Topic: Brave Moppie offshore power boat 1960's (Read 18409 times)

propwash · « **on:** November 11, 2010, 07:24:46 am »

I have looked everywhere for a drawing or plan of this inovative power boat. Apparently the first diesel and after Surfury, pioneer of the Deep Vee configuration. There are many photographs and even actual movie footage of the beast in action.

I have the Meccano magazine article which featured a 'free plan' and build instructions over three issues but it is a 'simplified' design and not too acurate.

Could anyone put me in the right direction for at least a good three view or better still a model plan.

Propwash

triumphjon · « **Reply #1 on:** November 11, 2010, 04:03:04 pm »

do you have a picture of this beast please ?

triumphjon · « **Reply #2 on:** November 11, 2010, 05:41:41 pm »

ive just done google search of moppie , there is one listed on ebay usa , item number 330493260318 . also has been reintroduced as surfhunter 25 , which is shown as hunt yachts , they have a site but was unable to upload it earlier . there are a few shots of the original on some old pathe films of the 60s ! you could also try the classic powerboat register as they hold some information on older powerboats .

propwash · « **Reply #3 on:** November 12, 2010, 07:16:05 am »

Thanks for advice, but have surfed the net and todate no plan or three view. I could draw the Moppie up from some good pics I have, but to be honest it would only be a 'close copy' which is not what I wanted.

There are plans avainlable for its later brother the Cigarette so why no plans for No 77 / 177 I wonder?

I read that Dick Bertram raced it last time in a classic offshore race, in poor weather conditions where it unfortunately sank - lost forever.

Someone out there must know where to find details so a replica model can grace the water.

propwash · « **Reply #4 on:** November 12, 2010, 07:33:46 am »

Just to confirm it is BRAVE MOPPIE - boat number 177 that I am trying to source a three view for - - although the boat for sale on ebay has the same beautiful lines.

The actual Brave Moppie had several 'head to heads' with Surfury in the Cowes offsore series. Dick Bartram was the first winner in Class 1 with a diesel power machine - awsome.

Some of the mid sixties pictures clearly show the deep vee hull that all mono hulls have and are using today.

propwash · « **Reply #5 on:** November 12, 2010, 07:46:53 am »

Brave Moppie

"Brave Moppie" (1965), one of Dick Bertram’s family of raceboats, was the first and only diesel raceboat to consistently beat gasoline-fueled raceboats. This conclusively demonstrated the efficacy of the Hunt deep-V hullform.

Extract from 'Hunt Designs' web site

triumphjon · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2010, 09:35:26 pm »

have you tried to contact the classic offshore powerboat owners club ( c.o.p.o.c.) OR classic boat magazine ? i know the magazine often shows station line drawings for various older boats .

JAS54 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2010, 11:11:45 pm »

Hi, I used to get Meccano Magazine as a schoolboy and my dad built a Brave Moppie from from the plans. It was all balsa wood and constructed around a flat floor section with 'half' formers above and below to get the shape and 27ins long. We fitted an ED 1.5cc diesel and the model was free running as radio was still exotic and pricey then (in 1966). Design proved to be bow heavy and never performed well - maybe more power would have lifted the bow and given the planing attitude needed. Sadly sold it but wish I had kept it as was a great looking model and with today's lighter higher powered electric motors I'm sure would have worked better....original Bertram built boat had Detroit Diesel 6V 71 supercharged two strokes that must have really screamed! rgds John

triumphjon · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2010, 07:20:06 pm »

they certainly didnt hang about having a top speed of 50 knots , the prop speed was around 2,800 rpm . we have now located some builders lines for the moppie which have been passed onto propwash , so that a working drawing can be produced with a view to making a true scale model of her , could make an interesting subject for the next cowes classic meet ?

bulldog1966 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 25, 2010, 01:09:25 pm »

do you mean glass moppie in the ancaster cows clasic 1960 driven by sir max akin

triumphjon · « **Reply #10 on:** December 25, 2010, 06:40:27 pm »

there were a total of four moppies , brave , glass , blue and lucky , blue moppie is now known to exist fairly locally to me , ive now got details of her current owner who is about to comence her restoration back to her original condition , pugwash and i now have a set of line drawings which are being scaled up to inch to the foot scale to make some models of the moppie . in fact im hoping to have mine completed before next years cowes to torquay race , to which there is a large classic powerboat following , the event is being held over the august bank holiday wekend 26-29 th august 2011 , the main 51st powerboat race to torquay is on sunday the 28th from cowes , isle of wight ,

wideawake · « **Reply #11 on:** December 25, 2010, 08:22:56 pm »

Quote from: bulldog1966 on December 25, 2010, 01:09:25 pm

do you mean glass moppie in the ancaster cows clasic 1960 driven by sir max akin

I joined the BBc in September 1962 and at some time in spring/summer 1963 I found myself as the junior trainee on my first Outside Broadcast. I shall never forget it. The programme was called Evening Anchorage and it was presented by a very young David Dimbleby. The programme consisted of items on various siling and boating topics based around Hamble and one of the boats taking part was Glass Moppie (as you say owned by Sir MAx Aitken - Lord Beaverbrook's son). It was supposed to hang around some way out to sea and then on cue do a few fast turns and then run in and tie up in front of DD for a chat with the driver (not Max Aitken). There was no spare satge manager to go out on the boat so being a "useless trainee" I was given a radio talkback set and sent out on Glass Moppie to cue the driver. A couple of rehearsals and the take were a very exhilarating ride to say the least. Coupled with meals at the Bugle, I thought Outside Broadcasts were just heaven on earth

That was before I'd staggered about muddy fields carrying heavy cameras and frozen at the top of the grandstand at Chepstow racecourse on an icy Boxing day!

Happy Christmas all

Cheers

Guy

triumphjon · « **Reply #12 on:** December 25, 2010, 08:59:26 pm »

bit like the joys i used to have as a courier , chasing camera men around gloucestershire in feet of floods to retreive tapes to rush back to the bristol studios !

wideawake · « **Reply #13 on:** December 25, 2010, 10:18:31 pm »

Quote from: triumphjon on December 25, 2010, 08:59:26 pm

bit like the joys i used to have as a courier , chasing camera men around gloucestershire in feet of floods to retreive tapes to rush back to the bristol studios !

Ah - the days of real news before sat trucks!

Guy

DUCHATELET · « **Reply #14 on:** February 15, 2011, 11:37:11 am »

Hi !

Nice project, you may look the UFFA book "seamanlike sense in powercraft" wich have the architect inside view of the Cowes-Torquay race. A lot of details, plans, discussion with ray hunt and "dick"....
I join the brave moppie hull plan, note that the top part was not design by RAY HUNT but directly by the yard, so you may correct them by photographies.

Did you see the 1967 bertram scale model ? : http://www.whobbies.com/gallery/moppiegallery.html

Best Regards,
Vincent DUCHATELET

NottsRog · « **Reply #15 on:** December 18, 2011, 09:20:20 pm »

Hello
I too buuilt one of the meccano magazine brave moppies back in 1966.
Recently I have become interested in Model boat building, and after a search of the loft discovered I still had the model, if some what dusty and dirty.
I connected up a battery to the motor and low and behold it burst into life,for the first time in 45 years if somehwat rattly and noisily,
I am hoping that this will form the basis of some sort of restoration job

MikeA · « **Reply #16 on:** December 18, 2011, 11:23:25 pm »

wow thats incredible, itl be as rare as hens teeth, most people chuck out stuff like that, you obviously new it would come in handy 5 decades later, very smart!!

you have to clean it up and put some rc innit. Use the old skool motor too proper retro!! I demand that you make a build blog!!

NottsRog · « **Reply #17 on:** December 20, 2011, 09:12:57 pm »

Hi again
Don't know about being 'smart' I'm just one of life's hoarders

The original motor prop and shaft rudder etc are still in it.

I think it will need sanding off and re-waterproofing. Originally i seem to remember using tissue and dope to waterproof and paint it.

So am not sure wether a simple re-paint will be sufficient. It may need re-covering in more modern materials. Any advice or recommendations?

MikeA · « **Reply #18 on:** December 20, 2011, 09:50:15 pm »

I use tissue and dope works spot on for me. youl have to see if its peeled or something you never know. it might be fine, as long as its been stored dry.

Itl be a nice collectors item especially with the old motor in it, of course you can upgrade to modern stuff but then i think itl lose it edge seeing as everyone has modern gear in there boats

triumphjon · « **Reply #19 on:** December 21, 2011, 03:57:19 pm »

any chance of some photos and vessel dimensions please ? i know we have a set of builders line drawings , but they only show the hull and nothing above the decking ! the original full size race boat is currently lying near southampton and should by now be undergoing a full restoration . jon

tr7v8 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 21, 2011, 06:54:05 pm »

Any chance of a copy of the original Meccano magazine plans please, quite happy to pay postage & photocopy costs? I love the old style offshore powerboat racers. I love the Omega 828 which looks like a Fairey Swordsman & is the same era. Just found this archived Meccano mag site http://www.nzmeccano.com/MMviewer.php

tr7v8 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 21, 2011, 07:07:29 pm »

Just found the plans for Baby Delta here http://www.nzmeccano.com/MMviewer.php?action=add&pn=%28p133%29

Looks quite neat & scaled up for Radio could be fun.

triumphjon · « **Reply #22 on:** December 21, 2011, 09:06:08 pm »

propwash has a set of the builders line drawings for the hull , he is going to try to make a start on recreating some working modellers plans in the new year , it could be quite interesting to hold our own classic power boat meets in miniture ? jon

Circlip · « **Reply #23 on:** December 21, 2011, 09:07:48 pm »

Try post #'s 10 and 16 on this forum :- http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1435002&highlight=vintage+boat+plans

Regards Ian.

tr7v8 · « **Reply #24 on:** December 21, 2011, 11:48:15 pm »

Quote from: Circlip on December 21, 2011, 09:07:48 pm

Try post #'s 10 and 16 on this forum :- http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1435002&highlight=vintage+boat+plans

Regards Ian.

Many thanks for that! Google couldn't find it. Just spent ages downloading plans from that lot.

News:

Author Topic: Brave Moppie offshore power boat 1960's (Read 18409 times)

propwash

triumphjon

triumphjon

propwash

propwash

propwash

triumphjon

JAS54

triumphjon

bulldog1966

triumphjon

wideawake

triumphjon

wideawake

DUCHATELET

NottsRog

MikeA

NottsRog

MikeA

triumphjon

triumphjon