This is one my favorite models. It is not a classic because of the period it's design represents; it is a Classic (to me) because of its sheer size and scale. It is approx. 50 inches in length and weighs approx. 55lbs. Moreover it represents the workmanship of some of the best wood craftsman located in Vietnam.

Years ago these model became popular and were being readily sold on Ebay and other sites. Most amazing was the exactness of the models in relation to the boats the represented and if nothing else, they are exceptionally beautiful display models. These boats were not designed for remote control. There were for display only and anyone who thought they would stick them in some water were in for a shock.

Well, I eventually got in touch with the gentleman who owned and company and knew that I wanted to make mine remote control. Therefore instead of having him send me a completed boat I was able to secure a boat that was just about finished but required the varnish, polyurethane, sealing, etc.. to get it water ready. So, all the parts and fitting were sent but not installed.

The boat was quite expensive to purchase in this scale (I think about $600) but was also very expensive to ship to the States and clear customs. (I think about $500). Once I received it I immediately started to cut out a portion of wood underneath the rearward lounge rest area and then began the task of carving out all of the necessary portions of wood to all me to later install my...Continue Reading

Ok , here are two of my favorites... this is for those who really want to lay back and relax while flying.

The first is my Lanzo Bomber - this was from a company called Direct Models that was situated in Australia, Sydney I believe.. They were not out for a long time but I recall that the owner had gotten hold of some of the original Lanzo Bomber plans and fabricated it in kit form. When this arrived, the wing was in three built-up pieces with the two outer wings being removable. The fuse was one large piece requiring that the rudder be screwed onto the elevator deck. All of the control surfaces are push/pull setup with digital servos and are very precise.

The rudder and the elevator can be separated for shipping if necessary. For general transport, it is no big deal. The Direct Models version allowed for and was designed to accommodate an electric motor. I ended up going with a large Himax motor, swinging a 16" prop. I used two 4000 mah 4s Lipo in parallel, mainly to help with the CG. I have actually never hooked up both of the lipos at the same time because the air time I get from one is quite long to begin with.

I fly it much like today's ALES contests... its gains altitude very quickly and can take of and get airborne in two feet of runway. Occasionally I have been able to thermal, but mostly I make huge circles taking about 15 mins to come back down. I brought two of these models anticipating a crash and not knowing...Continue Reading

Here is my super rare rc ultra-light. This model was one of my very first purchases from Hobby Lobby (the R/c store), more than 30 years ago.

It is an exact scale of the Mini-Silver One, Quicksilver Ultra-Light. It was made by a company called Kavan.

The dimensions are the following. .... approx. 68 inch wingspan, 1/6th scale... rudder and elevator only, electric conversion, 34 inch length, auw 5 1/2 pounds and made of aluminum and stitched Dacron fabric , (the same used on the original Quicksilver..

I flew it about three times, years ago and decided it was too beautiful to chance any damage.....it flew very scale but it did require the mixing of throttle to elevator to off set any pitch up of the nose when applying throttle.

Now, she is a shelf Queen...in perfect condition....Continue Reading

This page is for the classic models I have accumulated over the years that give strong indication of the quality and realism that was the hallmark of many of the models that were made years ago.

First one, up is my Chris Craft Sport Fisherman

Large 30 inch model with excellent detail. Molded with additional chromed parts. All parts were injection molded except hull and deck parts which are vacuformed.

I utilized a local doll house company in order to dress up the boat's interior. This one had twin 540 engines since the boat was very light and I wanted to run in a scale fashion.

Here is my Tina Lifeboat... This was offered through Hobby-Lobby more than 30 years ago. It is a very rare kit and even more unusual to see a completed and working model. I had purchased the kit about 18 years ago through someone I knew who lived in Germany.. Eventually, I ended up also obtaining the male rowing figure as well.

This is a very unique kit both in its design, level of realism and well thought out worm-drive gear rowing mechanism. The other very unique aspect to this boat is that the boat is operated solely as a result of the movement of the oars and the drive system that is located underneath the both floorboard that allows for the movement of the oars in a rowing fashion and the ability to turn the boat by causing the turning oar to go deeper in the water giving it that additional "bite" so that it will turn in either direction.

Also, the steering of the boat via the oars is controlled via a simple two channel radio system.

Finally, I obtained the clothing for the male from a doll shop and I had the clothing for the lady, made. For scale purposes, both figures are approx. 17 inches in height. My intention was to design a turn of the century appearance re: dress attire. The gown she is wearing was hand sewn by a seamstress I met via the net who's expertise is in taking a picture or magazine image of an intricate piece of clothing and being able to duplicate it, in miniature.

It operates from a small Geared 400 motor. reversable ESC, in order to make the row boat go forwardor backwards, and a 3 cell 1320 Thunder power LIPO.

This is my Pacer Airboat.. it is about 10 years old and was originally designed to be run with a gas motor (approx. .40-.46). I never built it in its gas configuration and it sat on a shelf for years. With the advent of powerful brushless motors and lightweight yet, powerful Liop batteries, the time to build it had arrived. The main design challange was to make sure I continue to use the model as designed. That said, I had to re-config the gas motor stand that had originally come with the boat. It was a very unique design (when I can get a pic of it, I will post it); but it allowed for the installment of a gas motor, in an upside down setting, but connected to a very elaborately designed stand. It required the motor to be connected to the propeller shaft by means of a pulley system. (Pics, 152, 155, 160 and 164 are the best shots of the motor stand.) Instead of using the base of the original stand, I simply reconstructed another one, made of wood and spray painted it silver. That held the electric motor. I then used "speaker wire channeling material to hide the motor wires that was diverted into the waterproof servo and battery housing. (See 159, 160, 165 and 166).
Anyway, like many of my other models, this one is perfect for GI Joe Scale. Presently it is running on a Mega 22/30/3E, turning a 12x8 prop, using a 3S, 4000 mah Zippy Lipo battery. It moves......
The last two pics detail the Airboat with my Scale Rigid Hull Inflatable Coast Guard boat... more...Continue Reading

This is a very detailed model of a Ferryboat made by the German company, Wedico. It is about 20 yrs old and had originally been featured in a few issues of Hobby-Lobby's old cataloge. When completed it is approx. 5 feet in length. It was a partial kit when I obatained it however, I managed to get the remaining parts and instrutions after contacting the company, who I now have come to learn is the company that is responcible for building those extremely realistic r/c trucks and tractor trailors under the Wedico name. Some of its features, as built are a Shottel drive system (two of them) which allow 360 degree positioning of the boat. It can go sideways, diagonal, or turn in a full circule on its own diameter. It has a complete digital sound system, led lights, remote control drawbridge anda several extremely scale 1/18 size vehicles. The Tour bus is also remote control with seperate sound system and remotely opening and closing passenger doors and luggage bay....Continue Reading

ThThese are a few photos of a rebuild and electric conversion I did of a Vintage plane called the Powerhouse. Today, these models are part of a category of model airplanes referred to as "Old Timers". They were operated with the use of a large gas powered motor that would contain enough fuel for approximately one minute of power and the goal was that during that time, the model would be taken to "speck" height, and then cut off once it ran out of fuel. The winner of the contest would be the person who's plane came back to to earth, "LAST". Generally, prior to take-off the controlled surfaces of the plane would be situated so that once the engine cuts off, it would float down in a large circle until it gently lands on the ground. This was done by pre-positioning the rudder and elevator. The re-build was accomplished by closing the gapping hole in the fuselage where the previous gas engine was situated, repairing and repainting the fabric and the control surface connections.

This model has an 84 inch wingspan. An E-flite 60 electric engine, 80 amp Electronic Speed Control, and will fly all day on a 5S 4900 lipo.
The model difficult part of the build was the engine cowl. Originally designed to accommodate a gas engine, the cowl upper portion was open to allow the protrusion of the engine together with an engine firewall. My electric conversion required that the entire cowl be closed , therefore the opening had to be closed. That...Continue Reading

This is my GI Joe Scale Coast Guard Rescue boat