Originally a Thunder Tiger Kit. Not bad for U$ 89.
Modified with electric motor drive to get out of those nasty jams. When the sail arm loosens the sails up all the way it contacts a Radio Shack micro switch activating the motor drive. Two AA power the Mabuchi U$ 1.50 motor and U$ 4.95 shaft and screw.
Added brass railings front and aft and a deckhouse out of plastic. Looks much better that way.
The radio is a old 27mhz Robbe 2ch AM I bought over 14 years ago in Germany.
I tried to sail her locally but all the water around has a layer of scum on top. I'd have to build a model Icebreaker to do something on this water.
BTW the name of the Boat is LEE ANN. Named after my now ex-wife. No, I will not set it on fire and sink it.
Some recent changes: Installed a bigass Hitec sailarm servo and rerigged the mainsail lines. This necessitated a rebuilt of the radio box. Replaced the sailarm activated switch with a mini servo and switch to turn on the electric motor.
Alright, for our 7th "wedding anniversary" I decided to do a complete overhaul of the Lee Ann. The new Victoria kit has vastly improved sails and better hardware. Also the motor was dying and there was no way to remove it without major surgery. So without further babble here is the new Lee Ann out of Anacortes, WA.
Motor is a speed 400 with 2:1 gearbox. Comes as a complete setup from Graupner via Hobby Lobby.
Controlled by a solid state switch that activates when the sailarm control is loose all the way.
HiTec Sailarm servo, JR531 rudder servo. Still using my old Robbe 27Mhz AM from Germany.
The battery is wired directly to the sailarm servo for increased power.
Paint is Tamiya metalic true blue, white, desert tan and indigo blue.
FYI - Anacortes in a very nice small town on Fidalgo Island, 50 miles north of Seattle.