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Author Topic: The most common model boat ever made  (Read 8817 times)

John W E

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The most common model boat ever made
« on: July 09, 2014, 07:14:50 pm »

Hi everyone
 
Just been pondering for a while; as to which you think is the most common model boat that has every been produced either in kit form or by plans.
 
My thought is that when you go down to the lake you can guarantee to see either a tug or a lifeboat on the water.
 
What has been the most successful model produced I wonder?
 
aye
 
john
 
 
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Neil

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2014, 07:20:56 pm »

now that's a tough one to answer............I suppose it depends upon the era.........in modern days I guess you are right...with a close third coming up as fishing boats.

now if you'd have asked that question 30 - 40 years ago ( and they are still being produced) I would say aerokits sea queen, commander and fire boat/RAF Crash tender
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philk

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2014, 07:21:52 pm »

precedent perkasa
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TheLongBuild

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2014, 07:23:33 pm »

I was just about to say the same thing about the aerokits crop up every where and still be produced today

Neil

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2014, 07:27:39 pm »

precedent perkasa

never ever seen one of those on the water Phil. not too common around these parts...............
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John W E

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2014, 07:28:09 pm »

hi, I was thinking about the Veron police launch and the RTTL and also I wonder how many Club 500's were produced - I have seen a good few of them knocking about :-)
 
aye
 
John
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madrob

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2014, 07:58:45 pm »

I would say Bismarck has to be in the top five, from airfix kit to plans it has a model most category
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inertia

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2014, 08:23:16 pm »

I'd like to think it's the Huntsman 31 kits but there's plenty of strong competition there. The problem is that it can only be speculation - no-one actually knows the right answer.
DM
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tugnut

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #8 on: July 09, 2014, 08:45:27 pm »

On the tug side the IMARA by Caldercraft is quite common,but then so are mobile marine tugs
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gingyer

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #9 on: July 09, 2014, 08:46:38 pm »

Flower class corvette from matchbox/ revell
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cos918

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #10 on: July 09, 2014, 08:54:50 pm »

Titanic and for rc Smit Rotherdam


john
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a3nige

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #11 on: July 09, 2014, 09:08:32 pm »

Star yacht?
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Time Bandit

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #12 on: July 09, 2014, 09:09:25 pm »

In germany the probably most common model you see on the lake is the Adolph Bermpohl.
But Im sure that over the years there have been a lot of other models with higher sales numbers, but probably most of them rott in some basement chambers.
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Tobias

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #13 on: July 09, 2014, 09:33:02 pm »

depends what you mean by model.... do you include everything from papercraft to RC models.


If so then I'd say for the UK it would be either the cutty sark, titanic, or HMS victory
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warspite

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #14 on: July 09, 2014, 10:27:28 pm »

Flower class corvette from matchbox/ revell

At one time I would have said these - excellent kit even for a beginner (once they get over how to gain access when built), at one ellesmere boat show I counted 47, which varied in size - the majority were matchbox though.

RAF high speed rescue and fire launches seem to be the most common before that.
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tony52

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #15 on: July 09, 2014, 10:32:18 pm »

Southampton RTR tugs seem to be popular. Before r/c boats became popular the most common model boat must have been the Star model yachts. I think they were made in Birkenhead, every seaside resort sold them.
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roycv

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #16 on: July 09, 2014, 11:06:15 pm »

Hi all, what about the Graupner Bugsier 3?  This kit came out in 1974 and has been on sale ever since.  So it is its 40th. anniversary this year.
regards Roy
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Seaspray

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #17 on: July 10, 2014, 06:52:04 am »

I'd like to think any model from the Lesro  or Vernon and Kiel Kraft ranges were at one time.  The most built  models.
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slug

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #18 on: July 10, 2014, 07:46:02 am »

just googled star yachts of Birkenhead....started by a Belgian who worked on Liverpool docks during the first world war...he then started making model yachts plus other types of boat...supplied to bassett&loke and gamages....also made for triang   70 years of production...must be the most popular.....tony
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Vintage

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #19 on: July 10, 2014, 07:55:17 am »

the most common model boat must have been the Star model yachts. I think they were made in Birkenhead, every seaside resort sold them.

I would think almost certainly.

They started making them in 1922 and continued until the factory was the subject of a compulsory purchase order in 1991.

Here's a (rather poor) shot of the factory in Marion Street, Birkenhead taken in 1923.

I know a fair amount about the company and its products but if anyone has any more information, I'd be delighted to hear about it.

Mark
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roycv

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #20 on: July 10, 2014, 08:33:11 am »

Hi all, I expect the 'toy' yachts of 6 inches in length upwards are going to win this. 
There are the remains of the clockwork toy boats much collected by enthusiasts but 90 +% of them rusted away or made into spitfires during the last war.

But perhaps of more interest is the model boat that was constructed by the owner and repaired etc. Then sailed again.

I heard somewhere that the Imara tug had got to 5000 kits by the manufacturer then they stopped counting.
regards Roy
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TailUK

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #21 on: July 10, 2014, 09:09:08 am »

The RAF Crash Tender (or Fire Float to give it's correct name) seems to be ubiquitous at shows and ponds.  Amazing that models of this boat have been around since the 1950s.  Thousands of models must have been made of a boat that only ever had 2 prototypes.
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John W E

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #22 on: July 10, 2014, 07:26:19 pm »

hi ya all,


Good few surprises among these mentioned; but when you think about it as far as the yacht is concerned, every shop selling a bucket and spade for the seaside also had these model yachts on sale as well - so thousands of them must have been sold,  I wonder how many sailed out to sea never to return.


The other thing I forgot about was the Matchbox corvette kit - this has to be the most popular plastic kit conversion - cos I bet ya every club has at least 2 members owning one of these conversion kits  :-))


The other thing that surprises me is that there have been no plan builds models - when you think of how many plans Vic Smeed drew up; you would think a couple of his plan builds would be among the top ten?


just my thoughts at the moment


aye
john
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ooyah/2

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #23 on: July 10, 2014, 08:56:46 pm »

hi ya all,


Good few surprises among these mentioned; but when you think about it as far as the yacht is concerned, every shop selling a bucket and spade for the seaside also had these model yachts on sale as well - so thousands of them must have been sold,  I wonder how many sailed out to sea never to return.


The other thing I forgot about was the Matchbox corvette kit - this has to be the most popular plastic kit conversion - cos I bet ya every club has at least 2 members owning one of these conversion kits  :-))


The other thing that surprises me is that there have been no plan builds models - when you think of how many plans Vic Smeed drew up; you would think a couple of his plan builds would be among the top ten?


just my thoughts at the moment


aye
john

John,
I don't know what the most popular Vic Smeed plan was but "CERVIA" must be up there amongst  the most popular.
There was a free plan in Model Boats which I think may be the one that you used in your "CERVIA" build.
I started it but thought it was too small for a steam plant so I scaled the plan up to 3/8" ft which allowed a steam plant with a D10 engine into a 42" long hull.

I still admire your build as an aspiration to get mine correct but unfortunatelly I am not a very good builder with wood, give me metal anytime.

George.
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chas

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Re: The most common model boat ever made
« Reply #24 on: July 11, 2014, 08:41:17 am »

How about the kiel kraft eezebilt range of boats. Most older modelers will have made one of these and there is a great web site that people are still building from. The number of models made must run into the thousands.
Not sure which would have been the most popular, possibly the Terrier mtb.
Chas
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