Ship shape
Remote-controlled model enthusiast builds detailed replicas
A typical day on Quidi Vidi Lake, one would expect to see rowers and paddlers, and for certain a host of walkers and runners. But on this day, the lake had a unique visitor.
A typical day on Quidi Vidi Lake, one would expect to see rowers and paddlers, and for certain a host of walkers and runners.
But on this day, the lake had a unique visitor.
The USS Montana, a remotecontrolled (RC) battleship prototype replica was sailing in and among the ducks at Quidi Vidi Lake. It was so realistic, smoke billowed from the stacks as it meandered its way among the ducks.
The model was constructed by RC enthusiast Kurt Stokes of St. John’s, who was seen by passersby as he put his ship through its paces. Stokes is preparing for a model show slated for Oct. 29 at the Holiday Inn in St. John’s.
The International Plastic Model Society, St. John’s Chapter, will host the show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“The Montana was actually never built as it was near the end of the (Second World War). It would have replaced the Iowa Class vessels,’’ Stokes said.
Also on display was a replica of the USS North Carolina, a retired vessel that now used as a museum in Wilmington, N.C.
Getting involved in this hobby came in an old-school manner for Stokes more than three decades ago.
He was thumbing through a magazine when he saw an article on a remote control ship that was armed with a BB gun.
“I had to find out about it,’’ he laughed.
Stokes spent four years in the Canadian Navy serving as a signalman on destroyers retiring with the rank of an ordinary seaman. He got to see first hand a number of warships up close and this helped drive his love of RC ships.
His current fleet of vessels numbers 17 including First World War and Second World War replicas such as the Montana, North Carolina and Missouri, the German vessel Bismarck, the Japanese ship Yamato and the Italian ship Roma. He is also looking to build British and French ships.
Labour of love
Unlike the models we all built as children, these works are more labour and time intensive.
Stokes considers this a lowend scale hobby with a relatively inexpensive cost. He said the model is about US$350 and the controller is around US$60.
Once a kit has been purchased, which includes the model and a remote controller, the work begins.
“Typically it takes six to eight months to complete one of these, but this one has taken several years,’’ Stokes said.
“I do my work on them in my shed, which doesn’t have any heat, so weather will dictate my work schedule.”
And how detailed you want to be is up to the individual.
“This is my most advanced work so far and it is not quite finished. It has a ¾-mile range and will run for several hours. Everything is rechargeable and waterproof,’’ Stokes said.
It will be equipped with a sound system and has many moveable parts like the rotating gun turrets that fire BBS for RC combat competitions.
For more information on RC ships and more of Stokes’ work, a number of resources are available. You can go to his Facebook page at: Titans Of The Sea: RC Warships, submarines & Auxillary Vessels, on Youtube at 16FEET or to www. rcwarshipcombat.com.