Can you help?

[David B7Participant @davidb7]

Hi all,

 I’m new on hereI was wondering if anyone can help me out.

 I have been given an old sea commander with the taycol motor fitted in it.I was wondering if any one had some photos so that I can find the original fittings or some that are near to them.

I am going to refit it out with a modern motor and  RC gear. I need some photos and the scale for the fittings can anyone help or point me in the direction of a supplier etc Many thanks

David 

sorry if this is rong place

David

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

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

[David B7Participant @davidb7]

Paul

 Thank you for the reply I would be grateful  if you can send me sum photos of the restoration as you go along

 As I would like to restore my  sea commander to near as possible to the original kit Well it be possible for me to keep the motor in it as it is a taycol supper marine or will there be too much interference from it  ???

I will try to post sum photos of the boat and the motor on hear when I can

 Hoping you can maybe tell me the operating voltage of the motor ???

Look forward to the photos so I can see how it is coming along , I will all so put photos on as I progress

Many thanks David

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

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

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi David

I have just posted some photos of my Sea Commander but it might take a few days for them to be put onto the site.

My restoration will begin with stripping all the old paint off right down to the bare wood, as you will be able to see from the photos there is some damage to the hull so I want to make sure that there is no more problems lurking under the surface.

Your boat might be in better condition so you might be able to just sand it down before re-painting.

After stripping I will fill the boat full of water to check for leaks and to check that the glue is still waterproof, I will then do the repairs and prime the hull ready for painting before moving onto the deck.

I will post some more progress photos next week.

All the best

Paul

[David B7Participant @davidb7]

hi Paul

i have just posted sum photos of my sea commander in my gallery to day,

 haven’t started the work on it yet but hope to start soon, don’t think it is in too bad a condition but will See when the paint is off her,

 i may remove the motor and fit a modern one but don’t know yet will see

looking forward to your tread on the restoration you are doing on your sea commander ,and the photos

all the best

David

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi David

I have stripped the paint off and found problems with the hull seams (the glue has failed) but no problem as I will clean out and refix with epoxy, I have listed lots of photos but they haven’t been posted yet.

Take care

Paul

[TelstarParticipant @telstar]

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

[David B7Participant @davidb7]

hi Tom

i am going to replace the old motor with a modern one and a speed controller

 if only i can remember where it is i put it for safe keeping

still have not started on the restoration work as my better half is keeping me going  painting and decorating in the house up to now

David

 up a ladder with a  brush in hand

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

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

[David B7Participant @davidb7]

Hi Paul

just been looking at your photos and it looks like you have a bit moor work to do than i may have

  don’t now whether to change the colors or not what do you think ???

i was thinking of planking the deck are you keeping it on yours and was it an original fetcher???

I’m going to start striping the paint off in the next few days then checking to make certain its watertight

will post moor photos as i go on

all the best

David  

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

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

[David B7Participant @davidb7]

 Hi  Paul

Well I have finally got round to striping off the old paint to day,Don’t now why ?? 

but I checked the paint on the boat for lead based paint, I got one of them stick things from B&Q  to test for lead in paint , non present on the top But to my amazement there was on the hull

not on the blue pant but in the red under the blue So I got out my gloves, overalls and respirator to remove this,

 I was not expecting that at all so please be carful if you are removing paint from old models it my pay you to check for lead in the paint just incase before you start.

 take care

David

posted photos

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

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

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi David

Just seen your photos (and apologies to Vinnie who does a first rate job) and I can see your problem but provided you continue to use safety equipment you should be fine.

I have to say that you model looks in a lot better condition than mine and when completed will make a very fine boat. And I still prefer your colour scheme.

All the best

Paul

[Sam VimesParticipant @samvimes38365]

David

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

[David B7Participant @davidb7]

HI Sam

no i haven’t heard from him for sum time he last replied on the 3 :11:07

hope nothing has happened to him i have his personal  E mail i will try this

will let you now if i get a reply

has no one heard from him

David

[Sam VimesParticipant @samvimes38365]

Thanks David

My e mails could be in his junk filter.

Sam

[David B7Participant @davidb7]

Sam

i got an e mail from Paul’s wife

 don’t wont to go in to details on an open forum so if you e mail me your e mail address (will explain )

David

[Sam VimesParticipant @samvimes38365]

David

Info has been sent thanks for the help.

Sam

[David B7Participant @davidb7]

my commander has been put on one side for a little while as i got new front / back doors fitted ,
 but i have striped all the lead pant off and re primed the hull,

now in the prose’s of filling in the dents etc with car body stopper witch is working a treat and is water proof ,and easy to sand

 then i will give it a further 2  coats of primer rubbing down between coats , and then apply the top finishing colour witch will be as near to the colour it was when i started, (light blue )

many thanks
 
David
 (will post moor photos soon )

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

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

[David B7Participant @davidb7]

Parts and photos please

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