Hi bigford,
Thanks for your comments. Keep at it with your Amsterdam, they are a very good model and worth the effort, it produces a very tug-like bow wave when under way too. I replaced the plastic prop in the kit with a brass one of similar size, I was advised to do this because the model is rather heavy (I added 7.5kg - about 16lbs of lead to bring her down to the waterline) and the plastic prop could flex under load. The motor drives the prop shaft through a home made reduction drive of pulleys and 2 belts from neoprene O-rings. It is a very quiet method of reduction, as opposed to gears, which can be quite noisy. I look forward to some photos of the finished article.
Best wishes,
Peter.