Large Hercules under construction & a little history of radio sets.

**wonwinglo** · 05-09-2004

A friend who inspects large models for the LMA sent me this picture,it is Hercules number 3 from the same modeller ! one crashed whilst being filmed and was shown on TV,just look at this monster looks like lots of blue foam and ply in its construction.
The amount of work that goes into these models is staggering and a compliment to the skill of these model builders.
The very first model of a C-130 that I saw was built by Geoff Franklin ( remember him ? ) he had a small model shop in Leicester in the old days of Reeds,his brother had a Kraft agency in America and used to ship the gear over to his Jarrom street ,Leicester shop now long since gone as the bulldozers moved in,a really funny sight if you can imagine a solitary shop standing in the middle of a building site ! Geoff fought to the end to keep his unique business,Kraft were to pioneer the proportional equipment market and pave the way,then RCS came along ( long since gone also ) who produced reasonably priced proportional gear running a chain of shops,Peter Lovegrove was a designer with them ( autogiro builder full size ) hope you dont mind this modelling history lesson ? !!
And then who remembers Staveley from Bedford ? I once remember sitting in a light aircraft full of radio sets that we had picked up from Cranfield airfield,we had orders for scores of them and Staveley just could not keep the pace with production,their service was a personal touch with their customers,you could ring them up and ask for say six radio sets,they would get all hands on deck and work overnight if necessary,something sadly missing these days but again like many they finished and went without trace,I doubt whether many remember this company ?

adzam · 05-09-2004

do you have any info on teh large model being built on the last series of "supermodels" on cable tv ?
looked very impressive and i beleieve built against the clock, but i missed the series and would like to see teh finnished product, it`s teh same with the previous series where they where building a model boat ( the name of which i cannot remember) i watched most of teh series but missed the last 3 episodes !!! can anyone help out here ?

Adz..

**wonwinglo** · 05-09-2004

Ad I have just erased the whole series on video ! you could have had them if I had known sooner,the first Hercules was shown on the programme.
There were some great warships shown including Duncans monster,dont worry because they will do the rounds again someday,they did a complete Saturday showing of Supermodels a few months back,you could have set yourself up with a few beers got your feet up and watched all day,how about that ?

adzam · 05-09-2004

barry thats typical of my luck

but i`ll lok forward to that weekend with glee

Uncivil Serpent · 05-09-2004

Hi All,

The model boat in question was either Fearless or Intrepid, and I think I'm right in saying it was Fearless, the very last steam powered warship commissioned in the RN. Model was built by various professionals, with a lot of interference by Mark Founds. I believe the mold for the hull of the model is now in the hands of a member of Eastliegh Model Boat Club, and if anyone is seious he may be interested in producing a sample for you. Mind you, not much change out of about 500 squids, and as I said, that is for hull only.

The original model may well be found in the Model Boat Museum at Beale Park, just outside Pangbourne in Berks, perhaps Duncan knows a little more about it?

Regards

Chris

adzam · 05-09-2004

ah yes , fearless it is thanx U S

as for the rc side of things , i have a futaba M typ eradio set that will be going up for sale shortly due to no longer required, now this is unusual in the way that the throttle is on the left right side and the rudder is on the left hand side . there is also a large lever on teh top left hand side ( proportional) i belive that this set may be more functional for aircraft than marine modelling as the reciever has aeleron,throttle and rudder as opposed to the normal channels 1,2 and 3.
very unusual. can anyone tell me why the main two sticks are different from most sets nowadays ?
i do know there is an option on some modern rc sets for function 1 or 2 why is this .

cheers
Adz

duncan · 05-09-2004

Adz you are in luck. The film company that made Supermodels 1 gave me a complimentary copy of the series. (that was ALL I got) Get it touch and I`ll send you what to want to copy. My bit was filmed in double quick time in the storage hangar at East Fortune in winter. One cameraman , one soundman. Didnt think it was worth the effort considering the footage they could have got, on-board shots at sea, planes landing (or attempting to land) helicopters milling around etc. They had tight budget and little time they said. Ho hum. I think you may be correct about the model they built ,with interference,may be at Beale Park. Contact Richard Howard there.

Uncivil Serpent · 06-09-2004

You were lucky Duncan.

We spent two Sundays at Basingstoke filming and didn't even get a cuppa from them. Not sure if Peter Dicker got anything for his bit on Sheffield, but I doubt it.

Chris

Drilmar · 06-09-2004

Hi Adzam,

The first series, Fearless, was Supermodels, and the second series was Supermodels II.

I have most of the first series, and all of the second series, just let me know what you want/where to send it, or when you will next be at Inverlieth.

Drilmar

adzam · 06-09-2004

very kind offers gents , i have most of the first series i`m just missing the last few episodes when teh boat was coming together. i think teh last one i have is testing with teh model heli ? doesn`t quite go to plan i`m not sure how many more are after this episode.
i have not seen any of the second series other tha engine nacelles being constructed,drilmar it would be great to watch teh second series from start to finish.
i`ll let you know when i`m at inverleith again.