Paul, leave it in the box until next summer, it's too cold for sailing now.
Know what you mean about finishing a boat, look around the workshop going Mmmmm. So, off the shelf comes the Maggie M that was half built two years ago, and have started altering it so it will be as the boat is now, that should keep me out of mischief for awhile 😁

Shaun, yep, that's the motor, they only go as fast as your thumb allows, I do have a bit of trouble with my thumb sometimes though

Great job Alan. it performs as well as it looks.

Is that fitted with one your Turnigy AquaStar 3974-2200KV motors, the same ones that you were going to have me fit two of in my lifeboat build? I want to sail it not fly it! 😁 😁 😁 😁

Shaun

well done Alan, now its finished, it sort of leaves an empty feeling doesn't it!

I really cant get going on my next project, Vietnam PCF boat, I was looking forward to this for over a year, but now, cant get motivated, and cant really motivate myself to sail the Fireboat now its a done deal!

Strange feeling, I even considered selling it, but its worth so much more to me that an actual value,. so its sitting in its box, been there for months! 😟

Looks good Alan.

2/3rds full speed looks pretty fast to me!

Ian

What a nice day, no wind and the sun out.

Time to try the Fireboat out, didn't really want to get it wet, but hey-ho

So in it went, and much to my surprise it performed really well, running at two thirds full speed as full speed was way over the top it turned very well, just have to program the ESC so that I have a bit of reverse.

Video in the gallery, sorry about the quality.

Could I take a drop of whisky with that Buxton bottled water 😁

Here you go, last photo before it gets wet

well done Alan!!

now no more excuses, its time to get it wet, its not an ornament!! 😀 😀 and stay away from salt water after all that effort with the fittings, I only sail in Buxton bottled water, ask Stephen and Dave M, I do a water cleanliness test beforehand ☺️

hI all
it was our model railway show this weekend and I would like to congratulate alan p on him wining the best in show with his fire boat cup voted by boat club members also the bud Dixon shield also for the fire boat he could hardly get out of the with the amount of silver he was holding, oh plus the size of his head
well done alan your a credit to the club all the best ted

HI Alan
Good to see you are ready for sea trials. You may have to wait for some time as I see the West coast is scheduled for storms and hurricanes this week.
I sailed with Paul Devlin at their open day earlier this year and if you intend to sail at the speed he achieves you will be spending quite a lot of time out of the water, 😁 especially in a bit of a chop.
Good luck and looking forward to the video/pics 😀

Thanks for the compliment boatshed.

As I am prone to colliding with things, I thought I would postpone sea trials till after this weekends show, so first fine day next week.

I will post the results on this thread, good or bad.

Alan

😋 Awesome looking boat Alan 😋 😋 When are the speed 😉 😁 I mean sea trials.
Will you be putting video on for all to see?
Could you put a post on when, or if you do put video on please.
Can't wait to see her on the water.

😁 Thanks Roger, looking forward to seeing your swivelling thingy 😁

Alan

well done Alan, a fine looking model but on behalf of the wet and soggy airmens society I must protest at the lack of swivelling davits. I promise when I have faithfully copied yours mine will swivel, well slightly at least. Am sure the boat will win you many trophies
Go Well
Roger

Absolutely brilliant Alan, I don't think there is going to be a lot between yours and Paul's, 😊 I wouldn't like to be the judge who had to separate them anyway 😱 I now have two build blogs to help me along with mine, it will take me forever trying to decide which bit of yours or Pauls to model mine on 😁

well done Alan, its funny how our boats are the same, yet quite different with our own interpretations on things, which makes it nice and individual.

Hopefully we will get them together at some time, Stephen still has it, I have been watching ebay closely, 😀

He is actually doing me a favour storing it till next week, whilst I finished my latest toy/project!

That's it, it's finished, A few bits such as crash ladder, lifting eyes and boat hooks my be added at a later date.
The boat is going into a local show at the weekend and then speed trials, ooops, I mean sea trials will take place after that.

Many thanks to Paul (pmdevlin) for all his help.

peter henshaw's on his 3 footer, you can bet he used exact measurements!

To swivel or not to swivel, that is the question.
I pondered this davit question while digging at the allotment this morning and after consulting the two ladies in the next allotment decided that I would leave mine as it is and let Roger make one that swivels that I can copy at a later date. 😁

Roger.... any airmen that my boat rescues, that are wet through and over weight and can't be pulled onto the deck, will just have to climb up the scramble nets 😁

Paul.... you don't expect me to make ladders from that drawing, do you? 😰 How long is it, how wide is it, what is it made of, does it fold in the middle, where does it stow. Bet you have been hanging on to that drawing, ready to spring it on me just when I thought I had nearly finished 😁

Todays effort is the Danforth anchor made out of plasticard as I think the crew have enough brass to polish. 😁 Not sure about the size of the chain though

hangs off the side, and folds down, come on, pay attention or we will have to confiscate your boat. Crash ladder on the plans!, got you eh!! 😁

Rescue ladder? what rescue ladder? never noticed that on any of the drawings/pictures.

really looking great Alan, fab job on the davit, I wonder where it was stored when not in use? I never got round to the rescue ladder, fancy taking that on (make two!! 😯 )

Galloping along now, might even get it finished soon 😁
The mast has been fitted along with the two handrails and the nav lights, don't think I will need to get my fingers inside the wheel house anymore, so the windows can be fitted tomorrow.

The crane/davit, whatever it is called has been fitted to the bulkhead, it just lifts off the brackets that are fitted to the bulkhead, brackets have yet to be fitted on the Stbd side so that the davit can be used either side of the boat.

Roger. Going by the drawing that I have it does not look as thought the davit is made to swing, but it can be fitted either side of the boat, Ill try to send the drawing to you.

HI Alan nice work have been looking for a good picture of a davit and you have solved the problem. Just one query you have fixings both sides and I thought they swivelled so they could swing the survivor inboard! Anywaykeep up the good work
Roger

very nice Alan, but you need to think of the welfare of the crew - get some gearing and motive power sorted!

Made a start on the davit/crane, not sure what it is called.
Photo is of it before it is fully assembled and painted, mostly made out of plasticard with odd bits of brass tube and an aluminium drum. The handle will fit the squared shaft and turn the drum, didn't go as far as making gears, the crew will just have to struggle 😁

This afternoons effort was the Port and Stbd nav lights.
The lens was made out of red and green Perspex rod, turned and drilled out on the lathe, then cut and filed to fit the light body, the back of the light was drilled and hollowed out to allow a 3mm bright LED to be fitted.
Now fitted to the boat

wow, nice, at least you have looked in the wheelhouse, I was beginning to think it was a waste of time doing all that as nobody looks at it when the boat makes a rare appearance out of its box. I think its a vampireboat, you have seen the coffin! and it never come s out in daylight 😁

don't forget the steering wheel, you cant buy that anywhere!

Hehehe... Yes, I've left the country!

Recognise any of these fittings Paul? I can send you the CAD version of your boat back, is that ok? 😀

Nah, in seriousness, it's ready to go back home 😊 if I get chance to make these parts I'll bring them along too!

Stephen

I might have made a better job of it if I had used a toilet roll middle and a shoe box.

As for your double post, don't worry Shaun, a lot of people repeat themselves when they get old 😁 😁

Especially for Shaun.
I have a few drawings and photo's of the mast, but no two seem to be the same, so I have taken a bit from all of them.
Most drawings show the uprights made from propellers so 3mm thick plasticard was used, this was cut and sanded to the profile shown on two of the drawings, mast and cross pieces are plastic tube and the rest is made from plasticard scrap.
Held together with 12ba nuts and bolts and 10ba to hold it onto the cabin roof.
One drawing shows hardwood in between the cabin roof and the mast bracket so small pieces of teak have been shaped to take the slope of the cabin roof. Surprising how far a belt sander will throw a small piece of wood 😁

Just needs painting and fitting now

Stalling, who me?, never, 😁 a lot of work went into that 😁

Your boat, have you thought of looking on ebay for it? 😁

you are just stalling now!

Stephen has disappeared with my boat................. its still not come back, or he has dropped it and has left the country rather than facing my wrath 😰

Todays effort was the loud speaker/hailer for the wheelhouse roof. The body was turned out of aluminium and painted white, the bracket is made out of bits of plasticard and painted silver

Everything is now fitted inside the boat, probably as well, as there is no room left.
The water pump for the fire hydrants has been installed with an intake in the bottom of the hull.
A water outlet for the motor and ESC has been fitted at the stern.
Next job is the mast 😟

Thanks Ian, need to find the size first.

Alan

Alan,

I have a few unused aero props kicking around if you want to do the mast justice?

Ian

Paul 😁 😁 😁

Shaun, the mast, er well, yes the mast, well, I have lots of photo's drawings and measurements thanks to Paul, somewhere (probably one of Pauls threads) I have read that it was made using aircraft propellers, mmm, so the only decision so far is that it will be made out of plastic, if it has a hard knock it will break instead of ripping the wheelhouse roof off 😟

you got me nervous now Alan!

1/ you are nearly finished
2/ Stephen might offer it as a prize!

It looks a real class piece of work Alan 😋 , just wondering when you're doing the mast tutorial for us? 😁

Cracking along now Paul.
Decals fitted including the thingies at the bow.

The windows glazed and fitted apart from the front and back of the wheel house, just in case I need the get my little fat fingers in there.

The four portholes glazed and fitted with 1mm brass rivets.

Search light fitted and wired with a 470 ohm resistor so that I can use 12 volts.

Mushroom vents and other deck bits fitted including the anchor chain thingy.

Starting to look like a boat now 😁

Too far for me to go Paul, what a kind person you are, lending your boat to Stephen. he should get a good price for it in the bring and buy 😁

Alan

are you taking it to King Lear? I cant go, was in two minds as its a long way, but a family birthday on Sunday made the decision for me. Shame its not on today also, as I am at home with nothing to do, a very rare occurrence!

Stephen has seconded my boat, not sure what secret plans he has with it, so if he turns up on the Sunday with it bragging its his, it isn't! 😀

Copied Pauls idea and made myself a steering wheel, all out of brass rod and silver soldered (looks like it should be on a car 😁 ) also made the four mushroom vents and the clear view for the front window.
Cracking along now Paul 😁


Alan

In between doing decking for next door a bit more done to the boat.
I usually finish a boat and then put all the stuff inside, this then results in damaging the boat.
So before going any further I have fitted most of the gear, just either one or two water pumps to go in if I can find the room.
Windows are still on going 😟

HI Alan

Lexan is softer than Perspex, 2mm might need tin shears or a very good grip on the scissors, the ditterence is lexan is far more forgiving the Perspex, it does not shatter,

Mark

😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭 Pauls shouting at me to get it finished 😭 😭 I have been doing other boats at the same time 😭 😭 but I will try harder 😭 😁

my fronts are lexan, as is the big screen on my Huntsman. I did the sides in plasticard cause I was fed up fiddling around!

Did them with a milling machine, finished with a sanding block. I did the frames 1mm smaller than the hole for the windows, and put the lexan in from the inside, so the frames held it on place. Very fiddly to do!

With the Huntsman, I was able to heat the lexan and bend it, you cant do that with Perspex its too brittle

HURRY UP AND GET IT FINISHED!! 😀

Thanks Mark, just had a look on ebay.
Think 2mm could be about right for the job, do you think this would cut with scissors or a Stanley knife then knock it into shape with small file and emery cloth, never worked with this material before. Does it mark easily like Perspex?

So many questions 😁

HI Alan

Instead of Perspex try Lexan, I got some of ebay for the front screen on my Huntsman, it cuts with scissors, it glues well and is not brittle.

Just put Lexan into ebay and loads of stuff comes up. if you only want small pieces, such as windows, ask about offcuts or broken pieces.

The stuff I got was 1mm thick, like the stuff they mould car bodies, you can laminate it or buy thicker material

Mark

Mmmm thanks for that Shaun, something to look forward too.
Thought about cutting it nearly to size on the bandsaw with the wife stood at the side squirting coolant (water) on the blade. Maybe not a good idea 😁