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[Waiting2Retire]

I was in two minds to reply to the existing thread, but the forum warn's me its been 700 days since anyone did and to start a new thread so I did, but please feel free to merge or move to another section if/as needed.

So I am building one of these for my nephew, for Christmas... which I missed starting in time... so we are now aiming for his Birthday next month!

As always I am keen to learn from other people's discoveries or errors, so I read the build thread from @dougal99 (with comments from others - all very helpful) and in particular noted:

I found drilling out the access for the prop tube quite tricky. I don’t have long drill bits and getting the correct angle using a brace inside the hull box was difficult. I had to do quite a bit of filing with a round file to obtain the required clearance for the prop tube. If I was to do it again, I would mark the keel doublers and cut the required channel before fitting.I glued and clamped the skin support rails with wood glue and let them set overnight.

Also:

I agree with Dougal, save that I bought an 8mm dia tube and only afterwards realised that the model is designed for a 6mm one. Fortunately I have a very rough 8mm rat-tail file which helped do the job, although it was still a monumental PITA. ...DaveM

I only started a day or two back, but as I went to fit the keel I decided to test-fit the prop shaft and after it didn't fit I went back to the thread and found Dougal and the late DaveM had the same issue.

The slot in the box is 6mm, the slot between the two keel pieces is 5mm, the prop shaft I have is 8mm OD, M4/4mm shaft(I bought from Mantua Models in Windsor, not SLEC, but the SLEC website says OD 8mm as well for the one they sell for that kit and I think they are all coming from the same distributor - packets out in the garage can't check now).

I am not taken with the idea of gluing up the keel and supports each side and trying to drill it out, as it seems a stressful way to make the prop not correctly aligned, and I am thinking about sanding away the keel slot a few mm and opening up the box slot a 1mm each way now rather than try to drill it later as well as taking away as needed from the support pieces that glue to the side of the keel before gluing it all up.

Just looking for opinions or experience if that's the right way forward?

[Waiting2Retire]

So for anyone else finding this later that has the same issue.

I emailed SLEC as the paper build guide says you need an 8" shaft, and refers the prop being 6.5mm diameter under the step for picture 8.


7" is the right length, and all the SLEC prop's are 8mm OD now it seems, I have this one:
https://www.slecuk.com/8quot-prop-shafts?search=PR830


It does look like billings make a 6mm OD shaft for a 4mm/M4 shaft, Cornwall model boats has them:
https://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/Billing-boats-fittings-F392-Propshaft-225mm-M4-BF392.html#SID=3226


I will stick with the shaft I already have and cut out the hole in the main box and sand away the keel and the keel doublers to make the 8mm one fit.