Model Boats

History

Boats have played a key role in the survival of mankind. Although dwarfed in size by ships, their smaller stature belies their valuable contribution to fishing, ferrying, rescue, and recreational usages. While some types of boats are as unsophisticated as Huckleberry Finn's raft, the attraction to these and the more glamorous paddle wheels and schooners can be seen in the vast number of model replicas that adorn museums and offices, as well as those sported at model boat regattas across the country.

Most model boats are designed to be water-ready, although some are fragile and best left on a display stand. Of the water-ready models, radio-controlled (RC) speedboats, lobster boats, and sailboats tend to attract the competitive hobbyist while tugboats, houseboats, and sloops are more often selected for non-competitive recreation.

Model boat kits have been available to the general public since the late nineteenth century. Prior to the formation of the kit industry, models were crafted primarily by master modelers, boat designers, and builders for the marine industry.

During the Victorian period, toy boats were favored among children. Free-style pond racing with scale-sized yachts provided fun for all ages and evolved into tether-racing during the twentieth century. Powered by steam or gas engines, boats were tethered to a pole centered in a pond or swimming pole, and then raced for ¼ mile, or four laps, around the pole. Top speeds reached over 100 miles per hour.

Model boat enthusiasts adopted RC technology during the 1960s, which allowed for less restrained race courses and individual control of boats. The North American Model Boat Association (NAMBA), established in 1970, set racing rules and guidelines. As electric motors gained favor in the 1990s, NAMBA added an electric category to the gas, nitro, and sail-powered divisions.

In addition to racing enthusiasts, the hobby also attracts many individuals interested in replicating historic boats. Most of these scale models include authentic accessories and details. Other types of model boats include HO-scaled vessels (models that are 1:87 of the original size) that are meant for use with model railroad displays.

Additional supplies for RC models:

• Electric motor or gas or nitro engine
• Two-channel radio or better
• Speed control
• Propeller and other running hardware
• Accessories for electric RC boats: six- to twelve-cell rechargeable nickel cadmium (NiCa), nickel metal-hydride (NiMH), or lithium polymer (LiPo) battery pack and charger

Additional accessories for nitro or gas-powered engines

• Cradle to protect boat during transportation
• Cart for larger models

Techniques

Selecting a Kit

If interested in authenticity, select a scale model with historic details. Models are available in different scales. For example, a scale of 1:64 means that one measurement, usually ¼ inch, equals sixty-four of the same measurement on the full-size boat.

When selecting a wooden kit, modelers should be aware that solid hulls will require gouging and are more vulnerable to cracking, while models that require planking may be more difficult to make, but last longer and tend to be more authentic.

If interested in a radio-controlled model, select a model based on desired speed, class, and engine type. Models with displacement hulls, including fishing boats and trawlers, will be slower than monoplanes ("monos") and hydroplanes ("hydros"). V-hulls (a type of hull named for its shape) are good choices for novices and can handle choppy water.

Read the contents of the kit completely and make note of accessories that will be needed. RC models do not usually come with a radio system, although some beginner kits are packaged with the complete system.

Nitro-powered models are the most difficult to run and may be the most expensive, while gas models are the most polluting. The benefit to either of these types is that they can be refueled after each race, whereas other models require that their batteries be recharged after each run.

Building Your Model Boat

Gather together all supplies as recommended by the manufacturer. Check the kit to make sure that all parts are provided. Study the plans, read over the instructions, and become familiar with symbols or abbreviations. Children should be supervised when constructing models.

Work at a table or workbench where you will not be disturbed. Protect the surface, if necessary. Work in a well-ventilated area, and never spray paint around an open flame. Wear a mask when sanding plastic, resin, paint, and glue.

Tack instructions to a wall or bulletin board located near your workstation. Consider making backup copies before starting a project. To avoid damaging pieces, cut them from the wooden or plastic tree with a knife or scissors, rather than breaking them off. Before gluing parts together, assemble the major components without glue to make sure that everything fits correctly. Before painting components, sand and clean each piece, and prime or undercoat the surface.

Work carefully, and be ready to correct mistakes. Allow all pieces to dry thoroughly.

Boats intended for use on water should be waterproofed with epoxy resin. All materials and finishes should be able to withstand harsh conditions.

The radio frequencies on which RC boats are allowed to operate in the United States and Canada are 27 MHz (channels 1-6) and 75 MHz (channels 61-90). These are different channels than those used by model airplanes.

Trends

Model boat building, like many formerly popular hobbies, has experienced a decline in interest in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, and as a result, relatively few innovations were made during this time.

Competitive racing continues to attract many enthusiasts. Electric-powered boats have become the most popular type because they are quiet, easy to operate, and non-polluting. Many hobbyists are utilizing the newer lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries in their boats.

EBay and other online auction sites have become popular places to buy and sell discontinued kits or unfinished models.

Model Boats for Fun vs. Profit

A skilled modeler can find employment in the model industry or custom build boats for individuals, museums, nautical shops, gift shops, and many other outlets on a freelance basis. Conservation and restoration, as well as teaching, offer opportunities for extra income. Racing competitions may provide additional earnings.

Learning More

Organizations

North American Model Boat Association <namba.com/content/default.asp>

International Model Power Boat Association <www.impba.net>

Scale Ship Modelers Association <www.ssmana.org>

Periodicals

Model Boats <www.modelboats.co.uk/>

Books

Payson, Harold "Dynamite." "Boat Modeling With Dynamite Payson: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Models of Small Craft." Camden, ME: International Marine Publishing, 1989.

Rogers, Steve and Patricia Staby-Rogers. "Model Boat Building Made Simple." West Chester, PA: Schiffer, 2000.

Rogers, Steve and Patricia Staby-Rogers. "Model Boat Building: The Skipjack."

West Chester, PA: Schiffer, 1996.

Rogers, Steve and Patricia Staby-Rogers. "Model Boat Building: The Spritsail Skiff." West Chester, PA: Schiffer, 1993.

Thomas, David B. "Basics of Radio Control Power Boat Modeling." Waukesha, WI: Kalmbach Pub., 1990.