Vic Smeed’s Model Boat Designs

[Ian Bell 1Participant @ianbell1]

Hi Gareth,

If of any interest to you, the magazines from Ebay that I referred to cover 3 months of the Harem build that I already have ( so now have spares!) You would be welcome to those, but I am not sure that they would give you anything that would help in your search, as they plainly show Harem in the same form as mine.

[Gareth JonesParticipant @garethjones79649]

Hi Ian,

Thanks for the offer of the magazines but my copy of the Nov 82 Radio Modeller arrived this morning with the plan in it so I am now sorted. It would appear LaSwan is a hybrid of Harem and Genie. It has the sloping bow and two chine hull section of Harem. However it has a vertical transom and a rudder skeg like Genie. It also has a radial jib as shown on the Genie plans.

I know that the builder of LaSwan was not a member of a club and not interested in racing so I guess he was not fussed that the hull ended up about an inch longer than the limit for a Marblehead.

The next mystery to solve is the Stan Witty design but I will have to wait for the Oct 1963 back issue of Model Maker to arrive to help with that.

Gareth

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

There is a build of Vic's little tug design Bustler in progress on modelboatmayhem forum.

**LINK**

Bustler was the best-selling plan in the 1956 Power Boat category. Found this article in April 1957 Model Maker magazine.

 

 

Edited By Tony Hadley on 27/10/2017 21:44:05

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

In the July 1963 RCME magazine (Twinkler free plan), the Commercial Developments column shows the Vixtric hulls designed by Vic Smeed. These were large hulls 36" with a 12.5" beam designed for 15cc i.c. engines, they were available in red or blue.

I realise this is a long shot, but can anyone provide further information about them?

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

MM652 Vivacity a large 54" x 17" cabin cruiser, the article is from August 1961 Model Maker magazine. Plans are still available from Sarik. A half sized model would make for a good manageable modern project.

**LINK**

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

A Vivacity is currently being built by David Cross, a member of the Modelboatmayhem facebook group. David tells me that since these photographs were taken, he is re-working the cabin superstructure. Nevertheless it's looking a superb build and the finished model should give good performance with the i.c. power plant.

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Gareth,

A couple of yacht photographs which may be of interest.

The popular 'Genie' (MM1175), christened 'Black Monk' and from the Leeds and Bradford club. The photograph is from February 1975 Model Boats mag, the text says: Note the rudder position.

Marcie (MM1304) is described as a lightweight RM for inland or light weather waters. The photograph is from the March 1983 Model Boats magazine and the yacht is from the other side of the pond. This is the first photograph I have ever seen of this design.

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

A couple of photographs of a 'Pathfinder' seen at the MEX exhibition 2018 and featured in the show report, see Model Boats magazine March 2018. This model was seen and photographed by Graham Ashby, magazine editor.

The text in the magazine reads "Built by Bill Cocking, and displayed in his memory, was this lovely example of the 1954 Trinity House pilot tender, Pathfinder. Bill was clearly a fastidious builder."

Builds of Pathfinder (MM393) have been previously shown in this thread #8, #14 & #20.

The use of these images is with the kind permission of the editor.

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Small MM Class yachts designed by Vic. 'Water Baby' – A, available as MM354 for bread-and-butter or glassfibre construction and 'Water Baby' – B exactly the same boat except the hull was rib and plank construction.

From what I understand, the MM Class was a 25" half sized Marblehead class yacht intended for racing. The other designs in the class were Vic Smeed's 'Sea Urchin', D.A. M'acDonald's 'Husky' (MM366) and 'Drake' (MM376).

Attached is the item about 'Water Baby' from December 1954 Model Maker magazine.

Edited By Tony Hadley on 22/02/2018 19:49:50

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

'Sea Urchin' (MM361) a hard chine model yacht for the 25" MM Class. The item is from January 1955 Model Maker magazine.

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Finally, the article about the rig from February 1955 Model Maker magazine.

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

From Model Maker magazine, May 1956. Plan MM424 (no longer available) M.V. Pateke.

A GRP hull was available from Metcalf Mouldings and later Models by Design, this now seems to have disappeared from their sales listings.

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Forum member and magazine contributor Dave Milbourn built this 'Moonsong', which was presented as a free plan in February 1964 RCME. The model was shown in #1 of this thread, the photograph has disappeared and I'm sure it's one of these here. This 20" long cabin cruiser was powered by a 385 brushed motor. Dave, if you read this, I think you have made a superb job, very impressed with the cabin windows/windscreen.

Interesting artwork on the front cover of the magazine to accompany the model.

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Thanks, Tony. The windscreen and windows are just Halford's Metallic aerosol paint over cellulose sanding sealer + tissue on 2mm liteply. It's a Ford colour but I can' t remember the name.

Dave M

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

In the Flotsam & Jetsam item, April 2018 Model Boats magazine, John Parker discusses the Elmic Sprite outboard motor. In the article, John makes reference to Vic Smeed's 'Slipper'design (Model Maker magazine March 1959), which was a design suitable for the Sprite outboard.

The article and plan for 'Slipper'

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

What a lovely little design, I'd like to see that with brushless motor & lipos ! & a dummy outboard as the rudder

Regards Ray

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Pleased you like the little outboard design Ray.

Pirana, a modified design was mentioned in #11 of this thread and Colin added the article to the website. I came across this photograph of Vic's original 'Pirana' in his early book, Working Models. The paintwork would look good in colour.

**LINK**

Pirana (MM620) is described as an Express Cruiser, 28" (711mm) and the plan is available from Sarik.

**LINK**

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Ray,

Just read on Model Boats magazine facebook that your 'Silver Mist' is featured in the next Model Boats magazine (June 2018), looking forward to the item. Some good on-the-water shots in the facebook taster.

Nice One!

keep the faith.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Tony,

Yes I just love Vic's designs, both aeroplanes and boat, sadly never managed to meet him a great shame, hopefully he would have been pleased with my enlarged version of Silver Mist at 30"

Regards Ray

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

From Model Maker magazine, September, October and November issues was Vic's Painted Lady. Plan number MM442, sadly no longer commercially available.

September issue –

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

October issue –

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

November issue –

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

S.S. Hobo from Model Maker magazine March 1957. Plan number MM465, available from Sarik.

[Bruce MumfordParticipant @brucemumford61966]

Many thanks for the information it helps greatly.

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Spotted this kit for sale on Old Model Kits, Akron Erie Railroad Tug at 245.00USD by Model Shipways.

**LINK**

This kit is from Vic's American Tug, plan number V109 from Sarik. The Sarik plan makes into a model 25.5" long whereas the kit is 37.5" long. The kit was originally made and sold by Marvon Models of Doncaster from 1987 and was also sold in the United States by Model Shipways.

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