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If you like looking at pictures
of competition-quality model boats of all sorts, then this is the article for you. The 1995 Annual edition of Air
Trails published this piece to demonstrate the huge variety of model boats that we built and sailed in the day,
with loads of talent crammed into each pixel. America was filled with craftsmen who had built and operated the equipment
that resulted to victory in World War II. Their skills were on ample display in the form of hand-built steam
engines and internal combustion engines, rubber-powered submarines some of which were 5 feet long, radio controlled
tug boats and even speed boats sporting not just one but two - count 'em, two - Dyna-Jet engines! Can you imagine
the racket those babies made when fired up?!!! That's not to say there are not many exceptionally talented craftsmen
today, just that as a percentage of the population they are much less represented.
The Wonderful World of Model Power Boating
  Bob
Crab's 6-foot all-hardwood runabout with 5-channel surplus drone R/C unit converted to rudder-throttle control;
2 1/2 hp Johnson outboard engine modified for inboard installation. Built in '29 by Al Woods.
Model Power Boat Records
Officially Recognized by the International Model Power Boat
Association
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They're not cool, man - they're hot! Francis X. Gruber, Albany, N. Y. (386 2nd St.) designed and built these
awesome affairs. Light-colored one is powered by a single Dyna-Jet; the other has two D·J's! Called "Nottinss
Special," 4' long, 22" wide and 14" high at the fin. Weight is 20 pounds. We're awaiting the running. reports.
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Excellent craftsmanship and perfect realism are shown in these two photos of 58" model of a Salvage Tub built
by Lowell Lamb of Southern California Model Power Boat & Yacht Association. Powered by steam, boat is controlled
by radio. (These photos by Bill Baughman) "Anna I" and Chris-Craft Catalina shots by Dick Everett, author of
ATH's well-known Western Roundup column.)
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Art Ellsworth's Chris-Craft from Sterling kit; 22 coats of Dulux hand rubbed; exhaust port scavenges water
from cooling system; plastic tubing (rt. side) is from water pickup which circulates through copper tubing wound
around Mac .19; MacNabb 27 receiver; ED clockwork escapement. "Own" fittings.
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Virgil Gustoyino and his "Anna I". Cedar PT hull design, original mahogany superstructure. Forster "99" power,
water cooled, homemade R/C. The overall length of this craft is 52 inches.
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Charles Hering, West Los Angeles, built this model of 125 foot diesel engine powered yacht. Recently completed,
this 31 inch miniature is powered by 7-pole permanent magnet motor which runs off wet cell batteries. Could
be mistaken for the real thing.
Here's a convenient way to start small boats submitted by the versatile Bill Baughman of Los Angeles. If you're
tired of trying to hold the boat yourself, or getting someone else to do so when you start the engine, build
up a holder similar to this one. Protected with an old inner tube, boat is held snug while the starting cord
is used. Boxes shown, war surplus ammo cases, work fine.
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Class C (15 c.c.) 30 1/4" racing boat built by Walt Mac Williams, Philadelphia. MPBC. Engine is rebuilt oversize
glow-plugged Dooling with homemade piston, bored-out cylinder liner. World's record holder at 81.44. Beam, 10
1/4" across sponsoons.
Max Biederman of New York. Model Knights owns world record Class A which set mark of 69.23 mph. boat and engine
both by Max. Motor is 2-cycle, disc rotary valve, glow plug ignition.
Class E (10 c.c.) by Ralph Richards of Philadelphia. Power is stock McCoy, .60, glow plug. Same hull design-size
as MacWilliams', laid out by Harry Traband. Holds record at 84.50.
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James Stribling prepares to launch his boat at the start of a "marathon race." Idea is to "free run" your boat
around basin or lake while you, the contestant, attempt to keep up on foot with craft. Boats usually win; Jim
was victor this time.
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Working subs by Eugene V. Bunnell, Vallejo, Calif., are both rubber powered (5' long, .dives 5', travels for
300', 40 lbs.) and electric powered R/C (7'4" long, 4 1/2" wide, 6" high, 65 lbs.). 1/20 hp motor works two
4" bronze props at 80 rpm, 12 knots.
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Charles Watkins, Chicago, with Class E entry at Toronto. Horizontal mounted motor. All speed pix hero by Bob
Graham.
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Cameron Clan's retrieving system: younger brother Butch, fishing rod & reel, small cloth bag with rubber
ball for weight.
Les Stormer of Southern California Model Power Boat & Yacht Association. adjusting gas powered R/C cruiser
for run at Alondra Park Lake, Los Angeles. Very complete in detail, operates well; uses underwater scoop for
water-cooling engine.
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No, it's not a full-sized freighter traveling along on a calm sea - it's a beautiful 30 inch model of a small
freighter built by Lowell Lamb of SCMPB&YA. Job is free running type; detail is very complete; power is
steam engine which blows steam out the miniature stack giving illusion of real smoke (which can be seen faintly
in the photo here by Bill Baughman).
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Posted September 27, 2014
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