Hi Matt,

Welcome to the Forum. You should get all the help you need here.

If you want to ease into the hobby on a scratchbuilding basis then have a look at the plans by Glynn Guest:

**LINK**

They are all easy to build and result in good looking model on the pond. For most of them it is possible to get hold of the accompanying build instruction article one way or another.

If you find you like it then you can tackle something a bit more ambitious, there are hundreds of model boat plans on the MyHobbyStore site.

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 02/02/2016 20:38:03

Most people don't bother making their own and buy a commercial shaft and tube such as these:

**LINK**

Basically you have a tube fitted with bearings each end in which a close fitting shaft runs.

If you place a washer between the tube end and the propeller locknut then when going ahead the washer will pretty much seal the end of the tube and prevent water ingress. You may get a few drops into the boat if the inboard end is below the waterline but this is normal and no cause for concern.

Rudders are rarely a problem as the top of the tube is usually above the waterline, just use brass tubes and solder the rudder to the inner one or again buy a commercial item:

**LINK**

Colin

Matt, that is a plan, not a kit. It is a very simple model but also quite small at 18 inches long. It is also quite an old design from 1989, republished in 2012, using polyester resin and ladies tights as a covering for the balsa underneath. These days there are better ways to seal the balsa!

If you want a wood kit then look at the Vintage Model Boat Co site.

http://www.vintagemodelboats.com/

Some of the Glynn Guest designs also have wood packs available with most of the main components laser cut.

There are also a lot of conventional kit manufacturers with a wide range of offerings. Most feature readymade moulded hulls.

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 02/02/2016 22:05:56

You mentioned a kit in your earlier post! To be clear, scratchbuilding means buying the materials yourself and using the plan to make them into the model. A kit contains prefabricated parts to construct the model. Some kits contain readymade hulls whilst others, such as those from the Vintage Model Boat Co, supply wooden components already cut out for you to assemble and glue together to make the hull.

My first reply suggested a Glynn Guest plan because they are straightforward and you make everything yourself from materials (mostly balsa sheet) that you buy yourself. That seems to be what you are looking for.

It is best to start with something straightforward as this will give you the techniques needed to tackle something more ambitious in due course. Too many people bite off more than they can chew and become discouraged when things don't turn out the way they had hoped.

Colin

Matt, the Temerity model is 35 inches long and weighs 5lb. If you buy the magazine as advertised you will get the plan in it which is quite a bargain!

I think it would be a good choice for you.

Colin

Hi MattB5m

Welcome to the forum.

For speed boat a Sea Hornet at 25 inches.

Cabin cruiser 29 inches a Sea Rover.

For cabin cruiser around 36 inches a Sea Commander, Swordsman.

Some of these are available in kit form.

The large models are easy to work on I have found after building the Sea Hornet 2015(check out my build on this forum).

I have the Sea Rover plans which I rescanned and resized from 29 to 35 inches.

Mainly because we run in a salt water canal or I run in open water.

Hi Matt,

re; propshafts ,

Check out Raboesch propshafts, available in the UK. Well engineered, with a seal and bronze bearing at the inboard end.

Cheers, Terry.

And there is always this range of free plans, designed to introduce beginners to the hobby of model boat building… **LINK**

Hi Matt,

The self made propshaft was posted by Harry Smith above. Mine was a bought item from,

http://www.model-dockyard.com/acatalog/Raboesch_Waterproof_Propshafts.html

Cheers, Terry.