Hi Bruce, Great stuff, no point in preaching to the converted. We don't have Total Boat here in NZ but I have watched many Youtube boat builders using it and it looks really good. Cheers Ian 👍

Jumpugly I just ordered some Starbond it's used alot commercailly supposedly. and has some good results. I have used Bob smiths but on the thinner to midium stuff it gasses up when you use accerator on it Starbonds accerator doesn't do that so they claim. I do appricate eveyone's input https://starbond.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopfRdMxaBTwUqz21Vvv-Fic-AIAZOyM-QHbZNcXjrXHcwKZftjl

Ian I have been using whats called Total boat for my 2 parts and glassing, It's cheaper, but just as good as west. I have not had any issues with it and biults some real size drift boats and 17' sea Kayaks with it. only problem on real boats it has a problem with UV light so you have to use a SPARD marine varnish over it to protect from UV.

I have just about completed my 1/10 scale model of a Venice water taxi built with mahogany throughout, including the planks. I decided to use West System as it is so versatile. You can mix micro balloons with it to make thick glue or fillers for faring etc. I then completely finished it with painting it with West resin which has completely sealed all the wood. I will be posting a longer story of the build soon but you can go back a few months as I already have uploaded a few shots of the construction so you may pick up a few hints there. Cheers Ian

Hey there Bruce! Bob Smith Industries has pretty much cornered the CA market in the USA. Some folks felt that the ZAP line (Pacer Technologies) is the tried and true product, but I have not noticed any difference. Most hobby stores that have their name on the bottles is just Bob Smith Industries with the store name on it...a licensing agreement it seems between Bob and the mom and pop shops. BTW: Avoid the Gorilla Glue CA, it's just not what they do well. IMHO

Oddly enough, in an emergency, I had to break my own vow and walked into a Hobby Lobby and brought some of their CA and was pleased with it. Please don't think less of me...it's just a personal thing I have with them. And for all I know their product may be Bob Smith too as they sell Bob Smith accelerant! LOL!

All in all, it's a toss up between the Bob Smith Industries CA line and the ZAP CA line. Both will serve you well.

However, the Pacer ZAP Z-Poxy two part resins for glassing and coating are without peer in my mind. I don't think Bob Smith does the two part thing.

p.s. If you are concerned about shelf life you can always refrigerate what you don't use, or if there is a long gap between projects...up to two years believe it or not!
😉

jumpugly thank you
Is there a brand/product you like better than others. I'm looking at Starbond they seem to have a longer shelf-life

Hey Bruce, yes, Dumas instructions are not very good and in many cases not in the same scale you are working in. Why they chose to do that is a mystery and incredibly frustrating.
As for glue for planking...I use a medium viscosity CA with an accelerator, and sometimes a thin viscosity glue along the seams from the inside.
👍

Info I have found on the 44 MLB
DUMAS 44' Lifeboat for R/C

https://www.taubmansonline.com/DUMAS 44' Lifeboat for R/C

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?689096-Building-the-Dumas-U-S-Coast-Guard-44-Lifeboat/page6

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?920153-Converting-the-DUMAS-44-Lifeboat-for-R-C
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?920153-Converting-the-DUMAS-44-Lifeboat-for-R-C

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?689096-Building-the-Dumas-U-S-Coast-Guard-44-Lifeboat/page5

www.mackproductsrc.com

http://https://www.modelshade.com/

"Rotating LED Light for Diecast Vehicles"

https://evandesigns.com/?utm_expid=.DDxFVvGeTZytXUvQWRsOxA.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2F

http://www.44mlb.com/

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=920153

Actual FS 595 color codes with closest matches are:
Hull & superstructure: White FS 17875 (Model Master Insignia White)
Decks: Blue Gray FS 16099 (Model Master Gunship Gray 36118)
Bitts, mast: Spar FS 10371 (Badger Model FLex Marine Deck Tan 16-405)
Boot stripe: Black FS 17038 (Model Master Gloss Black)
CG Stripe: Red FS 12199 (Model Master Chevy Engine Red)
CG Stripe: Blue FS 15182 (Model Master Bright Blue)

I matched color chips of Gunship gray and Chevy engine red to actual colors used on 44' MLB that were in for maintenance at units I served at.
44347 at Station Ft. Point in San Fran
http://www.44mlb.com/model-lifeboats-photos.htm

http://www.44mlb.com/
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?920153-Converting-the-DUMAS-44-Lifeboat-for-R-C
https://www.44mlb.com/index.html
Build https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?3943597-Dumas-USCG-44-44386
Rebuild https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2686769-Questions-about-rebuiling-a-Dumas-Coast-Guard-44-MLB
Photo’s https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/thumbgallery.php?t=2686769&do=threadgallery&type=img&group=none&starter=no
Figure https://www.shapeways.com/product/5GSZKB7AD/1-16-uscg-seated-helmsman-3

Use this to cut deck and cabin locations Build log https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?835013-Uscg-Mlb-44
Photos https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/thumbgallery.php?t=835013&do=threadgallery&type=img&group=none&starter=no

44' MOTOR LIFEBOAT OPERATOR'S HANDBOOK
https://media.defense.gov/2019/Nov/14/2002210789/-1/-1/0/44FOOTMLB_CIM_16114_3B.PDF
Stuffing shaft chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.shipmodelers.com/uploads/3/4/5/2/34520124/scratchbuildingstuffingboxes.pdf
History
https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Assets/Water/All/Boats-Less-than-65-ft/Article/2016385/boat-44-motor-lifeboat-mlb/
https://www.44mlb.com/boat-info/uscg/44300-44349.html

https://www.crmm.org/
https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=ad3cebe3ffb4734a&sca_upv=1&q=USCG+44+MLB&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj3_biPnYKIAxUKFDQIHb7kCI4Q1QJ6BAg3EAE&biw=2560&bih=1279&dpr=1

I was gone from the station in May 1998, so we never received the newer navigation system while I was there. Loran was all I knew.

Kevin

With GPS being fully commissioned "now" i think the Loran-C antenna is superfluous. SOLAS (safety of life at sea) regulations require a 2nd, backup, HF antenna...for comms out past 70 miles. You will see crossed-loops antenna on some older vessels, that is the dirrction-finder antenna that zeroes in on AM broadcast stations to get a "fix" thru triangulation.

Only one anchor, the small one stbd side turtle. The fire riser is still there. And the LORAN antenna goes on top of the coxn flat, not the mast.

So much is out there, this is probably the most photographed small boat in the US Coast Guard. The lines of that kit are scale, but over the years many things were deleted, some moved.

Only One whip AM antenna, no fire-fighting station, we just got a hose from the aft lazarette, the engine room vents are square across the bottom the overhead on the cox'n flat was lengthened, and a new break-away mast position. I also recall the emergency tiller arm being stowed inside the aft survivors; I distinctly remember the first rule being tie a line to it before you exit.

Pump placement is starboard side next to tow reel. And, depending on what era you are building, the mast should have the radio freq finder antennas, as well as a small LORAN one. Radar was a bar turning type, not enclosed.

A great reference is the full display at Station Cape Disappointment, lots of pictures. Note the forward rails as well, I believe they are represented wrong on the plans. There is a forum post about someone who obtained a very accurate model of one of these. I used those pictures to help craft my version.

Oh! Also, the splash rails on the hull were changed, there was one all the way around aft as well. That is what comes to mind right now.