Ditton Dabler

If you search for “Bow Bumper” on the Sailsetc website there are detailed recommendations on what to use and how to do it. https://www.sailsetc2.com/index.php/bow-bumper.html

On Monday 20th April 2026 Hampton Court MYC is hosting the first round of the 2026 DF95 Met & Southern Travellers Trophy. The sailing will take place in the lovely surroundings of Hampton Court’s Home Park and we look forward to welcoming as many as possible for a good day’s sailing. If you'd like to be a part of it, full details are on the Events page.

The Vintage Model Yacht Group are a fount of knowledge on these things - best contact is the Chairman Martin Bandey : Martinbandey@aol.com ; 07768 074796

On Sunday 22nd March 2026 Hampton Court MYC is hosting its annual Charity IOM Open Meeting, postponed from January, which will also be Round 2 of the M&S District IOM Championship – and a good warm up for the Nationals! The sailing will take place in the lovely surroundings of Hampton Court’s Home Park and there is no entry fee, competitors being invited to make a donation to the Momentum Children’s Charity, which provides help to children undergoing treatment for cancer. We look forward to welcoming as many as possible for a good day’s sailing whilst supporting a very worthy cause. If you'd like to be a part of it, full details are on the Events page.

In Nigel Barrow’s video about his Proteus build he says he uses a Pico switch operated by a magnet - so no holes in the hull! Don’t know any more details. https://www.nigelbarrow.co.uk/post/a-bit-more-detail-on-the-proteus-design

Once again there is the opportunity to kick off the New Year in the lovely surroundings of Hampton Court’s Home Park! On Sunday 4th January Hampton Court MYC is hosting its annual IOM Open Charity Event to raise funds for the club’s chosen charity, the Momentum Children’s Charity, a local charity which provides help to children undergoing treatment for cancer. We do not charge race entry fees, but instead invite all who attend to make a donation to the charity. There will be homemade soup at lunchtime and hot drinks available throughout the day, the proceeds of which will also be donated to Momentum. Other benefits are a heated clubhouse with toilets and free parking! We look forward to welcoming as many as possible for a good day’s sailing with keen but friendly competition whilst supporting a very worthy cause. If you'd like to be a part of it, please see the NoR on the Events page of this site and enter via the MYA on-line entry system by 2nd January. Do it now before you get caught up with Christmas!

The Vintage Model Yacht Group are a good source of help and information on old models. You could try emailing the Secretary at vmyg.secretary@btinternet.com or the Chairman at Martinbandey@aol.com

I think PJ Sails used to do some bits for bottle boats too.

Try emailing the Secretary, Mavis Paul, at: vmyg.secretary@gmail.com or Martin Bandey, the Chairman, at: Martinbandey@aol.com

The Vintage Model Yacht Group are also a good source of help and information on older models.

Hi - We have a “Charitable” bank account with HSBC, although we are not a charity, and they introduced a £5 monthly fee about two years ago but they have withdrawn this as of July, although there are still transaction fees for things like paying in cheques and cash. Have a look at the details here: https://www.business.hsbc.uk/en-gb/products/charity-banking-community-account

The old HFM 590 model yacht kit used a plastic moulded shell filled with lead fishing shot bound together with epoxy resin - maybe another approach?

Might be worth trying the Vintage Model Yacht Group - sounds like the sort of model yacht they would be interested in.

Not sure transom is quite right for a Venom and it has radial jib arrangement which looks like Peter Wiles’ system, so my guess would be a Sweet.

Why not kick off the New Year in the lovely surroundings of Hampton Court’s Home Park? On Sunday 5th January Hampton Court MYC is hosting its annual IOM Open Charity Event to raise funds for the club’s chosen charity, the Momentum Children’s Charity, a local charity which provides help to children undergoing treatment for cancer. We do not charge race entry fees, but instead invite all who attend to make a donation to the charity. There will be homemade soup at lunchtime and hot drinks available throughout the day, the proceeds of which will also be donated to Momentum. Other benefits are a heated clubhouse with toilets and free parking! We look forward to welcoming as many as possible for a good day’s sailing with keen but friendly competition whilst supporting a very worthy cause. If you'd like to be a part of it, enter now before you get caught up with Christmas! Please see the NoR on the Events page of this site and either enter online or send your entry details to colintrower@aol.com by 3th January.

The Vintage Model Yacht Group may be able to help : https://www.vmyg.org.uk/contact_us.htm

These countdown timers were designed and built by Phil Harpham of Lincoln Radio Sailing Club. We have one at Hampton Court MYC , and he was very helpful when the internal battery pack failed. His email is pharpham99@gmail.com.

Try the Vintage Model Yacht Group website and then look under Resources - How To Do It - Vane Sailing School.

Trevor - Your best bet is probably to contact the Vintage Model Yacht Group: http://www.vmyg.org.uk/contact_us.htm

The pictures of the DF65 rig kit here show Joysway hardware - not sure Sochsails make hardware - and there is a hand drawn diagram with dimensions from John Tushingham: https://dfracingdotworld.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/soch-sails-df65-rig-kit-manual-v1-3.pdf

…….. and if you go to dfracing.world there are pdfs of build instructions and measurements.

There is a good YouTube video on building B rig for Joysway DF95.

Hi Eric - Not sure this helps with your hull identification, but SLMYC was the abbreviation for the South London Model Yacht Club based at the Rick Pond in Hampton Court's Home Park. In 1996 it was combined with the YM6mOA (Yachting Monthly 6 metres Owners Association), also based on the Rick Pond, to form the current Hampton Court Model Yacht Club of which I am a member. More details of the club history can be found here https://www.hcmyc.org/club-history.html

I am quite new to 10Rs, so am no authority, but to quote from a Yachts and Yachting article "Any boat can be a 10 rater and several Marbleheads have been successful in the class by conversion with just one larger rig giving 40% extra sail area" so this could offer another avenue to explore. Although not necessarily hard chine, there are lines available for a number of Marbleheads, including Brad Gibson's Indie. Also PJ Sails offer the hull for their Tension design 10 rater for a not unreasonable £175.

The Snowbee gloves are like a thin wet-suit material, so allow a fair degree of dexterity and the finger and thumb are free for radio controls and boat adjustments etc. If they get wet, and I always seem to get my hands wet putting the boat in and out of the water, the thin layer of water between the glove and skin quickly warms to body temperature. See no reason why you could not also use with hand warmers.