I now have the plan and will get it photocopied.
As a guide to reconstructing a Fireboat I found the plan invaluable. True it needs adjusting in places to fit but this is a 1960's model and most things (models included) were built by craftsmen who were trained to fettle parts to fit.
Personally I enjoy building from scratch as the ultimate result is far more satisfying and helps keep the grey matter occupied! I am not decrying kits and have enjoyed building many over the years.
Dave

Why on earth would you guys who have a boat which is largely complete not just measure it? Then draw it? I could do that with mine, standing on my head!

That way all this shrinkage business wouldn't be relevant. in fact the plans were never meant to be built on. The parts were die cut and so you used the plans as assembly guides.
I can only find the Sea Urchin and Crash tender (Fireboat) so far, but I have a Sea Rover too somewhere and an MTB and a Sea Commander. if I could find them I would simply measure them and draw them up. The work of a couple of hours, honestly and you'll know the plans resulting would be spot-on.
With access to the right kinds of ply I'd knock out a few kits!!
Cheers,
Westquay

Don't know whether this will be of help to any of you guys looking for 34.5 inch fireboat plans. I recently bought a set from a seller ebay Canada called Great Plans for a damaged Aerokits fireboat I picked up at a local jumble sale for A£1 and planned to do a sympathetic restoration on someday soon. The plan cost me $20 Canadian (A£13 Sterling) paid through Pay Pal and arrived within 4 days 🚤

dbninja
I am sure most Aerokit plans are of a similar vintage (1960's), The problem is not unique however as many recently bought plans are not that accurate and often carry warnings re shrinkage. if you build in a shed as I do the moisture content plays havoc with any paper left overnight. I'm glad to see that I am not alone in marking and cutting out pieces that then don't fit! Cardboard mock ups are one way but don't leave overnight in the shed!! Just a final thought - I have heard that some ship yard builders altered the plans when building, er yes....!
Dave

Dave M

I wasn't doubting the integrity of your plan... I was posting more of a generic point to the collective about Aerokits old plans..

my fireboat plan has been hanging around for for 40 - 50 years and it has shrunk with age "big time"

for my number 2 original Aerokits fireboat I need to cut new cabin sides.... using the "old skool" method of tracing the part from the original plan.. the new sides on the tracing ended up 1/2"...(13mm) too short and everything displaced by a pro-rata amount along its length.

PLAN USER BEWARE when restoring an original kit boat. you can't just throw random bits in from a shrunken plan

I was not making any reference to the newer much more detailed "non Aerokits" based plans...


A Different sort of 🚤 all together 😀



db

Yes size/scale of plans is not Important for me, I have a great copy-resizing business in my local town, who do town planning printouts etc. I can get the plans adjusted no problem.

Still have to look at what I have. I believe I did get an AutoCAD plot file or two from Les Brown at some point, as well as some photos and drawings he sent me, and a number of copies of original Vosper documents for various ships/boats I would like to build. So I am not sure exactly what I have for the Fire boat.

Will report in soon as I can look.

Paul

HI Guys
The plans are not mine so I can't do a quick measurement.
Any paper plan is only a guide to actual scale size but is probably sufficient for all but exact scale models. The better plans have scale sizes quoted and a ruler on the paper plan so that any shrinkage may be corrected. if you want exact scale then you need to do much more research as the Aerokits plan (from the 1960's) may not show the correct hull profile and possibly differs in many other areas. Personally I find the models quite acceptable and they certainly look and sail realistically. There is sufficient information to enable a competent model maker to produce frame outlines from the top and side views, but I suspect most requests are from owners of previously built kits in need of restoration.
I have spoken to my contact with the plan and will advise the size when received.
Dave

HI Paul & Peter
I can get my hands on a full size copy of the Aerokits 34" plan and have a full copy made at cost. Please email me if you require one.
Dave

Dave
check the size of your plan against the model, I have an original copy too but it had shrunk with age by around 5% so any parts cut out were too small

db

HI Paul & Peter
I can get my hands on a full size copy of the Aerokits 34" plan and have a full copy made at cost. Please email me if you require one.
Dave

HI Pmdevlin ..... Yeah we have been carrying on a dialogue in Personal messages and I am going to check what I have too before I ask for a plan to be sent out...... I may be able to contribute myself, not sure yet.
I will check what I have tomorrow afternoon (Sunday for me) and then post again.

Regards
Paul

have you peeps sorted the plans out? if not let me know, I dont look in here that often so be patient! but I am sure I can help. Pioty they cant be on this site for all to see, but I think there is some sort of copyright thing about them

I can supply you guys with a photo copy of the 1/16th fireboat plan.... yes even all the way to Australia

however, this is a copy (on 6 A3 sheets) of my own original copy which had shrunk with age. I photo copied it with a slight enlargement to correct the shrinkage so its now the correct size.

this is only the original plan view and side elevation and has no rib or former profiles so you cannot build a boat from scratch from it and as such I dont believe I would be infringing any copyright issues by offering it at cost of copy and postage (no profit)

it is an excellent reference for rebuilding a damaged or badly built boat with all the detail for placement and size of fittings etc.

pm me

db

Hey there, Vosper-philes.

I also have need of the plans for a 34.5 inch Fireboat kit which looks like it should be set up as a flowerpot and not bothered with again..... All the ply decks and hull skin are de-laminating and the superstructure has been crushed, due to the git who posted the boat to me after an E-bay sale not packing it carefully. I won't dob him in unless someone asks me specifically who it was. 😊

Anyhoo, I need a copy of the Aerokits plans, if someone would like to help please.... I can pay with Paypal no problem.
The boat looks exactly like the one which was restored in Model Boats a while ago.... So I assume it is an Aerokits model.
Photos can be posted if anyone is interested, and I intend to put some up on the site while restoring her anyway.

Private message me if you can help or just reply to me here as I will be keeping up with the forums from here-on-in.

Paul Bosanquet
Australia