I decided as an interesting subject to purchase the MOD Police Launch kit which measures only 400mm long. The kit was inexpensive and I thought as a beginner it would be a nice motor driven model to add to the Aeronaut cabin cruiser Diva I had finished building. Like the Bob-About that I have today started a build blog on I started this kit just prior to having surgery on my right hand.

When I kit was delivered I was pleased at the contents of the box. Everything was there and the parts were nicely cut ready to be removed from the ply sheets. One thing I have to say is that the instruction booklet although well laid out with stage completion tick boxes I did not think that the drawings were very clear and helpful. So unfortunately I made a mistake when constructing the hull putting the transom at the wrong angle. I realized that I had a problem when I came to fit the radio tray. The part appeared to be too small and would not fit correctly. My added problem was that I did not know what I had done wrong. I contacted WMBC by email and explained my problem. I backed that up with photographs of the hull frames that I had so far put together. The person who replied said that they did not think they could help but said that they would send me another part so I could make a larger part from the one I had and the being sent that would fit. When the part arrived I made the part and fitted it and moved on only to find that the next part was also too small and would not fit. I contact WMBC again but they were not helpful. Now all this time this was going on I did not know that I had made a mistake. I believed the kit parts to be at fault. Following the lack of help I posted my problem on the forum with the photographs I had sent to WMBC. Fortunately dave976 came to my rescue pointing out that he could see from the same pictures I had sent to WMBC that I had fitted the transom incorrectly. Having found out my mistake I was able to order another part to replace the one I had altered on advice from WMBC.

I am now waiting for the part to be delivered, and like the Footy, when my hand is useable again I can continue with the build so there will be more to follow in the future.

Greg 👍

Hello Flaxbybuck,

Thank you. Yes, I agree. You only have to perhaps be preoccupied by something else and mistakes can be made. It's not my first and i am sure it won't be my last! 😀

Greg 👍

Being now able to start building my kits again with caution I have progressed to the completion of the hull of the Police Launch.

Following correcting my error in incorrectly positioning the transom I have progressed to complete the frame and add the chines to the upper and lower parts of the hull. I then added the blocks to the bow which are made up of fourteen individual pieces of 14mm balsa wood. Once the adhesive was cured I then carved and sanded the bow to the correct shape using filler where necessary.

Having adding the balsa wood chine panels the splash rails were fixed in position where the two chine panels meet on the hull frame. The final part of constructing the hull was the addition of the deck coamings.

Although the hull is complete it has yet to be properly sanded in preparation for the application of sealer and paint.

One thing I found a little disappointing is that there appears to be no Balsa panel to cover and finish off the external side of the transom. I don't know whether I have missed that part but I can see no instructions for fitting or find a part in the box. What I am going to do is cut my own panel from 2mm Balsa and cover the transom.

The next stage in the build is constructing the superstructure and the deck fitting. But I can see already that the 3D printed mast structure which comes as two sides and needs to be glued together to form the mast are of both the same side rather than opposite sides.

Greg 👍

Hello Mouldbuilder, Thank you for your comments. I agree that the key to success is the overcoming of mistakes made. Especially when the fix looks like it should have been there in the first place! 😁

I'm just in the process of locating and preparing all the parts for the superstructure and deck fittings. I have a horrible feeling that I may have lost one small part but of course It might not have been in the box in the first place (that's my excuse anyway 🙄) Fortunately it is only a short piece of 2mm dowel.

What I will say is, taking a closer look at the 3D printed parts/deck fittings, they could be better finished. Apart from having one wrong half of the radar mast, the other fittings will need some filling before painting and fitting. Oh well, it gives me something to do. 😊

Greg 👍

Hello flaxbybuck,

Thank you for your comments. I have just finished building the superstructure ( photographs to follow). I have used filler were necessary on the the hull and the superstructure and will be sanding back to a nice smooth finish ready for the sander sealer coats either later today or tomorrow.

The sander sealer coats will be both on the interior of the hull as well as the external surfaces and I have planned to also coat the underside of the deck which will be finished with a varnish.

As the deck section and the superstructure have been built separately which enables ease of painting and glazing I will also use sander sealer on the section of deck that will be permanently covered by the superstructure as well as the remaining surfaces of the deck. I also intend to use sander sealer on the inside surfaces of the superstructure before fixing in place.

The above is commonly known as 'Belts and Braces' 😊

Greg 👍

Nothing quite like belts and braces!!

Greg 👍

Having completed the hull I decided to add an additional piece of Balsa to the transom as I did not like how it looked with the hull frame joints showing.

I then assemble the deck and built the superstructure which went together reasonably easily with some minor adjustments having to be made.

With the main construction finished I the applied multiple coats of sander sealer to both the inside and outside of the hull, deck and superstructure.

My next step will be to fit the 3D printed deck fittings that come with the kit. I have also decided to add some additional deck fittings to improve the overall look of the boat. These fittings I have yet to get.

After fixing the deck fittings my next step is to start the painting of the model. I hope to be applying the primer in the next day or two.

Greg 👍

The boat has now been sanded down in preparation for the primer coat and some of the first fittings have been glued in place.

Greg 👍

Hello Hhager2,

Thanks for the post.

The way that the model is constructed for RC is that the superstructure is fitted to the deck so when you need to access the electrics you lift off the the whole deck and cabin as one which give a lot of access room for a boat of 400mm in length. The deck when on the hull lines up with the coaming and is held in place by magnets both at the bow and at the stern.

The pictures below should give you some idea.

The part marked 7 in the picture is the radio tray. The last picture shows the motor mount at about midships.

Greg 👍

I have now sprayed the boat with white primer. The next stage is to lightly sand the primer and add the first of the finishes.

The lower hull will be red oxide. The upper hull will be black. The deck surface will be NATO green and the wheelhouse and cabin will be white.

Following the painting I will add the glazing, deck fittings and decals.

The electrics I will leave to last.

Greg 👍