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[Nordlys]

I fear I may have to reduce or stop spending on my boat hobby. Energy bill gone from £110 to £300 per month and rising.
Running out of spending money now. Definitely cannot consider any new builds.
Time to take stock.......
N.

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

I didn't build new models between 2008-2018.
But that should prevent you from enjoying the models you have already built.
 

[Southern Sailor]

It certainly is getting tight. Perhaps time to do those finishing touches on existing models for which we never had time! Could make them "come alive" again for us. And in my case will certainly please my good wife who has complained about that for years! Brian

[raflaunches]

Dave Wooley’s latest article in Model Boats magazine is currently showing how he rebuilt a boat for less than £50.
It’s a good article showing how to make parts from other leftovers or modifying the model parts to suit.
Unless you’re on a fixed monthly payment for your energy we at Chez Brown have turned off everything non-essential and put the hot water on for 20 mins in the morning and 20mins at night as at the moment that seems to enough. That reduced our monthly bills in half for both electric and gas. Have bought blankets and sleeping bags out of deep storage and the camping stuff in preparation for winter so we don’t have to keep the heating on for long periods of time.

[Nordlys]

Thanks for that reply.
I will adjust my hot water On time certainly, currently 1 1/2 am & 2hrs pm. Sounds way too much compared to yours.
I do pay a fixed mthly amount but this is to average it over the whole year . Its the heating that dominates the cost as being at home all day dictates.


On the model side of things yes I could do some refurbish work, funnily enough most of my fleet are RAF Launches!
N

[Baldrick]

   Have not been using gas as our solar system gives us more hot water than we can use. ( That may change in autumn)  Only eating hot food that can be dinged in the Microwave.  Changing some double glazing to Low E. Must fit a light switch with neon to the downstairs kharzi , someone keeps leaving it on.

[roycv]

Hi all, I changed out 30 old type 50 watt Halogen lights over to LED 11 years ago.  Some are 3 watts and some (really bright) ones are 9 watt.  We used to have a heating unit behind the bathroom mirror but I disconnected that (40 watts and on the whole time) at the same time.
There are other lights in the house which do not appear to have LED equivalents and these are all compact fluorescent lighting (CFL), and low power about 8 watts if memory serves.
We have turned down the temperature of the boiler water supply to the radiators to 70 degrees (was at 80)  and hot water is normally delivered at 55 degrees at the tap.
We have Smart Mk. 2 meters but only the electricity one is commissioned, makes no difference to power usage, just a nuisance.

We are cutting back on energy use but I have a cushion of 11 months before the fixed price contract expires in July 2023.  I have always gone for fixed price contracts as we are on a fixed income.

To get back on thread I also have a cushion of model boat kits and other boats that need finishing plus lots of old type RC plus many servos and esc's and sail winches and electric motors.  Batteries are getting a bit old but all the yachts have the same batteries mainly high capacity AA.  I bought a supply of these earlier in the year.  I also have accrued a lot of wood and ply so I shall carry on building.
Petrol for the car to get to the pond is coming down but my personal mileage has dropped dramatically during the pandemic and also we can now go back to a bit of car sharing.

It is difficult to comment on the situation in the country without talking politics and I hope that we shall soon have some effective management for all of us, to deal with for our current perilous financial situation.

Roy



 

[Nordlys]

Thanks Roy, interesting post.
My model work is centered around my garage workshop. It requires heating during winter months defo.
That has now become too expensive to consider, it was bad enough before this price cap business!
So, my well equipped workshop is likely to remain unused for most of winter time, unless I insulate big time!
This is quite an expensive hobby anyway wouldn't you agree? When I look around thecworkshop and see all the timber, plywood, tools, glues and paints
Worth a small fortune!
N.

[Nordlys]

Incidentally my Hot water sits at 60 degrees, CH usually 21 or 21.5 degrees occasionally upped to 22 deg.
N

[roycv]

Hi Nordlys, I think maybe that aeroplanes are more expensive as the possibility of total loss goes with each flight.  Many of my boats are quite ancient in comparison.
I have a 12 x 8 shed designed by myself, 5/8 thick wood cladding and 1 1/2 inch thick hard foam (pre-dates polystyrene) insulation and then pine cladding inside with double glazed windows.  I have a raised 3/4 inch thick plywood floor.  Looks its age but I find it comfortable to work in at 55- 60 degs F.

I have a recycled 500 watt oil filled radiator and it soon warms up to that, and controlled with home built thermostat as well.  In the corner of the garden it has some shelter from the wind.

My problem is wood storage and constant temperature and not drying out.
Life always had its ups and downs and as they say there is no peace for the wicked, Wonder what I did wrong?
Regards
Roy

[ChrisF]

I stocked up a few months ago on motors, ESCs, and receivers etc. for my current and a couple of future builds anticipating supply problems from China at some point but it's turned out to be a good idea due to the cost of living increases. I do need some more ply and timber at some point but need to concentrate on existing builds.

Model boats in the main aren't too expensive compared with other hobbies though fitting out a comprehensive workshop can be expensive. I haven't gone too mad on that score mainly due to space constraints.

Chris

[Colin Bishop]

It is difficult to comment on the situation in the country without talking politics and I hope that we shall soon have some effective management for all of us, to deal with for our current perilous financial situation.

There is no need to talk politics on this topic as there is little, if anything, any of us can do to influence the situation.

It is however useful to exchange tips and suggestions for mitigating the effect of what is coming down the line towards us...

Colin

[Barney Magrew]

If you think planes are "at risk" of a total loss, try flying RC Helicopters

[ScottW]

If you think planes are "at risk" of a total loss, try flying RC Helicopters

Ya know, now that you mention it, even flying model rockets may well be at less risk of total loss than RC helos.

[GG]

Even before this current "cost of living" crisis, I never considered my hobby as expensive.  True, I don't buy kits or ready made parts nor have a workshop full of machinery.
A fair amount of economy can be made by using "cheap" (in terms of cost but not quality) materials.  The first Covid lock-down encouraged my already established practice of using things like lumber from the local DIY shop (actually PSE pine). This has been supplemented with some excellent pieces of timber taken from old furniture and there is now a good stock in the garage.
Another economical material is cardboard. Often free but even if you have to buy it, it's hardly expensive.  OK, a problem with card could be it's tendency to absorb water and turn into a mushy state. But, This is only a problem if you fail to seal exposed card surfaces.
There has to be a little more effort put into building models from these materials.  However, this is balanced by the pleasure the final result gives me.
I don't like the increasing cost-of-living any more than the next person but it isn't going to stop me building models.
Glynn Guest[size=78%]  [/size]

[ScottW]

Another economical material is cardboard. Often free but even if you have to buy it, it's hardly expensive.  OK, a problem with card could be it's tendency to absorb water and turn into a mushy state. But, This is only a problem if you fail to seal exposed card surfaces.

Brings to mind that back when Yahoo had its Yahoo Groups there was a surprisingly active one for cardboard boats.
Before that time and technology ...

My first rubberband powered submarine was built of cardboard/cardstock from candy bar displays when I worked at F. W. Woolworth in early 1990s.

It was of horseshoe shape cross section, about 30 to 36 inches long; had hull skin on each side of the frames except under its deck; hull interior space was free flooding. The double skinned hull had a thick enough air space that it took 3lbs of Daisy BBs to ballast it.

What the prop was is not remembered.

What the planes were made from is not remembered but I do remember being careful that their corners didn't damage vinyl line of friends' above ground pool.

Cardboard was heavily soaked with clear gloss brushing lacquer. It needed a bit more sealing than that for best longevity but is served its purpose for a couple seasons.

[Tug Fanatic]

Talking of card models.

When I started with model boats I was a member of Haigh Hall Model Boat Club together with a certain Bill Wilkinson. He was a fantastic modeller but he had no money so he built his models from what others considered to be rubbish which included lots of card and things like video machine motors. He used to say that he was time rich but cash poor.

Bill was a totally inspirational eccentric and I enjoyed his company.

His biggest model - a paddle tug - was around 23ft and built in his flat with absolutely no way of getting it out. Even building it involved removing walls in his flat. The models that he sailed at the club were smaller at around 6ft but truly museum quality and still built for virtually nothing.

Modelling need not be expensive but many of us have got used to "convenience" modelling. Perhaps it is time for a reset.

https://www.modelboats.co.uk/albums/member_albums.asp?c=151924

https://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=105612

Photo originally posted by Bob Abell on the Model Boats Forum

[Capt Podge]

I've not seen that one before but, my what a fantastic looking boat - love it!


Aye,
Ray.

[Peter Fitness]

Living in a sunny climate as we do, we have solar panels on the roof. We recouped the cost of the system in under four years, and reduced our quarterly power bill by about 80%. Other expenses have risen, but at least our energy costs are manageable.


Peter.

[Circlip]

Pete Holland, Geoff Deason, Vic Smeed and now GG all proved/prove the hobby doesn't need a second income to enjoy. Sadly, bragging rites put many would bees off thinking that adulation needs a money tree to satisfy, and this applies to ALL branches of the model making hobby.


    Regards   Ian.

[minimariner]

                   

        Photos of Bill Wilkinson boat `Cracker.` First one Bill getting into Cracker,
        Second photo you can just see Bills arm near the Port light, the wheelhouse
        fitted over his head. Third photo Cracker near his van where he used to spend
        the night. photos taken at a Southport National Model Lifeboat Rally.
        All his boats were a work of art, for not a lot of money.
         Bryan.

[ScottW]

    Third photo Cracker near his van where he used to spend the night.

Where that location got their handrail stanchions isn't in my database but I do know where similar can be had for people who are only a few inches tall.
Cracker is one huge model. Have to wonder what its displacement was.

[ScottW]

While talking cardboard boats ...
Just found more photos of a cardboard sheets and fiberboard box as its major structural materials boat built in 2008 during a time when a shortage of money was very much an issue.
There is some balsa and basswood in it.
Sails are freezer paper with masking tape reinforcement.
And it worked!     Until it ran aground on the pool divider rope. 

[Nordlys]

I must say I admire your ingenuity and inventiveness but for me cardboard boats haven't entered my world!
I've enjoyed looking through all your photo's.
N

[ChrisF]

Sadly it's not only model boats that will be affected but all sorts of hobbies and pursuits and anybody looking to offload anything may well get a poorer price than before.

Feel sorry for all those businesses who weathered Covid and thought that things would get back to normal.

Chris