Hi David

Look on a search engine such as Google, type in sea commander and click the images section you should get lots of photos of this great model.

If its any help I am starting a restoration of a sea commander in a couple of weeks time and would be happy to send some progress photos.

All the best

Paul

Hi David

I have never used a Taycol motor but I have seen them reviewed in the model boat magazine, they seem to operate between 6 to 12 volts and look quite advanced for their time apart from this I know nothing about these motors.

I have a stock of modern motors so I will be fitting one of these, I know that these can be matched to an electronic speed controller and will work very well with a ni-cad battery pack.

I will be posting some photos of the "as is" model over the weekend and after that I will post photos of the restoration as I progress, I am always open to questions so please ask.

All the best

Paul

Hi David

The Taycol elect. motors were good for their day, but by todays standard they were very bad for power consumption, having wound field coils.  They are not easy to use with modern speed controle and difficult to wire for forwards and reverse with  any commercial ESC.  I would put the Taycol in the museum, and fit a modern perminant magnet motor, this is more likly to give you the performance AND endurance the model deserves.

Cheers Tom

Hi David

The model looks great are you going to keep to these colours or try something different, I think that you are right to change the motor for a modern setup.

I look forward to seeing more photos as work progresses.

All the best

Paul

Hi David

I like your boats colours I think they look really great on the commander.

My deck is simulated planking, pencil lines on plywood which I don’t like, so I will be laying over a proper mahogany planked deck in its place which I will be starting this week so I should be able to post photos soon.

Take care with the stripping.

All the best

Paul

Hi David

An object lesson to us all to work in the open air and always do a test area first.

It sounds as though a previous owner and possibly the builder has used a red lead primer, which is something the older members will remember, in its day it was a very good paint on both metal and wood and it is very typically 1960s which of course suits the age of your model,  I can recall using gallons of the stuff on narrowboats at my local boatyard during my school summer holidays.

Thankfully we have safer paints these days.

I suspect that the wood below the red paint will be in first class condition but be very carefull when sanding the wood as you will be raising dust containing all sorts of pathogens, you should continue to work outdoors and wear overalls/mask/goggles.

As soon as you have the hull smooth enough to paint you should apply an all purpose primer that is compatable with lead based paints, this will seal the old paint below a safe surface.

I am sorry that your first restoration project has started as a baptism of fire but this is what can happen with older models, I once came across an old steam model with a bolier lagged in blue asbestos (I have been trained in hazardous materials) so no worries.

Looking forward to seeing your photos (Vinnie will have to press his magic button again)

Have a nice weekend

Paul

David

have you heard from the Fat Controller recently? he is not answering e mails.

Thanks David

My e mails could be in his junk filter.

Sam

David

Info has been sent thanks for the help.

Sam

Hi to David and Sam

Thank you both for your very kind concern, I have been in "dry dock" for a while having the old pump maintained. I have sent you both private e mails.

Its nice to see Davids rebuild is coming along and when I am able I will be painting mine in light blue/white.

All the best my friends

Paul