Model Dowty Turbocraft project

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Well it had to happen  .

I have purchased the fibreglass mold for a scale model boat hull. The plan is to modify it to make several replica model classic speed boats and guess what the first is the Dowty.

Pict 1 is the boat hull which is 1/5th scale of the original
Pict2 is the waterjet unit, which is also 1/5th scale of the real thing
Pict 3 is the hull and jet comparison
Pict 4 is the jet unit lose in the hull as it will fit eventually

It will be powered by a battery motor, but a model engine will cover the motor. The keel will not be on the Dowty unit, by the way.

Just good fun isnt it.

The boat hull I will be making for preople who would likeone, once I have sorted out the jet boat.

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A little personal injury has halted play on both the model and the full sized boats at the moment.

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OK, so a little injury reduces me to a little boat. The jet unit is now in, but the stern has been pulled in, so it has to be cut to a 90 degree angle to fit the unit. I will then make a mould from the first protoype of the boat.

Second shot shows the intake and where it has to be modified as the stern does. Also, I have ground off the keel, because the jet would not work with a keel. I will eventually take it all off for the final mould, but need the rigidity right now to work on the prototype.

Can you see just how similar it is to the real Hamilton/Dowty jet unit  

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A little more progress, real boat on hold for a while due to personal injury when moving boat about.

Pict01 empty hull, but with waterjet unit roughly installed
Pict02 framework for floor and engine, which will be fibreglassed in eventually
Pict03 flooring
Pict04 decking

These are all very rough at the moment and form the basis of the structure. I need to assemble the boat in very rough form to see if it works before I make the final model.

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In progess of making deck mould now, which is very interesting. Needs a bit of thought, but getting there. I also have located an engine for it a 23cc hedge trimmer engine. Not sure if it is even the correct rotation yet, but we will see. It should certainly give it some power if it is the correct rotation.

Anyone into models with any advice on engines. If I go electric I need a 700 watt motor aparently and that will run for about 10 minutes on a £40 battery. The engine will go forever on a thimble of petrol and give more power. It will have to have a water jacket made somehow.

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Now this is completely new territory for me, making a fibreglass 'plug' for the deck mold. I now have great respect for the full size makers, such as Fairline and Sunseeker for instance. How on earth they do it, I have no idea.

I have cut out the former roughly and I am now trying to get the shape of the deck to look like the Dowty. I think filler will be my biggest friend towards the next stage, but then I will have to cover it to make it smooth and shiny, but I have no idea whatsoever as to how I get to that stage as of yet. It is very therapeutic when I cannot get to my full size boats due to injury though.