Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Model Boating => Topic started by: Hotglove on August 27, 2018, 09:29:20 am

Title: Winter build suggestions?
Post by: Hotglove on August 27, 2018, 09:29:20 am
When looking for crew figures for my Chris Craft 1930 Runabout I found very few that were of the right character.
One of the exceptions was the range of flexible bodies and head sculpts made by Phicen, but these are 1/6 scale.
So now I am thinking of building the boat to fit the crew, rather than the other way round.
The figures are 12” tall and I don’t want to build much above 1m in length of model.
One answer would be another speedboat, the scale would equate to an 18 foot boat, so no problem, just get a deep V hull and fit out to suit, but I already have a classic Runabout and a fun dragster boat, do I need another speedboat?
Another thought is of a castaway’s escape raft, which gives loads of opportunity for humorous accessories, but the performance would be extremely staid.
So, any suggestions?
Thank you
Title: Re: Winter build suggestions?
Post by: Neil on August 27, 2018, 01:49:37 pm

Watch out for the landslide of suggestions which will only go to fudge any ideas that you might have yourself……….


I think that choice and decision is up to you and yours alone, inevitably. %% :-))
Title: Re: Winter build suggestions?
Post by: Hotglove on August 27, 2018, 03:46:01 pm
Thanks Neil, I have had some great results from posts on this forum, have learnt a lot, saved a few quid and, ultimately, had a lot of fun (currently adding some teeth to a forum bargain)
Long may it continue!
Title: Re: Winter build suggestions?
Post by: ballastanksian on August 27, 2018, 09:14:29 pm
How about a Scwimmwagen? Make it drivable as well as sailable. You then get a small vehicle with lots of scope for detailing, interesting camo paint and room for accessories as well as figures  :-)
Title: Re: Winter build suggestions?
Post by: Hotglove on August 27, 2018, 11:25:33 pm
Brilliant, thank you, that is miles away from any of my ideas, exactly the kind of thing I am looking for.
This adds the possibility of an exploration submersible.
Great! Keep the ideas coming.
Title: Re: Winter build suggestions?
Post by: tigertiger on August 28, 2018, 01:05:20 am

River boats would give you the overall length you want at 1:6 scale. Lots to choose from including:
Vietnam War river patrol boat (PBR) Pibber. Maybe larger than you want.
Fishing dingy with outboard motor.
Logging pusher boats.

Broads police launch.
Small river cruisers.


I see that there are also a lot of 1:6 clothes on Amazon (fisherman, police, army, man in suit, etc) which might also help your choice of model.
Title: Re: Winter build suggestions?
Post by: Hotglove on August 28, 2018, 08:09:53 am
Thanks, Tiger, food for thought there, I had wondered whether to use extreme manouverabilty as a feature in place of speed.
When my daughter was small I invented the character of a river policeman and his launch (touch of the Fireman Sams) to entertain her, the launch was very much like the one in your pic, thanks for jogging the memory :-))
Title: Re: Winter build suggestions?
Post by: grendel on August 28, 2018, 12:13:52 pm
as an aside, The Range used to do some nice poseable wooden artists figures (ie all the joints in the right places) at about 5" high, just a bit too small for a 1/12 scale model, but might dress up well for 1/16th scale.