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Scale sailing covers anything from simple bermuda rigged yachts up to a working model of HMS Victory.  There are available a number of full kits for the former, including Kyosho's Fairwind and Graupner's ketch Liberia Ocean, whilst building from scratch and operating the latter is possible for the experienced.   Most scale sailors go for the straight forward 'fore and aft' rigged vessels for ease of build and control, with inshore fishing vessels (e.g. the French fishing boat Louis Heloise) and pilot cutters being some of the favourite types.  Thames sailing barges modelled at 1/24 have a large following with regular races held in the South of England with a sub-class for the smaller HFM kit of this type.  Generally, the bigger the model the better to overcome the various problems of scale (trying to sail models in what is often a scale gale, storm or even hurricane force wind).

Many old racing designs have been converted to radio control. A surprising number of pre war racing models still exist.  Extremely well built and sturdy hulls have been turned up in garden sheds and lofts, cleaned up, re-rigged and put back on the water to good effect.  Unfortunately, some of these have also entered the antique market and have become the target of collectors, becoming lost to our hobby through cost, etc.  With their very scale like lines and rig these old vessels look magnificent under a good breeze.

Finally, classic sail has become very popular in recent years with designs dating back to the 20s onwards gaining popularity. Whilst not true scale, many fine schooner, cutter and ketch rigged vessels on scale like hulls now exist. With the advent of readily available grp hulls moulded from old plans or even old hulls (such as the Moonbeam hull available from Metcalf Mouldings), modern racing yacht fittings, modern sail materials, modern radio control equipment, etc. lively performance and good looks can now often go together.

One debate which will run forever with this type of modelling is whether to fit non scale fins and/or ballast keels. Unfortunately, to gain good performance in most winds these seem almost inevitable in all but the largest of the hulls.

At last count we had a Chinese junk, a Brixham trawler, a Colin Archer, a Bermuda rigged cruiser yacht and a schooner in the Club, with at least two Mevagissey luggers 'in build'.

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Copyright © South Manchester Model Boat Club 2002

This site created and maintained by Steve Booty

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