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[Dave_S.]

About 40 years ago I took an extended lunch break at work and took the tube from White City to Camden (or maybe Chalk Farm, it was a long time ago) and bought an SHG Shadow kit from Aeronautical Models.

I built the model in our small flat in Acton, fitted a Webra 20 (or 21) and had many happy afternoons at Black Park with the model. This was, of course, back in the days when IC powered models were quite common.

Some time later, I must have sold the model, but always retained an affection for the old Shadow. I was out of the model boating scene for a while, then returned in the 90s with electric power. More recently, I am now a member of the Oxford Model Boat Club and sail my electric scale-ish models with the club as often as I am able to to do so.

Over the last few years, I have searched for a replacement for my Shadow, preferably a complete unbuilt kit, but without success until the last few days, when I spotted one on eBay. I watched the last few minutes of the auction tick by, and the bids increasing, then in the last minute placed a ridiculous bid to make sure I would get the model and I was the winner, and paid £92 for the started model complete in the original box. Even better, the seller lives less than 30 miles away so I can collect it on Monday, thus avoiding the risk of it getting damaged in the post.

It will need the work already done to be removed and re-done, but that shouldn't be much of a problem. I intend to use a brushless outrunner and a 3S LiPo pack, and hope to re-create my modelling past but without the noise and mess of a glow plug engine. I have several kits waiting for me to get around to building them, but this should be a quick and easy (famous last words!) build and the strength of the nostalgia will keep me going until the end.

If anyone is interested, I'll try to remember to take a few pics of the re-build and post them here on Mayhem.

[ChrisF]

Please do Dave as will be interested to see it coming along.

Great when a plan or in this case a kit comes together.

Chris

[Martin (Admin)]

Me too Dave!

My build ... from Many Moons ago ! - https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/My_models/02%20shadow.htm

[Dave_S.]

I know you're a bit of a Shadow fan. I really miss my old one, hopefully the lack of noise and mess won't spoil the nostalgia! I will certainly document the rebuild on here, when I built my first one there was no internet and no digital cameras, I had lots of models that were never photographed because I could either buy film or fuel - and the fuel was more fun!

[Circlip]

Don't bank on lack of noise Dave. Many of today's fast electrics sound like buzz saws.


  Regards  Ian.

[Vintage]

I've always liked the SHG Shadow, it seemed an iconic model back in the day and I've always fancied one so was watching the auction ...

.... then in the last minute placed a ridiculous bid to make sure I would get the model and I was the winner, and paid £92 for the started model complete in the original box.

Fortunate that I didn't bid then as that's generally my M.O.  I have too many models already (apparently  ).
Would love to see some photos of the rebuild if you get the chance
Mark

[Dave_S.]

Don't bank on lack of noise Dave. Many of today's fast electrics sound like buzz saws.


  Regards  Ian.

Can't say I'm keen on the high revving motors, I'll use a 1000kv outrunner at 10-11,000rpm max. I don't think my old Webra would have done any better than that.

[Dave_S.]

I've always liked the SHG Shadow, it seemed an iconic model back in the day and I've always fancied one so was watching the auction ...

Fortunate that I didn't bid then as that's generally my M.O.  I have too many models already (apparently  ).
Would love to see some photos of the rebuild if you get the chance
Mark

A narrow escape for both of us, then! I really enjoyed my old Shadow and have been looking for another for quite a while now. Can't wait to collect it tomorrow!

[Circlip]

Can't say I'm keen on the high revving motors

 Burit's a Racer and MUST have a noisy power plant.   


 Regards  Ian

[Dave_S.]

Don't think that'd go down too well at the Oxford club's water! I used to really enjoy playing around with small engines in model boats and planes, but most places don't allow them anymore.


Still enjoying playing around with the 1450 V twin in my Harley, though!

[Dave_S.]

This afternoon I drove to Bicester (about 45 minutes away) and collected the Shadow. Huge surge of nostalgia just looking at the box. Everything is as described, there's some work been done which I will undo and replace. There's also a brushed Graupner motor and a resistance type speed controller, similar to a Bob's Board but chunkier.


I will go through the kit carefully tomorrow and hope to be making a start on getting it ready to see water for the first time. I have dug out Model Boats magazine from May 1982 which had a full review of the kit which is quite informative.


The magazine also had a feature on my former clubmate Tom Andrews' ME medal winning Armoured Troop Carrier Refueller, small world.

[Dave_S.]

Here is the German mechanical speed controller I have removed from the Shadow. Note especially the loving care with which the copious amounts of sellotape has been applied.

[Dave_S.]

My next task was to separate the hull & deck which had been joined somewhat haphazardly using what I suspect was a gel type cyano. Parts of the join had already failed, the remainder was eased apart with careful use of a wood chisel. It was surprisingly successful, as in the two parts separated cleanly and nothing broke in the process.

[Dave_S.]

Having gained full access to the interior of the hull, I was faced with this mess - the engine mounts, prop shaft, keg & rudder had been stuck in place with generous amounts of some kind of filler which looked as if it had trowelled on. One of the engine mounts had already broken away from the hull, and a little testing of the filler encouraged me to believe that getting the rest out wouldn't be too difficult.


The relative ease with which the engine mounts came away from the hull makes me glad that no one had mounted an i.c. engine in the model an attempted to start it!

[Dave_S.]

After about hour of chipping away with modelling knives and chisels, all of the hardware was out of the hull and most of the filler was in the bin. I'll sand the rest away and remove the residual adhesive from the hull/deck join tomorrow.


I won't be able to continue at this speed as I need to order a new prop shaft, among other things, but hopefully can still make progress while waiting for it.

[philk]

I have a blue one I got at a boot fair for a tenner years ago put a small brushless in it on 7.4 if anything it's a bit overpowered see the link
http://www.uplyme-model-dockyard.co.uk/index.php/my-boats/shg-shadow-sports-cruiser

[Dave_S.]

Good to see another one rescued and returned to the water. What is the kv of the motor you chose? I remember my model of nearly 40 years ago was quite fast but stable with a Webra .20 and I hope to replicate that with my current rebuild.

[ChrisF]

Martin can advise on glues!   

[Vintage]

Looks great 

That orange is so 70's and reminiscent of a Bond Bug ... 

Good that you've got the original decals, I can't wait to see it progress.

Mark

[Martin (Admin)]

 
Another one on eBay .... different!

 eBay item number:235316931101                                   

[Dave_S.]

Another one on eBay .... different!

 eBay item number:235316931101                                   

I'm watching that one, too!

[Circlip]

Got a 'NIB' (Polythene bag actually) "Bob's Board" if it helps??  Bit simpler than that piece of German efficiency.


   Regards  Ian.


 And yes, 'Plastic Padding' and 'Davids Isopon' have a lot to answer for.

[Dave_S.]

It is with deep regret that I must decline your offer of such a valuable antique as an unused Bob's Board. I had a few back in the day and was more than happy to replace them with Electronize ESCs when they became available. I would also be unsure of where to connect the third motor wire!


I'm very pleased at how easily the old filler holding everything together came out. About an hour's careful work with a chisel and a scalpel. I'll clean the moulding up after my next cuppa ready to reinstall propshaft, skeg & rudder. I won't be putting them in straight away as I have ordered a replacement shaft because the original is imperial and I don't think it will be easy to find a range of props to fit it.

[philk]

Good to see another one rescued and returned to the water. What is the kv of the motor you chose? I remember my model of nearly 40 years ago was quite fast but stable with a Webra .20 and I hope to replicate that with my current rebuild.

4000kv with a 3mm plastic prop

[Dave_S.]

4000kv, that's a lot of revs! I hope the 3mm prop is a typo, as even at a theoretical 29,600 rpm I don't think the boat would move far!


I used to use sports glow or diesel engines in my boats, and they mainly peaked at 10k RPM or lower, so I tend to aim for the same with my electric motors. 1000kv on 3s lipo under real rather than ideal conditions is about 10k RPM. I am a little wary of using more revs on a public stretch of water due to the noise and nuisance caused.