i just bought one of these used, but i searched google and could not find any pictures or info for that matter on this old tug. i know the kit has been discontinued but there has to be some info somewhere on this kit right? if you know about them or have built one please share some info/pics.

Did you buy it from RCUNIVERSE, the guy had an extra hull done, if so that was a good buy, i almost bit into that buy but dont know how to work with wood so backed out. Looks like it will be a nice build, if i get any info i will forward to you for sure...Ivan.

yea that was the one, and as it turns out he lives 116 miles from me.small world.

I have one of the original Laughing Whale kits that I built in 1981, when I was stationed in Kodiak, AK. I have a Dumas #2004 6V motor, Traxxas ESC, and Futaba 2 channel radio. I replaced the original cabin materials with thin aircraft plywood, and detailed the interior with a radio, radar, chart table, coffe pot, binoculars, gage panel, etc., all scratch built. The model has working lights. The fenders are 1/24th & 1/25th scale tires that I got from model truck kits that were on a post-Christmas sale; most of the other truck parts went to detail some of my other boats. About 1985, Midwest bought the rights to some of the Laughing Whale kits: The Tug; the Fireboat (same design as the tug); & lobsterboat.The Wisconsin Scale Boating Association has their "Project Harbor Tug" (about 1/2 way down the page) that some of the club members are working on. One of their members made a fiberglass mold for the hulls.

any advice or tips on building this kit?

could you post some more detailed pics of the inside /outside cabin area and working lights?

Hello!!!
Is that tug named "Liberty Tug"

have a nice day

Is that tug named "Liberty Tug"

No. The Laughing Whale?Midwest kit "The Tug" is the top picture. The Midwest "Liberty Tug" is the bottom picture. "The Tug" has a wooden plank on frame hull. The Liberty Tug has a plastic hull - the same hull as their Elliot Bay Steam Launch and Patriot Fire Boat.

could you post some more detailed pics of the inside /outside cabin area and working lights?

Here are some detail shots. It's hard to get pictures of the interior because the windows are 1.25 x 1.375 inches. The masts are brass tube, so the light wires run inside the tube. The lights run off 3 Volts - 2 AA cells. This model was built in 1981-82.

The radio mike cable is a spring from a ball point pen.

thanks for the pics CGBOB , what are the demsions on that steering wheel ? im looking to get one but there is so many , unsure of what size to get.

Like I said, I built that model in 1981. I don't what size wheel that is. The cabin is sealed so I can't get a ruler in there. WAG 1", maybe 1 1/4".

Hey CG BOB i was thinking about making my harbor tug a 2 level tug , meaning 2 different levels , but im new to the scale side of things. is this possible and if possible could you guide me on the dimensions to make this look scale ?something like this .



harbor tug deminsions:

midwest harbor tug specs:
lenght: 25"
Beam : 7 -1/4
scale: 1/2" to 1 foot

original cabin 4" wide X about 10" long

Helifan,

If you decide to make a 2 deck cabin for the tug, the scale WILL HAVE to be SMALLER - 1:48 instead of 1:24; the tug will become 100 scale feet instead of 50 scale feet. You could also go with 1:32 or 1:35 scale, the tug would be about 65 scale feet long. The top picture is the W.O. DECKER from South Street Seaport in NYC, the DECKER is 52 feet long. The DECKER is similar in apearnace to the two tug drawings. The drawings are of a 50 foot tug (upper) and a 65 foot tug (lower). The plans for both tugs are available from Loyalhanna Dockyard/Taubman Plans. The bottom picture is my 1:96 scale model of the tug SOCONY 12. The model is 14 inches long and represents a tug 112 feet long.

Really nice model tugs, Bob; everybody likes/wants a tug. What are the dimensions of your FINBACK model? Any particular reason for that name? Thanks for sharing.

Bill

FINBACK was built from a kit produced by the Laughing Whale. The Laughing Whale sold or licensed some of their designs to Midwest Products in the mid 1980's. I built FINBACK in 1981-82. The Laughing Whale called their kit "The Tug". Midwest called it "The Harbor Tug".

Laughing Whale/Midwest tug specs:
lenght: 25"
Beam : 7 -1/4
scale: 1/2" to 1 foot or 1:24