Not really woodwork or metalwork, and not vintage radio either, but this seems to be about the nearest section in which to post this message. I've had a diversion from radio restoration this last week or two!
32 years ago, when my younger son, now 43, was aged just 11, I built him a radio controlled model boat - a model of an actual fire tender. It was from a kit by a long since defunct UK model kit company known as 'Aerokits'. My son has had it on display in his study for years now, and recently decided that he'd like to give it a new 'paint job'. All the old fittings, which were plastic, were stripped off and discarded, and as the kit has apparently become a much sought after model, new metal fittings and lettering kits are available.
My son has done a splendid 'paint job' as will be seen from the pics. I've refitted it with the new fittings, replaced the dud lead-acid battery with a new SLA one, made a new flag-mast in brass, (painted white), rewired and re-comissioned the home-brew electronic speed controller, which was from a design in a magazine that ceased production many years ago - Hobby Electronics. I can recall etching and drilling the PCB and building the speed controller as though it was yesterday! Thankfully, it works, as the IC is well obsolete.
I took the boat for its 'maiden voyage' yesterday on the fine model boat pond to the west of Hull. Co-incidentally, it was at a time when the local model boat group congregate, so I had some company. All old bufers like me - regressing back into our childhoods, but still allowed out on our own without a carer! I've found two other boats in the loft that I built back in the mid 70s - one from a plan, not yet finished (work in progress?!!), the other finished, but not with radio control.
All good fun!
The boat goes back to my son tomorrow - it remains to be seen whether it is then deployed 'on active service' but the refurbishment was an enjoyable excercise that evoked many happy memories of yesteryear, of an excited small child, and an indulgent father sharing quality time together. ("When will it be finished dad?"). How time quickly passes! Ten years after it was built, he was off to university and out into the world, and now gets reduced car insurance on his Porsche Boxster because he's 'middle aged'! But he's still 'my little lad', even though he's 6'3" :D
Hope the pics are of interest.
David
32 years ago, when my younger son, now 43, was aged just 11, I built him a radio controlled model boat - a model of an actual fire tender. It was from a kit by a long since defunct UK model kit company known as 'Aerokits'. My son has had it on display in his study for years now, and recently decided that he'd like to give it a new 'paint job'. All the old fittings, which were plastic, were stripped off and discarded, and as the kit has apparently become a much sought after model, new metal fittings and lettering kits are available.
My son has done a splendid 'paint job' as will be seen from the pics. I've refitted it with the new fittings, replaced the dud lead-acid battery with a new SLA one, made a new flag-mast in brass, (painted white), rewired and re-comissioned the home-brew electronic speed controller, which was from a design in a magazine that ceased production many years ago - Hobby Electronics. I can recall etching and drilling the PCB and building the speed controller as though it was yesterday! Thankfully, it works, as the IC is well obsolete.
I took the boat for its 'maiden voyage' yesterday on the fine model boat pond to the west of Hull. Co-incidentally, it was at a time when the local model boat group congregate, so I had some company. All old bufers like me - regressing back into our childhoods, but still allowed out on our own without a carer! I've found two other boats in the loft that I built back in the mid 70s - one from a plan, not yet finished (work in progress?!!), the other finished, but not with radio control.
All good fun!
The boat goes back to my son tomorrow - it remains to be seen whether it is then deployed 'on active service' but the refurbishment was an enjoyable excercise that evoked many happy memories of yesteryear, of an excited small child, and an indulgent father sharing quality time together. ("When will it be finished dad?"). How time quickly passes! Ten years after it was built, he was off to university and out into the world, and now gets reduced car insurance on his Porsche Boxster because he's 'middle aged'! But he's still 'my little lad', even though he's 6'3" :D
Hope the pics are of interest.
David
