Hong Kong Cabin cruiser

While I decide on my next project, I have bought a laser cut kit on eBay. It comes from Hong Kong, and without plans or much in the way of instructions. What you do get is two sheets of very small colour photos. I was aware of this when I ordered. The kit came very quickly from HK, very well packed and containing just what I expected. There is no running gear, but a motor and servo mount are included.
I should have said that the reason for buying this is to build it with my grandson.
This is the contents of the package

Everything looks to be good quality and there is considerably less burning of the edges of the wood than I expected.
and these are the 'instructions'


There is in fact a second set of larger B&W photos, but they are not very clear. The only part I'm not clear about is the keel which comprises four pieces. Once I've worked that one out I can involve the Grandson.

Barrie

He'll love that Barrie.

What a lovely thought Barrie, he will love helping you build this boat and it's a good way of introducing him to our hobby. 

troutrunner wrote:

What a lovely thought Barrie, he will love helping you build this boat and it's a good way of introducing him to our hobby. 

He has been building 'boats' from bits of balsa for a couple of years or so. I have built him a couple of boats which he sails with me, but I thought it was time he learned that it takes time and care to build a model. He was sailing one of my boats at the club's Venetian night last week.

Barrie

It's good to see young blood into the same things as we do, the Austin A30/A35 club, that I am a member of, help young members in many ways, they even now have there own group and get together from all over the country and of course social media.

I've made a start - without Crosby! I thought the keel assembly was a little tricky, so have done that so we can start on something more straightforward. 

Barrie

Today was the first session with my 'assistant'  Actually, he thinks he's the boss and knows it all. The transom, two bulkheads and the two forward pieces have all been fitted. Also the deck has had a piece glued to it to form a ledge for mounting the upper deck. The hole you can see is to screw down the upper deck with a supplied knurled chrome knob - not very subtle, but should be quite secrue.

Barrie

I've seen these kits on ebay before, always wondered what they were like for quality, looks like it will make a cracking little boat.

This cost me about £15 inc postage - sometimes they go for a lot more. For that money it is ideal for the purpose of teaching Crosby about building a boat. The same supplier now has a slightly larger version which I might try if this is successful.

Barrie

This build will progress in weekly sessions.
Yesterday we joined the keel and bulkheads to the deck, and added the stringers. It wasn't clear how the attached forward, but I think we got it right  It will be sanded to shape later. The hole for the propshaft and rudder have also been drilled.


We also soldered up the rudder - still needs some cleaning.



Barrie & Crosby

OK - I have not waited a week . There are some things that need doing without an impatient 5 year old breathing down my neck  This includes fixing the prop-shaft and rudder. Getting the alignment on the shaft and motor mount needed a calm environment  In fact I had to shorten the tube and shaft. The motor mount is not fixed and will be removed until the hull is covered. 
The stringers are very fragile - I have broken one of them sanding them to the correct profile. There are some spares, but I'm not too clear what else they are used for, so don't want to use them all.

Barrie

 

 He'll love it anyway Barrie.

I think interest is waning
Today we started sheeting the hull. The material is not ply as I assumed, but a soft wood similar to Balsa, although I don't think it is balsa. These are probably the easiest four sheets, only the cut outs for the rudder and prop shaft to worry about. The next ones have to bend in two dimensions. I think I will do those before his next visit.

Barrie

Having abandoned Triton for the moment, I decided to tackle the tricky part of the bottom skins. In fact using superglue they went on reasonably easily. The wood is very strange and tends to break away when cutting across the grain.

I also made up the tiller arm and fitted the servo as it will be very difficult once the sides are on - to be fair he does tell you it is not designed for RC. Two side panels are prepared ready for Crosby's next visit. I have also prepared some tissue ready to line the interior with water based resin to strengthen the joints between the separate skins. I think the outside may also need covering with tissue.

 

Barrie

Looking good bud  nice coat of paint and some varnish should look proper, for the price I'm quite impressed with it for a kit bashing project, I do expect the ply for the skin is a substandard laminate or cheaper lite ply which may explain the chipping issues your having

RR

Its not a laminate of any kind Aron - more like balsa than anything. Very soft, dints easily and is quite flexible. If you can get one for the £15 I paid including postage its good value.

Barrie

The interior has been lined with tissue and water based resin, the outside had a coat of resin also. the gap around the prop shaft has been filed as have some of the gaps in the panels. I was planning to skin the sides as per the 'instructions', but wasn't too happy. They would have been outside the deck, and rather obvious. I also wasn't too happy trying to bend them round the bow curves, so I made a paper pattern and have now cut some 0.8mm ply skins which will be much neater.
If I were to make this again, I would take some off the bulkheads and transom so that the skins would fit under the deck.

Barrie

We started fitting the sides today, but it didn't last long. I think I will be finishing this alone.
I only glued part of each side as I think it will be necessary to use superglue on the bow section as it will have to be held until the glue dries.

Barrie

I have now finished attaching the side skins. I used superglue and these went on reasonably smoothly and have been trimmed.



I have now attached the rubbing strips etc, and the hull has had a couple of coats of resin. It will probably get two more.



I have also built the shell of the cabin. I have done this off its deck so that I can spray it white,



Will have to wait for the boss before I do any more

Barrie

We did sa little painting earlier in the week, but interest is waning and I was asked to finish it.
Today I sprayed the hull with primer and painted it using Humbrol enamels. Colour chosen by Crosby! In fact he wanted the sides to be bright orange, but I vetoed that and have said it can have an orange stripe  

The cabin has been stuck to its floor, and the windows glazed. I made a console to take a steering wheel, and the front deck has been fitted. Just a little more painting and its ready for the power plant etc.

Barrie


The photo of the hull was out of focus

Looks cracking, might have to find year on eBay and try a bash myself

Yes - its quite a good little kit. One or two things could be improved but for £15 inc postage from Hong Kong, good value.

Today I've done some more painting - second coat on hull bottom and sides. He wants a red stripe, but I haven't got a suitable colour so will have to find a Humbrol stockist in the area. The deck needs another coat of stain, then its ready to fit the motor etc.

Barrie

 little nipper will be pleased to go sailing this, look forward to a few shots on the water.

Rather than buy red paint, I cut some 'go faster' stripes from vinyl and applied them. The hull has been covered in Humbrol Satin cote, and the decks have had another coat of varnish/stain. So the outside is ready for the customer's inspection.





I removed the rudder ready to re-fit the prop-shaft and propeller, only to find that the prop didn't fit   Fitting the bottom skins has reduced the clearance so a 30mm prop doesn't clear the hull  
I had deliberately left minimum clearance to get the motor as low as possible. So - I've had to order a 25mm prop.  
I have however fitted the motor, ESC and receiver, and created a platform for the battery - initially this will be 4 x AAA NiCds.



Next job is to try and float it. This will probably require some ballast, and possibly moving the battery forward. I shall leave this for Crosby to help with on Wednesday.

Barrie

Looks good Barrie.