Latest project

[Doug Smock]

Zipp Kits ROCKETT. 48" length x 22" beam.:cool:
She'll be powered by a stock 260 Zenoah.

Doug

[G Doggett]

Ya Gotta love vintage shovel nose hydros.
Good choice for power, but keep your voice down some folks round here don't appreciate smelly noisy Zenoahs.
Graham.:rockon2:

[Jeepers]

Nice Doug!

[62 bugzilla]

I have had my eye on that boat and the easy vee which looks really simple for a big boat kit but the vintage hydro look is awsome.

[Flying Scotsman]

Doug, do you have plans for hardware, as of this date?

Douggie

[Doug Smock]

Doug, do you have plans for hardware, as of this date?

Douggie

Hello Douggie,
Yes sir, Speedmaster strut and rudder, Zipp Kits turn fin.:biggrin:

Doug

[Doby]

Very Nice Doug:bounce:

Only one problem that I can see at this time,,,,IT'S NOT ELECTRIC:laugh: :laugh:

Once you fix that minor problem,,,all will be well. (JK)

[SJFE]

Burn that petrol man:rockon2: Sweeeeeeeet!!!!

[Doug Smock]

Very Nice Doug:bounce:

Only one problem that I can see at this time,,,,IT'S NOT ELECTRIC:laugh: :laugh:

Once you fix that minor problem,,,all will be well. (JK)

I did ask if they would let me run in the thunderboat class with electric power.
They aren't going for it.:confused1: LOL

[Flyguy55]

Hi Doug
I think you race mostly IMPBA . What are the IMPBA Thunderboat rules ?
NAMBA 's width rules 48" X 24" min. :-(

Dick

[Doug Smock]

Hi Doug
I think you race mostly IMPBA . What are the IMPBA Thunderboat rules ?
NAMBA 's width rules 48" X 24" min. :-(

Dick
Hello Dick,

From the June Roostertail,

Classic Thunderboat Hydro - Specialty Class
GENERAL DESCRIPTION – Scale or standoff scale replicas of the classic era (1950-1970)
Unlimited & Limited hydroplanes. All boats will be three (3) point hydroplanes, no outrigger;
modified outrigger, tunnel or canard hulls will be allowed.
HULL SPECIFICATIONS
1. Boats may be wood or fiberglass/composite type construction.
2. Length shall be a maximum of 56 inches, minimum of 46 inches. Width shall be a minimum
of 21”.
3. All boats shall be a rear cockpit configuration with a period appropriate driver. No animal or
cartoon characters.
4. All boats shall have a period correct paint scheme and sponsor name & logo. The Sponsor/
Logo May be original or of your own choice.
5. Normal hull configuration shall be conventional round nose, shovel nose, dropped sponson
or pickle fork design. The pickle fork shall not exceed 10% of the hull length and be
modeled after a classic era boat (1950-1970).
6. No rear sponson, ride shoe or other riding surface allowed aft of the sponson transom.
Engine belly pans are allowed. Engine belly pans may not extend beyond the engine
compartment.
7. Nothing may extend more than 5 1/4 inches beyond the transom.
8. The strut mounting is optional. Maximum strut length of 3 ½ inches in length and ½ inch in
width. Effort must be made to cover the gasoline engine with either a cowling or period
correct fake engine.
ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
IMPBA Super Sport Engine specification rules, as outlined in the IMPBA rulebook
Section I - Large Scale Gasoline will apply with the following exceptions.
1. Any exhaust system allowed. The exhaust system must be concealed within the hull and
exit thru the transom. All boats must meet current IMPBA noise rules.
2. An unmodified Walbro #257 carburetor may be substituted for the factory original carburetor.
3. Any composite type replacement gasket set (min .014, max.018) may be used.
The engine must be equipped with a recoil starter and this starter must be the primary
means of starting the engine. Supplementary starters are allowed. The brand of starter is optional.

Doug

[Doug Smock]

The motor, mount, pipe and header arrived today!!!:banana: The exhaust er eh, electrons, :huh: will exit the transom.

I'll be putting the deck on next.:smile:

Doug

[G Doggett]

Looks like you have tons of room to fit the engine and exhaust in there.
Will the carb be under the deck line ?
I had a hell of a job squeezing everything into Miss Zenoah because it has a much lower profile deck than yours.
The main reason I made the dummy exhaust stacks was to disguise the bulges for the header pipe and carb.
Keep up the good work.
Vintage hydros rock.
Graham.:rockon2:

[Doug Smock]

Yes sir, everything will be hidden away. I will have to put short needles in the carb, but other than that I should be ok.

I'm getting excited!

Doug

Graham, post some pics of your Miss Zenoah, I love to see what other folks have done.:thumbup1:

[Jeepers]

wow! that motor looks tiny in that thing!

[Doug Smock]

wow! that motor looks tiny in that thing!

LOL It is, this boat is a beast!! LOTS of sanding.

Doug

[Jeepers]

LOL It is, this boat is a beast!! LOTS of sanding.

Doug


so how is this coming Doug?

After going to the gas/ nitro nats I am hooked on these monster boats!

Doug you will interested to know that several guys I talked to at this event said the would rather go electric to run at Colorados altitude.

[Doug Smock]

so how is this coming Doug?

After going to the gas/ nitro nats I am hooked on these monster boats!

Doug you will interested to know that several guys I talked to at this event said the would rather go electric to run at Colorados altitude.

I have the hull ready for mahogany but had to put it on hold until I get the seven hydros built for the "Shoot Out"

I bet that thin air does cause them some tuning issues.:glare:

[Eyekandyboats]

awesome DOUG!.
looks great. shes going to be zippy! lol.... :)

[Doug Smock]

Well I finally got back to work on the Thunderboat. The non trips and deck are on, the inside has been sealed, and one coat of epoxy on the bottom.

Time to start the mahogany veneer.:thumbup1::ohmy:

Doug

[Doug Smock]

Mahogany and Birdseye Maple veneer going on.

[Doug Smock]

A few more.

[tth]

Looking good Doug!

[j.m.]

Gorgeous!

[Ub Hauled]

WOW... I was thinking about my next project and it seems I have a winner.
I had looked at this kit before but it's hard to tell the real proportions of it...

she is be-e-a-utiful! but mine will be done for the bright side of the force...
electric force that is... I think sooner or later it'll be allowed anyway.

[Flying Scotsman]

Looking great Doug. Are you having fun putting the veneer on?:smile:. It is a pain in the ass to get right.
Will you stain the veneer or leave natural?

Douggie

[Reesor@work]

Very sweet Doug...I love the veneer work!

[Eodman]

Doug --- thats nice work! Wish I had the patience to do work like that!

Now --- about this gas stuff ---- I heard they are going to mine the water when you run that gas thingie!~!!!

[Doug Smock]

Thanks for the kind words gentlemen.:smile:

Yes Douggie, veneer can be a bit of a pain, broke my heart a couple of times already.:doh:
The Mahogany is not so bad if you pay close attention to the grain when you trim it and sand the edges. The Birdseye Maple is different than anything I have worked with before. It is very hard in places to cut a straight line, and it will split on you in a second.

I have to pick up some more Maple for the sponson tops and the two small strips on each side of the deck in the front. The the whole thing will get three coats of finishing epoxy (sanded between coats), and then two or three coats of clear.

Thanks for looking,

Doug

[10gauge]

Doug, truly a fantastic build in every aspect! The shovelnose has more curves than a Ferrari. I guess all the graceful lines will become a blur once the motor goes in. Good Luck!

[tylerm]

Whose pipe is that Doug?

[Doug Smock]

Thanks 10 guage.
Tylerm it's a B.H.Hanson quiet pipe.

Doug

[ksm2001]

Wow! Beautiful work !!! Love the birds eye maple, you'll want to put that in a display case when your not running it.

[Doug Smock]

Thanks Ken.

All the veneer is on:banana:, and the first coat of finishing epoxy!!:biggrin:
I'll sand it smooth with 400 tomorrow evening and get the second coat on.

Doug

[tth]

Good job Doug the boat is coming along beautifully.:popcorn2:

[ApacheDude]

:thumbup1:

Wow. i wasn't a fan of this hull shape until this post. The finish work and colors look awesome.

Looks very nice indeed.

[Ub Hauled]

Doug,
what kinda clear are you using?
Looks great!

[Scott T]

That looks great Doug! Looking forward to seeing how she looks when finished.