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[madwelshman]

Reading through an old copy of Model Maker & Model Boats magazine from 1965, I saw this article regarding a readers model boat with a home made Hydrojet drive.
The model boat in question looks very much like a Dowty Turbojet, a boat that a family friend used to own and one that I would love to attempt to build, if I could find some detailed drawings, or better still a plan.


Does anyone recognise this as a model kit/know if it was actually available to buy not?
Or is it likely that it's purely a scratch build?


Thanks in advance


Will

[RST]

I'm no expert but only ever heard the term "hydrojet" before In connection with Glynn Guest, perhaps he can assist?

[mogurnda]

Bluebird K7  1:12  model...... similar to what you are looking for.

David.

[RST]

I presumed it was the speedboat rather than the bluebird that was questioned?

[madwelshman]

RST, you are correct.
As cool as the Bluebird is, and there is a connection between the two, assuming the speedboat is a Dowty, because Donald Campbell was a director of the company, chief test driver and also did a majority of the piloting of the Dowty for promotional videos etc.
But yes, it is the speedboat rather than the Bluebird that I am interested in.


Will

[madwelshman]

Bluebird K7  1:12  model...... similar to what you are looking for.

David.

Thank you David, It is the Speedboat though that I am trying to find details of.
[/size]That's a very nice looking model, thank you for sharing it.Will

[madwelshman]

This is the boat that I believe it to be, the real version of it anyway.

[ChrisF]

Hi Will

I'm tied up with my builds at the moment and have only just got back into the swing with them and I know that you have refurbs to do etc. but as the Dowty looks like a fairly straightforward design and build sometime in the future I could knock up some drawings. The only real problem I see, and this could be a big one, is finding room for the RC equipment and battery etc.

Chris

[madwelshman]

Chris,


Thanks for the offer. I have no intention of looking at starting yet another model at present, I have as you say, more than enough on my plate.
All I am doing at the moment, is some research.
The Dowty Turbocraft is a boat that I have liked for along time, just like the Faireys, I'm just trying to find as much info as possible when I can, so that when the time comes that I do have time to start thinking about starting another model, I will hopefully have all the info that I need.
The article was in a magazine that I have only just received and have only just read. I just thought I would ask the question.


Regarding radio control gear, the model would have to be of large enough scale to accommodate it all. Scale will have to be decided upon at that time and some deviations in accuracy of the cockpit may well be needed to hide things.


Will

[ChrisF]

Will

It will be an interesting build for you when the time comes especially because of the water jet. Part of setting the size will depend on the sizes of water jets available.

Funnily enough Fairey did do a similar size and design of boat called the Cinderella/Carefree with outboard/inboard motor.

Chris

[madwelshman]

Yes, I have seen the Cinderella.
May even have a brochure.
Carefree doesn't ring any bells though.

[ChrisF]

I think there was only the odd Carefree built which was a test bed for the ill-fated Fairey drive which was a steerable prop mounted someway from the stern and powered by a Ford engine. Like a kort drive but with a normal prop.

[mrzippy]

The good old Aerokits Sea Hornet's hull is not a million miles away and would make a good base plan to play around with hull shapes -
deepen the side skins, straighten up the radiused fore foot, bit less curvature on the transom etc, plans easily available on the net,
attached is a scaled up 1.5 version I started many moons when we used ic.

A friend owns an immaculate classic Cinderella, looks lovely, but not comfortable when hurtling along at 30 knots,
rides like slamming into concrete, no good if you suffer with a bad back !
He's recently managed to break the windscreen and struggling to find a replacement -
its a curvey Ford Zephyr mkll rear screen, if anyone knows where one's available.

[ChrisF]

Good shout on the Sea Hornet, that would make it much easier and I was wondering about the front/lower part of the hull.

Chris

[madwelshman]

Yeah, that's pretty close as a starting point isn't it. Thank you.
I will look at getting a set of Sea Hornet plans ready. I'll get the plans copied so that I can write on the copy and as a newbie to wood bashing, I can (try to) work out where and by how much the plan needs to be altered to get somewhere close to the Dowty.


Thank you guys.


Will
p.s, my mind thinks of so many different things/projects etc, often at the same time, but I'm not the quickest at getting on with them so, I'm sorry to be a pain asking lots of questions and for lots of advice/info.
Unfortunately for others, I was brought up to ask if I don't know.

[ChrisF]

You're not alone there Will. Part of the reason for my slow builds is that instead of concentrating on just one I get attracted by another project and then start doing the drawings etc. and sometimes start building it as has happened with the stern-drive Huntress.

For many of us the research, finding/doing/modifying the drawings and sourcing parts etc. is a big part of the fun and interest and is why kits don't really appeal to me. Never say never though.

The Swordsman was actually the first build I started and is now third as far as progress is concerned. As well as the five builds underway I have another two on the "drawing board"! Fortunately there is nothing else at the moment which is calling me!

Chris

[canabus]

Hi ChrisF


Are we going to see five in the water in Summer 2021 ???


We had 37C yesterday, but only 21C today !!!


Canabus

[ChrisF]

Hi Harry, we can but try!

37C !!!

Chris

[madwelshman]

Feels more like 3.7 degrees here!!