Vic Smeed’s Model Boat Designs

[Daniel Cardona 1Participant @danielcardona1]

Posted by Tony Hadley on 18/05/2018 08:56:49:

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 The kit was originally made and sold by Marvon Models of Doncaster from 1987 and was also sold in the United States by Model Shipways.

look to be a fun project, after all its a Vic smeed design. Only one thing would scare me to purchase a kit like that, it s the fact that it's says DIE CUT parts. last model that i build from die cut parts is a Dumas Star 30, the parts were horribly cut, nothing was matching to the plans so i had to build it on my own, turned out Ok but it wasn't the usual enjoyable building experience. maybe die cutting from 1987 were more of better quality.

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Daniel

Don't let that experience put you off. I have yet to find die-cutting in any kit which gets within a mile of the sheer awfulness of Dumas' attempts. I still have nightmares about their Lord Nelson Victory tug – matchwood which was more die-crunched than cut and balsa planking so soft and soggy that you could snap it almost just by picking it up. I'm amazed they are still in business.

The only way you'll ever find out about this kit is to buy the thing and see. I know nothing about Model Shipways kits except they are predominantly made from wood. Go for it – we're all allowed at least one mistake!!

Dave M

[Daniel Cardona 1Participant @danielcardona1]

Nah…. way too expensive for me right now, plus i have to add the postage cost to Malta in which it will add considerably on the final price. if i ever build a Tug i Think i will go the scratch build route and try a guardsman from Vic smeed plans or maybe an Aeronaut Kit.

and speaking of scratch building, I'm already busy with and an RG65 sailboat (Alpha from John Goodyear) and in a very limited budget. so maybe you can have a try on the Akron Erie Railroad Tug Dave

Cheers

Daniel

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Daniel

No thanks – I prefer to design my own. I still don't know why I bought that Dumas kit but, as I said, everyone's allowed at least one clanger!

Dave M

[Trevor Drabble 1Participant @trevordrabble1]

For information , regarding the Schottel drive units described by DM 07/05/13 , 3 sizes of these units were shown by Graupner at the recent Dortmund show . Trevor .

[Roy Verden 1Participant @royverden1]

Hello Tony Hadley, I noted that you say that Vic Smeed's "Painted Lady" is no longer available as a plan. Is that because it is "lost"? If so I have a very good copy that can be available to Sarik if required.

I hate to see Vic's work go obsolescent. I am more often on mayhem as roycv. which is where I picked this up

regards

Roy

[Roy Verden 1Participant @royverden1]

Hi all, just read the whole thread, very enjoyable. We had several Panaches in the club and I have altered one of them to have a mizzen mast, quite balanced with the mast moved forward 4cms. but is no faster than a standard one. The photograph of him that has been used in his obituary and elsewhere was in front of a small fleet of Pananches.

I built a Gele de isle which I thought was a Vic Smeed design about 1966 as a present for a small boy, goes nicely into a shoe box.

I met Vic but only later in his life, he told me that his interview for the assistant editor's job on MM was done from a moving train window. There had been some cock up in meeting times and possibly Laidlaw Dixon just asked him if he made model boats he said yes and so he had the job!

The last model yacht was the Star Baby which is really a smaller version of Starlet, but published by Traplet. Vic had said he would do a design to suit the St. Albans model boating pond and I heard no more. I then emailed him to see what had happened to the design and apparently he sent it to the old MAP/ Nexus ? address and it was lost, but before he knew that he asked me for Traplet's address as he was a bit put out with the non reply from MAP. I passed this on as I occasionally reviewed model boats for them and it was published as a freebie in a Winter (?) edition.

I have said it before in the other forum but he was just the sort of gentleman you would hope he would be, charming and modest to a fault. I asked him if he had been a Spitfire pilot and he confirmed he flew Spitfires in late 1943. Also he apparently holds a world record for the greatest number of published and built designs for model aircraft. He also said that one of his models was built to full size and it flew very well until he landed at an airfield where an inquisitive official asked for registration papers and certificate of airworthyness. It had never gone through the official process. So the VW flat 4 engine was removed and that was that!

When he was at our club exhibition as a judge I spent the afternoon with him and introduced him around, it really was like escorting royalty around from the way he was received. And he gave me a VHC for one of my model yachts! Best afternoon I have had in many a year now.

regards

Roy

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Roy,

With the "Painted Lady", I should have said not commercially available i.e. from Sarik. Recently I was sent an electronic copy of the plan. As to whether Sarik would be interested in it being re-introduced, I wouldn't know. Some time ago, Colin Bishop had Vic's Magga Dan and S.S. Hobo re-introduced into the plans for sale by myhobbystore. I think at the time, the plans were printed by Traplet and ordered from Model Boats. Paul Freshney was then the editor.

The Star Baby which you mention in your second posting looks a lovely little yacht, obviously no match for a modern RG65's performance, but with these vintage type designs they just look good on the water.

The Gele de Isle which you built sounds fascinating, originally from September 1961 Model Maker, repeated in April 1971 Meccano magazine this is the first one I have ever heard being built.

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Roy's mention of Sir Gele de Isle in Meccano magazine, brings thoughts of this other design "Corker" from the magazine.

Another design, which I think was Vic's (but can't be 100% sure without a name on the plan) is "Corker". "Corker" was featured in the September 1969 Meccano magazine's Radio 4-2 supplement. The model has a very similar hull design to "Sparkler" (which was featured in RCME August 1966) yet offers the builder a choice of superstructure.

The November 1969 Meccano magazine gives a free aircraft plan, "Cracker".

The designs can be found in the link.

**LINK**

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

This lovely Bardic Ferry (plan number MM636) was spotted by Colin Bishop on the Liphook Model Engineers stand at the Midhurst Modellers Exhibition. The photograph was in Colin's report, Model Boats magazine, June 2018.

Also attached is the original two part item, March and April 1961 Model Maker magazine. The plan MM636 is no longer available from Sarik.

[Charles OatesParticipant @charlesoates31738]

Thanks for the help with the ferry Tony. That sorts out my building fun for many months ahead.

Chas

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

From Model Maker magazine, July 1956, M.V. Frank Rayner and it's barge.

If anyone has the plan or magazine information about Vic's other similar design, Canal Narrow Boat (MM1170), It would be good to hear from you.

Edited By Tony Hadley on 19/07/2018 12:41:43

[John W EParticipant @johnwe]

hi there

I need some help – I have acquired the plans for the steam trawler by Vic Smeed – the reference number on the bottom of the plan sheet is V110. Here is my query – was there ever an article to accompany these plans? maybe in one of the Modelling Magazines?

John

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

John,

Haven't found an article to accompany plan V110 to date. I think the plans with the prefix V were drawn at the time Vic was working freelance. The magazine items from the range which I have found are V112 Cormorant (April 1989 Model Boats) and V104 Tiddler (March/April 1989 Radio Control Boat Modeller). Martin Davis of Modelboatmayhem gave me the information about Tiddler. Perhaps there are others, but I haven't come across them.

V110 looks an excellent design. A similar design is St Elmo MM1207 designed by P.N. Thomas.

[John W EParticipant @johnwe]

Hi Tony – thanks for the information. The plan is of a very similar layout to the Cervia tug plan in that there are construction and help notes – at the sides of the plan.

I know that the Cervia plan was a freebie in one of the mags, and I wonder if this plan could be a freebie. I will keep searching – thank you though for your kind reply. John

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Noticed the British Railways ferry, MV Arran (MM415), is back in in Sarik's plans. The accompanying magazine article was from Model Maker magazine, February 1956. Interesting to see the plan is model railway scale, 4mm (00).

Colin's model is on #10 of this thread.

Sarik's plan – **LINK**

Edited By Tony Hadley on 01/09/2018 07:54:26

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

That's interesting Tony, I wonder where they found the plan! It was quite nice for its day but Vic did simplify the hull. If I ever built another I would use Jim Pottinger's MAGM2035 Bute drawing.

Colin

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Photographs of a stunning Starbaby by Paul (Mr Zippy on Modelboatmayhem). One of his club members built the lovely gaff rigged Starlet.

Starbaby (MAR3295) and the larger Starlet (MM1048) are available from Sarik. Starbaby also has a laser cut woodpack.

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

I love the Vic Smeed yachts. Am I right in thinking Sarik Hobbies have taken over what I still call the MAP Plans Service? And the old Traplet plans? If so, what happens to all those wonderful old plans if Sarik go toes up?

Martin

[harry smith 1Participant @harrysmith1]

Hi Martin and all

I am scanning my plans and saving to PDF so not to loose them.

Our club has about 250 plans, so I have a lot to get thru.

I am only doing the scale plans.

Some of the others like the semi scale and old electric speed ones I will not do.

I have swap a few plans with others on forum sites and it works out well for both parties.

Harry Smith

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

Good job, Harry. But make sure we know how to access them?

Cheers,

Martin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

I suppose as long as they are not being sold for profit that's OK ! But some cheeky buggers regularly offer scanned photo copies of my plans published by Nexus on eBay !!

Blimey Martin it has'nt been MAP for 40 years

Regards

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

No, it's been a load of other tosh. I can't keep up from Nexus to "nar nar nee ar nah" ( My little hobby shop, is it).

What a load of rubbish. Those of us who used them, bought them and built from them, even still have some and certainly, as boys, pored over the catalogue if we were lucky enough to have one they will ALWAYS be MAP. Like the once affordable insurance that was a fiver a year for YEARS!

Will anybody answer my question?

Martin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Martin,

My point is the plans are owned by S A R I K who hold the copyrights to them and the right to sell them.

Regards Ray

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Yes, you need to be careful not to offer plans that are currently listed in the Sarik online catalogue or they might be a bit unhappy about that.

Obviously if you have an original paid for hard copy plan you can pass it on to whom you like but making scans available is breach of copyright.

Incidentally I believe that while Sarik have a right to sell the old MAP/NEXUS/MHS plans, the copyright is still vested in MyHobbyStore. I don't know what the situation is in respect of the original Marine Modelling International plans.

Colin

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