My first ever classic r/c power boat model was built in the 1960’s from an Aerokits Swordsman kit that was paid for from my meagre apprenticeship wages.

I chose this model because I really liked the look of the boat and I loved the way that the deep vee hull performed on the water.

This model was run for many years in rivers, canals, ponds and lakes, but it’s biggest achievement was when it raced in the sea in an off-shore race that took place in a 6 foot swell, performed well and survived without incident.

After I got married in 1971 and moved to Exmouth I was disappointed to discover no interest in r/c model boats (in this seaside town!) but plenty of interest in r/c aircraft, so I sold it to help pay for my new hobby....and regretted it ever since.

Now, almost 50 years later I am scratch building another Swordsman based on a used Aerokits plan that I found on eBay and some drawings from Chris.....who seems to have some interest (!) in Fairey Marine power boats. 😂

I started by making templates for all the parts to be cut from birch plywood and then cut them on my bandsaw after checking that every template was symmetrical.

This was my first experience of fitting home made strakes to a hull, and I used brass tacks to position them until the glue dried, but them removed them after the glue had set.

After this application, all more recent strakes that have been fitted to different models have been fitted with super glue only - without the use of any tacks.

This includes those fitted to my restored LesRo Rapier and my scratch built Kopy Kommander that have both clocked up a lot of hours on their straked hulls with no problems whatsoever.

Bob.

The keel was copied from the original kit plans onto some card from a cereal packet, drawn onto plywood and cut out.

Other parts were drawn onto cardboard in the same way and used as templates to draw around onto plywood ready to be cut out.

Bob.

Bulkheads and other formers were cut from card templates and copied onto plywood, cut out and glued together using the original plan for reference.

Bob.

I increased the glueing area where ever possible as this boat is intended to be used a lot….in all weather conditions..!

Bob.

I worked out the shape of the bottom skins using my usual “bodgers” method of “trial and fit” with cardboard before cutting them out with my Tamiya razor saw.

Bob.

With the bottom skin fitted the motor mounts and prop shaft were fitted whilst it was still easy to see them to ensure a perfect alignment with each other.

Bob.

With the bottom skits fitted and cut back to the side stringers the shape and position of the strakes could be drawn on with a fine Biro pen.

Bob.

The stern shape of a Swordsman has quite a complex framework made to fit it to.

I really enjoyed making this part and the read deck supports at the same time.

Bob.

With the framework in place, a simple card template was made for a thin ply cover to skin it over with.

Bob.