Best in show

Radio Control Boat Modeler, Oct 2004 by Fryant, John

Second place in Military was awarded to Jack Yavno of LaSaIIe, Canada, for his 1/72-scale, scratch-built Russian Krivak 3 Border Patrol Frigate. The 67 ½-inch-long model was exhibited in its own display case. It features complete interior lighting as well as 14 working deck lights on the helicopter pad. The twin screws are individually powered and controlled, and the gun turret rotates 180 degrees. The model is also equipped with a working destroyer siren.

Of course, many other excellent models that didn't win, place, or show were exhibited, too. One of the most unusual was a fishing dory exhibited by Cincinnatian Karl Buck. The dory is complete with a yellow-slickered fisherman who actually rows and steers the boat. It is built to the rather unusual scale of 2 inches to 1 foot. The scratch-built model used plans and electronics from Harbor Models. The fisherman performs six basic rowing strokes and is activated by 4 servos-2 for each oar. Four D cells and one 9V cell power the model, which has won awards at the St. Louis Admirals Annual Regatta and the Manitowoc, WI, Ship Model Competition. There isn't enough space to show photos of the wide variety of vessels entered in the show-everything from classic mahogany speedboats to sailing yachts and tugs. The many entries overflowed the areas assigned to them, and some models had to be displayed amid overhanging aircraft wings. Race boats don't fall into the scope of this column, but these had some of the most fantastic paint jobs that I have ever seen!

All in all, it was satisfying to see so many scratch-built models in the winners' positions.

Harbor Models

(626) 292-1617; harbomiodels.com.

Loyalhanna Dockyard

(585) 494-0027; loyalhannadockyard.com.

M.A.C.K. Products Model Marine

(732) 870-2966.

Midwest Products

(800)348-3497 or (219) 942-1134; midwestproducts.com.