Progress so far...

[NewEarlybird]

Hey guys, here is my progress so far on my Midwest Fantail Launch. My first one, hopefully just the beginning!

[_James_]

Nice,

are you going to make it steam or electric? ive heard steam engines are pretty pricey, is this right???

and i think that stand would give you a good platform to work on once you have finish sheeting the hull.

more pics!

James

[NewEarlybird]

Hello James,

I'm going to go steam, Tower Hobbies has the Midwest Steam Engine designed for this boat for around $60, so I thought that was a pretty good deal. The boiler is heated by Sterno for about 15 minutes of run time. I really like the idea of steam, I would love to build a larger tugboat and have it steam powered as well. Maybe one day!

[_James_]

wow thats cheaper than i throught, im guessing thats u.s. dollars.
keep the pics and progress coming.

[P. Tritle]

New, I built the old Laughing Whale Fantail Launch some tome ago, and powered it with the early Midwest Steamer, the one you had to build. I found the boat to be, at best, marginally powered, and generally more trouble to run than it was worth. The system was fun to tinker with, unfortunately, there was alot more tinkering then running.
BUT, I understand that the pre-assembled engines have a good bit more power than the ones you had to assemble, and that in that hull work pretty well.
PAT

[Tony Oliver]

..at best, marginally powered, and generally more trouble to run than it was worth. The system was fun to tinker with, unfortunately, there was alot more tinkering then running

Pat, that description sounds exactly like a brief excursion I had into model helicopters.

:)