Vic Smeed design?

[Francis BrowningParticipant @francisbrowning99507]

I am interested in scratch building the boat shown on page 36 of Vic Smeed’s book "Power Model Boats".  There is no title given to the boat so I am unable to locate plans in Model Boat magazine’s plans listings.  Can you help?   Thank you.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Francis

Could the boat in question be either "Lorraine" or "Lorena" ?

Paul

[Francis BrowningParticipant @francisbrowning99507]

Thank you very much "Fat Controller".  I just found (Vic Smeed) plans for a "Lorraine"  cabin cruiser in the Model Boats store.  Unfortunately,  there is no image provided.  Couldn’t find anything under "Lorena".   Because I have thought about this project for so long I think I will take a chance on the "Lorraine" (at 20 quid). Thanks again.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Francis

Glad to help.

I have to agree that the model shown on page 36 is a very nice "river cruiser" type that should be great fun to build.

Before parting with your cash you could give Model Boat store a ring and ask them if the "Lorraine" is the right boat.

All the best

Paul

[Francis BrowningParticipant @francisbrowning99507]

That is a great idea, Paul.  Thanks for the suggestion.

 I may try e-mail (first) as it is cheaper than calling from here in the States.

By the way,  I am pleased ( = "chuffed") that the "forum" has been so helpful.

Francis Browning

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Francis

We might blow some hot air and talk inane rubbish amongst ourselves but most of the members are always willing to help a fellow model builder.

Where are you based in the States?

Paul

[Francis BrowningParticipant @francisbrowning99507]

In California, East of Los Angeles in Pasadena.

Francis

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Very nice

I won’t ask you about the weather over there as we all know that California is renowned for it deep crisp snow and herds of raindeer.

What do you think of this web site and do you have anything like it in the states?

Paul

[Francis BrowningParticipant @francisbrowning99507]

Unfortunately, model boats are generally not really very popular  in the States.  Instead, what is very popular are RC cars (electric and gas) and electric RC planes.   The only other forum, which I believe is based in America, is at rconline.com.   Of which I am not a member – –  I guess because I have been a fan of Model Boats magazine for so long.   This web site has specific forums for boats, cars, planes.

Also, I don’t think anyone at rconline.com would have any idea what I was talking about when I referred to the Vic Smeed book.   What do you know about his background?  Is there a biography available for him?   Thanks.

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Hi Francis,

I had a look at this,In old plans books and Lorraine doesn’t appear to be the identical craft. Reading Appendix 1V on page 127, the other craft, which Paul has suggested,(Lorena) appears to have been the correct plan,(as per the description). I can’t find any reference to this plan still being available, to check this. A company called X list plans may be able to help, however the last time I tried, their website was down.

MM 526 is the plan number. I will try their website again shortly. 

Regards, Tony.

[Francis BrowningParticipant @francisbrowning99507]

Hi Tony,

 Thank you for your trouble.  I don’t have the Vic Smeed book with me here at work, but does  "Appendix IV" refer to an appendix in that book?  By "company X" are you referring to Model Boats store?  or?

 Francis

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Hi again Francis,

Appendix IV is in the back of the Vic Smeed book. X list plans are a company who sell plans which are no longer listed by Model Boats i.e. older designs. I managed to find their website today, and they do not offer the plan you are looking for, however you can find them at http://www.xlistplans.demon.co.uk

I am therefore now struggling to identify the craft on page 36. My only thought is that it could be the second one which Paul suggested — Lorena (plan MM526), which I have been unable to find a picture or photograph of, or where it could be bought from. As previously mentioned Lorraine, although similar, is not the same model. I really wouldn’t know where to look further unless somebody in the Model Boats company has kept older information.

Sorry.

Tony.

[Francis BrowningParticipant @francisbrowning99507]

Hi Tony,

 Thanks very much for your trouble.  I looked at the Appendix you mentioned in the book and found the "Lorena" reference.   The descriptions are sure minimal – – can’t tell much about the boat.  I went to the X list web site as well and had no luck either.   At this point, I just might be changing my mind about building that particular model.   Thank you again for your diligence on this.

Francis

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Hi again Francis,

Good luck to you in what you choose, from the rainy city (Manchester) on our side of the pond, to you of sunnier climate.

Tony

[Francis BrowningParticipant @francisbrowning99507]

Cheers Tony!

[Bill BarlowParticipant @billbarlow95743]

Don’t know if this is any help, but I have the Model Boats and Engineering Plans Handbook #2, 1995/1996. The only Vic Smeed plans listed under "L" are, MM512 Lorraine and MM370 Lorette. Both are listed as sport models. Cabin cruiser style.

MM512 Lorraine is 54 inches in length and the beam is 12 inches.

MM370 Lorette is 34 inches in length and the beam is 10 inches.

Just finished building my second Vic Smeed design, MM 1023 Chacalot. First one was built in 1967 and was powered by an E.D. 3.46 Sea Otter marine diesel.  The second one is also powered by the same 42 year old engine.

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Hi Bill,

It is nice to hear that there are still some of us out there, who enjoy building the older type designs, Vic Smeed etc. The current building project of mine is Phil Smiths (of Veron fame) Police Launch. Being built using traditional balsa and ply building. Modern adhesives, paint, electric drive, 40mhz radio etc, are being used.

How have you built yours? Nice to see you are using the ic motor, however you are lucky to find a lake which still allows this form of power.

Those 2 designs don’t appear to match the photograph which Francis is trying to model. Hence the thoughts turn to the missing one which we are unable to obtain a photograph of — MM 526 Lorena.

Thanks, Tony

[Bill BarlowParticipant @billbarlow95743]

Hi Tony,

When I decided to get back into boating I looked at many of the newer designes. Nothing really caught my eye or peaked interest, so I went back to the older designes.  I built mine out of plywood with a little balsa thrown in. Glassed the hull and painted with automotive Acrylic paint. The stuffing box, shaft, rudder and a few other parts I made myself. For the radio I’m using the Futaba FASST.

So far here in the U.S. I haven’t run into problems using ic power.

I checked my catalogs again and cannot find any boat with the name Lorena. I’ll keep trying. Who knows, might just happen to stumble across it.

 Bill

[JC Uknz 1Participant @jcuknz1]

Francis .. I find  the eastern american firm of Blue Jacket  helpful for bits and pieces

[email protected]

Try http://www.bluejacket.com first perhaps.

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Hi,

I found this thread recently and checked my own well thumbed copy of Power Model Boats. I have always admired that photo and I believe the  plan is the Tarpon ( not the old Veron  kit) which was listed as an Italian designed motor yacht built by Vospers. It is 35” x9” and I bought the plan many years ago. It is MM494 and older copies of the plans handbook show a photo. The later ‘Plans Special’ magazine seems to show a picture of the grp hull for the Veron Tarpon so not much help!  The MM494 plan shows all construction detail and all parts are drawn full size. I agree, it’s a lovely boat. Hope this helps.

Best wishes, Ian.

[Francis BrowningParticipant @francisbrowning99507]

American scratch builder

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

I have today been given a copy of Model Maker, October 1958. It contains the second part of the Silver Mist articles but also a delightful cruiser by Vic Smeed called Lorena, 42'' long, which I had never seen- it was mentioned earlier in this thread. It was a follow on from Lorraine, published in April '58, with two hull types, round bilge and hard chine.

I Googled Lorena and this thread came up, which I had completely forgotten about, but I have to say the boat on page 36 of Power Model Boats is definitely not Lorena- I still reckon it's Tarpon, MM494.

If I could ever get hold of a copy of the plan for Lorena I would be sorely tempted. Tony mentioned that XList doesn't list it- I haven't checked. Anybody know?

I know this was started a long while ago now but I thought I'd set the record straight!

Ian

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Lorena isn't mentioned in the 1975 issue of the Plans List so it looks as if was lost before then.

Colin

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

I've been working on a document of all the Vic Smeed model boat designs (for personal use) and thought the names of these designs may be appropriate in this thread.

Lorelei MM267 – Cabin Cruiser – 34" very simple two shelf hard chine cabin cruiser.

Lorrette MM370 – Cruiser – 34" semi scale cruiser, slightly simplified lines for easy building.

Lorosa MM506 – Cabin Cruiser – 24" near-scale cabin cruiser of simple construction.

Lorraine MM512 – Motor Yacht – Elegant 54" motor yacht. Plan shows both chine and bilge hull.

Lorena MM526 – Motor Yacht – 42" motor yacht with hard chine or round bilge hull.

As Colin previously stated Lorena isn't available.

Tony

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Thanks Colin. I'd been buying the plans list since the early seventies and had never heard of her. I checked X List and again not mentioned. Shame as Lorena is rather an attractive vessel. I'll see if I can scan a copy of the page in just for historical interest!

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