Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Model Boating => Topic started by: Rhys on October 02, 2017, 10:47:33 am
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I have in my possession a 24" yacht that was built for my Dad. He would have turned 100 this year, and this was built as a present for him when he was about 4.
The family story goes that it was built for him by a chap who was working as a bridge builder in NZ who was "enamoured" by one of Dad's older sisters. The idea it was made to get Dad on side (as you do). The tale goes on that he was a nephew of Mark Twain (however research from Wiki, shows that Mark Twain had no direct nephews).
I have a photo of Dad with the yacht on the day of gifting. It's a bit hard to make out details, but my winter task will be to attempt to re-rig it as it was. The hull is as near perfect as can be, it is carved from a single piece of redwood, which was an offcut of a bridge stringer of the Rakaia River bridge in Canterbury NZ.
I have questions.
1 Do I re-rig it and use it as it was? Is there anywhere where such models are used?
2 Do I re-rig it and hide a modern RC set somewhere in the cabin to make it more usable? Follow on question is the same
3 Do I just do it and use as a display piece, somewhere where the other half won't get too bothered?
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Sailing without RC can be a frustrating experience and there is much more chance of the model being caught on the bank/trees etc.
Controlling/sailing the boat adds greatly to the fun so if possible go for Option 2. Failing that I'd go for Option 3 especially given its age and family heritage.
Chris
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I saved a wreck of a hull from being thrown away and in the process of restoring it went with the RC option, for the reasons that Chris has mentioned but I'm not sure I would have gone that way if it had been in better condition. It's good to see them sailing, either way, as that's what they are made for so much will depend on where you're going to pop it in the water... :-)
Mine, without the sails .... from this ...
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8431/7821799548_ca341359e1_b.jpg)
to this, at least it's looking very similar to how it would have originally looked but hopefully with the RC I'll be able to sail it happily without having to run around lakes, which at my time of life, takes a while.... :embarrassed:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4509/37401821576_95c56cf704_b.jpg)
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This is it
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Hi Rhys, always nice to see an old model boat get some much needed attention. I have restored several boats over the years, some for others and some for me.
I like to do a sympathetic restoration keeping the character and appearamce as near original as possible. I did two boats for a lady some years ago, they had been made by her father during WW2 and very respectable models they were having regards to shortages and restrictions
Both were sailing models about 30 inches long. I came up with a few options and then asked her what her dad would have done today were he still here. That was the trigger and I installed radio all concealed in one, this was also modelled on a fishing boat, I suggested that many boats were later fitted with an auxilliary engine with prop out to one side, and that was agreed.
The other was a pleasure sailing boat, I did this after demonstrating that the first one came out as wanted. With this one I suggested that the sails be radio controlled with the sail winch in the hull but the endless line for sail control be clearly visible on deck, it is a bit of a quaint feature and came out well also making sheet control much easier.
Now if it is your boat then what you do is up to you. A previous post says go RC and I agree sailing is easier and RC is very small these days.
Then there is a really wrecked boat, I have just done a "resurrection" on a clockwork boat which was scratch built maybe 80 years ago. It did not look right but a bit of superstructure adjustment and throwing away some really heavy accessories has made it a much more acceptable boat.
If there are no other members in your family with any concern for what happens to the boat then keep everything looking as it was use modern technology and get her back in the water. Write some information down for the next generation and keep it with the boat. Also let the guys at the vintage model yacht group know what you are doing i.e. photograph the progress and let us know too.
Good luck and keep us informed.
Roy
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I have a couple of Star yachts which I hope to restore when I am fit again .I don't know wether to use modern fittings or copy the original tin plate Cutting my own .Also thinking about hollowing the hull and decking it over to improve the appearance and sailing qualities. What do you guys think ?