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[Marks Model Bits]

Hi guys I have finally persuaded my daughter Hannah to let us do a proper write up of her HMS Scorpion.
Hannah is dictating to me. So here goes!!!
As you most probably saw last year on Mayhem's home page Hannah based this model on Hal Harrison's HMS Romper.
The hull is 55 inches long and is made from 6mm and 1.6mm ply built with a flat bottom and sides keeping it simple to construct although I could have done with an extra pair of hands to glue it all together my dad does have his uses. I painted the whole model myself but my dad did most of the sanding as it's very VERY boring!!

I fitted 2 545 motors (with my dad's help) powered with a 6 volt gel battery via 2 Mtroniks 15 amp speed controllers. The motors are mounted on the hull bottom on a thick bed of silicone sealant which cuts down vibration and noise. The speed controllers are mounted on a ply mounted above the waterline just in case the boat leaks!!!

The superstructure is made of ply and balsa and is in 2 sections, the rear section was made bigger to make hull access easier. I have kept the fittings to a minimum at the moment as it cuts down on breakages. The torpedo tubes are made from short lengths of dowel glued to a ply mount and can train 180 degrees using a servo mounted on a gearbox which is fitted to the bottom of the deck. The gun turrets also rotate 180 degrees using 2 futaba 148 servo's (1 for the front pair turrets and 1 for the rear pair of turrets with a Y lead to operate on 1 channel). The servo's were modified by my dad to turn 180 degrees and he said he did it by fitting 2 resistors somewhere!!! and the turrets are linked together by small chain and sprockets.

The model is also fitted with a home made smoke generator which is basically a small heating element made from a short length of old hair drier heating wire wrapped around a glass fibre wick in a reservoir filled with disco fog machine fluid. This unit runs on 12 volts  and also has a small computer chip cooling fan to boost the smoke output, it will run for about an hour before the battery goes flat and it looks fantastic on the water.

The model sails very well, slightly over scale speed, is very manouverable and when you turn the model at full speed she heels over just like the full size ones do. However I do have 1 major problem with the model, when we go over the lake in Cwmbran I can't get the transmitter off my dad, do you have any suggestions for me PLEASE!!!!!!!

I will just finish off with some pictures for you all to look at, by the way I want to build an aircraft carrier next possibly HMS Ark Royal from WW2 we will let you know when I start it.


        Hannah.

[Marks Model Bits]

some more pics

[Shipmate60]

Hannah,
She looks great on the water, and sails well too.
As to your dad, just tell him he can have a go AFTER he gets you an ice cream.
Then at least you can watch YOUR model being sailed while you eat the ice cream.

Bob

[chingdevil]

Excellent model Hannah, keep up the good work. Have you tried bribing your dad? You know I will tidy my room/wash up something like that.
It used to work when my daughter did it to my wife.

[Colin Bishop]

Super model Hannah, better than anything I did when I was your age and you can only get better!

[Bunkerbarge]

What an absolutely superb model Hannah.  Far in advance of what I was doing at 10 years old.  Mind you R/C was well outside my budget in those days!!

As for the transmitter that's easy, just hide it the night before so you get it first!

[tigertiger]

great model Hannah

How long did it take you?

And we look forward to seeing the Ark Royal :)

[Marks Model Bits]

hi guys, HMS Scorpion only took me about 6 weeks to build my dad did all the difficult stuff inside but I did watch and learn so next time I will have a go myself. By the way I will try the ice cream one it sounds the nicest by far!!! Will post some more pics of her sailing as last time we were over the lake the camera batteries went flat (dad's are useless aren't they!!)

[Youngat65]

Well done Hannah , keep up the good work . look forward to seeing more of your work in the future
                                                                                    BobB

[Daryl]

Great model Hanna well done, I hope you keep up the excellent work

Daryl

[bigfella]

Hi Hannah

Wow. That is a great build, I am on my first build and I am 45, and I hope mine looks as good as yours.

Regards Bigfella

[MikeK]

Must add my congratulations on a great model, Hannah, can't wait to see the aircraft carrier. When I was ten the best I could manage was a KeilKraft balsa chuck glider, even then I always stuck the wings on cockeyed - you certainly have a great skill to turn out such a fine piece of work at your age.
Power to your elbow 

MikeK

[John W E]

Hi there Hannah

well what does one say to a superb build - if you build to this standard now - you are going to be at one good standard in a couple of years time - so keep on building and let's see your next project on the forum.

aye
John E
BLUEBIRD

[Marks Model Bits]

thank you all very much for all the nice comments about my model i did not want to put this on the forum as i did not think it was good enough but dad talked me into doing it i am glad he did now. thank you all hannah.

[Shipmate60]

Hannah,
ANY model is good enough if the builder is proud of it.
Even though you are 10 you have made a superb job of building what is a quite difficult model, a warship.
You will always remember your first model at whatever age you build it.
My first model boat was built when I was 10 as well and I do wish I had kept it, but as I got older I swapped it for something.
I can't remember what but still remember MY boat.
I would say build your aircraft carrier, then decide which one YOU like best and let dad play with the other one.
This will keep him interested enough to maintain yours too and yes, keep you in lots of ice cream.

Bob

[kendalboatsman]

Fantastic model and looks good on the water, that looks like the Cwmbran Model Boat Club lake to me? Sailed there myself a few times when I lived in Hereford.

[Marks Model Bits]

You are right, I do sail at the cwmbran model boat club and I am down there most sundays. Thanks again for the nice comments.
by the way bob i am not letting dad play with any of my models as he is restoring the uss newport news which he is covering on another thread.

[Shipmate60]

In that case just tell him to sail his own boats and still get you an ice cream!!

Bob

[Marks Model Bits]

hello everyone could anyone help me i am looking for plans of hms ark royal as she was in 1941/42 and we cant seem to find any from this time thanks hannah

[farrow]

Hannah,
I would just like to say your model impressed me more than the others at the mayhem weekend, it was superb.

[Robert Davies]

Err... yes... Hannah, your Dad, sailed to it demo it to us 'Sunday only' Mayhemmers :)

It is VERY very impressive on the water - definitely the ship I most wanted to take home! :)

The photos don't do it justice at all!

-Rob

[hiapita]

Thanks for the nice coments, I am pleased you like my model. I would have sailed it myself but I wasn't feeling very well but I am nearly better now.

 Hannah, Springer champion.