Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Circlip on January 05, 2011, 07:43:20 pm

Title: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: Circlip on January 05, 2011, 07:43:20 pm
Have only just realised that no one has mentioned the sad loss of Vic Smeed in the last couple of days. Most of us old flatulents will have constructed something of Vics be it land, sea or air based and at least one of his designs is being revamped on here at the moment.

  Thanks Vic for many hours enjoyment, design Maestro extrodinare.

  Regards   Ian.
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: Klunk on January 05, 2011, 07:48:46 pm
a sad loss. My first plan builds were from his plans
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: John W E on January 05, 2011, 07:54:16 pm
It was with great sadness that I read this posting - I too have built many a model from Vic's plans - a loss of a real true legend.   

john
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: hollowhornbear on January 05, 2011, 07:59:34 pm
The man was a legend, and what a legacy he has left for us all, car, boat and aircraft modellers alike.  <:(  <:(  <:(  <:(
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: Colin Bishop on January 05, 2011, 08:05:11 pm
I wasn't aware of Vic's passing until I read this post.

He sent me a very nice Email about the Model Boats Commemorative Special I edited last year and was obviously still very much on the ball. despite being well into his 90s.

Like others, my first models were built to his plans and although he was an avid aeromodeller he can justly be regarded as the Father of Model Boating.

Vic was truly one of the all time greats and a WW2 fighter pilot to boot. Some people are truly irreplaceable and Vic was without any doubt one of them.

Colin
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: knoby on January 05, 2011, 08:06:23 pm
Vic Smeeds tug Bustler was the first model I ever built aged 11. I doubt anyone has been responsible for starting more modelers on their modeling careers than him. A true gentleman who always took time to talk to people & encourage them, as well as a talented designer. A sad day for all model enthusiasts & a great loss to the model world.
Deepest condolences to his family

With respect, Glenn
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: gwa84 on January 05, 2011, 08:16:04 pm
sad to read this having recently discovering his work and enjoying what he has given to the modelling community  a sad loss indeed
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: tobyker on January 05, 2011, 10:03:56 pm
How sad. A great man.
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: nhp651 on January 05, 2011, 10:09:28 pm
Very sad indeed......i too statred building to plan at the age of 10, 50 years ago this summer building Vic's Bustler......thought it was the bees knees.
may god bless him and his family, and hope he has great journies through the next life.
his genious with all things modelling is a true tribute to a marvelous man.
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: Lord Bungle on January 05, 2011, 10:14:20 pm
Its sad to hear of his passing and as you say a legend, and what a legacy to leave, all those boats out there built and enjoyed from his plans, thats a true memorial  :}
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: grasshopper on January 05, 2011, 10:54:07 pm
Definitely agree with 'loss of a legend' - he was one of my heroes too.

Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: john s 2 on January 05, 2011, 10:57:38 pm
A modelling legend who we all know. My sympathy and thoughts are with his family.A sad loss John.
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: firedup on January 05, 2011, 11:12:28 pm
I discovered so much by "making" his models in my head. My regards to his family.
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: roycv on January 05, 2011, 11:26:36 pm
Hi all, I remember talking to Vic about 15 months ago at our annual exhibition where he was one of our invited guest judges and he told us a few stories. 
More people had built from his model aircraft plans than anyone else in the world.  One of his plans had been scaled up to full size and the builder piloted it around very successfully.  That is until someone asked for the airworthyness certificate, which he did not have, and the aircraft was impounded!
 
He did get the aircraft back but only after the engine was taken out!

He was very much the gentleman you would have expected him to be.  I believe he was 91 or just possibly 92.  He did confirm to us that he was a spitfire pilot from 1943.
He also said that he sailed his first model boat as a lad  in 1929.

I agree he was a great figure in the model boat world and we mourn his passing.

regards to all Roy
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: Stavros on January 06, 2011, 12:21:58 am
What  tragic loss to model boating World wide Rip



Stavros
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: Martin (Admin) on January 06, 2011, 07:53:37 am
Truly a legend in the world of model boats.

Was his 'story' ever published anywhere?
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: Bowwave on January 06, 2011, 10:23:33 am
This for me is very sad .  It was Vic that encouraged me way back in 1969  to put pen to paper  and I collaborated with the great man on developing  a Fast Electric design back in the early 1970s . All of my  boats from the late 1950s through to the heady days of the 1970s where based on a Vic Smeed design . He was not just an Iconic figure in the modelling world but a true gentleman .  Yes he will be sadly missed  , a model maker   to the very end  but he will never be forgotten .
Bowwave
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: tigertiger on January 06, 2011, 12:37:29 pm
A great loss to model boating, but I am certain his legacy of plans will go on being used for many more years to come.

I would dearly love to see someone put all his plans together in one place, accessible to others, as a tribute to Vic Smeed the man, his design skills, and his contribution to modeling.
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: Guy Bagley on January 06, 2011, 03:51:13 pm
only just seen this, a true great, he is gone but not fogotten,

 let hope his designs and models grace many a water/ boating lake for many years to come...

 a sad loss to the modelling world

Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: Peter Fitness on January 06, 2011, 09:33:52 pm
Most people here probably associate the name, Vic Smeed, with model boats, but I first heard of him when I became interested in model aircraft in the early 1950s. My very first scratch built model was a Vic Smeed designed "Tomboy" free flight aircraft, which I built in 1954, and powered with an ED 1.49 diesel. I used to fly it in a cow paddock, where it terrorised all the resident cattle. Fortunately, the cattle were owned by my uncle, with whom I was living at the time.
 
I was quite surprised, when I Googled "Vic Smeed", to find that most of the Google entries with his name concern that particular design. Many "Tomboys" are still flying at club fields all around the world. Some were enlarged and others converted to radio control. I still have that original plan, even after more than 50 years.
 
It wasn't until some years after building my "Tomboy" that I became aware of Vic's passion for model boat design. There must be literally thousands of examples of his designs sailing on ponds and lakes wherever model boats gather.
 
He was an icon in his field and will be sorely missed.
 
Peter.
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: Wetwater on January 06, 2011, 10:10:29 pm
Never met Vic in person but had a nice, LONG, hand written letter from him a few years ago, answering some questions
about an old Taplin engine and cabin cruiser I had aquiired.  He went into a lot of detail which helped a lot.

Like many others I cut my teeth on Vic's designs.    A very nice gent who will be sadly missed.   R.I.P
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: The long Build on January 07, 2011, 01:55:49 pm
As others it was Vic's Fault I got into this Hobby  and built my first Model "Bobby" which although was developed and built by a Lou Jefferys, was from an original Design my Mr Smeed..


R.I.P


Larry
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: mike_victoriabc on January 07, 2011, 03:11:03 pm
I still have old Model Maker magazines of my father's from the 60's - many articles by Vic Smeed! A great contributor and supporter of the model boating fraternity. My condolences to the family.
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: Martin (Admin) on January 09, 2011, 12:09:31 pm
A sad passing of a legend indeed.

In honour of the recently deceased Vic Smeed I am sure that many of us would like to pay tribute to the great contribution to modelling that he made.

With this in Mind we would like to invite any members who have photos of any models from Vic Smeed plans that they have (aero or marine), or any personal anecdotes you may have about the man and his designs......

Post your memories and Photos here:  http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=28218.0
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: john44 on January 09, 2011, 09:18:10 pm
Vic Smeed was indeed a legend in the modeling world. I to first started making models from a Vic Smeed model making annual
( which I still have ) in 1963. It cast my dad 2 shillings. It covers every aspect of modeling available then. I have not seen an equivalent
published by anyone up to this day.
 
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: roycv on January 10, 2011, 10:10:12 am
Hello all, I have attached a photo of Vic taken at the St. Albans model show 2009.  Vic kindly stepped in as a judge for us at the last minute.  The photo is part of one where he is saying to the current editor of Meccano Magazine (yes it is still around) that he used to be the M.M. editor in the 1970's.
I was taking him around our exhibition which occupies all of a local school and introducing him.  The ones who knew his contribution to the modelling world were completely taken aback and the memory of the look on their faces will stay with me for ever.

Also I attach a picture of what I believe was his last published design , Star Baby, designed to sail on our club lake at St. Albans (Herts.)  This is the prototype built by the his friend holding the boat up for display.

A great man who will be remembered by his many designs that will go on for many years.
regards to all, Roy
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: roycv on January 10, 2011, 10:19:25 am
Vic Smeed as in text above,
Roy
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: John W E on January 10, 2011, 11:47:13 am
This R.T.T.L. is built from Vic's plans

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=20758.0

aye
john e

Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: Colin Bishop on January 10, 2011, 04:38:43 pm
Here is Vic on the January 1974 issue cover with his Genie design.

Colin

Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: roycv on January 10, 2011, 11:19:27 pm
Hi all, I have just heard that The funeral is being held at 3.30pm on Friday, 21st January 2011 at Harwood Park Crematorium, Stevenage.

If you are attending I do have more information.  i.e. PM me.

regards Roy
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: dougal99 on January 11, 2011, 08:03:33 pm
This model frigate was built from a fee plan that came with the December 1975 Model Boats. Vic was the editor of the magazine and the plan designer. The build took quite some time to come to fruition and the boat was converted to RC about 8 years ago.

He will be sadly missed
Title: Vic Smeed
Post by: Matt121 on February 08, 2011, 09:52:38 am
From the MYA website:

Vic Smeed dies at the age of 88

It is with great sadness to announce that Vic Smeed died on the 4th January. Vic was the MYA President during the 1970's

His designs have featured in numerous magazines and books for yachting, flying and so much more.

(I don't think this has been picked up on here, if it has mods please remove - matt)
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: dragonboatdancer on February 13, 2011, 04:07:46 pm
Vic Smeed's wife, Margaret, and daughters, Vivienne and Michele, would like to thank all the modellers for the enormous number of messages of condolence and tributes that they have received through the post, e-mails and postings on various modelling forums as well as the tribute pages and obituaries that have been published.  Vic Smeed was such a humble, quiet gentleman that he would have been stunned at the volume and nature of the tributes being paid to him - his only aim has always been to provide designs that would give people pleasure to build and successfully operate and if his designs continue to encourage generations to come to take pleasure in such model making hobbies then he would be very happy indeed.  As well as being important in the world of model building Vic Smeed was of course first and foremost a beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle and will be forever in our hearts.
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: dragonboatdancer on February 17, 2011, 04:36:23 pm
Vic Smeed (1st October 1923 – 4th January 2011)
Vic Smeed's wife, Margaret, and daughters, Vivienne and Michele, would like to thank all the modellers for the enormous number of messages of condolence and tributes that they have received through the post, e-mails and postings on various modelling forums as well as the tribute pages and obituaries that have been published.  Vic Smeed was such a humble, quiet gentleman that he would have been stunned at the volume and nature of the tributes being paid to him - his only aim has always been to provide designs that would give people pleasure to build and successfully operate and if his designs continue to encourage generations to come to take pleasure in such model making hobbies then he would be very happy indeed.  As well as being important in the world of model building Vic Smeed was of course first and foremost a beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle and will be forever in our hearts.
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: dbninja on May 01, 2011, 05:53:16 pm
Vic Smeed "Skater"  Airboat

had this plan of one of Vics more offbeat subjects in my "must get round to building it one day" pile for a long long time..

anyway had a brainstorm and decided to have a go at it, originally free running for a 1.5cc Diesel engine, i adapted this age old plan to use a brushless motor and 11v 3c lipo battery and of course 2.4ghz radio control..  it still causes a stir when people see it :-))

(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/dbninja/DSCF2913.jpg)

(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/dbninja/DSCF2910.jpg)

(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/dbninja/DSCF2907.jpg)

i used blue foam cores in the sponsons rather than built up balsa (same size and profile as plan), and added 20mm to the overall height of the boat to allow for a greater range of prop diameters, other than that its pretty well as Vic designed it


i built it in just two days and it is finished in a coat of epoxy laminating resin,  sea trials today were "interesting"  and it is showing potential,  water in the speed controller shortened play for the day  but it will be back for more :}

nice one Vic :-))

db
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: Subculture on May 01, 2011, 06:03:52 pm
Good stuff. My Dad built one of these back in the '50's as a free runner. It lasted one outing at Highgate ponds, he let it go, and it set off across the pond at quite a lick. His younger brother was meant to catch it at the other side, but understandably bottled it and it re-kitted itself on the concrete bank of the pond. He said at the time 'I wasn't catching that!' {-)
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: dbninja on May 01, 2011, 11:57:15 pm
just before she gets up on the plane...

(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/dbninja/rescueboat030.jpg)



db
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: Subculture on May 02, 2011, 07:05:58 am
Any chance of getting some video of it in action?
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: Circlip on May 02, 2011, 11:03:55 am
 {-) Just been reading an old copy of Model Maker trying to chastise Vic for the "Skater" design in allowing a free running airscrew driven model to be built by "Schoolboys and the attendant dangers.

  Regards  Ian.
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: Subculture on May 02, 2011, 11:50:04 am
The more things change, the more things stay the same. I guess the moron that wrote up negelected to consider free flight aeroplanes with their exposed screws.
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: dbninja on May 02, 2011, 11:53:38 am
{-) Just been reading an old copy of Model Maker trying to chastise Vic for the "Skater" design in allowing a free running airscrew driven model to be built by "Schoolboys and the attendant dangers.

  Regards  Ian.


Ian

what year was the magazine?  there is no date on the plan so dont know its date of origin


yep the "elf n safety"  police dont change do they....   they will be banning steam engined boats before you know it :o


thanks
db
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: Circlip on May 02, 2011, 12:17:07 pm
January 1954 page 39

  Regards  Ian.
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: dbninja on May 02, 2011, 12:52:38 pm
January 1954 page 39

  Regards  Ian.

thanks Ian

i hadn't realised the design was that old...  that was a really inspired design by Vic,  considering its only a couple of years after the war
shows the great vision of the man. it  still looks fantastic :-))

as for health and safety... have you ever "pitted" for control line team race, speed, and combat.....  i have!  pretty scary stuff


db
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: Martin (Admin) on May 28, 2013, 04:23:36 pm

That's quite a legacy!  :o

http://www.modelboats.co.uk/news/article/vic-smeed%27s-model-boat-designs/15490
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: Peter Fitness on May 28, 2013, 10:54:30 pm
It is indeed, Vic was certainly a very prolific designer O0 . Well done to Tony Hadley for taking the time to put together such a comprehensive list of Vic's designs :-))


Peter.
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: roycv on May 29, 2013, 12:38:18 pm
Hi all, the last yacht design from Vic, Star Baby, nearly never got published.  I was aware of the model from a visit that Vic made to our Lake at St. Albans, when he had said that he would design a yacht for our lake.  It was a smaller Starlet and plans and article were sent off to Model Boats magazine but for what ever reason, perhaps they were not received, there was no response. 
So a set were sent off to Int. Marine Modelling and after some time there was again no response.  I phoned Chris Jackson of MMI just to check, and he said they had not received them but they had just moved offices, he would however be very pleased to have them.  I passed the information back and another set were sent and eventually published in a supplement.
At our 2009 annual club exhibition we had the pleasure of having Vic Smeed with us as he had stepped in at the last moment to be a Judge.  On the Saturday afternoon I escorted Vic around and introduced him to the various visiting clubs and members who were in the main quite taken aback to have such a well known name with us.
I took photographs of Vic with various people and one in front of a collection of his yacht design Panache.  This is the one that Model Boats magazine used in his obituary the yachts have been edited out.
We always invite our judges to lunch, one of the other judges being the previous (at the time) editor of Model Engineer, Mike Chrisp.  Vic's wife Margaret was with us as well and Vic very kindly answered many of my questions.  Yes he was a Spitfire pilot from 1943 onwards.
As you will all know he was a prolific model aircraft designer and he said he had the world record for the number of models built to his designs.
One of his designs had been enlarged so that it could be flown with a pilot, there was a sad end to this aircraft for after landing one day the origin of the aircraft was challenged and it transpired it had no airworthyness certificate.  The aircraft was impounded even though it worked OK and not released until the engine had been removed


We invited Vic and his wife to our Christmas evening and if my memory serves me they won a prize for one of the competitions.
Vic 's memory and mental abilities were ahead of most if not all the members there.
He said he would like to come to our 2010 exhibition in September but nearer the time declined through ill health.
I can only say that he was exactly what you hoped he would be, modest, unassuming and a gentleman.


Indeed a great loss
kind regards to all, Roy
Title: Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
Post by: baloo on May 29, 2013, 01:30:34 pm
such a sad loss,our thoughts go out to his family,most of us has built a model or two from this genius, he was truly a "legend" R.i.p.
baloo & pooh bear
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: Onetenor on December 03, 2016, 03:46:40 am
I built one of these Put a JB ATOM on her .Went like the clappers If the rudder was set right I could get it to circle  our round pond in Newsham Park I put a sort of spring bow on the front sponson  A semi circle of piano wire  This made it bounce off the sides of the pond if I got the rudder setting  wrong.When I am fit again I will do an R/C version with the same engine w[size=78%]hich I still have  2 in fact but I need a shaft turning for one of them.Any volunteers? I will pay [/size] :} :}
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: tritsch on December 03, 2016, 06:33:22 am
It must have been around this time, early 50s,  that I built a balsa model hydroplane from plans in Popular Mechanics.  I fitted it with a Frog 1.5c, which I still have.  It only lasted the one trip, shot across the park pond and hit the concrete at the other side.  It was not repairable, so I made a replacement in plywood which lasted quite a while.

I still have a scar on my thumb from that Frog.

Tony
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: tigertiger on December 03, 2016, 08:16:50 am


I still have a scar on my thumb from that Frog.




 <:( Prop slice, or burn? My money is on the prop
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: kpnuts on December 03, 2016, 08:17:08 am
Hi all I had several of his plans, a great man, sad to hear.
This was based on a Vic Smeed plan
(http://i39.tinypic.com/1zeo0g.jpg)
(http://i43.tinypic.com/2rmmazo.jpg)
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: tritsch on December 03, 2016, 10:42:21 am


 <:( Prop slice, or burn? My money is on the prop


your money is quite safe
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: Onetenor on December 03, 2016, 04:16:51 pm
KK Nylon 7 or 8 x4 ? OR the Frog  Red ones? You could shave with some of those. The prop didn't need to be turning to cut you  <:( {-)
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: Arrow5 on December 03, 2016, 04:39:28 pm
Vic Smeed`s range of model aircraft designs are timeless too. My first was the free flight "Tomboy" on floats with an E.D. Bee diesel (K.K. 8X4)  When did that one appear in Aeromodeller Magazine  ?   Plan for the pretty "Debutant" has been enlarged for R/C and are on my "to do" list.
Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: tony52 on December 03, 2016, 07:38:27 pm
Vic Smeed`s range of model aircraft designs are timeless too. My first was the free flight "Tomboy" on floats with an E.D. Bee diesel (K.K. 8X4)  When did that one appear in Aeromodeller Magazine  ? 
Tomboy was featured in the November 1950 edition of Aeromodeller. The version which you built i.e. on floats, would be interesting, was it a 36" (915mm) or 44" (1118mm) wingspan?

http://www.myhobbystore.co.uk/product/15745/pet398--tomboy

http://www.outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=285

Title: Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
Post by: Arrow5 on December 03, 2016, 08:52:59 pm
It was the 36" version. I don't think longer balsa strip was available then, in any case I was on a budget.. The floats are tiny pontoons very similar to the airboat shown earlier. I saved for a couple of months at pocket money (1/6d p w) then a paper round.   I was 15 years old at the time. Plenty of competitions in this country and abroad Oz and N.Z., for the Tomboy.  I have a German magazine plan of it too.