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[dbninja]

i built for want of a better description an "airboat" back in the late 60's from a kit... but cant remember what it was?

it was a a balsa and thin ply hull that was basically like a slice out of an aircraft wing in cross section. it had a step on the underside of the hull to help it plane accross the water the 1.5 diesel motor was mounted on a ply fin with a standard aeroplane prop, it had a little canopy  midships.
it was free running and i had a metal trim tab fitted to steer it in a big arc so it would arrive  back roughly where it was launched from

it went like stink too with an A.M. 1.5cc aero engine

does anyone remember what this kit was?  it may have been Veron or Frog?

thanks
db

[Tritsch]

No I cann't remember any kits, but it was probably about 1957 or 58 when I was playing with them. I know I built a couple of airboats powered by a Frog 1.5 that I still have.

The first one was built to a plan featured in a Practical Mechanics magazine that my father used to get. This one was too lightly built out of balsa and after one glorious rocketing across the park pond at West Hartlepool it hit the concrete wall at the other side and was unrepairable.

The second one was made much stronger out of plywood to a simpler design and gave me lots of fun.

Memories

Tony Tritschler 

[ACTion]

Mercury Airboat. Kits produced by Solarbo and Keil Kraft for Henry J Nicholls and Son of 308 Holloway Road, N7.
DM

[dbninja]

Mercury Airboat. Kits produced by Solarbo and Keil Kraft for Henry J Nicholls and Son of 308 Holloway Road, N7.
DM

yep that rings a bell...  have you got a picture in  magazine?

thanks

db