MODELLTEICH
Skadi - A North Sea cutter
In my search for an affordable and not too complex beginner's model, I soon came across the Aeronaut kits. I liked the "Möwe 2" model straight away, as it has handy dimensions and looks good despite its low price. Fishing boats have charm and offer a lot of potential to set your own accents, as no two boats are the same. The kit was purchased and construction could begin.
The hull construction is quick and easy and the laser-cut parts are very accurate. Nevertheless, it would not have hurt if I had worked more neatly, as there were a few small gaps that had to be filled. Once this work had been completed, the hull could be painted and the drying time was used to assemble the deck superstructure.
The finished painted hull on its boat stand
Before gluing the deck in place, you should take care of installing the electronic components, as the inside of the hull will only be accessible to a limited extent later on. The supplied brushed motor was used as the drive, and the receiver, controller and servo were purchased from an electronics retailer. I prefer not to install the electronic components directly in the hull, but to place them in a plastic tray (leftover packaging) so that nothing happens to them if water gets into the hull.
The electronics find their place in the hull
Once the deck has been fitted, it is time to position the superstructure. On the Möwe 2, these consist mainly of the helmstand with hatch and the mast with the cranks. The superstructure covers the access to the electronic components inside and is simply slipped over a coaming. However, as the sides of the cutter model extend well above the waterline, there is no need to worry too much about the deck flooding. A winch and two lifebuoys round off the look of the superstructure.
The superstructures are placed on a trial basis, only the mast is still missing
I wanted to illuminate my model so that I could also go fishing in the evening. The following lights were installed: the position lights, the top light and the cabin lighting. The mast with its top light proved to be a particular challenge, as I wanted to make it removable for ease of transportation. However, because the battery tray is located underneath it, there is little space left for a solid mast mount. Several attempts were necessary until the mast could be made detachable for transportation, but still not wobble while driving. A plug-in system ensures that the connection for the top light is as simple as possible.
Function test of the lighting, the various lights look harmonious
After completing the lighting, the model was ready. It was named Skaði, after the Norse goddess of winter, and from now on sails under the Danish flag. Final details such as boxes of freshly caught fish were created and placed on the deck, then I had to think about how I could transport Skaði safely to the water. The solution was found in a lined case from the hobby shop, where the hull, superstructure and the entire remote control could be stored.
The transport case for the model, details on the deck of the fishing boat
The first tests on a local pond were very satisfactory, the handy model responds well to steering commands and has a small turning circle. If you press a little harder on the throttle, you realize that the built-in brushed motor is probably a little too well intentioned, the bow lifts slightly out of the water and Skaði pushes herself across the water at a speed that is probably somewhat unusual for a fishing cutter. Building the model gave me a lot of pleasure and I enjoy the relaxed trips with my speedy fishing cutter
Skaði in her element
Update : It's been a while since I finished Skaði and I'm still really enjoying my cutter. However, I do miss the nets that are typical for these boats. So I did some research online to find out what they look like and how they work. On the originals, the nets are lowered over the cranks on the side of the hull and have sledges, called shoes, with which they are dragged across the seabed, filling the tube-like nets. The construction of the nets began with the creation of the shoes and the connecting rod to which the net was later attached; the components were bent from brass wire and soldered together
The sledges are bent and soldered, then connected with rods
The nets are made from a piece of fabric from the leftover box. It was important to me that the mesh size of the material roughly matched the scale of the model, i.e. that it was neither too wide nor too fine. Fortunately, the fabric is a little elastic, which proved to be practical, but the original bright blue color was unsuitable. The material was simply soaked in a black tea bath to make it darker. The shape of the nets was then cut out four times using a cardboard template and the nets were sewn.
left, my modest sewing skills, right, a picture to illustrate how it works (source: Die Zeit)
Chains were soldered to the two tubular constructions to attach the nets to the boom later. After the soldering work was completed, the parts were colored with a silver Edding pen to make them match the aluminum masts of the cutter better. Wooden bead chains were used to give the nets their characteristic line that is pulled across the seabed.
The two main components of the nets before assembly
The nets were sewn to the carrying frames in such a way that the nets are slightly spread apart to create an opening for fishing. To attach the two net constructions to the cranks, I used small carabiners from the jewelry store and soldered them to the middle chains. I sewed another carabiner to the end of each net so that you can also drive the nets "hauled in". I will still have to think about how to sail them. Although the design enhances the look of my cutter somewhat, the gear is clearly too unsteady when sailing. I'm going to try replacing the existing lines on the mast with rubber cords and then run them down over the boom tips to the sides of the boat to see if that has the desired effect.
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