Dear All,

I started building her around the middle of Dec 2009 and by Jan, I had almost given her up for dead. Scratchbuilding is never easy, especially when you are not using balsa. Then came along Don @ 'Sunk?' from Bristol, who started building the same boat. I watched and learnt from him. He gave me excellent tips for completing the build. I resurrected her and have, today, finally completed her.

I owe this build largely to Don, without him, it would have been forgotten amidst all my junk.

Electrics are not in place as yet. Will be done over the next week. I will be using a Type 300 /380 brushed motor for the drive. Floatation trials have been done, she is watertight and even keeled.

Life belts are yet to be added and some final touch ups (the name has to painted on) have to be done, other than that, M.S. Naughty Cal (as she is now called) is complete!

This was one immensely enjoyable and frustrating experience. I am not delighted with the build quality, I guess I could have done a much better job with a little more patience. I last made a boat kit in 1991, and was apprehensive that I had lost my touch. I welcome any questions or suggestions and will update the existing Antares build thread soon to completion.

Cheers!

VC

Here are some pictures.

Here are some more. Each and every component of this boat, with the exception of the propeller, is scratch built.

Gorgeous already ! 

What material gives it the color ?  Just sanding and painting  ?

Thank you! Just sanding and painting, the old fashioned way.

It's too good VC Sir,

You are a Real Master Craftsman 

Best wishes & expecting her madien shortly




Sanjay

No. I am NOT a master craftsman, I wish I was better like Ashta Sir, Col. Sundaram and Saikat. (No disrespect meant to the other scratch builders in the forum, but these are the first names that came to my mind.) I just enjoy building. Thanks for all your support. Maiden will be done soon, however, video will be posted later. Only after Don ('Sunk?') returns from hospital. The surgery is scheduled for this evening IST (around 7pm).

Cheers!

VC

Excellent craftsmanship VC. The fact that it was built from scratch using non conventional wood makes it more special.

Rao Garu, thank you. I'm overwhelmed. Coming from a master like you, that is a HUGE compliment or me.

Earnestly fantastic VC Sir! You workmanship would rival the RTF boats selling off HS shelves! The finish has come real real good.

Ujjwaana my friend. Firstly, let me thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thereafter, she is NOT as perfect as she looks. There are a lot of things that I need to rectify before I maiden her. The photographs don't highlight her imperfections. Thank God for that!

Cheers!

VC

hi VC,
Looks good mate, and those colors are the recomended for 'seeable' on lakes at distance.
I have actualy got the prop and rudder now so am not that far behind you
so in the next few weeks I will be able to finish her hopefully ...as not able to do much else 
hahaha
we speak soon my friends
regards
don

Thanks Don.

I guess that was his last post before he went to the hospital. Surgery is scheduled tomorrow evening (IST). Lets all join in wishing Don a quick recovery.

Sir, it is awesome..... It really is...... Definitely await to have a physical feel of it...... But well, a great job done..... After all the toil coupled with some amount of confusion of breaking it in between, your persistence with the job seems to have definitely paid off....... It is gorgeous, bright, and the detailing also seems to be perfect!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS SIR!!!!!!!!

Thank you my friend! Lets maiden it together.

Oh, that would be great Sir!!!! Definitely look forward to it........ Thanks......

Althought i'm not that much into boats... Thats one BEAUTIFUL boat

Thank you medicineman1 for the kind words.

Awesome !!! she looks really good...

BTW what is the dimension of the boat VC?

- Srihari

Thanks!

Length : 43 cms
Beam   : 15 cms
AUW    : 616 grams ( including 8 X 1.2 V NiCD)

Regards,

VC

Hi VC,
This boat looks awesome. I have myself been building some scratchbuilt boats... but never achieved this perfection.Could you also share some pics of the motor installation and the prop details along with the rudder.
Waiting for the maiden video.

Shreekant

Rooster,

Sorry I didn't reply earlier. I am working on the motor mount at the moment and will post the pictures soon on the original Antares Build thread. The prop was a piece of $h!{ that I bought from India Hobby Centre, Kolkata for 20 bucks. I had to file it down to an acceptable profile (Thicker trailing and thinner leading edges). I hope it works. That's the ONLY boat prop available in our country. What a Pathetic joke!

Rudder is hand made using a 3mm wood scrap epoxied to a brass rod and thereafter I have sanded, used automotive putty and painted it to make it waterproof. I will be using a 9 gm servo to activate it.

Cheers!

VC

VC, Hope you have good waterbody near your residence for maiden of this boat right? Do you have pics of it Or anything about it?

We are experiencing pre monsoon showers here and everything is full of water!!! I should finish the electrics in a few days time and then hope to maiden her. However, as I have mentioned before, I will wait for my friend Don @ "Sunk?" to reappear on this forum and then I will post the maiden video. He inspired me to motivate myself to build her when I had just about given up. I hope you will appreciate my feelings. Thanks!

VC

Hi VC,
For my boat I scouted for a long time.I found that India Hobby Mumbai had a good stock of props with the stuffing tube. The one that I particularly liked was a brass prop with stuffing tube.
I guess a brush less setup would be a good option.

shreekant