Hi y’all. Almost 8 years ago I posted a build log on RC Groups where I built and converted an IMEX Taurus Sport Fisherman into a police boat, simply by moving and using the windshield as a fairing, adding a light bar and police decals. It ran good, looked okay, and I gave it to my Daughter Grace who ran it twice and then it sat in my shop till a few months ago. I got it back in the water, and I was surprised at how well it ran and handled. To make a long story short, I received a Fiberglass hull for Vhristmas from Modelmast in Poland. It’s not a kit, nor is it a very popular subject, but I have to scratch build everything from the deck up including the build. I’ve done simple projects before with plasticard and wood, the most complex thing I’ve done was to build up a superstructure for my PT15 that went overboard on her maiden. I’ve decided that as a warm up, I’m gonna make the Taurus “Police” boat more…policey.
First thing I did was to get rid of the rails, details, etc, in doing so I heard a crack. My glue joint was giving way!! Now, I do use a combo of filled epoxy and ca to build my boats, and I’ve never till this time have had an ABS joint come loose as long as I’ve scuffed the joint and used a good epoxy with a filler. Looking at the failed joint, I realized I used a “plastic epoxy” and upon further inspection I realized I hadn’t scuffed the joint at all!! I also remembered this boat was knocked Offaly branch during some moving around at least once. Anyway, I cleaned off the old glue, scuffed the joint and rebuked it.
I’ll keep this as short as I can, cause it could get a little confusing. My goal is to make a more modern 2-4 person patrol boat. So I basically googled “police boat” and came up with a design in my head. Didn’t draw a blasted thing till I got to the cabin proper. Now, the original hatch is the entire superstructure, from just forward of the stern all the way to maybe 9 inches from the bow. I built a well deck aft over the rudder linkage using plastic for a bulkhead, some strip wood for support and reinforcement, and made up a hatch in the floor for rudder servo and linkage access. I then started to build my coaming, and halfway into it I realized it’s not going to look right, and my coaming is too short. So I got the Dremel and a cutoff wheel and went to town on the deck. I’ve been off all week, so 3 days later, I have a decently proportioned deck, sub deck/hatch and the start of a modern (to me at least) cabin. I’ll post pics, please be honest and tell me what you think. Remember her, this is NOT a scale boat, it’s the faul of my fevered imagination and Google..🤣
Cash

Hi y’all. I finished up doing a little inside framing this morning, using…well, whatever I had in my scrap wood collection..1/8th basswood, 1/4 x 1/2 balsa, 1/4 inch balsa, 1/16th by 1/8th…I don’t know what it is it’s wood. Once I got that out of the way I made up the front fascia, I cut it oversized, measured and cut out the fwd windows, once glued in place I trimmed and sanded to fit. I also filled the fwd side windows as I felt they were too deep. Looks better I think. So, now I have to figure out my roof and masts, equipment and such, plus sand and trim the house so it sits a little better.
Cash

Hi y’all. Had a late night so I didn’t get up today till almost 1100 am. Long story short my daughter got into an accident that totaled her car, she’s fine though. Seatbelts and airbags did their jobs. Looks like she’s not at fault, but I’m not going into specifics until everything has been settled. So…I didn’t get to sleep until almost 3 am. I had a little time to make a roof, using some 3mm plasticard and some 2mm to make the outer molding. My vacation is over, we need to purchase another car, and my day starts about 450 am when I roll out of bed.
Next up I’m going to go Kaveri the hull, deck/hatch and superstructure, sand fill and resand as necessary, then start primering. I also need to start looking at what details and/or functions to add, such as lights, etc, and scrounge or purchase what I’m shy of in my stock.
Cash

Hi y’all. Finally got some time to work on the patrol boat. I got the cabin glued to the hatch/upper deck, and any gaps filled. I also came up with a decent little mount for the hatch. The rear has a lip that slides over the fwd bulkhead of the well deck, and the sides fit the coaming snugly. What I came up with for the front is a locating peg. With the hatch on I drilled thru the fwd part of the hatch into the deck, and fitted a dowel. I then took a Lego and cleaned out the backside so I had a hollow box, and glued it in place under the hole in the deck, so if any water splashes on the deck it won’t seep inside. Realistically, as much freeboard as this hull has it probably won’t be an issue but better safe than sorry.
Now, in its earlier police form this boat had a siren/light bar combo that worked well, but was kind of clunky looking. I found a much more modern looking bar on Amazon for around 13 dollars, works off receiver power. I took the old light bar apart, hoping I could use the siren separately, but the sound board and LEDs are soldered on one board, and I don’t trust myself to unsolder everything and use the amp by itself. So…I painted over the boards LEDs, and will use th old light bar board as the siren control. I had some extra metal etched steps from my Aeronaut Pilot, so I cut the roof and glued one in place on the underside as a grille for the siren, then mounted the siren and light bar. Works like a champ. Now I need to design a short mast,make a decision if I want to have operating mast and nav lights or just dummies, etc. When my paint order comes in from Hobbylinc I’ll be able to start finishing her up.
Cash

Click on the link for the light and siren test😁

Hi y’all. I found some old school nav lights I got in a trade some years ago. I’m pretty sure they’re 3 volt bulbs, my idea is to put 6 volts in them as that’s what I like to use. I’ll be damned if I can’t figure out how to access the bulb. I’ve tried gently to turn, twist and cajole the lens housing off to no avail. Any idea how to get the forward housing off, IF it comes off? Any suggestions appreciated.

Hi y’all. I finally had time to do a little on the Patrol boat this morning, been busy getting another car..Focus ST, six speed, 225 hp and arrest me red. 65900 miles and in almost perfect shape. Now the Abarth is in the shop getting everything I can think of and afford done, then I’ll have her cleaned up and present her to Grace. It’s more fun, and less stressful to buy a car when you want to, not when you have to.
Anyway, I got most of the main paintwork done this morning, still needs a touch up here and there. I also added a rubrail using the remainder of the vacuum line I split down the middle when I built my Aeronaut Pilot. She’s starting to take shape now, lights and details on the cabin are next, clear coat, windows and the remainder of deck details.
Cash

Hi y’all. Got a bit more done yesterday and a little this evening. I bought a smoke color tint in the synthetic lacquer range from Tamiya, sprayed some clear plastic sheet with it and once dry cut out and installed the windows. After that I installed the roof. Before I finished yesterday I took some legos, a few plastic bits, and a “jet nozzle” fitting that was unused from my Deans Marine PBR I built a few years ago. I used the nozzle after I. It it down a bit as the support for the Lego “housing”, used sheet plastic and bits to make a radar, and the aft part of the housing holds up the aft nav light…it’s a dummy, no bulb installed. I’ve made a conscious decision to keep her simple. This was supposed to be a refurb and slight modification using the original hull and deck….it got a little out of hand, so she’s got a light bar and siren, that’s enough. Anyway, I used some thin styrene rod and tubing to make twin antennas, and I made up the cabin door.I used some styrene rod to simulate simple hinges, and looking through my stash o’ fittings I found some tiny white metal cleats, probably from the PBR build. I cut the cleat off, cleaned it up, then glued it base down with the pegs sticking up, and glued a short length of styrene rod to the pegs. Door Handle!!
That’s where I’m at right now, I need to figure out a few more details, and come up with lettering. Almost there!!
Cash

Hi y’all. The Patrol boat has seen the water twice since my last posting, and she performed admirably, better than I expected. Good speed on a 40mm sub surface racing style prop, runs for a good long while, probably and hour or so of putting around, cruising and some high speed passes. I still have to finish up a few details and lettering, but I’ll get to that a little later. I installed the back door and some hand railing, and that’s where she’s at for now. When I get done editing the vids of the last 2 outings I’ll post a clip of her in the water.
Ash