Miss America VIII - Update (2024)

Mar 22, 2022, 04:29 PM

• #1

JimsBoats

Thread OP

Build Log

Hello all! I just wanted to share (brag) about finally getting my Miss America VIII up and running in the water!

I started the build in 2011. This is a R/C model of Gar Wood's 1929 race boat, Miss America VIII. It is 60 inches long with a 19-inch beam. It is scratch built. The keel and frames were cut on the bandsaw from 3/8 inches Baltic birch plywood. The hull is sub-planked with clear fir with mahogany planking over the sub-planking. The model weighs 75 pounds.

Update as of November 2021:
Since I could not get the original Authentic Scale V-12 engines to run properly we had no choice but to make some dramatic changes. It is now powered with two Turnigy Aquastar T-20 brushless motors. They are bolted into the back of the block of V-12 engines, so the model still has the look of the original Garwood Miss America VIII. The motors still drive the original two step up gearboxes with a v-drive and drive two 3 inch diameter 3-bladed stainless steel props. The boat steers with a bow rudder.

Here is the link of it finally running in the water.

And here are a few photos of the build. Thank you for viewing!

Mar 22, 2022, 09:37 PM

• #2

GPR

Mar 23, 2022, 11:53 AM

• #3

frankg

JIM- It is a grying shame that you could not get the nitro V-12’s to work. I hope you got some compensation from the engine maker after all the work you put into the model expressly for use with those motors.

Here is a thought!! With the introduction of some really good engine sound systems now on the market, why not install a couple of them under that front deck, which by the way would make for a great sound box for a deep, loud engine sounds. Also if you have your engines on separate throttles, the sound systems would allow for separate engine start up and shut down from each throttle stick.

I am now installing one of the sound units in one of my new kit releases to test and for my own use. They really are less expensive than those non running V-12’s.

PS- although I must admit that when we spoke about you buying those V-112’s, and the cool sound that they would make, I had mentioned using big brushless motors with dummy engine covers. Live and learn..

Mar 23, 2022, 06:33 PM

• #4

JimsBoats

Thread OP

Hi Rich, yes the video was short because we had a U joint slip so we had to stop. The boat did cavatate but we did do some work on everything over the winter and I'm getting it all back together now. We removed all of the insides of the engines and got rid of a lot of weight. I wanted to keep the original parts of the engine in the boat. The V12s set me back about 5,000 dollars and Antonio Silva promised me new engines since 2016. I don't think Authentic Scale is even in business anymore or building engines of any kind. I was just very happy to see the boat run and now we can refine things this summer.
I will talk to you soon.

Regards

Jim.

Mar 23, 2022, 07:29 PM

• #5

tghsmith

Mar 26, 2022, 11:38 AM

• #6

glgirvin