Model Boat Mayhem

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length.
Pages: 1 [2] 3   Go Down

Author Topic: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend  (Read 20778 times)

roycv

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,389
  • Location: S.W. Herts
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #25 on: January 10, 2011, 10:10:12 am »

Hello all, I have attached a photo of Vic taken at the St. Albans model show 2009.  Vic kindly stepped in as a judge for us at the last minute.  The photo is part of one where he is saying to the current editor of Meccano Magazine (yes it is still around) that he used to be the M.M. editor in the 1970's.
I was taking him around our exhibition which occupies all of a local school and introducing him.  The ones who knew his contribution to the modelling world were completely taken aback and the memory of the look on their faces will stay with me for ever.

Also I attach a picture of what I believe was his last published design , Star Baby, designed to sail on our club lake at St. Albans (Herts.)  This is the prototype built by the his friend holding the boat up for display.

A great man who will be remembered by his many designs that will go on for many years.
regards to all, Roy
Logged

roycv

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,389
  • Location: S.W. Herts
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #26 on: January 10, 2011, 10:19:25 am »

Vic Smeed as in text above,
Roy
Logged

John W E

  • I see no ships !!
  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 8,813
  • Location: South shields
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #27 on: January 10, 2011, 11:47:13 am »

This R.T.T.L. is built from Vic's plans

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=20758.0

aye
john e

Logged
Knowledge begins with respect
But fools hate wisdom and discipline

Colin Bishop

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Online Online
  • Posts: 12,171
  • Location: SW Surrey, UK
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #28 on: January 10, 2011, 04:38:43 pm »

Here is Vic on the January 1974 issue cover with his Genie design.

Colin

Logged

roycv

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,389
  • Location: S.W. Herts
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #29 on: January 10, 2011, 11:19:27 pm »

Hi all, I have just heard that The funeral is being held at 3.30pm on Friday, 21st January 2011 at Harwood Park Crematorium, Stevenage.

If you are attending I do have more information.  i.e. PM me.

regards Roy
Logged

dougal99

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,326
  • Huntingdon, Cambs, England
  • Location: Huntingdon, England
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #30 on: January 11, 2011, 08:03:33 pm »

This model frigate was built from a fee plan that came with the December 1975 Model Boats. Vic was the editor of the magazine and the plan designer. The build took quite some time to come to fruition and the boat was converted to RC about 8 years ago.

He will be sadly missed
Logged
Don't Assume Check

Matt121

  • Guest
Vic Smeed
« Reply #31 on: February 08, 2011, 09:52:38 am »

From the MYA website:

Vic Smeed dies at the age of 88

It is with great sadness to announce that Vic Smeed died on the 4th January. Vic was the MYA President during the 1970's

His designs have featured in numerous magazines and books for yachting, flying and so much more.

(I don't think this has been picked up on here, if it has mods please remove - matt)
Logged

dragonboatdancer

  • Guest
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #32 on: February 13, 2011, 04:07:46 pm »

Vic Smeed's wife, Margaret, and daughters, Vivienne and Michele, would like to thank all the modellers for the enormous number of messages of condolence and tributes that they have received through the post, e-mails and postings on various modelling forums as well as the tribute pages and obituaries that have been published.  Vic Smeed was such a humble, quiet gentleman that he would have been stunned at the volume and nature of the tributes being paid to him - his only aim has always been to provide designs that would give people pleasure to build and successfully operate and if his designs continue to encourage generations to come to take pleasure in such model making hobbies then he would be very happy indeed.  As well as being important in the world of model building Vic Smeed was of course first and foremost a beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle and will be forever in our hearts.
Logged

dragonboatdancer

  • Guest
Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
« Reply #33 on: February 17, 2011, 04:36:23 pm »

Vic Smeed (1st October 1923 – 4th January 2011)
Vic Smeed's wife, Margaret, and daughters, Vivienne and Michele, would like to thank all the modellers for the enormous number of messages of condolence and tributes that they have received through the post, e-mails and postings on various modelling forums as well as the tribute pages and obituaries that have been published.  Vic Smeed was such a humble, quiet gentleman that he would have been stunned at the volume and nature of the tributes being paid to him - his only aim has always been to provide designs that would give people pleasure to build and successfully operate and if his designs continue to encourage generations to come to take pleasure in such model making hobbies then he would be very happy indeed.  As well as being important in the world of model building Vic Smeed was of course first and foremost a beloved husband, father, grandfather and uncle and will be forever in our hearts.
Logged

dbninja

  • Guest
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #34 on: May 01, 2011, 05:53:16 pm »

Vic Smeed "Skater"  Airboat

had this plan of one of Vics more offbeat subjects in my "must get round to building it one day" pile for a long long time..

anyway had a brainstorm and decided to have a go at it, originally free running for a 1.5cc Diesel engine, i adapted this age old plan to use a brushless motor and 11v 3c lipo battery and of course 2.4ghz radio control..  it still causes a stir when people see it :-))







i used blue foam cores in the sponsons rather than built up balsa (same size and profile as plan), and added 20mm to the overall height of the boat to allow for a greater range of prop diameters, other than that its pretty well as Vic designed it


i built it in just two days and it is finished in a coat of epoxy laminating resin,  sea trials today were "interesting"  and it is showing potential,  water in the speed controller shortened play for the day  but it will be back for more :}

nice one Vic :-))

db
Logged

Subculture

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4,187
  • Location: North London
    • Dive-in to Model submarines
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #35 on: May 01, 2011, 06:03:52 pm »

Good stuff. My Dad built one of these back in the '50's as a free runner. It lasted one outing at Highgate ponds, he let it go, and it set off across the pond at quite a lick. His younger brother was meant to catch it at the other side, but understandably bottled it and it re-kitted itself on the concrete bank of the pond. He said at the time 'I wasn't catching that!' {-)
Logged

dbninja

  • Guest
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #36 on: May 01, 2011, 11:57:15 pm »

just before she gets up on the plane...





db
Logged

Subculture

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4,187
  • Location: North London
    • Dive-in to Model submarines
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #37 on: May 02, 2011, 07:05:58 am »

Any chance of getting some video of it in action?
Logged

Circlip

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4,447
  • Location: North of Watford, South of Hadrians wall
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #38 on: May 02, 2011, 11:03:55 am »

 {-) Just been reading an old copy of Model Maker trying to chastise Vic for the "Skater" design in allowing a free running airscrew driven model to be built by "Schoolboys and the attendant dangers.

  Regards  Ian.
Logged
You might not like what I say, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong.
 
What I said is not what you  think you heard.

Subculture

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4,187
  • Location: North London
    • Dive-in to Model submarines
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #39 on: May 02, 2011, 11:50:04 am »

The more things change, the more things stay the same. I guess the moron that wrote up negelected to consider free flight aeroplanes with their exposed screws.
Logged

dbninja

  • Guest
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #40 on: May 02, 2011, 11:53:38 am »

{-) Just been reading an old copy of Model Maker trying to chastise Vic for the "Skater" design in allowing a free running airscrew driven model to be built by "Schoolboys and the attendant dangers.

  Regards  Ian.


Ian

what year was the magazine?  there is no date on the plan so dont know its date of origin


yep the "elf n safety"  police dont change do they....   they will be banning steam engined boats before you know it :o


thanks
db
Logged

Circlip

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4,447
  • Location: North of Watford, South of Hadrians wall
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #41 on: May 02, 2011, 12:17:07 pm »

January 1954 page 39

  Regards  Ian.
Logged
You might not like what I say, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong.
 
What I said is not what you  think you heard.

dbninja

  • Guest
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #42 on: May 02, 2011, 12:52:38 pm »

January 1954 page 39

  Regards  Ian.

thanks Ian

i hadn't realised the design was that old...  that was a really inspired design by Vic,  considering its only a couple of years after the war
shows the great vision of the man. it  still looks fantastic :-))

as for health and safety... have you ever "pitted" for control line team race, speed, and combat.....  i have!  pretty scary stuff


db
Logged

Martin (Admin)

  • Administrator
  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 23,359
  • Location: Peterborough, UK
    • Model Boat Mayhem
Logged
"This is my firm opinion, but what do I know?!" -  Visit the Mayhem FaceBook Groups!  &  Giant Models

Peter Fitness

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,376
  • Location: Wyrallah, near Lismore NSW Australia
Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
« Reply #44 on: May 28, 2013, 10:54:30 pm »

It is indeed, Vic was certainly a very prolific designer O0 . Well done to Tony Hadley for taking the time to put together such a comprehensive list of Vic's designs :-))


Peter.
Logged

roycv

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,389
  • Location: S.W. Herts
Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
« Reply #45 on: May 29, 2013, 12:38:18 pm »

Hi all, the last yacht design from Vic, Star Baby, nearly never got published.  I was aware of the model from a visit that Vic made to our Lake at St. Albans, when he had said that he would design a yacht for our lake.  It was a smaller Starlet and plans and article were sent off to Model Boats magazine but for what ever reason, perhaps they were not received, there was no response. 
So a set were sent off to Int. Marine Modelling and after some time there was again no response.  I phoned Chris Jackson of MMI just to check, and he said they had not received them but they had just moved offices, he would however be very pleased to have them.  I passed the information back and another set were sent and eventually published in a supplement.
At our 2009 annual club exhibition we had the pleasure of having Vic Smeed with us as he had stepped in at the last moment to be a Judge.  On the Saturday afternoon I escorted Vic around and introduced him to the various visiting clubs and members who were in the main quite taken aback to have such a well known name with us.
I took photographs of Vic with various people and one in front of a collection of his yacht design Panache.  This is the one that Model Boats magazine used in his obituary the yachts have been edited out.
We always invite our judges to lunch, one of the other judges being the previous (at the time) editor of Model Engineer, Mike Chrisp.  Vic's wife Margaret was with us as well and Vic very kindly answered many of my questions.  Yes he was a Spitfire pilot from 1943 onwards.
As you will all know he was a prolific model aircraft designer and he said he had the world record for the number of models built to his designs.
One of his designs had been enlarged so that it could be flown with a pilot, there was a sad end to this aircraft for after landing one day the origin of the aircraft was challenged and it transpired it had no airworthyness certificate.  The aircraft was impounded even though it worked OK and not released until the engine had been removed


We invited Vic and his wife to our Christmas evening and if my memory serves me they won a prize for one of the competitions.
Vic 's memory and mental abilities were ahead of most if not all the members there.
He said he would like to come to our 2010 exhibition in September but nearer the time declined through ill health.
I can only say that he was exactly what you hoped he would be, modest, unassuming and a gentleman.


Indeed a great loss
kind regards to all, Roy
Logged

baloo

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 916
  • I`M YOUR FRIENDLY TRUCKER
  • Location: Grantham,lincs
Re: Vic Smeed - Loss of another legend
« Reply #46 on: May 29, 2013, 01:30:34 pm »

such a sad loss,our thoughts go out to his family,most of us has built a model or two from this genius, he was truly a "legend" R.i.p.
baloo & pooh bear
Logged

Onetenor

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 268
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: Meliden N Wales
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #47 on: December 03, 2016, 03:46:40 am »

I built one of these Put a JB ATOM on her .Went like the clappers If the rudder was set right I could get it to circle  our round pond in Newsham Park I put a sort of spring bow on the front sponson  A semi circle of piano wire  This made it bounce off the sides of the pond if I got the rudder setting  wrong.When I am fit again I will do an R/C version with the same engine w[size=78%]hich I still have  2 in fact but I need a shaft turning for one of them.Any volunteers? I will pay [/size] :} :}
Logged

tritsch

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 29
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #48 on: December 03, 2016, 06:33:22 am »

It must have been around this time, early 50s,  that I built a balsa model hydroplane from plans in Popular Mechanics.  I fitted it with a Frog 1.5c, which I still have.  It only lasted the one trip, shot across the park pond and hit the concrete at the other side.  It was not repairable, so I made a replacement in plywood which lasted quite a while.

I still have a scar on my thumb from that Frog.

Tony
Logged

tigertiger

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,748
  • Location: Kunming, city of eternal springtime, SW China.
Re: Tribute to Vic Smeed
« Reply #49 on: December 03, 2016, 08:16:50 am »



I still have a scar on my thumb from that Frog.




 <:( Prop slice, or burn? My money is on the prop
Logged
The only stupid question is the one I didn't ask
Pages: 1 [2] 3   Go Up
 

Page created in 0.099 seconds with 22 queries.