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[Ghost in the shell]

I completed my first boat in May this year (A Model Slipway Range Safety Craft) but before that I had purchased a Dickie Tug just to get on the water while I was building. However, I also bought a built Model Slipway Conserver off ebay and used that instead of the Dickie. I have now started tinkering with the Dickie Tug and am in the process of 'converting' it. I think it will make a nice little boat and will post my findings when it is finished and I have sailed it a few times.

why not do a build log?

[meridian]

Not a bad idea, I might just do that. Thank you.

[Ghost in the shell]

also when you strip the dickie down do a 10 stage how-to about how to get inside the boat.  like the southampton, it probably has hidden screws.

[Philipsparker]

phil, with clockwork mice, the skill where i see it is in the creation of the scenery, all the mice do is add movement and interst, you see the train follow it and see the scenery, then as you look more into the towns you see more detail.
 I may be wrong however!!

as for RTR models, you get what you pay for. pay £39.99 for a yacht from lidl it will need a lot of work to make it something like performing.  pay £600 from Graupner you get a fine Smit Rotterdam tug with pretty much everythng. you dont get the enjoyment of building it.

No, there are plenty of us who like building the mice themselves - see http://www.pagenumberone.co.uk/layouts/hospital/stock.htm in fact most railway modellers are far more interested in the locomotives than anything around them. A pity in my opinion but there it is.

I also appreciate that you get what you pay for . A couple of hundred quid will get you a very nice fishing boat with xtal controlled radio. I'm sure £600 gets something really nice. However most RTR is the 20 quid boat from Howes or the yacht from Lidl. Both of these will need everyone else off the water to avoid radio interferance.

What we need to do is work out how to get someone from the Lidl boat to building a simple kit such as the Robbie Dollie or something from George Turner.  Trouble is that by the time you have bought all the bits the cost is the thick end of £100 and you still have to put the thing together. At that point the newbie decides that a few more Lidl boats are more appealing. Of course he/she doen't know how well a boat can perform, they think that what they have is as good as it gets.

The upshot is that the number of boat builders drops and the hobby moves nearer the cleche of middle age men playing with toys.

Hopefully the numbers with a mixed fleet will stay the same but I'm not hopeful when it's cheaper to let Mr Chinese man do the building for you.

Phil

[ddraigmor]

I'm static building a Dickie that I have savaged - will post when it's done. It did get me interested enough to take a 'Fuchs' off e-bay which I will get on the water (when I have time) so RTR introduced me to the hobby. The 'Dickie' is rough - my first boat that is teaching me - but I am proud of what I have achieved with it so far.

Now, next question. Looking for a serious tug kit that is easy to build, requires no skills in Advanced Carpertry, Thermo nuclear electronics etc - but would be satisfying, I have taken a serious look at Aero Naut's 'Torben'. Could - as the literature suggests - a beginner have a go at that one or would it be a waste of money? I like her (as an ex tugman, she has a good look about her!)

These are the things that advance us - I have no doubnt that the 'Torben' would be a challenge - but how much so? Would I have to cut the wheelhouse windows out or is she already cut? What work would be needed apart from painting and wiring her up for RC - speed controller etc. No build website shows that - just adverts for the boat with the tantalising words ' suitable for the beginner'.

That's what is missing in the hobby - quality looking kits that are affordable, easy to build - but will push the individual on to more complex vessels. So, without sounding sarcastic - would the 'Torben' be a suitable first kit and, if so, what skills would be required?

Jonty

[cbr900]

Yes it is a suitable kit for a beginner, and without sounding to smart, as long as you can tie your shoelaces and tell which is your right and left you should not have to much trouble, they do go together well....


Roy

[Doc]

The benefits of 'RTR' boats depends on the person who is going to own them.  If that person is new to the hobby they are certainly one way of getting their feet wet (yes, it was intended).  If that 'RTR' person develops an interest, they usually don't stick with the 'RTR' stuff, just not as 'right' as when you do it your self, once the 'new' wears off.  Same for planes, cars, whatever.  One of those, "You know, if it was this way instead of that way, it'd be better.", thingys.  And if the amount of enjoyment the 'RTR' person gets from the 'RTR' stuff is what they are looking for, then what's wrong with that?
I've found that what other people think isn't all that important to me.  What I think is!  If I enjoy it, am happy with it, then good.  Just because I'm easy to please doesn't much matter, does it?
 - 'Doc

PS - Also found that sawdust and masking tape make very good bandaids.  Cheap too!  Just a 'heads up' for those with new power tools/toys like me.

[ddraigmor]

CBR900,

Thanks for that tip - I can do both but prefer 'port' and 'starboard/ to 'left' and 'right'!

Looks like that's the plan for the end of this summer then.........a 'Torben'!

Jonty