Progress started off pretty quick, the laser cutting is very nice and before long you end up with the basic structure assembled.

I’ve only taken the odd picture while going along, but you’ll get the idea.

First up is the keel, you can see the front and rear formers have been attached in this shot, as has the breasthook.

Now this may look like some crazy goings on but trust me, it is all square. I’ve no real building area at home so I have to improvise. The window sill is at a slant, but the two cabin sides are perpendicular to the former and it is all clamped up so it stayed that way!

This is where I’m at right now, main structure built. I’m currently fiddling with the angled windows above the cabin roof which I’ve not yet satisfied myself I understand, more head scratching!

The rear cabin area is something which is troubling me at the moment. The floor originally was quite low, but I think I need to raise it sufficiently to hide my NiMH under it, I’m just worried that might be too high to look good. I’m also wondering where to put the rudder servo. I dont much want to raise the floor enough to have it under it, so I think maybe build a box at the back and decorate it as a seat.

You can read through all the posts about the Sea Nymph build here.

Before I start let me say I’m a complete beginner with model boats, I have been building and flying planes and helis for a while. So what got me into this boat lark?

I have a toddler (~3years old) who we quite often take to the children’s play area in a local park; Broomfield Park here in London. On the way to the kids area there is a fairly well attended model boat club using what I believe to be a purpose built boating lake which dates from many years ago. He loves watching the little boats on the pond, seemingly more interested in them than my noisy planes! One day my wife suggested I build him a little boat, well how could I refuse!

I’m a great fan of vintage model aircraft, and while flipping through a ’70s vintage Keil Kraft catalogue I found a selection of boats from the Aerokit range, a bit of googling later lead me to the Vintage Model Boat Company, (who are no more, having been bought by SLEC). They produce laser cut kits of some of this range. Not being one to think things through completely before diving in! I soon found myself in possession of a Sea Nymph kit 🙂

So this is how I got here, the rough plan is to try and use a 7.2v buggy NiMH pack and a receiver out of a car I no longer use. The kit came with a 385 (I think?) motor and I have a spare 9g mini servo. So I’ll need a rudder, prop shaft, prop and ESC.

Being mostly a thing for my kid to play with I dont intend to go to town on detailing. Simple but nicely done is sort of what I’m aiming for!

This is a scan of the KK catalogue.

You can read through all the posts about the Sea Nymph build here.

I have been keen to have a ride on this new cable car ever since I first heard it was being built. Well today was the day, off  we went down to Docklands for a return trip on the cable car. It is brilliant, I loved it! I was amazed by how little it sways around despite the relatively high wind today. Also it is almost silent as it goes along so you get a lovely peaceful view of London from the air.

Like the London Eye it never stops, so you have to get on it whilst it is in motion, ok for those of us that can walk but was a bit of a challenge with the Phil & Teds buggy!  On the return trip they had to stop it while we were suspended in the middle of the river, as it came to a stop it swayed quite a lot which was a bit of a weird feeling 🙂

I shot a few bits of video which you can see below.

Little spot of progress tonight, I got the cabin structure built.

And, although not pictured, I’ve built the upper rear fuselage formers in preperation for the upper longeron. I’m not sure how strong it will be, lots of but joints which I’m not too keen on. I’ll give it a go as per plan and then if it all feels a bit weak I’ll try and beaf it up a bit.

Ok, so my life seems to be mostly consisting of triangles at the moment!

I managed to get the lower formers attached to the main crutch and have added the lower curved 3/16" sq.

The tail skid at the back is cut off the laminated fin outline which is the first bit I made.

The last step for tonight was to assemble two cabin structures, one built on top of the other over the plan in the traditional manner. These will then be glued in place ontop of the fuselage crutch, then I can move onto the upper formers. Guess what shape they are? Yep, you guessed it, more triangles! Joking asside they are what gives this model the distinctive cross section I love so much.

I’ve glued up all 7 of the triangular formers for the lower fuselage. Next step is to tidy them up a bit: level off the tops and get the bottoms nicely flat to receive the 3/16" square lower longeron.

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So this week was slightly maddening. After putting four tanks through the 81 on the bench, and then a further two in the airframe I wasn’t expecting any problems when I got over to the flats. Hmm, how wrong can you be? Wednesday was a beautiful day, I managed to get over to our flying field at about half seven. Assembled the Acro, filed the tank, started the motor, then it died on me. Cut a long story short I spent 30 plus minutes fiddling with it before I got it running sort of ok. It sounded a bit lumpy but I figured it would be ok, so I taxied out of the pits and took off. A couple of short circuits later and she conked out at maybe 50 foot. Eeek! Gliding her home wasn’t the end to the first flight I was hoping!

I got her down in the middle of the patch and without any damage, which I have to admit I was quite proud of! Trying to restart it, the motor started to make very unhappy noises so I gave up for the day. Out came the Wot 4, which never misses a beat!

Next day I pulled the motor out of the airframe, put a new plug in and checked under the rocker cover and in the cam housing. I couldn’t see anything amiss and she felt right when turned over. Back on the bench, a couple of tanks went through it without any hint of a problem, so back in the airframe it went. Now awaiting the next trip to the flats.

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About 10 months ago after many many flights on my 120 SR and feeling the need to move to a cyclic heli, I bought a Blade 450 3D . Being a newbie I didn’t know about levelling the smash plate, so the first time I spun it up she tipped over and scuffed the blades quite badly. The head speed was so much higher than the 120 it all scared me enough to leave it in its box for nearly a year.

So who knows why, but tonight I figured I ought to try it again. I forgot the training gear so just had to go for it. Well I’m pleased to report my first three flights on a cyclic heli went without any unplanned arrivals. It nearly got away from me while being overly confident ad trying a circuit but I caught in time. More hovering practice before circuits I think!

First step was to laminate the fin outline:

I’ve never attempted laminating or bending wood before, so I’m pretty pleased with the outcome.

Next up was the central crutch of the fuselage

Going to need a bigger building board then! I think doing it in stages will suffice for the Demon, but the Matador will certainly need something bigger!

The last bit I’ve done is the main former which holds the UC and originally the bearers for the motor. I’m going to mount my outrunner on some threaded rods bolted directly to this. Bending up the UC was a cause for some trepidation, but with a vice and a decent wire bender I got there. Its not perfect but the Axles line up so I’m happy with the result.

The next step is to build a load of triangular formers for the lower fuselage, that’ll have to wait until tomorrow.

I’m writing a proposal today, which always makes me think of this scene from Yes, Minister. (Season 1, Episode 6):

There are four words you have to work into a proposal if you want it to be accepted:

• Quick
• Simple
• Popular
• Cheap

And equally there are four words to be included in a proposal if you want it thrown out:

• Complicated
• Lengthy
• Expensive
• Controversial

And if you want to make really sure the proposal is not excepted you must say the decision is courageous. I also find the word brave works wonders to a nervous project manager.