Chuck L

Michael What a great project and it looks like this will be a very well built boat. You are within 30 miles of 3 AMYA clubs who I'm sure could help you with fitting the RC equipment. Although I don't think they race vintage Marbleheads. You are also only 60 miles from Marblehead, MA where this class originated and they still race vintage Marbleheads like the one you are building. I picked up a 1970's Marblehead late this past summer that I can't wait to start racing in April. I will be attending the Wooden Boat School in June to take a pond yacht restoration class and have found a vintage Marblehead hull/keel that was damaged in a flood. So I'll need frames in the interior, a deck, radio equipment and all rigging to build during the week in ME. You might also consider joining the US Vintage Model Yacht Group (USVMYG.org) which is the group who enjoys building, restoring and racing model yacht designs from before 1970. The vintage Marblehead is one of the largest classes. There are all kinds of resources available on the USVMYG web page including locating and installing radios. Last October we hosted the US Vintage Nationals outside of Philadelphia. Here is a link to the video of the Marblehead class races. I was racing number 150 and came in 12 out of about 20 boats which was fine since I just started racing this past summer. "Pirate" the orange number 150 was a loaner from the commodore of our club since I did not have a Marblehead yet. Please also post your build pictures on the USVMYG Facebook Page or send them to me, I'll make videos of them and post them to the YouTube channel if you want. I can't wait to see your progress. Chuck

Kevin Thank you for the videos. They are very helpful as the Constructo instructions leave a few gaps. My hull is planked and sanding before adding stem, keel and stern. Chuck

Thank you both, I found the signature page and also how to create a new album for finished projects. I need to take a few more pictures and will then create some albums of my finished projects.

I just finished Covid-5, my fifth model since the Pandemic started. This time the Chesapeake Flattie by Midwest Products. The blue color I had available and I think it is the Caribbean meeting the Chesapeake Bay. Anyway one day I challenged my son to make a boat in 30 minutes, when I was a kid we just cut a point into a piece of wood and raced them down a local stream. So here is our fast and dirty plank boats, mine is the Tortoise (sail boat) while my sons is the rabbit (rubber band powered paddle). He gets the jump on me at the start but I win in the long haul. So I have a few questions: 1) I can't seem to find my signature area of my profile to list completed projects and build logs. Do I need to be a member of NRG to get a signature section in my profile? 2) to create a finished project section, is this just a new topic with Finished in the title and various pictures attached? I've been searching for new member instructions to post correctly. Thanks Chuck

David, That would be wonderful, I have page 1 of the plans (drawing) and the instruction book (pretty short and weak) but I'm missing page 2 of the plan. Please be sure to copy full size, even if I have to piece together a bunch of 8.5 x 11 pages, they key is getting the actual size correct. Can you call me at four eight four - six eight two - three zero nine one and I can give you my address and I'm glad to pay for postage. Chuck

Thanks I just got an email from Midwest and they don’t have copies of plans for The Fireboat. I do have plans and instruction books for the Peterboro Canoe and the Sharpie Schooner if anybody would like me to make copies. Chuck

Kurt, Yes this is for an older wooden kit, I modified my post to indicate this. Thanks Bob, I did call Midwest and they denied having any old plans, but after reading some posts here, I went ahead and emailed them also just to see if someone else might respond positively. Chuck

I took a chance and bought an open box The Fireboat Kit No 960 from Midwest Products. Obviously someone had started the model and probably glued the first pieces and stopped. The glued pieces, along with Plan #2 and all cast parts are missing. Has anyone built any of these older wood Midwest Kits? The hull seems the same for all three kits but with a different superstructure and If I could get a copy of plan #2 I might be able to make my own parts and build this kit. The Fireboat Kit No. 960 The Tour Master Kit No. 961 The Harbor Master Kit No. 962 I have most of the entry level kits so if anyone needs plans or instruction books let me know. If this is not the right way to ask this question please move it and let me know. Thanks Chuck

John Did you get a copy of the plans from Midwest? If not, I have an unopened Peterboro Canoe that I plan to build and could take the plans to Kinko's and make copies for you. Let me now if I can help. I'm looking for copies of plans to the Midwest Fireboat Kit 960. Chuck

Steven Thanks so much for the link to ahssa.org, they had some great photos and links to YouTube videos. One video showed them launching a newly built wooden skiff which was beautiful. I also learned that instead of a tiller extension or hiking stick, they just use a rope on the end of the tiller. With a sailboats natural tendency to turn into the wind, you really don't need to push on the tiller to had up into the wind so a rope to pull allows you to hold course or head down and just let it go to head up into the wind (simple elegance). Well when I feel skilled enough to try a scratch built, I think I will try to build a model of my Melges m-16 scow which I sail. Thanks again! Cheers

Great picture, but there is a lead keel on this boat. Sailing has certainly changed over the years, now we have foiling catamarans.

Barely controlled chaos, thanks for the link. That is a tremendous amount of sail area on a 16 ft boat.

Jim Thank you, does the site have any models of Australian skiffs? They look like a wild boat to ride and would make a neat model.

Thank you for the welcome. Please keep coaching me to make sure I use site correctly.

New Member So I started building Amati Ranger 20 years ago when I bought the model in Italy. With the pandemic keeping me quarantined at home, I committed myself to finish Ranger. Once complete I had a Tippecanoe model which was a quick build as it only requires finishing the hull. So keeping with a nautical theme but wanted to build a balsa and tissue paper model, I built the Spruce Goose. Then a neighbor advertised two Midwest Products kits which my wife grabbed for me. The Dinghy was barely started so I just finished building The Dinghy and painted her to match my old Dumas RC Hudson 36. So I do plan to add photos of the RC boat pulling her new dinghy in the future. (I'm waiting for rain to refill the lake and the temperature to drop below 90) I've bought additional Midwest kits and am getting enjoyment of working down in my cool basement on these hot days. I am a sailor but again I'm waiting for rain to re-fill the lake and the temperate to drop before I enjoy my 16' scow again. I will create a true build log when I start my next model.