"STAR" MODEL RACING YACHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 261, 4 November 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

"STAR" MODEL RACING YACHT.

Parts 1, 2 and 3 of this series have given you plans and details of the "Star" Eacing Model Yacht, and if you have kept up to date you will now have the hull completed, deck finished and spars made. The hard work is done, but

there still remains quite a bit of detail to proceed with. Now the hull is finished, and you have it smooth in all the curves, it is well worth while making a good job of the finishing. Smooth over thoroughly with medium, then fine and, and lastly with the very finest glas&paper. Apply a coat of flat white paint, and allow to dry for 48 hours. Then rub down again with very fine glasspaper and finish with a coat of enamel, or, better still, brushing lacquer, of the colour desired. The deck and spars should all be finished in natural colour by smoothing and varnishing, using the method outlined above.

Fig. 24 illustrates the steering gear, which is a ; modified "Brain" steering gear, being simple to make and positive in operation. This diagram also clearly indicates the boom fittings and the method used to attach the mainsail to the boom.

Fig. 23 shows the fitting of the demountable topmast. If you desire to have the mast all in one piece you can, of course, but the detachable topmast makes transportation easier, quite ari item when you live a few miles from the water. The -bowsies" used to adjust the various "sheets" and "ratlines" are of the ordinary type, an illustration being given in fig. 26. Figs. 25 and 27 show how the mast is held laterally, and method adopted of supporting" and strengthening some by the cross-treei You now ha.ve the boat ready for fitting the sails, and it is

important to notice how the sails are cut from tlie material. Fig. 2S shows this. If you want your sails to set correctly be sure and cut exactly as shown. The material used depends on your purse. A fine, light, but close textured material is necessary. t Allow fin all round for a hem, and be careful not to stretch any of the cut edges, or you will have a series of wrinkles in the finished sail. One important item must be noticed here. It is absolutely essential to sew three-eighth inch wide tape around all edges. The sails are attached by wire hooks and screw eyes, except oft the booms to which they are lashed. Now for the "tyrant." It is one thing to build a model yacht and another

thing to sail it. The balancing is an art in itself, and if you follow the instructions here you will have a "balanced" craft, but the finer details of sailing ifc I must leave to you. You will find that there are plenty of yachtsmen and old experienced model yacht builders who will only be too pleased to give you a lift along if you ask them. To balance, first haul in the mainsail until the boom is directly above the

corner of the stern, and the jib to the same angle (see fig. 29). This is called "close-hauled" for tacking. Now place the model in the water, facing about 55 degrees away from the wind (see fig. 30), and allow it to sail away, carefully watching its antics. It will do one of these.

First, keep on sailing in the same direction, in which case you can be content, for you have it perfectly balanced first time. Second, it may "luff up" or run up in the wind, with sails flapping-; To cure this, move the bowsprit forward about a quarter of an inch at a time. Third, it may "pay away," or, in other words, turn away from the wind (see fig. 31). In this case you must move the bowsprit back until balance is obtained.

Now this concludes the series of articles on the "Star" model racing yacht, and I feel sure that young craftsmen who wish to have something "different" will not be disappointed if they make this yacht. I feel sure that the interest shown already is sufficient evidence of the popularity which this model will achieve this summer. In conclusion, "good sailing" to all you yachtsmen, and may you have many pleasant hours both building and sailing the "Star" model racing yacht.

TO READERS GENERALLY. I hope you have enjoyed the ai-ticles on the model yacht and on the kayak which have appeared lately. The kayak has caused a lot of interest, and I have received letters from a number of readers who have made it. In all these reports pleasure is expressed at the clean racy lines of the kayak and its wonderful buoyancy and speed in the water. I have a number of good model aeroplane plans to publish now, and one particular model, in my opinion, will be the "Hawker Super-Fury" scale flying model.

I will be publishing the plans of this soon now, so those correspondents who have been awaiting these details will be rewarded for their patience.

LABOUR DAY COMPETITIONS. A kindly reader, who prefers to remain anonymous, and whose kindly interest had' been kindled in model aviation as the result of following these notes, gave Propeller a trophy for annual competition. The cup, known as the Auckland Championship Cup, for

fuselage models R.0.G., is now in the hands of the Auckland Model Aeroplane Association, and was included in the Labour Day programme. The winner was H. Reynolds, whose flight was 595. High winds made conditions difficult, but, considering circumstances, the flying was quite good. The invitation co.jpetition, >.pen to non-affiliated competitors, was won by O. Dorrington, 09s, 1; B. Ascot, 345, 2; T. Clark, 325, 3. The Auckland Championship Cup for fuselage models R.O.G. was won by H; Reynolds, 595, 1; Martin, 51s, 2; R. Clarkson, 4Cs, 3; and the open tournament for all-comers by Mrs. H. J. Clark, 2.14, 1; SI. Sutherland, 2.3, 2; W. Macklev, 1.41, 3.