New to model boating

[ChrisParticipant @chris]

hi guys

im new to this web site and this hobby just joined up glad to see some like minded people i have just purchased my first ever rc boat which was hand built from an elderly gentleman and has been stored for a long time and is in need of a serious restoration job but this is half the fun of this hobby right? personalising the boat etc

 i thought i would try model boating as a hobby and see if i enjoy it i plan to use the boat on my local boating lake in new brighton when its ready. the boating lake seems to have set of regular guys who use it whom all seem to know one another and seem to be in a club of sorts. they all seem a lot older than me im 34 and was wondering if this hobby has many people in it of a similar age? im thinking about approaching the guys who are regular users of the lake as im sure they would all have a wealth of experience they would be willing to share with me. 

great website by the way

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Chris

Welcome to the warm and cuddly world of model boating.

The guys at New Brighton are a great bunch who will go out of their way to be friendly and will only poffer advice when asked, however whist you are waiting for the pool to reopen you could travel over to Runcorn and have a play on the water there, again it is populated with a very nice collection of modellers who are very friendly and approachable.

Not all modellers are doddering shambling wrecks (like our web master) some of us are young, virile and quite "with it".

The main thing, and to me the most fun thing apart from meeting the many "odd balls" is to enjoy and relax.

Paul

[Gordon BlanksParticipant @gordonblanks18647]

here in perranporth all we have got is a load of knowalls  and big heads

gordon

[ManxmanParticipant @manxman]

Hi Chris,

Have to agree with paul (except the two people he’s talking about – got the descriptions the wrong way round !).   Don’t worry about the age gap, you’ll soon catch up.  The New Brighton Club, like most others have members of all ages, the reason you tend to see the senior members more is they are out in all weathers and not just for the sailing, its a social thing as well – Just talk to them, we all love to talk !

Cheers – Ken

ps. Welcome to the forum and enjoy the hobby

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi ken & Gordon

Ken:

I don’t know what you mean  surely you can’t think that our beloved web master is young, virile and with it?

Mind you I do resemble doddering and shambolic

Gordon:

I know exactly what you mean and that particular type of model maker continues to amuse and confound me (where do they come from?)

Paul

[ChrisParticipant @chris]

thanks for all the advice its great to know im not alone in my interest for boats!! i have already started restoring the boat i managed to get hold of using all of the advice from this website to make sure i do all the work as best as possible. its a great hobby very relaxing after a hard day at work to come home and start work on the boat it tends to de stress you! i had the boat out on new brighton on wednesday night. its probably the first time its been on water for a good few years but i couldnt resist a quick run to test it for water tightness. the elderly guy who built it must have known something about the hobby because it remained water tight throughout and suprisingly it turned a good level of speed and control out without me touching anything. most of the work required looks cosmetic now then which is far better than i thought things may have turned out with my initial inspection. im also getting a carpenter friend to build a new stand for it (thankfully a freebie!) as the old stand was pretty much passed its best. hopefully ill be able to breathe some life back in to what was once obviously a now very poorly elderly gentlemans pride and joy. very rewarding to be able to do and once finished it will take its pride of place on its stand in my dining room.

once again thanks for your replies

cheers chris

[John WarehamParticipant @johnwareham89592]

hi, just like you i am thinking of getting into model boats. i would like to get on the water and so have just bought a 41" hull and a old cabin cruiser 14" with a mainstream single channel supergen??? could do with some help with that. also need help deciding on which rc unit to buy to use on our boating lake in poole.

[Vic WoodwardParticipant @vicwoodward12083]

hi there, soon i hope to start my first boat a tug is there any one near margate kent  to keep in touch with me.

[Bill Forster,Participant @billforster60556]

Hi I am back into model boating after a lapse of 31 years, having just bought a seconed hand one metre r/c tugboat . 

 Remenbering my old six channel Sprengbrook R/C gear stored in the loft for 30 odd years, I dug it out and attemtped to charge up the transmitter battery, alas nothing seems to be happening, I have checked the 3amp fuse in the plug and the cable seems to be in good condition. Added to that the charging lead for the reciever needs some intricate soldering way past my capabilities.Does anyone know where I can take the gear to in the hope that it can be repaired.

[Vic WoodwardParticipant @vicwoodward12083]

Hi i bean looking at kens photos and getting some good thoughts from them not to copy but knowing what to do when i start. my tug .

 thanks ken

[ManxmanParticipant @manxman]

Hi Bill,

I would think that after 30yrs the battery would be well past its usable date.  Do you know anyone close to hand who may lend you a spare for testing purposes and able to check the charger ? – if not looks like you’ll have to invest in a new set. 

You can pick up a new set for about £30 (Zebra 2-channel … I have one as a spare set) bear in mind these cheaper sets use normal 1.5v dry cells.  Spend a little extra and get a set that uses re-chargeable battery packs and also come with the charger.

Hi Vic,

Don’t worry about copying bits from other boats – I do ! – If you see an item you like then fit a similar item to yours.  We all get ideas from other peoples models

Cheers – Ken

[Vic WoodwardParticipant @vicwoodward12083]

thanks for that ken as i bean looking at the web site its getting more interesting and i am getting some ideas even though I’m not set up yet to start my tug i have to find some time and settle into retirement

[robert mallettParticipant @robertmallett59736]

Hi all i’m new to this i’v neverever made a model in my life, i’v now retired and thought i will try to make a model boat i’v got a plan for a passenger ferry maria p3334, i’v brought a lot of second hand bits and pices and i need to know if i can use a futaba skysports6 r/c for a boat, great forum i’m looking forward to many good times, cheers bob

[Vic WoodwardParticipant @vicwoodward12083]

hi everybody i’m glad to meet other retired people like myself knowing you are not to old to start boat building   at least it a start .Robert perhaps the exsperts will reply to you.

[Nicholas AquilinaParticipant @nicholasaquilina88791]

Dear Robert Mallett

 I am trying to build my first model which the Smit Nederland tug boat. Presently I cut all the ribs as they are printed on the drawings and I am finish the bull nose from pices of solide wood pressed and glued together. But the thing is that I whant to make and mesure other detailed parts which is imposible for me because on the drawing there is no printed scale, the scale is 1:28 (7/16 to 1 foot).

Please can you guide me from were I can get such a scale ruler or at least a printed scale, your help will be of great help for me,while I am thanking you inanticipation.

 Regards

 Nicholas Aquilina

[Len OchiltreeParticipant @lenochiltree67043]

Hi Bob,

Skysport 6 is ok to use only if you use the 40meg channel type and NOT 35meg as that is for planes only in the UK.

If you have read my thread about members filling in their Profiles with a few details ie where they are,this would help.

Welcome to the Forum, there are lots of knowledgeable people on here who are free with there ideas and information.

Best of luck with the build.

Len.

[robert mallettParticipant @robertmallett59736]

hi len thanks for that info the one i’v got is a 35 meg i will get a 40 now that i know, i’ll go to my profile now and fill out a few details, cheers again for your help bob

[robert mallettParticipant @robertmallett59736]

hi Nicholas i’m sorry i can’t help you i,m new to model making but the people on this site seem to realy know what they are talking about i’m sure there’s someone outthere who can help you, good luck bob

[Len OchiltreeParticipant @lenochiltree67043]

Hi Nicholas,

Is the plan you have not the full size of the boat you are building?.

One possibility is to get the plan enlarged or shrunk to the size you want.

Hope this helps and keep us informed of your build.

Regards,

Len.

Ps, is your profile up to date?  Are you in the UK?

[Nicholas AquilinaParticipant @nicholasaquilina88791]

Hi Len,

I’m from Malta but I bout the plans from England, the drawing is in scale 1:28 or 7/16 to 1 foot and the plans are with all the ribs, side elevation, front elevation, the top parts and the parts that is found on the tug boat (Smit Nederland).

 Regards

Nicholas

[DuckyParticipant @ducky]

Hi Bob and Nicholas

I have only been a model boat maker for two years (see my profile) and I can’t stress to you enough that you should try to find your local Model Boat Club as there is years of experience just waiting for you to tap into.Some older members can’t manage to get their boats to the water though ill health but are still keen modeller’s and only too glad to be involved and air their knowledge

I joined my local Club before I had a boat and as I’d never built a boat before it was all new and a bit daunting at first,but now have 9 boats and one in progress so the bug soon bites and it soon all falls into place (see Ducky’s Album) I have some boats that are pre-owned and doing them up is a good learning curve as its all there and you just have to refurbish it !. I tend to use plasticard a lot as if you make a mess of the part you can always make it better next time.

Good luck in your new hobby and find your nearest Club now

Ps my wife has a Skysport 6c. 40meg

Ducky

[Nicholas AquilinaParticipant @nicholasaquilina88791]

Hi Bob,

Thank you for your encouragement, but I am looking for a print of the scale 1:28 or if possible to buy a scale rule which have this scale. If any one can help please sned me an e-mail on [email protected]. Thanks

[Len OchiltreeParticipant @lenochiltree67043]

Hi Nicholas,

Have you asked the members of the Maltese Model boat clubs?.

Len

[Nicholas AquilinaParticipant @nicholasaquilina88791]

Hi Len,

Yes I asked some of the members of the club which I am member with, but this after-noon I talked with a techer of technical drawing who is going to make me one. Thanks Len.

 Regards

Nicholas

[robert mallettParticipant @robertmallett59736]

hi ducky i,v asked around about a club in this area  (godmanchester, cambs) no one seems to know of one, i,ll keep on looking, if anyone knows of a club local to this area could they let me know, cheers bob.        ( ps is there anyway i can convert that 35mhz r/c to 40mhz if so what would i need) thanks again bob

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