Fairey Huntsman 31

Building my other Faireys has come to a halt for the time being due to holidays, doing stuff in the garden and other things.

So wanting to do something model orientated (especially as the weather has been so poor of late and continuing to be so) I thought I'd pick up my Huntsman 31 project again. This is going to be built at 1:12 like my other Fairey builds.

I bought a drawing a couple of years ago when I first started getting interested in model boats. I've not long started but I'm redrawing parts of it so that I can print off at will for transferring to the ply etc. Also modifying parts of it to make building easier and more accurate e.g. adding a temporary spine to align the frames and fingers to the keel to fix to the building board as I've done with a couple of my other builds.

Chris

Subscribed

Tim R

Thanks Tim

Actually having a set of drawings at the right scale of 1:12 the intention was to virtually build it straight off the drawings along with the modifications mentioned earlier but now that I've being doing a bit more I've decided to make a few more alterations to the frames and templates to echo what I've done on my other builds. This includes changes to the bow area and moving the frames to the front and rear of the cockpit slightly to accommodate the cabin walls from floor to roof rather than sitting them on the frames in the same plane.

One thing I had noticed with Huntsman 31 models, all I think, is that the rudder is much further forward from the stern than on other Fairey models and the original Fairey drawing. Is this because the stern is quite rounded and access to fit the rudder is restricted or for some other reason, handling perhaps? This position does reduce the amount of space available between the rudder and front wall of the aft cabin for the servo etc.

Chris

Chris

I've built both of the 'old' versions of the Huntsman kit, with the rudder in the forward position, and four of the 1/16 scale version with the rudder back in line with the transom. From the handling aspect I didn't notice any difference, but I think the 'real' postion (i.e. the aft one) looks better, even if it is a bit trickier to arrange the tiller connection.

Dave M

Thanks Dave.

Whilst the rudder isn't really seen that much I agree that it looks better nearer the transom and will move it as close as I can.

The Nexus Plans/Vic Sneed version does have the rudder further forward than any of the other versions other than your 1/16 models.

Chris

Fitting in with other things I'm making progress on the drawings. It's amazing, even though I've got three other builds on the go (though not touched for a few weeks) how soon you forget how you did certain things. Even looking back at my own drawings it's not always clear and therefore the photographs I took and notes I made are invaluable.

Chris

Chris

I find that too. I have far too many things on the go and work is busy so only time for very little modeling. I have started to keep notes for same reason but sometimes I look at them afresh and think - what the devil was I thinking?

The on thing that really matters is to keep enjoying it and even if it takes a break or change to do so.

Still very much subscribed.

Tim R

The hull design of the Huntsman 31 is the sleekest and most modern looking of the moulded timber hull designs and the length enabled a quite roomy aft cabin to be incorporated which was obviously what owners wanted as the majority, i.e. 27, of boats were manufactured in this guise.

But another 6 boats had a full length cockpit and were called Huntsman 31 Sport with most being used for racing for obvious reasons. With the sleeker bow and full length coamings I reckon this version looks great.

Drawings were almost ready to build the aft cabin version from (which I shall at some point) but I've now decided to build the Sport version. Just got to modify some of the bulkheads to suit the cockpit and I can make a start. Space in the house is becoming a bit of a problem though!

Chris

Build is coming along now. Bit of a luxury for a while because as well as using the smallest bedroom as a work room I'm currently replacing the skirting boards and architrave in the second bedroom ready for decorating and once the day's work is over I'm doing a bit on the model. Loads of space!

Chris

Doing a little bit each day following decorating.

Reached the stage where I'm fitting the stringers.

Chris