New build

[Bud HendersonParticipant @budhenderson34037]

 

 

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I'm 66 years old and built my first scratch built model boat when I was in my 30s. It was a scale sport fisher, RC. Spent many hours on the water and the kids loved it. Since then I have built three more scratch builds and kits of the Dumas triple cockpit, blue nose schooner, Caldercrafts Marie Felling and am three months in to the mont fleet Sir Lancelot. I say all this to show I am not an Amerature in RC model boat building. All builds took over a year. All but the first one are and have been on display in my home.

I bought and built the Marie Felling as a learning project for my dream build at retirement (retired last March). My plan was to find a suitable large scale ship and convert it into 1970s research vessel with working RC hilocopter, cranes, two person sub, sonar, lights etc. I chose the Lancelot which turned into a nightmare. I learned from the Felling that there were problems with the instructions, missing parts,

 

incorrect numbering etc. Nothing that couldn't be overcome and the Tug turned out beautifully. Out of the box Lancelots hull at the top of the starboard bulwark had a wiggle in it. It should have been rejected at production. Since I was planning to convert it the only solution was to make the capping rail much wider. I decided to keep it and continued on. I'm three months into the build. I won't go into all the details here about all the problems but mention a few. Missing parts, quite a few cast parts that are unrecognizable, instructions that in many cases not only useless but lead to several reworks.what frustrates me the most is tha this Models instruction book is dated 2003. My plans for a dream build have been scrapped and instead of a labor of love I'm just building a mine sweeper. Since I received the model I began to research to see what reviews might be out there. There is quite a bit. I'm angry that all the problems have been documented pubically for a long time yet no warning is given to the buyers. It is still sold as a " high quality model" Some one filled the casting bags with full knowledge that for example the two trees of five hand wheels only had two complete wheels of which only one was salvageable. The 20mm stern gun barrel was destroyed when they inserted the brass extension. Not a single rigging pulley is more than a rectangle blob. Just examples. Here is the kicker. At one point I wrote the Mont fleet people asking them to send the two missing crane pedestals and all the missing cast cap rails. After several weeks with no response I called them at ten dollars a minute and the guy said he would mail them the next day. That has been two weeks ago.

Post slightly edited. I understand that you are unhappy with your purchase, particularly as you live on the other side of the Atlantic, but problems do need to be resolved between the parties concerned as airing them on a public forum rarely brings any positive results.

I would suggest that you try emailing the company as this will be cheaper than telephoning.

Regards,

Colin Bishop

Website editor

 

Edited By Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 29/12/2014 22:46:36

[Bud HendersonParticipant @budhenderson34037]

Issues with sir lancelot

[mike farrellParticipant @mikefarrell21522]

Now then Bud ,what a sad tale you have to relate. I have only ever built one a kit boat which I am satisfied with but having read so much about poor kits I started build from scratch and joined this forum where I have been encouraged to continue .

ASK on this forum and you will gets answers (some you may not agree with but will be offered in honesty) and will be encouraged

Folks here will want to know what you are about so stick with usMichael

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I know how it is, you overlook a few things but then months down the road things just get worse. it is always the right thing to do by contacting the manufacturer firstly just to register an issue, even if you are willing to work around some things. If it becomnes more of an issue then at least you have already broached your dissatisfaction. E mail the way to go, leaves a trail if nothing else.

Not a kit person myself.

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

There was a most comprehensive excellent build of Sir Lancelot a few years ago

This might be useful to your build…..

**LINK**

Al the best for the New Year

Bob

[Bud HendersonParticipant @budhenderson34037]

pThanks for all the replies. I wan't to make something clear- Adam at Mont Fleet has been responsive and friendly. I Just don't have the time or will to wait weeks for parts. My main point is that someone put this kit together knowing there were serious issues with it. Not just useless parts. I did not have access to E-Mail until a few weeks ago and at that time Adam told me he inherited this problem. I'm Moving on with the build but am still wondering if anyone else out there might have built this kit besides Paul Godfrey and some other gentleman whose name I do not remember. I'll say this to everyone who sees this that I believe my expierence is not normal and anyone considering a Mont Fleet Model should continue to do so. The folks are friendly. Bud

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