Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Pleasure boats, Sports, Race, Power and Leisure Boats: => Topic started by: SwordsmanDreamer on December 31, 2014, 07:57:38 pm
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Dear all
Would anyone like to advise ?
I would like to build an attractive cabin cruiser type, from plans. I have been looking around, and getting rather confused about the distinction between the huntsman 31 and the swordsman, in terms of hull shape. I know that the huntsman 28 and huntress 23 are quite a different shape, in the bow at any rate. I finally found this helpful page: http://www.classicoffshore.com/history_alan_v_burnard.php (http://www.classicoffshore.com/history_alan_v_burnard.php) . So now I know that the prettiest bow shape is on the h31, and subsequenlty the spearfish as it is the same hull, as i understand it. To my eye, the rear cockpit version is the nicest of all. So that is what I would like to build. But most of the plans that i have seen seem to be for the rear cabin version. Perhaps that is not so much of a hurdle, perhaps that can be overcome with a bit of ingenuity. But what I really want to make sure is to get a set of plans where the bow looks as asthetically pleasing as possible. I realise that it has compound curves, and so compromises have to be made, but on the other hand, if the lower part of the bow can be carved from balsa block, why not the upper ? I realise that a heavy concave makes the block more likely to split, but again, where there's a will...
The other thing is, I would like to build as big as possible, the reason being that I live near the sea (well, chichester harbour) and so would like to be able to take it down there on calmer days and put it on salt water. The most attractive plan i have seen so far is the MM1061 (luckily i found a picture on ebay, as the MM site does not show a picture - poor show !). But it looks like that is "only" 31 inches, as far as i can understand it. I see that there is a swordsman plan, apparently 33 inches built, again badly labelled as "fairey marine", mm791, but again no picture of the plan itself.
If all else fails, I guess there is the precedent wooden kit at 40 odd inches, I wonder again how the bow will come out ? At least it would be built up. Probably (i'm guessing) their grp hull may be even fairer, but I really would like to build the hull.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
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I know you say you would like to build the hull but if all else fails there is a fibreglass hull available at 47" from Here (http://modelsbydesign.co.uk/model_boats.aspx)
You could then make it either aft cabin or aft cockpit
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if it helps
MM791 February 1966
MM1061 June 1970
30th April - 27th May 1999 Fairy Swordsman D Milbourn RC Power Boat 24
:-))
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It is a pity that you are so far away. A little while ago I bought a part built Huntsman wooden kit (46") version for the engine which was with it.
Currently the hull (about 1/2 done) is tucked away in the garage with the rest of the kit. You could have had it with my blessing as I shall never build it.
Did actually build one of these when they first came out in the early 70's. The bow was a block of balsa which had to be carved to shape and the hull formers were about 1/8th or 3/16th ply. This current kit appears to use 1/16 th ish for the formers making it feel a bit lightweight. Think the bow is actually formed from the side and bottom skin being "bent" round.
Anyone else who fancies it is welcome to collect it, free of chaarge. Not really postable. Has some slight storage damage that it came with when I bought it from the guy who was having a clear out before he moved.
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This is what it currently looks like Note damage on bow where chines meet breasthook
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Don't know how set you are on style, but Dumas Dauntless at 49 inches has a similar appearance, open rear deck, and comes with the plans and the material.
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I know its a bit off topic but here is a vid of my mfa swordsman in action. The deck and cabin are not the best but the hull shape is quite true and she rides swell very well. I took her out on boxing day just down the coast from Largs. the conditions were quite choppy but she handled very well and gave me a great excuse to avoid the motherinlaw for and hour or two! the pic is from another run near home but shows the hull and wake quite well :-))
good luck with the build and lets have some pics!
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Dear Spearfish99
That's a very generous offer, thanks.
Thanks too to the other contributors for the interesting information.
Cheers
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Hopefully, the kit may now have found a good home
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My Huntsman is a 28, its almost 4 foot long, and is Veron Kit, circa 1970 ish.
I have a set of plans if you want them, I can send, you can copy, and return when done. IMO the nicest looking of the Fairey boats, and not as common in the model boating world. PM if you want them, these boats do occasionally come up on ebay as a restoration as mine was
Paul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCJhEzLOv7M
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The Precedent kit does not have the pointed bow you desire. Don't waste your money as you will de disappointed with this kit's rounded bow. :-)
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The Precedent kit does not have the pointed bow you desire. Don't waste your money as you will de disappointed with this kit's rounded bow.
Yep, that's correct, the Veron model however does have the pointed bow :-))
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Dear all
Thank you for your various comments. It occurs to me that I was probably not explicit enough in my original post. What I meant was that in my opinion the Huntsman 31 / Spearfish have the nicest bow when viewed from the side ((side elevation i guess you would call it), however it's true that in "plan" (i.e. from above ) the H31 does not have such a nice bow, and indeed the H28 is nicer from above !
Red181, that's a generous offer, how big are the pans ? Are they full-sized ? I wonder how I would go about copying them. I dont know what size photocopiers go up to.Given that they are from a kit, are they as detailed as those that one would need to build from scratch ? I am aware that there is a set of plans that one can get (vic smeed i think) for the H28 to build a 42 inch model, I wonder how much those would differ from the Veron plans ?
Thanks again.
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By the way, I forgot to say, I came accross the Beachcomber plan on the plans website, not a bad looking vessel, does anyone have any knowledge of these ? I think I have only found one site on the internet where someone had built one, but i cant find it again now ! Perhaps I willl post a question as a new topic. Here is the plans site:
http://www.myhobbystore.co.uk/product/16682/beachcomber-mm926
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I am aware that there is a set of plans that one can get (vic smeed i think) for the H28 to build a 42 inch model, I wonder how much those would differ from the Veron plans ?
Hi S/D
I can't comment on the Veron plans having never seen them but I built the Vic Smeed version sometime back as per his plans. It went together well and there's a thread here http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,14357.0.htm (http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,14357.0.html) which you may have seen but if so another look may give you some idea of the difference - if any - in building methods
Regards - Ramon
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Dear Ramon
Thanks for your update and the link. Yes I have looked at your build sequence many times in the past, you certainly did a fabulous job.