| I ran across this in the rec.models.rc newsgroup. Seems that
combat isn't limited to Gremlins!
Dave
************************************************************************
[email protected] (Brad K. Browne) wrote:
>
> Gidday all,
>
> Any other boat builders out there, or is there another group
> where they tend to hide?
>
> Brad
>
Well, there's a few of us, but we seem outnumbered by those
flyboys :-)
I build 1/144 warships, equiped with working low-powered, BB-cannons.
There are about 150 of us nationwide and we gather in groups of
10-30 every now and then around the country to try to sink the
opposition. It's R/C modeling to the Nth degree. Make it look
nice, get it to work on the water, arm it with cannons and try
to sink the other guy. It might sound and look great on the work
bench, but there is nothing better than an enemy fleet to test your
workmanship.
Our boats are crammed full of equipment, including up
to 7 BB cannons, CO2 containers and regulators, mechanical or
electrical values, rotating turret, bildge pumps and as much
battery power as you can carry without sinking. Naturally, there
are plenty of rules to cover everything from the way the ship is
constructed (we don't want unsinkable boats), to the exact weight
and speed of the ship (we don't want something that doesn't look
like a real warship). It takes literally years to get good enough
at everything that is needed, including tactics and maintenance.
The hobby has been around for 15 years, with pockets of combatants
in Maryland, Texas, Florida, California, Missouri, Georgia, and
Massachusetts.
I also enjoy building sailing ships and am currently working on
a R/C, 6 foot version of a Swedish square-rigger, the Wasa. (I don't
plan on letting anyone shoot at it, once it's done.)
You might also want to subscribe to rec.models.scale. There seem
to be more boaters there, but I don't think they like talking about
high-tech (ie. radio) stuff. (They certainly don't think much of
people who build a boat for a year and then go out and deliberately
let people shoot at it.)
Let's keep this thread open a while and see how many boat builders
are lurking in the background.
Besides, when compared to airplanes and cars, ships have been around
a LOT longer, come in many more varieties, look much nicer and can
be operated with much less noise.
Fair winds and following seas,
Frank P.
|
|
>> The hobby has been around for 15 years, with pockets of combatants
>> in Maryland, Texas, Florida, California, Missouri, Georgia, and
>> Massachusetts.
Frank,
This sounds fascinating - where in Massachusetts? I would like to go
watch!
- Ford
|