mtdoramike

I should have mentioned that like all orphaned kits that I adopt usually show up with missing parts, in a total mess and this orphan didn't disappoint hahaha. I have begun the transformation by stretching her out 3", adding another number 4 frame as well as another number 5 frame. You can see the additions with the lighter colored wood. 

Here is my latest project, a Dumas 1955 Cobra kit that was "yes" an orphaned kit that a friend sent to me. But I will not be building this to kit specs. It will be moderate to heavily modified. The original 18' Cobra as with the 21' Cobra was notorious for poor handling, especially in turns and the stern or transome sat so low in the water that there had to be a cut water edge added to the rear sides and transome to keep the boat from being swamped. The kit is no exception. Now, the first modification probably won't help with the mechanics of operation, but will mainly be cosmetic because it is my kit and I can do what I want to it, which will be stretching the front section of the boat 3" from the cockpit forward. This will give it more of a front deck and look more proportional than the original which was 27" in length. But now it will be 30" in length. 
 
Next, I will try and address the stern section by building it up by 1/4" to 3/8" to give it a better profile in the water and hopefully help with the swamping issues. Lastly, I will address a glaring issue from the kit to the actual Cobra boat, which is the design of the transome (see picture). Hopfully this all goes well because with every action there is a reaction, so I will have to see which problems are caused by each modification.
 
You can see the corrected version of frame 9. In the photo of the two Cobra's, you can see the corrected transome on the Cobra to the right. These were compliments of Gary, a friend of mine. 
Wish me luck!  

WOW, talk about ambition. 

This will be my next project, a 1950's Dumas Cobra kit. One of the many previous owners detached all of the parts from the parts sheets, but they at least numbered the parts, which will help. I had to order new plans, as usual they were missing. I'm curious to see what else is missing hahahaha. 

Thanks Bob, the Chris Craft Cobra is one very unique boat to say the least. I received some bright gold .004 gold metal flake that I intend to use on the fin by laying a layer of gold paint down on the fin, then mixing the gold flake into epoxy resin and laying a coat of the resin over the gold paint. That gold flake should make that fin sparkle like no bodies business when the light hits it. 

This will be my next project, a 1950's Dumas Cobra kit. One of the many previous owners detached all of the parts from the parts sheets, but they at least numbered the parts, which will help. I had to order new plans, as usual they were missing. I'm curious to see what else is missing hahahaha. 

This will be my next project, a 1950's Dumas Cobra kit. One of the many previous owners detached all of the parts from the parts sheets, but they at least numbered the parts, which will help. I had to order new plans, as usual they were missing. I'm curious to see what else is missing hahahaha. 

The Yoda is pretty much finished. I'm awaiting a flag for it and a brass bell, which I usually have laying around, but I have been a bit lax on keeoing up with my inventory. The Lady will be setting off to her new home shortly, I'm just enjoying her a bit before she goes and bids me a fond farewell. The person who received the original smaller version of the Yoda also requested this one as well, so now he will have a matching set. It couldn't have worked out better because that was what I was hoping for during the entire build.

Hey Bob, actually my next orphan is a Dumas 1950's Cobra that had been bounced around for about 20 years. Some parts are missing, which is no surprise with orphans, I accept them as they are, not what I what them to be, it's up to me to make them presentable enough to take to the dance and hopefully find a forever home hahahahaha. The original version is like 27", but I plan to stretch it out to about 30" and refigure the transome because it's really not quite accurate to the real Cobra boat. 

The Yoda is pretty much finished. I'm awaiting a flag for it and a brass bell, which I usually have laying around, but I have been a bit lax on keeoing up with my inventory. The Lady will be setting off to her new home shortly, I'm just enjoying her a bit before she goes and bids me a fond farewell. The person who received the original smaller version of the Yoda also requested this one as well, so now he will have a matching set. It couldn't have worked out better because that was what I was hoping for during the entire build.

I started construction on the deck house. 

Hey Bob, actually my next orphan is a Dumas 1950's Cobra that had been bounced around for about 20 years. Some parts are missing, which is no surprise with orphans, I accept them as they are, not what I what them to be, it's up to me to make them presentable enough to take to the dance and hopefully find a forever home hahahahaha. The original version is like 27", but I plan to stretch it out to about 30" and refigure the transome because it's really not quite accurate to the real Cobra boat. 

The Yoda is pretty much finished. I'm awaiting a flag for it and a brass bell, which I usually have laying around, but I have been a bit lax on keeoing up with my inventory. The Lady will be setting off to her new home shortly, I'm just enjoying her a bit before she goes and bids me a fond farewell. The person who received the original smaller version of the Yoda also requested this one as well, so now he will have a matching set. It couldn't have worked out better because that was what I was hoping for during the entire build.

The Yoda is pretty much finished. I'm awaiting a flag for it and a brass bell, which I usually have laying around, but I have been a bit lax on keeoing up with my inventory. The Lady will be setting off to her new home shortly, I'm just enjoying her a bit before she goes and bids me a fond farewell. The person who received the original smaller version of the Yoda also requested this one as well, so now he will have a matching set. It couldn't have worked out better because that was what I was hoping for during the entire build.

The Yoda is pretty much finished. I'm awaiting a flag for it and a brass bell, which I usually have laying around, but I have been a bit lax on keeoing up with my inventory. The Lady will be setting off to her new home shortly, I'm just enjoying her a bit before she goes and bids me a fond farewell. The person who received the original smaller version of the Yoda also requested this one as well, so now he will have a matching set. It couldn't have worked out better because that was what I was hoping for during the entire build.

Welcome to MSW. You have a wonderful supply of wood, I just wish you carried mahogany, which I tend to use a lot of.

Welcome to MSW. You have a wonderful supply of wood, I just wish you carried mahogany, which I tend to use a lot of.

Welcome to MSW. You have a wonderful supply of wood, I just wish you carried mahogany, which I tend to use a lot of.

I started construction on the deck house. 

I started construction on the deck house. 

The Typhoon is quickly coming to an end, a few things to tidy up, install the windshields and such. I will be a bit saddened to see her go. It is turning out to be a beautiful boat eventhough I don't particularly like the design.

Finished, I used some of the blue and white rope I had left over from a previous build just to dress up the display base a little. I has been a fun ride and a great adventure, but all good things must come to an end.

Thanks Mike. I'm preparing the Typhoon for shipment to it's new home, which will be upstate New York.

Thanks Mike. I'm preparing the Typhoon for shipment to it's new home, which will be upstate New York.

Finished, I used some of the blue and white rope I had left over from a previous build just to dress up the display base a little. I has been a fun ride and a great adventure, but all good things must come to an end.