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[andyn]

I'm building them for the same reason as everyone else, I enjoy it. Even when I hack various parts of my hands and arms off with scalpels, get fuel in my eyes, mess up my hair, get lungs full of exhaust smoke, and make my room smell of various chemicals...

Andy

Hi Andy, How do YOU define " mess up my hair"?!?!?!? 

Oi you, it may be in a rubbish style but at least its insanely clean

[craftysod]

As a child my main interest was always aircraft.
When I was a lot younger (about 9 yrs old) I was on Southsea Common (Portsmouth).
There was a huge model of a Lancaster bomber, to me at my age it looked like I could sit in it!!
The 4 engines were started, it did take a while, they were fine tuned and she was let go.
This lovely model trundled over the grass picking up speed and took gracefully to the air. It looked absolutely superb.
This was in the days before remote control was affordable, so the rudders were set to take her in a circle.
After 4 circuits she suddenly straightened up and headed out towards the Isle Of Wight over the Solent.
He took it very well.
When I asked how much fuel was on board he answered "Enough to get her to Paris".
We both watched her disappear over the horizon.
Gone forever.
That was when I decided to make my first powered MODEL BOAT!!!

Bob

Bob
Now i know your true age,it was a real Lancaster Bomber 
Mark

[AlisterL]

When I was a young lad I was introduced by my grandfather to plastic kits which I enjoyed immensely. Then as was a teenager my father expressed has frustration at me building so many static kits and told me I should make something that actually worked. I don't really recall what my immediate reaction was, but I do definitely remember hunting in Mum and Dad's bedroom for a birthday present at age 15 or 16 and finding a Futaba FP-2PK (The car type controller with wheel and trigger).  Waahoo! I don't know why it was boats - I suspect something to do with the cost of cars and likelihood of bringing a plane home in a plastic bag after a bad landing - but Dad and I built Vic Smeed's Moonglow and powered it with a 6v motor out of a weedeater and a 6v Lead-Acid motorcycle battery. The next year I built a Cachalot that I got from plans in an old Model Engineer magazine that I found under my grandfathers HO scale train table, although that never worked very well due to a bad combination of electric motor, prop and schoolboy budget. I went off to university (away from home) and that was the end of all of it until about 6 or 7 years ago when the project car I was working on went to a house other than mine leaving me with nothing to do in the evenings, so I found the Dumas PT-109 kit. That kit was definitely biting off more than I could chew from a required skill point of view!
Over the years I did a glider once, though never flew it myself (plastic bag nightmares again), more plastic kits and Tamiya 300ZX R/C car once as well. I got an R/C heli a couple of years ago and found the plastic bag rule definitely applied there...
I don't really know what it is with boats, but I guess familiarity with the subject (only from a having built it point of view), the wider range of subjects than cars and general availability of water. Cost is probably a factor too. I also seem to "like" boats more than planes as well.
Go figure...

Interesting question though, with some interesting answers!

[KenP]

I reckoned it was harder to sink a boat than to crash a plane !!!

[Hagar]

Did the military models, tanks and the like. airplains, hung from the ceiling until the cotton gave up, motorbikes 'cause I like them and have riden a few in the past. racing cars, have also graced my desk. Then I had a few RC cars, one of which still gets thrashed once in a while.
Then one day, some one asked if I could fix their Bait Boat. It needed a new drive system and radio gear. So I hit the internet and started to find out what i needed to know.
Then I started to get taken in by what I saw, and was hooked. Just had to build a boat. One day when the weather warms up I will be back in the shed. Right now its plastic scale model boats that get me to calm down and relax after a day at the shop.
But what was it the got me so taken in? I think it might be that old romantic line; there is just some thing about a boat that reaches into your soul and catches you heart.
Sounds corny but no other model type has aroused such an interrest in me before.

[andygh]

Good question, don't know exactly. I've dabbled in every kind of model I can think of, from plastic kits to dolls houses via RC aircraft & meccano but nothing has the historical interest and sheer soul of model boats for me.

Back in the early 70's I saw a bunch of guys sailing a model warship in the park and it seemed huge, it must have left a deep impression on me. My Dad served in the FAA during the 2nd world war & I still have an ambition to build his Ship one day, Deans have recently made that ambition a possibility, all I have to do is find the 600 odd quid to buy the thing (or maybe I should scratchbuil it  )

[das boot]

I got fed up making big holes in the ground with r/c helis...


Rich

[Garabaldy]

I got fed up making big holes in the ground with r/c helis...


Rich

Ha ha! 

[Jerome Morris]

I grew up in a small fishing village so had plenty of boats about. I liked building models so I guess it was a natural thing. Now I build and repair models as a profession.

[Ghost in the shell]

i build them for the enjoyment of having a model float and the social side of things

[Weeds]

Because we can sail a model boat for hours and not get bored. Changing the motor, waterproofing, making mechanisms gives us a thrill. If you want to know in detail you can read below.

Lately, I am dissatisfied with computers, tv, and media. I want to do two things in life WORK and STUDY, so I don't spend that much time on model boats.

Computers:

Anyone with any stupid idea can punch a few buttons and post it online for the world to see. The rest of us now have to do something with that. Also, sitting all by yourself in front of the computer screen is a lonely endeavor. It isolates you from your friends, your neihbors, and it contributes to the atomization of people. And it leads to a lot of Internet and Computer Addiction as well. A lot of kids now come from school, eat dinner and sit at the computer for the rest of the day.

TV and Media Glamour:

I said glamour because I did not know how to categorize this. It's too general of an idea but I am talking about TV, Magazines, Newspapers, and any visual media where photographs appear. Look at the photographs. Say it's a picture of a woman eating cereal in Vogue. Everything in the room has good decor and is in new condition. In reality it takes thousands of dollars to decorate your kitchen with granite counter top, stainless steel stove and it's impossible to keep the table from getting sratched, the stove from getting smudged with oil and handprints if you do any kind of cooking or eating. All media creates an expectation that we should surround ourselves with perfect things and keep them in perfectly clean, new condition. It's impossible to prevent normal wear and tear and there is no rational reason to, but people get seduced by this model. They buy the counter tops, they shine their stainless steel stoves until they look like new. It's ridiculous. It's hurting people.
...
Because I want to resist "The new spirit of the age - gain wealth forgetting all but self."?
...
Everything in the media is completely irrelevant to your life - a distraction from things you actually care about?
...
Media distracts you from leading a meaningful and constructive life?
...
Advertising tries to make you unsatisfied with your abdomen, your hair, your car, your watch, etc. in order to make you buy that new gym equipment, that new car, that fancy watch.

I can go and on like this, but I won't bore anyone who might (probably not) be reading this.

[das boot]

Because we can sail a model boat for hours and not get bored. Changing the motor, waterproofing, making mechanisms gives us a thrill. If you want to know in detail you can read below.

Lately, I am dissatisfied with computers, tv, and media. I want to do two things in life WORK and STUDY, so I don't spend that much time on model boats.

Computers:

Anyone with any stupid idea can punch a few buttons and post it online for the world to see. The rest of us now have to do something with that. Also, sitting all by yourself in front of the computer screen is a lonely endeavor. It isolates you from your friends, your neihbors, and it contributes to the atomization of people. And it leads to a lot of Internet and Computer Addiction as well. A lot of kids now come from school, eat dinner and sit at the computer for the rest of the day.

TV and Media Glamour:

I said glamour because I did not know how to categorize this. It's too general of an idea but I am talking about TV, Magazines, Newspapers, and any visual media where photographs appear. Look at the photographs. Say it's a picture of a woman eating cereal in Vogue. Everything in the room has good decor and is in new condition. In reality it takes thousands of dollars to decorate your kitchen with granite counter top, stainless steel stove and it's impossible to keep the table from getting sratched, the stove from getting smudged with oil and handprints if you do any kind of cooking or eating. All media creates an expectation that we should surround ourselves with perfect things and keep them in perfectly clean, new condition. It's impossible to prevent normal wear and tear and there is no rational reason to, but people get seduced by this model. They buy the counter tops, they shine their stainless steel stoves until they look like new. It's ridiculous. It's hurting people.
...
Because I want to resist "The new spirit of the age - gain wealth forgetting all but self."?
...
Everything in the media is completely irrelevant to your life - a distraction from things you actually care about?
...
Media distracts you from leading a meaningful and constructive life?
...
Advertising tries to make you unsatisfied with your abdomen, your hair, your car, your watch, etc. in order to make you buy that new gym equipment, that new car, that fancy watch.

I can go and on like this, but I won't bore anyone who might (probably not) be reading this.

err....yes, I agree. I think... 

Rich

[Seaspray]

I was lonely model boater in Scotland but stuck at it. Now its a big thing up there .They even have a MBC in Ayr now. Wasn't when I took it up nearest boat model shop was Paisley.  Anyway now  down in the sunny south with loads of clubs and fellow boaters.

Like everything in life. moderation and you won't get fed up with it.

[Garabaldy]

Because we can sail a model boat for hours and not get bored. Changing the motor, waterproofing, making mechanisms gives us a thrill. If you want to know in detail you can read below.

Lately, I am dissatisfied with computers, tv, and media. I want to do two things in life WORK and STUDY, so I don't spend that much time on model boats.

Computers:

Anyone with any stupid idea can punch a few buttons and post it online for the world to see. The rest of us now have to do something with that. Also, sitting all by yourself in front of the computer screen is a lonely endeavor. It isolates you from your friends, your neihbors, and it contributes to the atomization of people. And it leads to a lot of Internet and Computer Addiction as well. A lot of kids now come from school, eat dinner and sit at the computer for the rest of the day.

TV and Media Glamour:

I said glamour because I did not know how to categorize this. It's too general of an idea but I am talking about TV, Magazines, Newspapers, and any visual media where photographs appear. Look at the photographs. Say it's a picture of a woman eating cereal in Vogue. Everything in the room has good decor and is in new condition. In reality it takes thousands of dollars to decorate your kitchen with granite counter top, stainless steel stove and it's impossible to keep the table from getting sratched, the stove from getting smudged with oil and handprints if you do any kind of cooking or eating. All media creates an expectation that we should surround ourselves with perfect things and keep them in perfectly clean, new condition. It's impossible to prevent normal wear and tear and there is no rational reason to, but people get seduced by this model. They buy the counter tops, they shine their stainless steel stoves until they look like new. It's ridiculous. It's hurting people.
...
Because I want to resist "The new spirit of the age - gain wealth forgetting all but self."?
...
Everything in the media is completely irrelevant to your life - a distraction from things you actually care about?
...
Media distracts you from leading a meaningful and constructive life?
...
Advertising tries to make you unsatisfied with your abdomen, your hair, your car, your watch, etc. in order to make you buy that new gym equipment, that new car, that fancy watch.

I can go and on like this, but I won't bore anyone who might (probably not) be reading this.

Word!!!!!!!!!!!

[DLM]

Well, with tv going for more ads and winter time here and keeps me out of beer halls, i enjoy it. I stay away from bl systems as budget has been getting tighter in the last year or more. I'm new here and live in the States and in the midwest. Nice site you have here, congrats.

[knoby]

My dad built his first boat in 1970 & as a 5 year old i was fascinated with being able to sail a radio controlled boat. But the thing that really hooked me was the 1975 naviga championships at wellyn garden city. dad was a judge there & i remember being blown away by the amazing models from all over the world. it was one of the greatest experiences of my life & i guess its been in my blood since then. Ive been lucky enough to dabble in all forms of the hobby, ic, fast electric, scale & sail, but its team that holds a real fascination for me. I have tried many different hobbies & sports but i always come back to the boats'
Glenn

[Bowwave]

My dad built his first boat in 1970 & as a 5 year old i was fascinated with being able to sail a radio controlled boat. But the thing that really hooked me was the 1975 naviga championships at wellyn garden city. dad was a judge there & i remember being blown away by the amazing models from all over the world. it was one of the greatest experiences of my life & i guess its been in my blood since then. Ive been lucky enough to dabble in all forms of the hobby, ic, fast electric, scale & sail, but its team that holds a real fascination for me. I have tried many different hobbies & sports but i always come back to the boats'
Glenn

I remember the Naviga event of 1975 very well indeed being a participant.  It was the greatest model  boat  event the UK has ever hosted . There has been no occasion  before or since that that has attracted so many models from around Europe  to the same venue and from time to time its good to remember that it was the MPBA  and modelers  like John Cundell  and Jim King that had the vision and were  the driving force for this  event . It's a pity that modeller don't get a chance to see this type of event as it it very different from what we  experience today. 
Bowwave 

[Abuelo3]

Hello to everyone,
Why, because my Grandfather was an official and gentlemen at the Mexican Navy, my Father was a navy Doctor, i Was at the navy to, but the truth is that I'm the sentimental kind of Doctor, at the hospital everyday people born and die, more die that born, it is some kind of injury to my soul and mind, every day 12 hours 6 days per week, when I'm at home , at my shop with a replica of gunboat, I can feel almost, the wind of the ocean, I can figth with my Grandfather in his gundeck, I can travel to any place of the world, dreaming of be waited for a splendid woman at the pier, and I'm doing replicas of pieces of History, it is good for my soul health.

Did anybody did the prostatic antigen test????

[SteamboatPhil]

I competed in the 1975 Naviga event, and it is something I will always remember, I have been around model boats all my life, my Grandfather founded the Blackheath MPBC in 1928, so my father naturally built boats, and so have I.(Jim King was also a member of our club)

Besides if its made of wood it must float, it won't necessarily fly, and as for things with wheels------------

 

[cbr900]

Godo,

Yes mate had the test last week and was told it was all clear,
makes it a lot easier to sleep at night......


Roy

[Peter Fitness]

Did anybody do the prostatic antigen test????

Yes, I've had an annual test for a number of years, and all have been clear.

Peter.

[jonny shoreboy]

Hi everyone,

I am building my first r/c boat right now (which i will talk about in a separate thread) the classic revell Snowberry conversion. But why did I start? The short answer for me is a change of pace. I have several r/c nitro cars, which is quite an expensive hobby, and a couple of electric r/c Helli's. Both are great hobbies, but to be honest can be quite stressfull.
I figured a r/c boat would be a much more relaxing and socialable hobby. Besides, I just love boats and building models so it was a natural progression for me. I must say that even though my first project is a relatively easy one, i am having loads of fun building it and i have learned a lot. So it's far to say that I am now hooked.
My goal for the hobby is to eventually build a replica of my Grandfathers Destroyer that he served on during WWII.

And luckily my wife doesn't mind...

[Peter Fitness]

And luckily my wife doesn't mind...

Well, that's a good start 

Welcome to the forum, Jonny Shoreboy, it's the place for help, advice and even some non boat related chit-chat.

Sailing model boats is very relaxing and sociable, much more so than flying RC aircraft, as many of us here have done in the past, and your models are far less susceptible to damage 

Peter.