I adopted this orphaned kit early last year and it's been awaiting it's turn on the build table. Well, it pulled the short straw in January 2023. I've got the 4 motors installed along with the drive trains. You can either build the Big Mo as a twin screw or a four nscrew as the real ship. I elected to go 4 screw and had to order the drive system from China, that set me back $200.00. Also elected to put an after market wooden deck on it and chose the blue deck. I'm currently working on installing all those bits and pieces on the main deck, which is quite time consuming....Continue Reading

I was able to pick up this kit on sale from Model Expo this weekend and will be my next project hopefully.

This will be my next project....Continue Reading

This was an orphaned partially built kit that was sent to me. The previous owner/builder passed away before he could finish it, so I took up the challenge and finished it. I named it the Caribbean Breeze.

I'm finishing up on a Dumas Chris Craft 1955 Cobra Run About. It has been modified in length from the original 27" to 30", I added 1/4 height to the trasome and stern to allow it to sit a tad higher in the water. I also used .004 and .015 metal flake on the center trim piece as well as the turtle deck, which will allow it to sparkle like no one's business. I was shooting for a 1950's-60's heavy metal flake finish like you would see on hot rods and hydroplane boats from that era. I think I nailed it pretty good.

This was a little orphan project that I picked up and felt sorry for so I decided to finish it. It had been kicked around from pillar to post with noone taking the time to give it a little love so I adopted it. I put about 150 hours in it to get her presentable enough to be adopted out. I named it "How's it Hangin? BR549.

I loved building the Pat Tritle design Yoda's Ark so much, I desided to build a larger version. The original measure like 26" in length. So I found a fiberglass hull 33" long and thought this work make a good candidate for this project. I had to do quite a bit of build up on the front deck of the hull about 1 1/2" to get the right profile and cut 1/4" off the top of the sides and transome. Built the wood framing to install in the hull and about 400 hours later, here she is. I call her the Lucky Lady.

This boat was scratch built using Pat Tritles plans and design. It is based on a 1920-30's pleasure boat. It was an absolute pleasure to build. I'm planning to build another Yoda, but this time add another rib or three and extend the length from about 27" to 30" or possibly 32".

I finished working on the Dumas 1930 mahogany run about also known as Aces High.

A 1940 Chris Craft Barrel Back mahogany run about.

This is the latest build fresh off the bench. It's was a Artesania Latina kit of the Hellen, which is a discontinued kit. I went with a Caribbean fishing boat theme. I named her the Caribbean Dreamin BR549.

I finished the Dumas Typhoon and it will be going to a new home in New York very soon. I enjoyed building it and the only modification was to the stern section, where I cut out a section of the top deck and made an access hatch to the rudder and servo area. This allows adjustments to be made to the rudder servo and rudder arm without having to remove a screwed on panel on the bottom of the boat. I think it turned out nicely.

Both are Dumas Chris Craft mahogany run abouts, one is a 1930 run about and the other was a 1940 barrel back. The 1930 I named her the Ratlin Rita, if you look closely at the stern, you will see why.

This was the first RC boat build that I did. I finished her last year.

I finished this Creole Queen, which was half built when I received it, but after about 300 hours later, she is finished.

After 2 1/2 years and over 2500 hours.

Which I also intend on making it a donation hopefully to a hospital or something so they can auction or raffle it off to help the hospital or display it if they have the room.

mike

I've started on the standing rigging and shrouds. I hope to be attaching the sails to the Monte within the next month and completing the running rigging.

For the past 20 years, I have been wanting to build ship model and donate it to a public institution so that it can be viewed by all walks of life without it costing anyone anything. I have built better than 30 ship models over the past 20 years and most all have been sold to private collections or to corporations for offices or lobbies. So I contacted my local Library in Mt. Dora and asked if they would accept the ship model and display it for the public to view it and afterward if they decide they need the space they can auction it off and use the money for something needed. They agreed. So I began the project in July of 2015 and finished it in December of 2016.

I chose the HMS Victory because it's rich naval history. I even contacted someone in England who was able to locate a piece of the real Victory ship which is moored in Portsmouth England and shipped the wood to me. I used this wood to make quite a few piece of the ship model like cat heads, cross trees, anchor davits and collars to name a few. When finished the model was 49 inches long. I chose to house the ship model in a mahogany display case, which was also part of the donation.

Here is a couple of pictures one is where my son in law and myself delivered it to the Library, the other is where The Victory rests today.

I recently finished a Mountain Models Lucky Ace and shipped it out to a buyer in AZ. I LOVE the silver and maroon colors on this plane. I hated to sell it.

You all will be sorely missed. All have been sold. Now I'm relogated to the building table due to health issues. My flying days are over I reckon.

I finished the Manzano's Spad XIII, which was sold with the lot. I also finished the Pietenpol By Old School RC. What a fun plane to build. I built this plane to ship with fuse, tail surfaces & wing seperate for shipping. I had to ship in two boxes to make sure the wing made it. My fingers are crossed.