Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

Struck ELDORADO at the car boot sale--------came across a 300 SL MERCEDES GULLWING AND AN E TYPE JAGUAR ROADSTER, after a little friendly haggling and a some gentle persuasion I have them on the shelf next to the TYPE 35 BUGGATTI I bought last year.
See if I can give your eyes a feast tomorrow.
Beavered away and got a couple of gearcases stitched to the "Rudes"------4mm prop shafts seems to be popular with the RC community!
Could get a couple of concepts winging their way to J S in Illinois early next week. Still don't have any props.

Weathers still colder than a witches tit, ( as my sainted mother used to say )
Leaves on the trees are fully out and the May blossom is prolific-------it's six weeks since it first appeared but there's no sign of any heatwave anywhere except in Jamaica.
Madam is off visiting a national trust country house over in Kent today so I can get a full day in the shop. Would like to get the last of my projects finished before I start the wind down.
I have a couple of models to have a bash at, one of them is a Duesenberg I started 28 years ago but never really got into .
See if I can tickle your taste buds with the 300 SL and the EType --------I just love big models with steering, opening bonnets and boots, (Hoods and trunks to colonials)

Attachment 374303Attachment 374304Attachment 374305Attachment 374306Attachment 374307Attachment 374308

These are three early UMBRAGO die cast all metal 18 th scale sports cars, very collectible and don't cost much money---------detail is outrageous.
Anyone starting out doing collecting for a hobby couldn't pick anything much better than these ! Word of advice------keep them in the original boxes if you can------pristine models can be bought from £10/25. ,Won't Be long before they shoot up in value.

Attachment 374323Attachment 374324Attachment 374325Attachment 374326Attachment 374327Attachment 374328

Looks like Ike I might have saved this from DavyJones locker or the happy race track in the sky, stitching the two outriggers on may have saved the day ! Course, it doesn't like anything at all, but alls fair in love and concept making.

Have you tried this, Jackie??

http://zippkits.com/~zippkits/index....index&cPath=94

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM

Have you tried this, Jackie??

http://zippkits.com/~zippkits/index....index&cPath=94

---

Thanks Gene, had a cursory glance, some nice looking wheels in there !
I could do with 25 props immediately and another 25 for stock, that would be a shed load of $'s!
I could really do with a good three blade mould and start casting my own-----her indoors will go ape sh-t if I start boiling metals. When Jilly starts throwing dollies, it's not a pretty sight, that's when I stay cool, out of sight and out of reach.
I didn't reach the ripe old age of 85 by being dumb and stupid---------I'm smarter than the average BOO BOO !
One of the many reasons I haven't rushed to open a foundry ?

J.W....Our friend from over the pond has posted some lovely wheels... BUT by the time the revenue/customs/vat hits you, you may well wish you had looked the other way..


A couple of weeks ago at the Beaulieu Boat Jumble I found some nice 3-blader jobbies moulded in black plastic..

Hand paint/spray paint..(Halfords in Chichy!) any colour you like...

Plastic is always gonna be cheaper than metal...as you say "its a concept"

As Don used to say "a coat of paint hides a multitude of sins".........Phill.








































Boat jumble

Even for my stuff Phill, plastic just don't seem right-------maybe I haven't come across the right ones yet-------.
You ever finish the Arab boat in a box------maybe you should post a "progress report".

Finally managed to get on Ron Hills Boat Racing Facts----------was delighted to have received a PM from Pruetts granddaughter Deanne.
Problem is ----it was dated 2015, I did reply, but haven't heard back from her.
If anyone knows her whereabouts, please get in touch. Need to tell her about my gold Labrador "PRUETT "-----had him for over 15 years!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Even for my stuff Phill, plastic just don't seem right-------maybe I haven't come across the right ones yet-------.
You ever finish the Arab boat in a box------maybe you should post a "progress report".

---

Jackie...the Arab Boat was finished within a fortnight complete with a replacement Perspex cover..

I am too much of a thick'un to be able to post a snap here but I will send you a couple of foggies in the mail.....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ron54

Jackie...the Arab Boat was finished within a fortnight complete with a replacement Perspex cover..

I am too much of a thick'un to be able to post a snap here but I will send you a couple of foggies in the mail.....

---

Didnt know you had it finished-------you were waiting for translation of the hyrogliphics last time I heard.
Parkinson and myself were presented with one apiece------I was founder and president of FONDA at the time, so I suppose I qualified. Don't think it ever once saw the light of day Phill, glad you got it on display.

Never even found a penny washer-----either at the scrapyard or the car boot sale. Maybe I'm losing my touch !
Tomorrow were out for lunch , had hoped to parcel up the three boats for JOHN Schubert to work his magic on them-------make them half respectable.
What seems like a lifetime ago I did a series of boats for a would be client. I had a fantastic chunk of Boxwood which I managed to get a pair of V bottoms out of.
Pproject fell flat so I took one of the hulls and sawed it clean down the middle---------made a great tunnel out of it and am in the process of cobbling four 400 hp Verado type outboards to stitch on its bum. Progress is fairly rapid and the result is promising.
Her majesty was out all day, so the rules of engagement do not apply

Anybody out there noticed that the little info column on the left hand side------below the adverts, is no longer in use-----------PUT IT BACK GREG ! I miss those little snippets, used to take me to threads that I wouldn't normally sit up and take notice of.
Might just get a couple of hours in the shop today----------week end ban is no longer in force------I'm under the feet of the kitchen goddess. She reckons I walk around with my "Slapped arse" face on and get a distinct miss my workshop attitude.
Worked out exactly how to fix the four outboards on to the big cat-------make a removable transom, stitch the motors to it and Voila, there you have it-----if it works, I'll post a piccie.

Managed a couple of hours in the shop but progress on anything with four motors takes four times as long with ten times as much frustration, fifty per cent chance of mmistakes and much pissed off time.
Got a full and clear day tomorrow------can only get better--------remember the old adage "SOMEDAYS, YOU EAT BEAR.

Feeling a little more sociable this morning, not quite as cross with the world, no particular reason why I should be-----it just IS.
Madam has decided we need a few days in France to brighten up the month so we're taking the fast cat from Portsmouth to Cherbourg and doing a four day tour around St Malo up to Brest and the coast of Normandy. Life is never dull in this house--------"Life is like a box of chocolates".

Redid two of the motors------made all four very similar. Should have taken more care, two four hundreds and a pair of three hundreds. I didn't think it would matter to have two different shaped engines--------truth is, it does matter, even when I'm only doing concepts. That meant carving out two big engines and constructing a whole new transom. Nothing in life is ever simple.
End of the day I did a dry run , cobbling all four motors onto the new transom then assembling the whole shebang--------first thing that came to mind was Jimbo's unlimited. Don't know how many motors that boat carried, just remembered it as looking low, long, lean, and the Biz .

Depending on how well it turns out, I might just give it to Mark as a thank you for upgrading me out of cattle class on my last visit to Florida------got a great chunk of English Yew with lots of figuring for the central pod. Looks a lot like olive wood except much nicer. I know he likes lots of exotic wood on his toys.
went to sleep last night remembering the time Pruett and I went for a walk around Havasu, was early evening when we walked into the OMC encampment--------I turned to the FBI and said "Garbrecht is not gonna like this". He just looked down at me and said " Gary don't pick my friends !"
It was the "SHRIMPBAKE"--------- there was Johnnie Sanders, Tom Posey, Ted May, Bob Nordskog, Jeff Briggs, Art Kennedy and his dad, Charley Strang, Jack Leek, "JIMBO", John Schubert and dozens more who's names I can't recall at this moment, I haven't forgotten them. I had a wonderful evening, was made welcome by every one, was amazed how everyone just loved PRUETT !
Got back home to England, Sam was five years old at the time and decided she wanted a golden Labrador. When we got this little sweetie home , she called it PRUETT.
That damned dog screwed everything that could walk------the day before he died he mounted next door neighbours Afghan -------he was fifteen years old and goofing his way through life to the end!

I talk all too Much! G' night !

Attachment 374637Attachment 374638Attachment 374639Attachment 374640Attachment 374642Attachment 374643Attachment 374644

There 'Tis, ------but never again, -------all I have to do is dismantle the lot and try and finish it to a half decent standard. Even made a stonking mount for it.

Made up mind, finished with boats for the foreseeable future, time to move on and try something else!
Getting rid of the Mig,Tig, inverter welder, the huge silent compressor, and a shedload of power tools, in fact I have to change a lot of things in the workshop-------now I've settled in, it's time to put things exactly where I want them.
Ive literally backed myself into a corner and am moving sideways around the shop-----this is not the way it was meant to be !
Trying to find packaging to post J.S. a few concepts for him to play with. I've put it off far too long, don't want to start procrastinating at this stage .

Parcelled up the concepts, two for JS and one for Mark, paid for collection with Trans Global but theblasted I pad would not print out the delivery address. Printed Marks ok butDont want to know Johns.

What do ya know--------it's Thursday again, is that the second or third time we had a Thursday this week?
"Never lose sight of the objective" -----an old friend of mine used to remind me on a daily basis, but somehow it kind of got put on the back burner and for the most part largely forgotten of late.
Time to focus again--------but on what ?
Reached a crossroads-----trouble is, it's a six way junction, my built in sat nav has no idea of where I'm going or want to be at------it's make up your mind time !
Might take a time out for a while.
Catching the fast cat to Cherbourg crack-o-sparrow Sunday morning, need a little diversion and a change of scenery and diet.
Ah, well, as my sainted mother used to say------"this won't buy the baby a new pair of shoes"------
dont even ask !

Had a clean up day, did very little in the way of construction but rearranged about a dozen concepts. Packed up and labelled three USA bound concepts-------ups guy wouldn't take them-----told me the paperwork was not in order--------did not throw the dollies until after he departed !
Means I need assistance with the invoicing.
Bloods came back with a deficiency in vitamin B, taking a crash course of six jabs in two weeks.
Feel like a bloody pin cushion. After that they want another armful of blood-------not going to be much left to hold me up if they keep on emptying me of vital fluids.
Managed to unlock my fancy LIECA , damned thing told me it was full up, haven't had it five minutes! Anyway I had a geek kid come round with his lap top-----plugged it in and cured the sickness, tells me it's good to go until the next time.
Only reason I bought it was to be able to take better pictures-------would appear it's the user not the camera that's the problem.

Doc took another stab at me this afternoon-------four more to go then I should be full !
Cleared up a shedload of gear out of the shop--------some I sold, most of it I gave away.
Last working day tomorrow, Sunday we're off for a four day break, touring around Brittany, just "Chilling", sometimes you just need to switch off and take a break.
Trusty Lexus IS all checked out and fuelled------tickets booked and sat nav set-------did I ever really just used to read road signs and an out of date map, jump in the van , buy the ticket at the port and off we go. Wonder if anyone does anything by the seat of the pants any more ?

​Bring back the side bar------I miss it and all the bits of nonsense------all is forgiven !

John Schubert, "you ain't never gonna believe this"------- UPS finally picked up the concepts ! Two going to you and one for Mark.
One of them is for Roger H. And the others for Ron H. No hurry on either one, next time you bump it to them, tell'em I said hi ?
Unfortunately I wasn't able to send mounts with any of them, bloody cost was prohibitive so I'll stick em all in the chest when I send the next shipment to Florida.
No Kewpie doll for guessing where I'm off to this morning----- I hear the recycling facility whispering my name !

Someone asked me to make whale tail out of metal to use as a garden ornament-------stainless or aluminium? It's diving into an ornamental garden pond, they could have had a seagull or a duck ! But a FECKIN whale ? Anyway her indoors decided she wants one , can I make it so it looks like it's diving over the fence into my next door neighbour's garden. Ho,Ho, looks like it could be my lucky night ! Play your cards right Jacko and it might be your birthday!

Down the short road to Portsmouth we rode,
to jump on the fast cat to France
was a hell of a trip
and the cat didn't flip
----------------------------ance?

Anyone care to finish it?

Was it an ozzie made cat?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by powerabout

Was it an ozzie made cat?

---

Arent they all ?

Because it was already built upside down ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Down the short road to Portsmouth we rode,
to jump on the fast cat to France
was a hell of a trip
and the cat didn't flip
----------------------------ance?

Anyone care to finish it?

---

Pilgrim tells me these "Fastcats"are Australian--------probably made in Taiwan or Korea , there's not much comes out of OZ anymore except dead didgeridoos, old abo's and unwanted muslims --------even WARBY stays home these days!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Down the short road to Portsmouth we rode,
to jump on the fast cat to France
was a hell of a trip
and the cat didn't flip
----------------------------ance?

Anyone care to finish it?

---

Sir Ernest didn't do as well with the 'Endurance'---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jackiewilson

Pilgrim tells me these "Fastcats"are Australian--------probably made in Taiwan or Korea , there's not much comes out of OZ anymore except dead didgeridoos, old abo's and unwanted muslims --------even WARBY stays home these days!

---

the ozzie business is http://www.incat.com.au/
I think fastcat is South African?

Heading for home-------HOLIDAYS, FRIENDS, AND FISH STAY FRESH FOR THREE DAYS---------that's it, after that it's time to get back to normal !
No doubt about it, this is the only civilised country in the world where a man can stop the car---------walk to the front-------hang out his tallywhacker and take a leak, cheerfully waving said object at passing motorists without fear of being arrested or prosecuted------------this is France !
A man and his piss are sacrosanct!
Gendarmes do it-------farmers do it----- fire men on their way to work do it.
Another thing-------Frenchmen do not wash their hands after pissing !
Wonder if I'll make it past border control on the way back ?

On the fat fast cat heading for Portsmouth--------made it past customs on the frog side-------they didn't even look twice-------guess there's an air of respectability about the trusty Lexus that even covers my flaws.
Should be home around 20:00 hrs.
Will be picking Murphy up from the cattery early in the morning--------she is going to be so pissed with jilly and me for putting her in a cats home for three days !
You should be getting the two concepts JOHN S. very soon--------we come a long way since the pony express----------mind you I could have bought Texas for what they charge postage these days.
Gary and the big boat are heading for NJ, whilst Mark and Craig are heading up the road a piece to cocoa beach with his new ride-------the Spectre Boats P1. He's got sister Kate in the side seat as Sis Nav. Bet there's a few ruffled feathers in that rig come Sunday night!

Thats the spring break over and done with---------was made necessary by the fact we had to install all new central heating, which meant tearing up all the floorboards for three days! That's the reason we had to put Murph in a safe place. We got a text to say the task was completed successfully!
Guesswhat---------it's bloody Thursday again tomorrow---------less than two weeks and we're into June. ,!!

Went to pick up Murphy from the cattery-------opened the door to stroke her------she leapt over my shoulder and was chased by the resident dog across a field and up into a very tall oak tree. Her who shall be obeyed was not best pleased I can tell you. Spent the next hour trying to get Murph back down----------was told in no uncertain terms I was thick, stupid, thoughtless and had no mother or father ! Alls well that ends well, cats curled up on the rug in front of the fire and I'm still in the doghouse---------life is never dull around here.
Craig and Kate and Mark are heading to St. Cloud for the First P1 race of the season---------I was under the impression it was Cocoa beach---------it's not !
Ill tell you how it's going as soon as I find out.
Came away from the car boot empty handed, must be losing my touch.
We finally got all the rain we need , just like always, never rains unless it pours.
Things should be back to normal today ------had a friend take up the rest of the carpet in the shop, should be able to keep the floor neat and tidy now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jackiewilson

We finally got all the rain we need , just like always, never rains unless it pours.
Things should be back to normal today ----.

---

Makes it difficult going out to the Hangar---

http://i68.tinypic.com/4huy2o.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GENE LANHAM

Makes it difficult going out to the Hangar---

http://i68.tinypic.com/4huy2o.jpg

---

Where the hell you at these days Gene ? Alaska, ? That looks like a full six inches to me !
Another fall like that and the hanger roof's in jeopardy.

Sat up waiting for Mark to call, tried calling him on FaceTime but he's not answering, so my guess is the day has been something of a disaster. I talked to Craig earlier in the day, told me the boat was a rogue. Spun out in practice and was unpredictable though he wasn't unduly pushing. First time out with his sister, so he's not going to be driving it over his head.
Picked up a really nice tin travelling chest----------had all the P&O stickers along with an old Orient Express label for a tenner. Will do nicely for shipping all the concepts I have backed up ready for shipment to florida.
Finished the four outboards for the V bottom ---------and the motors for the big all metal cat. Had a good steady two days in the shop, made big inroads into the finishing of the concepts.
Now the short nights are here, it's nice to rise with the dawn chorus, a cup of tea in bed, out in the shop by seven thirty. Her Majesty seems to have forgotten the restricted hours scenario ., which Im pleased about .

Keeps spinning out cause there's no skeg in the water, and/or prop bite. Problem with these stepped V-bottoms is, the drive or outboard actually has to be installed much lower, till the aeration doesn't affect the slip-stream so much. Its sucks, but nature of the beast. Not tell'n ya anything ya don't already know, right Jacko? lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

Keeps spinning out cause there's no skeg in the water, and/or prop bite. Problem with these stepped V-bottoms is, the drive or outboard actually has to be installed much lower, till the aeration doesn't affect the slip-stream so much. Its sucks, but nature of the beast. Not tell'n ya anything ya don't already know, right Jacko? lol

---

i would would normally agree with you Fuji, but Craig set up ten of these boats with the new Mercs on until he had them all running within a gnats whisker of each other, never had a spin out !
Damn boats are super critical about engine height------and angle of dangle
My gut reaction was he had the motor jacked too high, but he assured me he had it set the same as the rest.
Just to pour salt in -------he had an electrical problem that kept him out of running two heats.
When was the last time you heard of a Merc with an electrical problem? Especially a brand fire new lump ? This 2017, not the 1960's.
Im sure he'll have it all sorted for the next race----------if not by this afternoon.
Reason I didn't hear from them--------all the phones were down ( like they always are when you're having a crap day).

Somedays you eat bear !