Innehållsförteckning för December 2025 från Model Boats

There are those who build truly beautiful models, packed with the most exquisite detail. They slave over each and every item, even where dozens of identical parts, such as bollards, stairs, rails, and so on, have to be made. As a result, some of these builds take years to complete. There are others who prefer to make semi scale vessels, sometimes referred to as ‘stand-off scale’ models, i.e., they look convincing enough – great, even – when viewed from a distance (no, not a mile away, more like 10 feet or so). These models still boast a good amount of detail, certainly sufficient to do the job, but are by no means to exhibition standard. “Is it actually possible to produce a respectable looking ‘stand-off’ scale boat that includes very…

Genoa? No, I’ve never met her before (bad joke!). Genoa? Oh, you mean the seaport in northwest Italy? Well, neither actually. The thing I want to deal with here is a fore sail configuration. Before I delve into the technicalities, though, I better summarise the names for parts of the sails (see Diagram 1). To qualify as a Genoa, the clew of the sail must come aft of the mast. As you can see in Photo 1, the bottom corner (clew) is drawn back behind the mast on the leeward side. The sail clew and inner edge (leech) are inside the space between the mast, and the mast support lines (shrouds). When the wind changes sides, the foresail clew has to travel around the mast to get to the new…

Having covered the use of a Voltmeter for locating faults in electrical circuits (see the June 2025 issue of Model Boats), this month we’re going to take a look at how to use the current measuring function in a multimeter. As will be explained, this necessitates using your multimeter in a totally different fashion to how you would when it’s in Voltmeter mode. First caution Before getting started, it’s worth pointing out that to use a multimeter as an Ammeter it must be switched into the current measuring mode and have its leads plugged into the correct sockets (see Photo 1). This might seem obvious, but I have witnessed people failing to do this and at best becoming confused, and at worst causing damage. So, without wanting to seem patronising,…

Letters can either be forwarded via email to editor@modelboats.co.uk or via post to Readers’ Letters, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR Hot tip and Night Glow In the free plan build guide for Spooky (see the November issue of Model Boats), Mr Goodyear gives a very good description of how to cast the keel bulb and includes some important tips on Health & Safety issues. One crucial precaution he omitted to mention, however, is that you need to ensure the previously wetted mould is absolutely dry before hot molten lead is poured into it. If not, any moisture will be instantly turned into steam, which, seeking to escape, could, potentially, explode the mould or send a jet of steam and hot lead heading the pourer’s…

OBITUARY Russell Potts We are sad to report that on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, after a notable and accomplished life spanning 91 years, Russell Potts, one of the leading lights in model yachting, passed away. After rekindling his childhood passion for model yachts in the 1970s, Russell joined the Danson Club. He soon began competing nationally and then representing the UK in international events too, notably in the Marblehead and 10 Rater Classes. In 1979/80, during the early years of radio control, Russell played a pivotal role influencing the Home Office to grant exclusivity of specific radio frequencies for model yachting use. He was appointed Radio Control Secretary of the MYA (Model Yachting Association) in 1983 and later, from 1985, served four years as the MYA Council General Secretary, acting…

After finishing the HMCS Agassiz and HMS Wolf card kits, I was ready to try something new — a wooden model. Still deep into Patrick O’Brian’s excellent novels, I wanted something that would give a feel for life aboard a warship of the early 1800s, but without being too complex for a beginner. Browsing Model Boats magazine and various model boat forums — a goldmine for tips and inspiration — I came across several builds of the Panart Gun Deck. This seemed a good entry point to the world of wooden model kits, being neither too large nor too complicated to feel daunting, even to a complete novice like me. Getting started on the Panart Gun Deck The Panart kit comes with everything you need except glue and paint. It’s…

It was an awe-inspiring sight. To an 8-year-old it felt threatening and beyond my comprehension. This massive, truly massive, ship was within touching distance. This was the aircraft carrier, HMS Indefatigable. She was moored in Portland Harbour. It was 1954, and unbeknown to me this giant would, just a couple of years later, end up in the breakers yard after her short eleven-year life. My dad and I were in a small launch circumnavigating this giant. Strangely enough, though, it isn’t only the ship I can clearly remember after all these years but a few of the buildings on the harbour side too. These, I can recall my dad pointing out, were where my grandfather used to work, at the former Whitehead torpedo factory. It was not, though, until embarking…

You may remember in the October 2025 instalment of Boiler Room my brief look at lubricating oils for our engines. I identified the two different types of oil that you might use for internal and external lubrication and proposed one or two possible oil types that meet these requirements. At the very end of the article, I mentioned a new oil manufactured by Morris Lubricants, specifically for Heritage Steam Supplies, which is supposed to meet the requirements of both internal and external lubrication for our steam engines, and promised a review. Heritage Steam Supplies, based in Fareham, Hampshire, supplies a wide range of items/products, mainly aimed at the full-size steam enthusiasts operating such machinery as steam locomotives, traction engines, showman’s engines and steamboats. But while the spare parts are almost…

My first introduction to the Absalon, or to be correct the second unit in the class, Esbern Snare, was back in 2005 at HM Naval Base Portsmouth for a photo shoot soon after commissioning. Fast forward to 2020 and the opportunity arose to visit the Absalon at the liner terminal in Liverpool. In the intervening years, the designated role of the two vessels was to change from Flexible Support Ship with the prefix AG to a Multi-Purpose Frigate. After visiting both vessels, and particularly the Absalon, the original definition would seem more appropriate, as within the interior of this 4500-ton hull is a large mission bay, or flexi- deck, 84m long x 10.5m wide x 4.5m in height. This is capable of accommodating a range of equipment, depending on the…

There was nothing particularly special to set the 21-metre Kofuku Maru apart from the many other wooden Japanese fishing boats operating from Singapore in December 1941. Until that is, at about 6:45pm on December 11 that year, she became the first enemy vessel to be apprehended in the area, intercepted by the Royal Australian Navy corvette HMAS Goulburn. From that moment on she began an active new life that was to see her attain fame as the transport for an audacious long-range attack, ultimately resulting in her becoming a floating memorial at the Australian Maritime Museum. “From that moment on she began an active new life that was to see her attain fame as the transport for an audacious long-range attack” The fall of Singapore Singapore fell to the Japanese…

Thornycroft torpedo boat (‘2nd class’) design Seeing the feature on HMS Lightning in your October issue, one was reminded of another Thornycroft torpedo boat (‘2nd class’) design, reportedly built in limited numbers, also around 1875. I came across some plans offered on the Internet, built the model and trialled her at Wicksteed Park some years ago. The photos I am sharing show the design having certain features in common with Lightning (conning tower, funnel) but some significant differences too (bow and stern hull shape, torpedo tube arrangement and cabin superstructure). The design originally incorporated a spar torpedo but later had two Whitehead torpedoes fitted. A small number of such boats were bought by New Zealand, but the design proved remarkably unsuccessful in use. Somewhere in the ether, there is a…