Billing Boats - Banckert

[Iccccie]

Hey!

I'm new to this, building scale boats.
I've been thinking about building a Billing Boats Banckert Tug.
Have any built this one?
-Reflections?
-Comments?
-Hints?

Another Boat more suitible, in same level of details etc ?

I've been building R/C Model Planes, Plastic models and would say i'm quite handy.

Best Wishes,
Patrik

[Ghost 2501]

though I have not build one, a guy im the model boat club that I am in has. it has an ABS hull and deck, though a wooden superstructure. and fiddly rudders. It does however, make a nice kit when done.

I built a sydney star, and though Graupner say "for experienced moddellers", to that I say "yeah, right!" its a simple kit, just a bit big!!

[Massey]

My LHS has a Blankert on the shelf and one of the reasons that I do not have it on my shelf is that it needs a band saw or a jog saw to cut out the wood parts. I dont know if this one just missed the die/laser cutter or what but I dont have either of those saws, so I dont own the kit. It does look good tho.

Massey

P.S. I too have the Sydney Star from Graupner, I have not had the chance to build it yet but from the looks of the instructions the hardest part of the entire kit is installing the bow and stern thrusters and that is not that hard at all.

[smart_racer]

I built the kit 25+ years ago. Excellent instructions and kit, no laser cut parts, a good cork back ruler and knife. A nice detailed finished kit.

[more coffee]

im currently have one on the dock.
get lots of clamps they well come in handy .
as smart racer said a good sharp knife and a ruler well serve you well.

i cut alot of pieces with a scroll saw and the finest tooth blades i could find.
but all in all not a teribly hard kit to build if you have some previous model experience

[LtDoc]

I've built two. A powered jig-saw is very nice to have since there is a lot of wooden parts to cut out. Not exactly mandatory, but nice to have if you're as lazy as I am. Another 'qwerk' to watch out for is that all parts are not exactly the 'exact' size needed to assemble a 'square' structure (if that makes sense). The superstructures should be built using the deck supports for those structures. Otherwise, things just won't fit 'right'. 'Ghost' is right about the "fiddly" rudders, they are. My solution was to throw that idea away and build a slightly larger single rudder with different control arm and connecting rod. Not exactly to 'scale' anymore, but certainly works (me building two identical parts is one of those things that seldom happens, except by accident). Also built/cut an access opening under the forward superstructure for getting to stuff in the forward part of the boat. It isn't the 'roomiest' boat around so squeezing in large batteries etc, is sort of a problem. So is getting to them when you do.
The quality of the wood supplied isn't the 'best' in the world so taking care with it's use (slightly less than just one ton of sandpaper) is advisable. It isn't easy making grainy wood resemble 'slick' metal, you know - lol.
It's a nice kit. Probably not suitable for your first kit, but taking your time, reading the instructions, taking a very good look at any/all pictures you can find, make it possible as a 'first'.
- 'Doc

PS - Learning to 'cuss' is a very good skill for any of the 'Billing's kits... other manufacturors too.

[Iccccie]

Thanks guys,

I allready have power-tools like band saw, 2 drill presses, lathe, grinder, dremel, handdrills etc etc, so that won't be a problem.

I'm not affraid of a wood model, cause ive been workin mostly in balsa in model RC airplanes and tight spaces too. And I've got plenty of time :p


Are there any other Billing boat kit you prefer to the Banckert with same level of detail, (no yacht or sailboats) ?

Regards,
Patrik

[smart_racer]

Smit Nederland, lots of room for electronics and running gear, still one of my favorite builds

[Massey]

I am building the Billings Zwarte Zee right now and it is a decient kit. Parts in it are laser cut and dont require too much modifications to fit good. There is no supplied R/C installations so you are left to build those parts how you want. Good looking boat handles water pretty good and fun to build. Not as roomy as my Tito Neri inside but there is enough room for a good amount of stuff. Check out my build thread here.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=538479

Massey

[keith S]

Have built both a Bankert and a Smit Nederland for others. Like the Nederland as there was more room to work with and the twin screw set up. Highly recomend prefitting all parts to ensure proper fitting before assembely. Also READ ( to make sure you understand) the directions carefully and study the pictures and you should not have any problems.

[Iccccie]

So i got one!!

I've got to admit, what a lovely kit!! Theres no instruction manual but i guess that's the way Billing makes it. This is a really fun kit to build.
My one is Laser cut and it says that on the box, all i need is a exacto-knife and some sandpaper.

About the motor, i found a Mabuchi (spelling?) RS 550-SH motor lying around. Is this a suitible motor for this kind of boat?, im thinking about using it with a Rivabo 40mm 4-Blade prop (544-040) on 6volts.

How big servo do you need in a tug like this? ive got a couple of GWS Micro servos lying around theese are about 1.80kg/cm 25oz/inch in torque. Too small? or i need a real standard servo?

Here's some pictures of the build.

[MILLERTIME]

I started building my Banckert, I think Billing Boats forgot to add the instructions with the pictures. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, Well I’m speechless.
I'ts not a bad kit, but you need a scroll saw.
Don M.

My build.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=457900&highlight=Banckert

[smart_racer]

I guess Billing's has upgraded the Banckert, mine came with no laser-cut sheets, but a instruction manual and drawings

[Ghost 2501]

icccie, use a Viper 20 esc, and for servo, use a futaba 3003 or similar,

[Iccccie]

so the motor is okey??
i mean, not too revy for the prop and kind of boat...

[Ghost 2501]

you may find the motor a little rev happy, but you will have power in reserve in case of problems :)

[bigford]

i got mine on monday... i figure i'll learn on this one before
building my boatfox hull smit franken.
the wood on mine is not so bad. it will need a fair bit of filling
and sanding to make it look good. how about using areo-dope
like in aroplanes to fill and seal the wood grain in

[bigford]

slowly working on mine i made a few changes to her
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/bigfordf550/monkey003.jpg
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/bigfordf550/monkey005.jpg
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q162/bigfordf550/monkey006.jpg
i really did not like the way the mast/funnel looked so i cut it down
the front wrap around on my boat is plastic not wood like iccccie's
boat i'll fix that too

[bigford]

what type of tug would the banckert be??

[ropanach]

This vessel was built in 1965 at the N.V. Scheepswerven in Millingen, Holland, and called "Maasbank". In September 1977 it was renamed "Banckert". The Maasbank served for 12 years in the Western part of Holland. 26"