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[Neil]

Some time ago there was a short discussion on here regarding one of the old Plastic Vosper Air Sea Rescue launches that we see in timber form for sale through aerokits.........but the one I was referring to was the self coloured high impact moulded ones available in the late 1950's - early 1960's.

I remarked that as a kit I had always wanted one as a "mate" had one, but would never let me play with it, and as I wasn't a rich as he was, had to settle for the Derwent cabin cruiser in brown and white.

Well, today, through the postie came a lovely gift from a certain gentleman on here ( who I think might be embarrassed if I gave his name,) but he has been  a true mayhemmer and gem, and has fulfilled my lifetime boyhood wish and sent me one.

I shall cherish it, and when my days of scratch building have done, I am going to sit down and radio control this little beauty and enjoy it on some nice flat pond with the sun on my shoulders and a pint in the other hand.......who says us men aren't able to multi task, lol

and just for my own interest, how long where the real boats, and what are these little mighty midget motors that are with the boat?

cheers mate.........you have made an old man very very happy.

neil.

[unbuiltnautilus]

46' I think..Mighty Midget Motors made in Guildford I believe.

[Netleyned]

 Neil,
It is a crash tender, not an ASRL.
It would have been 46ft as UBN says.
The rescue launches were 72ft.

Lovely little model 

Ned

[Neil]

Neil,
It is a crash tender, not an ASRL.
It would have been 46ft as UBN says.
The rescue launches were 72ft.

Lovely little model 

Ned

cheers ned.....thought they were the same.......I live and learn. at 46' this boat is therefore around 1:40 - 1:43 scale.......but when you are around 10 years old ( in the mind anyway), It just looks lovely what ever it is.


neil

[Neil]

46' I think..Mighty Midget Motors made in Guildford I believe.

cheers.........were they little 285's under all the plastic, just interested to know what they were, as haven't put a battery to them yet, and all mine are 12v...........don't want to burn them out. neil.

[Colin Bishop]

Mighty Midgets were advertised as being 3-6 volts!

Colin

[Neil]

thanks colin.

[davidm1945]

Neil,
It is a crash tender, not an ASRL.

Ned

I thought it was called a Firefloat or Fireboat, but I could be wrong (again)..


Dave.

[Netleyned]

The official name was 46ft Firefloat MkII.
There were only two built.
The MkI was called a crash tender so the name stuck.

Ned

[Footski]

Brilliant Neil, now I wonder if someone would do something similar for me........All I want is a fully restored E Type Jaguar.

[vnkiwi]

Series 3, V-12, roadster, BRG
 

[inertia]

cheers.........were they little 285's under all the plastic,

I doubt it. The only little electric motors coming out of the Far East at that time were Orbit and Kako. I don't think Mabuchi had got into their stride in 195xxx. Mighty Midgets were British manufactured and, as Colin says, were 3-6v. I made a 'Galloping Ghost' servo from one - it worked a treat.
DM

[malcolmfrary]

I would just look at the Mighty Midget as a curiosity from the past and substitute a modern one in the model.  Motors from back then were not noted for being good with radio, long life or efficiency.  Something the same size, but of current production, will probably be much more satisfactory.  The expectations back then were that the boat would cruise for a short time on a modest size pool powered by one of the "flat" torch batteries. 

[roycv]

Hi all, I have several Mighty Midget motors well two that work anyway.  I have one in an Anglian Trawler from the same era a Hobbies kit.  Not used it with RC though but the Mighty Midget was used as a drive motor for actuators (rudder) of the late '50's.  And that was very sensitive RC equipment.

They are by todays standards over engineered but the are silent and seem to run for ever on very little power.
I think it might be a strain for one Mighty Midget to drive both of those props but my Anglian Trawler runs forever on a similar prop with a 1 Ah 6 volt battery.
The drive bands are not easy to find but the ones I use are from supermarket spring onion packs.

Incidently if you keep your elastic bands in air tight card board boxes they last much longer.
Nice to hear the Mighty Midget mentioned.
regards Roy

[Neil]

the model came with spares including 2 mighty midgets so hopefully when I get to it, I will mount both with some nice little couplings from Steve Tranter's model boat bits.

[Neil]

Brilliant Neil, now I wonder if someone would do something similar for me........All I want is a fully restored E Type Jaguar.

Series 3, V-12, roadster, BRG

sorry guys, but I owned a series 3 e type fixed head held together with rust for a very short time in my life, and it didn't compare in any way to the driving experience of my Healey 3000.Mk 3...........give me another of those anyday over an e type.............very skittish in the wet on the back end.

[vnkiwi]

Neil, Yep, if I wanted a drivers car, I'd have the Healey any day.
But, sit them side by side, purly on looks, I'd take the Series 3 every time, and that skitish rear end, just adds to the fun.
And, if I wanted just a fun care, that will out handle both, give me a 998 Imp, same as I had in scotland mid 70's. Had all the Factory competition bits, was fast, stable at any speed, and cornering, like sh..t to a blanket.