A model based on one of the Royal Navy's Emergency Class of WW2 destroyers was built in 2022. It was to fill a gap in a series of 1/144 scale models built to illustrate how these vessels developed from the TBD's early at the turn of the century.
Construction was my usual "balsa-box" hull with most of the decks being detachable "plug-ins". The model was 76 cm with a final weight of 1.1 kg, OK for those who won't accept the Metric System, 30 inches and 39 oz!
The drive-line might also seem antiquated, Monoperm motor, small Huco coupling and RipMax 1 inch dia three bladed prop assembly. The modern equivalents would be something like RE 385 motor and a "RadioActive" prop assembly.
Powered by a 6 cell Nimh pack, it can zip along at a speed that matches the dynamic scale of the full size vessels at around 36 Knots. Very smooth sailing and stable, if fact it reminds me so much of the first model I built in this series, HMS Lagos some 50 years ago.
Plans drawn up and now in the hands of the Editor of Model Boats, hopefully for publication in 2024. The only problem is I enjoyed designing, building and sailing this model, I'm having to resist building something else in this series...
Glynn Guest