Steering Sunday 18th August.

I'd forgotten this Sunday was the Steering Competition (though family commitments in the week) so the steering was well underway when I arrived.

There was the usual enthusiasm that this monthly event creates and here are a few of the contestants,

For the newer members and viewers, these boats are made for their maneuverability and size, rather than their looks, and there isn't much detail on most of them, but this month saw that a few had taken the time to make them more eye catching

This has a nice warship theme to it.

And another warship theme.

Under the table I noticed whilst editing these pix's  Alan Highams fast new boat waiting for his turn on the water.

 One of the contestants on the course, whilst this competition is in progress there are no other boats allowed on the water as you don't need great big waves washing over the course when you are navigating the tricky courses that Geoff comes up with every month.

Hope you oldies don't mind me going over this type of competition, but you have to remember there are always new members and those people that are thinking of becoming members.

One of the members waiting for the event to be over, so he could sail was Terry Burnett with his Fun boat, The Punt Gun boat, I've posted on this boat previously but as Bob Abell was there checking it out and opening all the little hatches I thought it deserved another mention.

Although its a fun boat Terry has not forgotten to add his usual attention and build expertise to this model as you can see, even has it's own carry case!.

You can see on a previous post the type of boat this was and it's use,

http://etherowmodelboats.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/day-2-at-etherow-lifeboat-weekend2012.html

 in short a punt with a great big gun for shooting down wildfowl in the rushes, I know what some of you are thinking!, why didn't he make a real gun for on the boat.

The next club meeting this month 28th August is another of Phil's Kriss Kross Quizzes, so get your thinking caps on, I believe there is a prize for the winning team.

Hope someone let's me know how it goes as I will be on my holidays, thats the second one I've missed, but when you have to go on holiday it's tough but someone has to do it!. 

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That's all for now folks

Ps check out the "for sale" section couple of nice kits avail-abell.

Day 2 at Etherow, Lifeboat weekend.2012

Day two started off with the current dull showery weather we are having at the moment, but it didn't put off the members who turned up early to set up the display stands, many thanks to them from the committee, especially Chris who needed plenty of help with all the arrangements he had made to make the day the success it turned out to be in the end with the weather brightening up and later even the sun coming out, great to be Abell to put every thing away dry isn't it.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here are some of my efforts, if you boat isn't here, sorry but I can only be in one place at a time!.

Our Ken's display.

 Jet Ski

 Launch Ramp

Les Jones stand setting up, from Holyhead!

Not many of these around MK1, with original livery!

As Coca Cola say's "It's the real thing"

Southport Boat

A couple of oldies

 A tracked vehicle

Terry's Punt Boat, maiden voyage, see video.

The real thing!.

A video of some of our club boats

The chap was there again with his Frogmen boat, posted yesterday and attracted many admiring modellers!

Thanks to Phil for the use and his commentary on the big lake, for the lifeboats that had arrived, I know there had been breakdowns and bad weather, so many thanks to all who turned up on the day.

Mustn't forget to thank Roy and his wife Ada for manning the refreshments bar all day in the clubhouse, they did a great job.

If I've forgot to thank anyone, your efforts were still appreciated.

And last but not least Chas and Dave, sorry that should be Bob and Dave.

Bob of Great Eastern TV fame and Dave Woolley the photographer from Model Boats Magazine, hopefully will give us a nice complimentary write up in the magazine!.

Video of Lifeboats on the day.

And there you have it, If you wasn't abell to come for what ever reason, at least now you can see what you missed on both days!, and if you came thank you once again.

One man and his dog, sent to me from Ray at Colwyn Bay!.

Don't get many of me and him.

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Another excellent event in our diary over!

Until next year all the best from the Etherow Model Boat Club.

Punt Gun boat.

Another first for the club?

Terry Burnett sent me this post of a boat he has just finished, 

it's a punt gun boat!.

To be honest I didn't know what one of these was, even after looking at the pictures Terry sent, so I looked it up on Wikipedia and there it was.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punt_gun
At the bottom of the page on this link there is a video you can click on to see a guy firing one of these guns, but notice it is well tied down!

I even found a video of these boats on the net, see here

Even though we have a million wildfowl (well it seems that many) at Etherow I don't think Terry will be able to test a working gun on his model, though the boat it is motorised, Wayne the head warden would be a bit miffed.

Here is Terry's details of the build.

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I have just finished a Gun Punt for your consideration.

Designed from contemporary photographs

Scratch built

Plywood construction (with frames) fibreglass lining

Stainless rudder

Pear rubbing strip

I decided to exaggerate the features by extending the nose and gun and fitting an outrunner brushless motor, the originals were rowed through the fens.

No idea how this will perform so I have fitted a programable speed controller

Terry Burnett

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Nice pictures as well!
That's it for to-day, hope to see you all at various times at the lake, though to-day looks a non runner with the weather wet and windy again.

Hope the ankle is a bit easier now Chris!.
Peter.

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