Mahealani – 75′ motor yacht 1/24 scale

[Andy FParticipant @andyf73386]

I've managed to get bored with all my other creations so whilst wondering what I could do next I found a set of plans on the internet and thought… Hmmmm… like you do.

I wanted something no larger than 1 metre in length (because I'd struggle to get anything bigger in the car) and this one came in at 1250mm or thereabouts so it had to be scaled down slightly. Not a problem and construction began in earnest. My preferred medium is plastic (shock horror) so all the various bits were scanned into a cutter and the parts made. I tend to use laminated 20 thou styrene which is strong but surprisingly light and easy to work with.

I've already had a lot of help and advice from various people on another site (which shall remain nameless) but for reasons of actually daring to have an opinion about something, I was summarily banned. If anyone here was a contributor to my thread over there then I'd like to thank them for all their assistance.

Anyway, the build so far:

The superstructure (which is removable at this stage) is almost complete, the motors, radio gear and battery are in the garage waiting for me to decide where to place them. I intend to sort of plank the hull using long 4x2mm balsa 'planks' with a coat of epoxy on the inside for both strength and waterproofing.

More bits:

The rear cabin bar/lounge area. This will eventually be populated with G scale figures and properly stocked and illuminated.

The rear sun deck area. This area will have a 'canvas' canopy draped over it eventually and maybe a table.

The pilot house. All but finished with real wood cladding on the walls. Chintzy.

The other boat. Not sure what to call this really. Is it a lifeboat? Is it just a get you to and from boat? Whatever, the basic shell is one my great uncle built about 50 years ago. All I've done is pimp it up a little with a rudder and a tarp.

That's it for now. There's lots more bits and pieces to do, not least of which is clad the hull and sand off those very rough deck planks but that's for another day.

Thanks for reading

Andy

[Andy FParticipant @andyf73386]

[Andy FParticipant @andyf73386]

BTW in case anyone's wondering, Mahealani is a Hawaiian word which translates as heavenly moonlight or heavenly mist depending upon who you listen to. In my case it was a pleasant young lady in Lahaina, Maui a few years ago.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Andrew,

She is looking great, nice to see a new build of a classic boat, interesting to see you build the frame & superstructure first before planking the hull, keep up the good work 👍 is there another model boat forum? 😀😀😀

Regards Ray

[Andy FParticipant @andyf73386]

Posted by Ray Wood 2 on 16/07/2020 16:57:29:

….is there another model boat forum? 😀😀😀

Regards Ray

Not as far as I'm concerned

 

To be honest, I think doing the interesting stuff first is a mistake and it's one I always make. It's just that I get bored doing planks.

Important stuff that I forgot to mention earlier.

Twin motors (385's as per recommendation), twin rudders, 9.6v NiMH (again as recommended) and a Viper Marine 15 ESC.

On that other site  I saw an interesting video of a similar craft all fancied up with party lights so I've invested a whole £1.79 on a string of coloured LEDs to drape along the boat. 

Gaudy or what?

Edited By Andrew Fallows on 16/07/2020 17:37:22

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Yes, a nice looking boat and you're making a good job it.

Chris

[geconParticipant @gecon]

Nice work Andrew, lovely wheelhouse interior detail. I know what you mean about the boring planking!

I found a lot of excuses for painting and preparing crew members and small detail items in between long-ish planking pauses. The same while fairing the hull after planking was done. Needed smal therapy-breaks by doing some detail stuff.

George

[Andy FParticipant @andyf73386]

So I've finally made a start on planking the hull and what a tedious job it is too – put a few pieces on, wait for the glue to dry then repeat ad infinitum….

So in the meantime I've been playing with more interesting stuff such as…

replacing the wholly unsatisfactory wooden deck with a more aesthetically pleasing plastic one.

Stocking the bar…

Building a tent…

and figuring out where best to put the gorgeous Ellie.

All these bits are currently still removeable so that when I eventually finish building the hull I will still have easy access to the interior for waterproofing and ballast etc.

I do have one slight problem though. I set the aluminium plate (1st photo) to mount the motors on at the wrong angle and consequently the motors/propshafts are binding. Not good but easily fixable.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Andrew,

As I'm in the construction industry it's rather like building the roof first and then the foundations later, I always build the hull inverted on a board as it makes the planking more accessible, and gives me a platform to build the superstructure on, still each to his own, she looks a super job, shame about your motor alignment ! but I'm sure sure you will get over it

Regards Ray

[harry smith 1Participant @harrysmith1]

Hi Andrew

Nice boat and top work !!!

I was scare off of planking to start with, but once I got into it.

I found it was not that bad and I enjoy it.

I use Ikea 3mm wooden blind which is like a hard balsa, but stronger and easier to steam and bend.

Harry Smith

[Andy FParticipant @andyf73386]

So with all the superstructure removed, hull planking began in earnest today.

One side is almost complete and I've done about 2" of the other side. This much has taken all day….. it's going to be a long job.

My plan is once it's all planked then I will sand it all smooth-ish then cover & dope(?) it. Once I'm happy with that I'll skim it with Isopon and resin the inside.

Any thoughts on this plan of action? I'm open to suggestions.

[Andy FParticipant @andyf73386]

So the hull is finally planked, sanded down and partially P38'd. It finally looks a bit more like a boat.

Loads more to do yet but I've also sorted out the propshaft binding issue I was having.

I've discovered a slight hiccup in my plan though….

It won't fit in the car

Serves me right for buying something so practical I suppose..

Edited By Andrew Fallows on 09/08/2020 16:52:01

[Andy FParticipant @andyf73386]

So. Latest progress pictures.

As usual, superstructure & fittings placed for photographic effect. There is still a lot of filling/finish fitting to do on the hull itself but it's getting there.

[Andy FParticipant @andyf73386]

The other day, messing about in the garage, I decided that the dark wood (plastic) deck didn't quite look right so I replaced it with a more convincing scribed wooden one. I also noticed that I'd missed 6 portholes so I rectified that too. Whilst I had the bit between my teeth I decided to tackle a few other niggles like the electrics and the lights which are now controlled by the radio.

While I was doing all these various things, I remembered that I'd stolen the motors from this boat to put in Pecola, another of my project boats. I'm currently awaiting delivery of two replacements before I can go any further.

So this is what she looks like now. Just short of a new coat of paint on the hull, a new roof for the rear cabin and some fancy lettering.

I currently have a fleet of 9 boats/ships in my garage but nowhere to sail them. I have 6 very large reservoirs within walking distance of my home but North West Water don't seem to like the idea of people having fun so that's out The only alternative I can see is the rather fast flowing river at the bottom of the village but the idea of the current bothers me a bit. Maybe I'll just keep them on a shelf to look at.

As I mentioned earlier, it was always my intention to take this boat to Spain so that I could sail it on the Park of Nations lake in Torrevieja when I'm there but it's too big to take across in the car so…

Plan B

Someone at work suggested I make a case/box for it and courier it to my Spanish address. This seems like a good idea to me. I may look into this.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Andy,

She looks a fine job, simple answer I suppose? buy a larger vehicle, I love the SUV's these days at least I can get in and out of it OK

Regards Ray

[Andy FParticipant @andyf73386]

We have a larger vehicle (an SUV at that), a Jaguar E Pace but taking that one would rather defeat the object of the trip – ie an open top roadster in the Mediterranean sunshine

Plan B still looks favourite to me.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

I can see where your coming from 😉

I have used a van courier service from Kent to transport a 60" powerboat to my friend Tim Rowe in Mallorca I'll look up who they were tomorrow 😀

regards Ray

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 12/10/2020 17:54:13

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Posted by Andy F on 12/10/2020 17:32:12:

We have a larger vehicle (an SUV at that), a Jaguar E Pace but taking that one would rather defeat the object of the trip – ie an open top roadster in the Mediterranean sunshine

Plan B still looks favourite to me.

Hi Andy

That was one of the things I was planning to do in my retirement. Obviously on hold at the moment.

Chris

[Andy FParticipant @andyf73386]

About a week ago I decided to tackle the coat of paint that was needed on the hull. I ended up with a beautifully smooth glossy white finish that was practically perfect in every way. I was really pleased with myself and thought – I'll finish that off nicely with a coat of protective lacquer, like you do.

Disaster!

Some sort of reaction between the paint and the lacquer and everything bubbled off. Not happy, I had to strip it all back and start again. That's all done now and this time I'll be using yacht varnish on it. Well it is a yacht, innit? What could possibly go wrong? (I have sandpaper and new paint on standby)

This is how she looks now, complete with party lights

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Great job Andy. Good detail, like the people, like the tent at the rear. Excellent.

NEVER overspray different paints without testing first (but you know that now!!)

ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 28/10/2020 08:26:58

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