th(Sunday Monday) in the model section marquee.

Model Slipways 1/32 scale harbour tug kit built late summer/autumn 2011. Powered by MFA 2.5:1 geared motors running on 6 volts and powered through an Action P94 Mixer/speed controller to provide great steering performance -- easily turns on it own axis. Sails mostly at Knightcote Model Boat club

Here is my scratch built Seaplane Tender in !/12 th scale. it is powered by 2 x 250 watt brushless motors running on 7.2 volt Nmih batteries. Pictured here at Knightcote Model Boat Club in Warwickshire and a couple during construction.

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).