Last year I was given a well-worn but mostly intact Graupner Ton 12 Krabbekutter kit by a neighbour clearing out his parents old home. I have decided to start it. Much of the wood is brittle and fairly well warped (but should be ok with some love and attention). The packs of smaller deck fittings were missing but I managed to purchase them on ebay (amazing that someone had the unused bags of fittings up for sale on their own). It is the first time I have built an ABS plastic hull. I have fitted a small MFA 2.5:1 geared motor I had aside for another project and a 2mm propshaft to a 30mm 3 blade prop. I will be using 6v and an initial test in the hot tub shows this will probably be fine. I’m not going to rush this project as I am also completing an RC plane at the same time but I will post pictures as the various elements take shape… so far I have installed the gear, built the wheelhouse shell and framed the underside of the deck.

Deck glued in place. Shell of the main superstructures added.

I have varnished the deck and wheelhouse, made up some of the other superstructures and built the crab cooker. I have ‘borrowed’ a winch from a now worse for wear crab fishing boat (Billing boats version) my dad made in the late 60’s - early 70’s. Might borrow some other bits too…

I have done a bit more on the Ton 12. I have re-built the cabin roof from 1.5mm grp sheet and painted it. I stupidly managed to snap the wooden one where the wood was so brittle with age. I have also glazed the cabin windows.

Also I have discovered a rather good glue that I am quite impressed with. It is called T-7000 and I got it on Amazon for about £5. What I like about it is that it is opaque black and sort of rubbery when dry. It is excellent for bonding in LEDs as shown in my picture as it also prevents any light bleeding out at the glue joint. I think it is the sort of thing you find holding in electronic components in phones and the like.