Lady Luck – Slipper Launch 1/12th scale

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Ray, I’ve been worrying all day about the maiden flight! To be philosophical, with model aircraft, what goes up must eventually come down. With model boats, what goes down doesn’t necessarily come up.

So are model plane riskier than model boats or vice versa?

Colin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Colin,

I must admit to a certain amount of relief after the 2 years spent building her but it’s so easy to look at a model at home and say one day I will fly it 🙂 In truth the biplane is too big !! but bigger models do seem to fly better and more stable than small one’s and generally rather slower. I have been a member of various flying clubs over the last 10 years since I started boating, I’m now a member of Maidstone model flying club who have two flying sites, I now have the happy aeromodelling feeling back amongst a good bunch of guys something I hadn’t felt for 20 years !!

To be honest model boating both electric and yachting is a much more relaxed business than flying but the element of risk with the third dimension makes it more of an achievement , well I’m off to Mallorca next week for some sun and have a catch up with my friend Tim Rowe ( a friend made via this forum ) we have similar interests , boats,planes & trains.

Best Regards Ray

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

Now in the final phase of the little Slipper Launch Lady Luck, the Moth flew last Wednesday which was a massive relief 🙂

I’d better get back to painting the TID tug soon ! It’s all go !! lighting not great in these shots 🙁

Regards Ray

[Richard SimpsonModerator @richardsimpson88330]

Beautiful job Ray, lovely shape and just enough detail to make it look credible while still maintaining simple elegant lines.

I built a balsa and tissue model rubber band powered plane when I was a kid with my Dad, which flew very well.  So around 30 years ago I had another go on my own.  18 months to build and about 18 seconds in the air before it nose dived and destroyed itself.  I joined a local model flying club and went along to see if someone could help me learn how to fly.  No-one was in the slightest bit interested.  They were all more concerned about showing off their latest model doing its fancy stunts than bothering to talk to a newcomer.  I was told they had a trainer but no-one knew when he came to the field.  I never went back and turned to model boats instead.

I have had a boat sink, but I did get it back, refurbished it and still use it today so I think boating has to be that bit less of a risk.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Richard,

Yes learning to fly models mustn’t be under estimated, I learned to fly with a 2 function rudder and elevator glider slope soaring from our north downs here in Kent 1977, then progressed onto a powered high wing trainer and eventually onto an aileron models a 2 year process in all. We do have a few youngsters coming along to learn to fly with the club trainer and a buddy box 🙂 but my boat club has very few members under 50 !!  Most of us are 70+ It’s a social club really, not many build boats these days 🙁

Regards Ray

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Nice one Ray. Very nice. All that shiny wood…I like it. Looking forward to seeing the peeps on it!

Ashley

[Roger FugeParticipant @rogerfuge]

Looks great like to see it on the water

[Richard SimpsonModerator @richardsimpson88330]

Beautiful Tiger Moth Ray.  I once went up in one, birthday present, and flew over Ladybower reservoir where the Dambuster Squadron practised.  Superb aircraft.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

Well I’m calling Lady Luck finished now just some flags and a crew needed, will keep her for next year now 🙂

2 Month’s work from the drawing !!

The model is …. named after my Granddaughters favourite 2 seater Spitfire AKA MJ , she works in the summer for Aero Legends and has already started learning to fly 🙂

Here is Emma’s in one of the 2 DC3’s Dakota’s the company owns at North Weald airfield Essex.

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Lovely boat Ray and beautifully finished, you can see why they call them slipper launches. Could do with a driver and passenger though.

Colin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Thanks Colin,

I always fancied the Slipper launch so that’s another off the list , our club 3D printer expert has offered to make the figures for me 🙂 time will tell .

As I’m just back from Mallorca seeing Tim Rowe there are literally thousands of these GRP boats in the Med 🙂

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Ray,

Quite nice shapes but not much character or colour. I prefer the traditional Greek ones.

If your club 3D printer needs any inspiration then see below.

Colin

 

 

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Colin,

I can’t see the bikini would be allowed at Henley on Thames ??

There are some pretty ugly boats being built !!

But I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder 🙂

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I can’t see the bikini would be allowed at Henley on Thames ??

Well, it would shake it up a bit, foul weather gear is probably more the norm. Lake Garda is different though, plus there are lots of stylish boats too.

Colin

 

 

 

[Richard SimpsonModerator @richardsimpson88330]

Reminds me of my two years living just outside Venice.  I could watch the beautiful boats all day.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I don’t see a table or anywhere to put the G &Ts Ray. Please sort that out next….

Ashley

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Ash,

That’s a great idea ! we don’t want any spills do we 🙂

Yes that’s Hovercraft btw

Regards  Ray

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