And now for something different! I know that I suggested my next build would be the Dumas Motor lifeboat 36500, bu a week ago this little gem popped up on Facebook and I just had to hit the buy now button......

So, what we have here is an American River Springer Tug, used for pushing stuff up and down the river. The laser cut kit was a bargain at £80 inc postage from a very nice guy called Kevin who now owns www.Mastman.co.U.K. Or better still contact him through his Facebook page, search “mastman Model Boats”. He has a few limited kits available, I believe are new old stock and once gone they are gone!

What you get is all the quality laser cut plywood parts (no instructions) but all a superb fit and a little trial and error saw the basic model pieced together in about 15minutes. Overall length is about 18” long by about 8” beam, I haven’t worked out the scale yet as need to do a little research on the real thing. I believe you get a lot of bang for your buck and £80 I thought was good value.

The scope here is to add a wealth of scratch built details although these vessels are quite simple in real life. Items on order are a 500 sized brushed motor, 50mm 4 blade prop, steering servo, coupling, esc and a steerable kort nozzle. I shall be adding basic lights and still need to order 2x6v lead acid batteries and propshaft when I’ve worked out what length I need.

Onwards with the start of the build.......

First job was to identify the basic hull components which include the sides, various formers, servo mount, rudder plate, bow and stern pieces. All were given a gentle sand, nothing major as the quality of the wood is so nice and then the basic frame was glued and squared up with Gorrilla waterproof PVA. This was then checked for square and weighted down to set.

Next pieces will be the hull bottom sheet supports x5 and the hull sheet.....

Last thing yesterday was to glue in the bottom hull stringers which add some more strength and bonding areas for the hull sheet.

At the same time, I was happy enough to install the hull sheet which to aid bending around the complex curves of the hull had been part depth laser cut every 3-4mm. Although this made bending the hull sheet into position a lot easier, I still felt the need to hit the sheet with the heat gun for a few minutes to soften the ply glue and aid behind even easier. Once I was happy with the fit I PVA glued the hull sheet down and with loads of non stretch picture framing tape it was on! I put the deck piece on at the same time but not glued just to ensure everything was true and square.

This morning has see the tape removed and a solid hull requiring very little sanding and prep before glass clothing. I shall cloth it once the prop shaft is in place.

Last couple of jobs before a weekend “up Norf” was to put some 1:8 square obechi in the corners to strengthen the joints and a couple of pieces of 1:8 obechi strip either side of the motor mount former for a little more belt and braces.

Due to the very nature of the shape of the hull, it will need a considerable amount of ballast to get her down to the water line. Better to use batteries in lieu of lead, I will be using 2x 6v lead acid 4.5ah mounted. Either side of the motor. According to the seller, this little model runs well on 6v and 12v so I have the option of both via parallel or series and can make a wiring loom to suit both easily enough.

More next week.......

Sorry it’s been a while since my last update, but having had a new kitchen installed by a well known company followed by all the decorating, the model has partially taken a back seat, although I did a couple of jobs at the same time…

So, first job over the space of a few days was to prepare the bare hull ready for cloth. Nice and easy to cloth this model due the slab sided nature, all that was required was a sheet of ultra lightweight cloth for the hull bottom which covered the transom and flat from bow and a single piece for each side. This was put on over the space of 3 days using slightly thinned finishing resin (always used meths to dilute and it works for me). I will give the whole hull a second and if really need a third coat next week once I’ve fitted the deck sheet. Still to add on the hull are the side wales and 4 strip strakes on the flat hull sheet after final resin coats and sanding.

Internally I’ve now fitted the propshaft which was set up using my rigid coupling for alignment with the motor and then epoxied to set in position. Once set I then built a box around the prop shaft hull position and filled the box with liquid metal for an ultra string and watertight seal, finished with a lid for neatness.

other jobs inside were to built 2x battery trays for the 6v lead acid batteries, install an oiler tube on the prop shaft and fit a rudder post. The servo mount will be packed for a slightly higher servo position ensuring it’s way above the waterline.

I decided early on in the build I wanted to fit a Kort nozzle. I ordered one of 50mm internal dia along with a 50mm 4 blade prop (£40 well spent-not!)but as soon as that arrived it was obvious that was never going to fit because of the thrust line on the prop and shaft. Back to the measuring board (I know, measure twice, cut once!) and I could then see that I would get away with a 35mm kort and prop, another £35 spent and they duly arrived. Fitting the Kort took a little work to get it to the right position in relation to the prop, but is now fitted and braced internally with epoxy for a solid fit. Last job was to give the whole of the internal woodwork a coat of resin to seal it all in.

That’s it for a few days as back at work (unfortunately I won’t be doing anything on Saturday as it’s my 57th birthday and I’ve got a date at Duxford to have a little jolly in a “Spit”, a bucket list moment is coming!

What a week!

Having had to work all week, the model making has taken a back seat. However, Saturday dawned and I full filled my life long ambition of taking to the skies in a mk IX 2 seat Spitfire at Duxford taking my late father along for the ride in what was the biggest grin moment ever! Very surreal looking out of the cockpit just after take off looking at the elliptical wings with the chatter of the RR Merlin upfront thinking, I’m really doing this! I got 15 minutes hands on flying, a few Aeros but limited by the low cloud base followed by a victory roll, high speed pass and break over the airfield for landing.

Anyway, I’ve managed to get a little done on the springer. I’ve made up the rudder linkage using a commercial rudder mount but with a couple of smaller diameters of brass tube inside to reduce the diameter of the tube to take a 2.5mm rudder bar. I will be making the rudder with layers of plasticard next week.

The main work has been making up the electronics board using an mtroniks 15amp ESC, 15amp inline fuse holder and and a separate on/off switch to power it up from the 2x 6v batteries connected in parallel via a lead to XT60 connector. I intend fitting navigation lights but will be keeping them simple by just having them connected to a 9v battery.

Everything has been connected up and the receiver bound to my transmitter, rudder and motor are running in the correct directions.