Strange...

[Terry Lyttle]

What does this mean, Steve? just you and I? Does it mean that Scale boatbuilders are computer illiterate, or that there is no excitement in this part of the modelling hobby?

This is kiind of diappointing; I can only assume that there is another Scale boat site, but by the number of magazines out there, I know that there is lots of interest. I hope that this site doesn't just die.

My interest is in wheelboats, and have a small model of a 1860s San Francisco sidewheeler, but I am having trouble designing an effectiverudder drive due to the narrow stern. Any hints?

[Duke58]

Hi Terry, I don't know about your rudder space problem but I've thought of using seperate motors and esc's for each wheel and then mix the signals with an elevon mixer. The transmission from a model tank would work also, you could really whip up a froth on the surface.:)

[George Pfeifer]

They(we) are not computer illiterate, but I'm not sure why people don't participate. Just had this same discussion with a guy in Norway, he thought that we are all just intraverted. I do chat a lot with fellowboaters in England and Boston (all by direct e-mail).
The club that I belong to (Edina Model Yacht Club) has a web site and a forum(emyc.org). F/E and sailing are the most used. Nobody contirbutes to the scale forum much. We tried to get scale members to write articles about their boats to post on the site. The idea was cancelled after I was the only one to write an article.
I think that the true answer is that we spend all winter in the workshop building, and in the summer we spend all of our time at the pond showing them off. No time left for web surfing.:D

[Terry Lyttle]

Thanks for the responses, people, the analysis of scale boaters sounds good, scale aircraft seems to be the same. As far as the tank trans is concerned, good idea, but driving the walking beam could prove to be schizophrenic to say the least! The stern on this beast is about the same as a canoe for shape, so you can understand my problem. I will solve it... somehow...

[fgroza]

Scale is the NORM in my book. I have built several boats over the years and have several more to build! In fact a friend of mine took second place at Toledo in pleasure boats with a beautiful Dumas triple cockpit.
I am getting ready to start on a tug but haven't decided on which one. Anyone have a suggestion? I'm looking at a Brooklyn, Seguin, or a Amsterdam by Latina. Any comments would be appreciated.
A sub is also being put on my must do list. The OTW Type VII kit should fit the bill their.
I see that Polks is back in the boating game again. I picked up some props and rudders from them at Toledo. Real nice people to deal with. They have Rivalbo props at a good price. They also carry rudders and shafts.

Good Luck!
Frank

[George Pfeifer]

Of the 3 tug boats that you mention all make very nice models when completed, but a few observations:
The Brooklyn & Sequin are narrow by tug standards, and tend to be tippy in wind. We have several of each in our club and I have seen at least one of each "blow over" in the wind and sink.
The Amsterdam kit was originally designed as a static model. There are at least 5 in our club, all ended up being beautiful boats. I have not built one of these, but the members who did complained about it being a difficult build, mostly involving the mods needed for R/C operation. Once finished they appear to run great.:D
George

[Tony Oliver]

I'm a modelmaker. I try not to get channelled into any one category so my boats side has been neglected a little (as you may see in the Soaring section).
To encourage some others, I've attached this pic of my WW2 destroyer - mainly balsa and liteply construction, 36inch long, twin contrarotating props,forward and reverse working from a switching servo and microswitches.A bit unscale as it includes a little modelling license - but it was quick and easy to make and run but looks the part. Now sold but a new one is in preparation.

While I'm on, if you're in the North of England in two weeks time, don't forget the Model and Model Engineering Exhibition in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. A huge show with a large proportion of boats of all types.
Tony

[fgroza]

George,
Thanks for the heads up on the tugs. The Amsterdam may be a challange to find as it has been dropped from the Latina line-so I'm told.

Tonyo,
Nice ship! I built the HOOD from scratch when I was in high school. Started on the Yamato but never got too far.

Frank

[George Pfeifer]

Very nice Destroyer; here is a link to my USS Missouri: http://www.emyc.org/images/photo/military/2/MilitaryAlbum2/military_39_JPG.html

This is scratch built from Floating Dry Dock plans in 1/96th scale (just under 10 feet in length) Hull was built via "bread & butter" method so I didn't have to deal with all of the frames. It is powered by four 700BB motors working in pairs off of 2 Tekin Titan ESC's. Props are four counter rotating Dumas 1.5 inch diameter, three bladed.
Battery is a 12 volt 77AMP Hour Garden Tractor Unit.
The ship weighs 66 pounds, the Battery 50 pounds and then I have to add 50 pounds of lead shot to get it to the water line. Total of 166 pounds in the water.
The deck is totally hand planked with 1/16th X 1/32nd strips, if laid end to end they would stretch for just over 900 feet! The super structure is all out of 1/32nd ply, all fittings (gun barrells, radars, railings etc) are all brass.
The only items not hand made on the ship are the 2 scout planes on the catapults. Cheated and used Revell Kingfishers for those.
Radio is an Airtronix 7 channel, ship can be steered by rudders or motors, or combo of both.
Rear turret rotates and contains a squirt gun in the center barrell for having fun with the spectators.:D
George

[Tony Oliver]

Now that's a serious project - congratulations on a very successful outcome.
I remember as a lad, I was impressed by the amount of detail possible on that particular warship. It was always on my 'must build' list but I never did. I was finally persuaded to build a smaller model of the Vanguard. Looking back at my resources in space and cash at the time, it was probably a wise decision. I still have a hankering for the Missouri and you've reawakened my interest.

Tony

[fgroza]

George,
Tell us about the sub and the other boats on your site. What is going on with all of the smoke from the one boat?
I'm thinking of a OTW Type VII for a sub. I love WWII ships!

Good Luck,
Frank;)

[George Pfeifer]

Frank;
Difficult to tell you about all of the boats, we have about 120 members in the club, and well over 200 boats of all kinds. The submarine Guru in the club is Tim Smalley and he has his own web site located under our links. Take a look, it is a good site. Did you see the Jules Vern Nautalis? Unbelieable detail. It was featured in Scale Ship Modeler last year.
The smoking ship is a little thing that we do at the Parade to entertain the crowd. we have a smoking barge, actually 2, and a smoking PT 109. All of the tugs and fire boats rush out to put the fires out, the crowd loves it. We also do a sinking freighter. I built an Ore Carrier that has a balsa stick and Tissue paper center section. We annouce over the PA that our youngest club member 9 year old Eddie Fitzgerald is sailing his hand built boat for the first time. Just as it gets to the center of the pond, an out of control F/E rips right thru it. and it goes to the bottom. The bow & stern superstructures float off as markers, tied to the hulls and we are able to retrieve it. The Ore Carrier is believable enough that the crowd gasps when it is hit.
This year our show will be held June 9, come up and visit us...Ohio isn't that far away.:p
Good chance to see about 200 boats on display and in the water. It's all free, and modelers from anywhere are welcome to participate...the more the merrier.:D We usually have boats and boaters from Missourri, Wisconsin & Illinois in town for the event. posters should be on the web site pretty soon, if we can get the Web Master to stop work on his house remodel for a few hours.
Any other questions?
George

[fgroza]

George,
Thanks for the invite. I plan on going to the GRANDADDY of flyin's
in Oshkosh in June. Maybe some other time. I'll try to drag a friend along with me. He won second place at Toledo this year in the pleasure boat class. He built a Dumas triple cockpit that is fantastic!

Frank:)