After completing a project that proved to take more time and effort than I originally estimated, something quick and easy was called for. About this time we nearly lost all our holiday photos due to a computer fault, luckily the family digital wizard managed to recover them. Checking through these photos and I spotted some taken many years ago in Malta whilst walking along a harbor front. I recall thinking that these small fishing boats could make the basis of a simple but attractive model. Now was the time to try out this idea?
The original plan was to make a model about 30 inches (75 cm) long from balsa and Lite ply. But then I spotted a mound of balsa, parts of sheets left over from other models. Such material could not make a model of this size but maybe one about half size??? This caused a bit of head scratching whilst figuring out how to scale the construction down. The hull, with the pronounced flare in the bows, was a little extra challenge.
The end result was a simple to build model, which of course still requires basic skills and effort. Powered by a RE 360 motor driven from a 4 "AA" cell rechargeable pack and weighs in at about 23 ounces (0.65 kg). At full power, less than 1 amp is drawn and the model sails a realistic 2.3 ft/s (0.7 m/s). The handling is very good both ahead and astern. Plans and construction notes now drawn up and with the Editor of the Model Boats magazine
It certainly achieved the desired aim of restoring my modelling enthusiasm, but I do keep looking at the Lite ply sheets and wondering if it ought to have been built at twice this size? However, it is such a straightforwards to build model, anyone who wants to do this should have no problems in doubling up the plans when published.
Glynn Guest
[size=78%] [/size]
[size=78%] [/size]
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Topic: Maltese Fishing Boat (Read 2474 times)