Miracle and Kestrel Models' Page

Miracle model yacht

Miracle model yacht

I designed and built this model yacht in white with red trim. She is about 28"/0.7m long and about 36"/0.9m high. Her rudder, auxiliary engine and sailwinch are radio-controlled.

She features:

1. Bermudan rig,
2. twin keels,
   
3. mainsail with slab reef,
   
4. roller-reefing working jib,
   
5. aluminium mast with single cross-tree,
   
6. functioning navigation and interior lights.
   
7. Detailed fittings include:
   1. pilot, life-raft, buoyancy aids,
   2. wheel, anchor, lifelines,
   3. flag, radar reflector, anemometer,
   4. wind vane, boathook, gauges,
   5. ladder, swim deck, toolbox,
   6. grab rails, winches, bollards.

She was fitted with two-channel radio gear. I fitted a simple electric motor and gearbox with two winch pulleys and mounted them in an old sandwich box. The sheets were attached to closed-loop control cables and exit from the cockpit and front hatch for the main and jib sails. One control stick controls the winch and motor and the other stick controls the rudder. There is some fairly complex "switchery" in the rear to get two functions from one channel, however it works alright and as you should be able to see, she sails well.

Miracle model yacht

Slingsby Kestrel model sailplane

Its majestic span means it takes two people to launch it from the hills! It weighs about 24lbs/11kg and needs a decent push to start, but once airborne she flies like an albatross. I've looped it and the wings didn't really flex much at all. It doesn't even begin to lose height in any sort of buoyant air, and those brakes are really useful! All in all a truly beautiful and magnificent aircraft which lives up to all expectations.

Miracle and Kestrel models' page created 29th June, 2000.