Building a radio controlled torpedo boat - the SLEC KD Perkasa, Part 1

[@alancartwright2244]

British Military Powerboat Trust rebuilt a 1942 72ft Scott Paine Motor Gun Boat, in early 2000s. All built in triple diagonal cold moulding, similar to this model (which is double diagonal - very realistic). I fitted the propellers and undertook sea trials. Running down Southampton Water, at 38 knots, we started the third (centre line) engine. All of a sudden, Cowes was approaching jolly fast. Hard to Stbd and screamed off down towards the Needles. Great! Hope your model gives you as much enjoyment!

[@modellingmisadventures]

Great story, thanks for watching 👍

[@martynbuzzing3327]

I started this model and built from scratch. The plans were very good. It was about 4ft long. I intended to fit 3 motors, but sadly, I had to sell it on, as we were moving abroad. Your kit looks great.

[@modellingmisadventures]

Thanks 👍

[@nevillepowell7502]

I built Perkasa about 40 years ago! I used a glow centre engine and 2 electric outer engines

[@cookiemonster2299]

Nice one, i still have the early 70's vosper thornycroft fire rescue tender that my dad built when i was 2 or 3 years old, he's gone now but the model will always be sentimental. ❤️🇬🇧

[@modellingmisadventures]

Amazing that you still have it 👍

[@kevinmartin3859]

That was great to watch thank you 😊

[@modellingmisadventures]

Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@AnthonyBunte]

Hi my name is Tony from America. I want to thank you, your videos have helped me understand and improve my model building. I just wanted to say thank you. And keep those videos coming

[@modellingmisadventures]

Glad you found it useful 👍

[@davidhayward5625]

WOW, that looks one brilliant model and great progress so far,can't wait for the next video! Thanks for sharing your builds.

[@modellingmisadventures]

Glad you enjoyed it👍

[@hunterrider349]

Fantastic video, really enjoyed watching it,looking forward to the next installments, I never even built a boat, but you've inspired me to give it a go, keep up the good work

[@modellingmisadventures]

Glad you enjoyed it! Good luck with your model 👍

[@can5projects563]

love the video hello from Australia

[@modellingmisadventures]

Thank you. I’m in Australia too 🇦🇺

[@can5projects563]

@@modellingmisadventures where in OZ are you located?

[@modellingmisadventures]

@@can5projects563Adelaide

[@allanroyle7622]

Excellent video, the double diagonal planking was used in full size boats, often with a membrane on between, not sure but I think it was like a calico and tarred.

[@modellingmisadventures]

Thanks for the info!

[@stefano2000]

Complimenti!!!

[@modellingmisadventures]

Thank you 👍

[@scottmccloud9029]

Ok. I'm hooked now. I at first thought that as a PT Boat. Well, i guess a British version. No matter. Looks great and i subscribed to make sure I didn't miss any future installments. You do great work Sir. Thanks for sharing.

[@modellingmisadventures]

Thanks very much 👍

[@siennasadventures5897]

Really enjoyed that...many thx. .a friend used to make RC biplanes using the cyano and pva method...really speeds up construction.. We used to use Cascamite on model boat hulls but it takes longer to build.

[@modellingmisadventures]

Thanks 👍

[@musoseven8218]

Always wanted to build one of these. I've three boats and two cars etc etc to finish prior - I'll need to live as long as Methuselah though😲🙄 Ill live the build vicariously via your channel instead🙏✌️👍😊

[@modellingmisadventures]

That’s great. Hope you finish some of your projects 🤞

[@martindaredare]

Great new project, this fits together nicely, and very comprehensive instructions, looking forward to the next update.

[@modellingmisadventures]

Thank you very much!

[@MALBACHinc]

Cant wait to see it finishes and cruise~ 🫡🇲🇾

[@modellingmisadventures]

Me too 😉

[@johnbooth101]

I've been thinking about this as my next project. I will be following your build with much interest, thank you 😊

[@modellingmisadventures]

It’s a great kit if you decide to go for it 😊

[@richardwakelin843]

Good show, well done

[@modellingmisadventures]

Thank you kindly 👍

[@AWBuilder]

Great! I was really interested to see that a drone brushless motor was included since I have used one of them for my boat build. But I made a water cooler for it since these motors are normally cooled by air flow from the prop. The motor mount is like a plus-shaped aluminum bracket and there is a propeller mount that attaches to the shaft of the motor that you get in the kit when you buy this kind of motor.

[@modellingmisadventures]

This is a standard aeroplane motor that comes with the mounts and fittings needed to attach it to a fuselage. Just needs some different fittings to put it in a boat. 😊

[@AWBuilder]

@@modellingmisadventures Yeah I know that. But it may overheat, and you might not like the speed control of a brushless motor for a scale model boat since it wants to rev fast.

[@adrianwilliams763]

That’s a cool video. I’ve been looking at the SLEC Vospers Fire Tender kit (34.5”). The alternative kit I’ve looked at is the Vintage Model Works one (46”) , but at much greater cost. Plus there’s the shipping of the kit to New Zealand. Ouch. The SLEC kit is about one third the price of the other. I just need to convince “the other half” this is a necessary purchase!! Well done, and look forward to future updates as work progresses. Cheers Adrian.

[@modellingmisadventures]

Thank you. Hope you enjoy your build. 👍

[@IantheWoodcraftsman]

The diagonal planking is called cold moulding, and is essential because wide timber/ply will not conform to compound curves, like the flared bow sections. looking forward to the complete boat!

[@modellingmisadventures]

👍

[@TinyHouseHomestead]

AWESOME! 😁👍👍🇺🇸

[@modellingmisadventures]

Thanks 👍

[@colinsmith4699]

A great video

[@modellingmisadventures]

Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@union310]

I have the large version with fibreglass hull, built in the 80's fitted with a large electric motor and two emergency light batteries it is rapid.

[@modellingmisadventures]

That would look great 😛

[@AJB2K3]

There are so many. variant of the Vosper with little differences between them, it gets hard to find a suitable kit. The locally built real version to me had curved sides on the top deck instead of a flat deck.

[@modellingmisadventures]

Interesting 🤔

[@ellesmerewildwood4858]

Man, that's a helluva kit ! What a nice mum you have, must have cost quite a few pennies. I'm wondering though, what it uses for ballast since the hull looks pretty much closed up.

[@modellingmisadventures]

I don’t think it will need any ballast. If it does it will likely be at the back.

[@goforitpainting]

Professional

[@modellingmisadventures]

Thanks.

[@fredtedstedman]

the Vosper bow shape is very difficult to replicate !! compond and negative curves .

[@modellingmisadventures]

Surely nothing that balsa and sandpaper can’t sort out! 😂

[@barrysrcdump3557]

I’ve just ordered the Huntress model. I’m interested in how you waterproofed the underside of the deck, are there areas that will have to go untreated?

[@modellingmisadventures]

Yes, I didn’t waterproof the underside of the deck but I don’t think it will be a problem.

[@barrysrcdump3557]

@@modellingmisadventures Thanks

[@JasonMills-jl7ii]

Do you glass the hull ?

[@modellingmisadventures]

Not yet. That is all explained in the video at the end 😉

[@joepellissier2091]

Do you have a source for RC electric boat kits or plans? I am looking for a military style boat, perhaps wwii that would go with rc warbird planes.

[@modellingmisadventures]

You can easily find these models online or at certain model/hobby shops. Check out Cornwall model boats, Steve Webb models or Leeds model shop.

[@paulcarruthers1314]

All those filings are now in the motor

[@modellingmisadventures]

The motor isn’t fitted yet 🤫

[@paulcarruthers1314]

@@modellingmisadventures , well I’d check for the filings from the flat you dremelled,

[@modellingmisadventures]

@@paulcarruthers1314Oh dear, I’d better check that 🤔

[@abrampl]

Where we can get that kit?

[@modellingmisadventures]

Check out the SLEC UK website.

[@abrampl]

@@modellingmisadventures thanks!

[@martinkormos8191]

hello, Why do you use superglue and then wood glue for the curved strips? Please tell me why!

[@tiggerkzn]

The superglue bonds the wodd instantly, allowing the wood glue to dry over time. Kinda like clamping it.

[@CharlesFlahertyB]

why are you using PVA glue on something that's intended to go into the water?

[@modellingmisadventures]

The water won’t get to the PVA. The hull will be completely waterproofed inside and out.

[@paulsouth3926]

Never used anything other than Cascamite for wooden model boats and any woodwork that may get exposed to damp. It's bullet proof, the wood will give before it does. Doesn't mater how well you paint something, slightest crack or chip/dent and moisture gets in.

[@CharlesFlahertyB]

@@paulsouth3926 I finished an Aero-Naut Bella RC sailboat last year and used only epoxy and superglue.

[@modellingmisadventures]

@@paulsouth3926This hull is going to be coated in epoxy inside and out. I think it will be waterproof 🤞

[@paulsouth3926]

@@CharlesFlahertyB the plus points of the traditional UF glues such as Cascamite or Aerolite 306 are that you can vary the viscosity a bit, also with wood, the joint gets lost easier as it sands well and it's strength and longevity goes without saying. I have a raw bread and butter Hull build by my late father 55 years ago using Cascamite, which has been moved from pillar to post numerous times, not a single joint has moved. As a footnote, they used UF glue to build the Mosquito (Wooden Wonder) fighter bomber in WW2. Cheers and happy Model Boating.👍

[@timothyporter1632]

I can't adjust the focus on my KZbin!

[@modellingmisadventures]

Not sure what the problem is there 🤔

[@mattivirta]

boat buildin look nice, but torpedo boat have ugly i like only sailboats lot lot beauty than motor boats ewer have. just i learn how can make my new DIY cnc machine all plywood parts, were found boat drawings and how move all lines dimensions my CAD/CAM software then can cut out model parts easy and fast. i has build before some boat etc, swan 3 mast big sailboat has many year project for me but has beauty when has ready big boat kit about 40 inch long boat expensive kit but has many year lot work and beauty, i has same boat in school learn seamen machine engineers and work many ship young men around world.

[@modellingmisadventures]

Sounds great!

[@paulgreen8222]

Where can this kit be purchased?

[@modellingmisadventures]

Not sure where you live but you can get it from the SLEC website or certain model shops in the UK.

[@paulgreen8222]

@@modellingmisadventures hi thanks for replying. I live in Suffolk.. thanks for posting, when do you think part 2 will be up? Not that i and others are impatient !!

[@modellingmisadventures]

@@paulgreen8222Well, SLEC is based in Norfolk so not that far away. Part 2 will probably be in a couple of weeks.

[@paulgreen8222]

@@modellingmisadventures that’s great news, on both fronts!! Have you ever tried building. Full size boat? What part of England are you based at?

[@modellingmisadventures]

@@paulgreen8222I’m in Australia, and no full size boats.