Table of contents for May 2026 in Model Boats

The Oseberg longship on which Billing Boats’ kit is based was discovered near Tønsberg in Norway in 1903, and its excavation from a large burial mound by archaeologists began in 1904. Concealed in a chamber within the boat were the remains of two women. To this day, they remain unidentified, but the very nature of their prestigious burial would have meant that at least one of them was a woman of considerable status. While carbon dating of the ship suggests it was buried no earlier 834AD, certain parts of its structure date from as early as 800AD, while others may be even older. After careful conservation and some reconstruction, the ship was, in 1926, moved to a museum in Oslo. Those interested in viewing her themselves will be interested to…

I’ll be honest, I’m better known as a model aircraft enthusiast, and I probably get as much (if not more) from scratch-building planes as I do from flying them. Since returning to regular modelling activities about 15 years ago, I’ve built and flown around 20 remote control/control-line planes, using an equal mix of glow and electric power. The largest and most time-consuming of these was a 102in wingspan David Boddington Centurion, which took (on-and-off between other smaller projects) around three years to finish. It has proved to be a great model to fly, totally worth the time and energy invested. Having ‘maidened’ it, however, I found myself with a dozen or so airworthy airframes yet feeling the need for a break from building model aircraft. Because I always have at…

OUT AND ABOUT Robinson’s Pond Yacht Regatta A family-friendly pond yacht only event (i.e., no R/C, steam-powered, etc, models allowed) is planned for Sunday, May 31, 2026, between 11am and 2pm at the Centenary Boating Lake, Crowborough, East Sussex TN6 2TN. All are welcome to attend, so if you’re within striking distance, why not pack a picnic and enjoy a lovely, relaxing late spring/early summer day out. Gresford Sailing Club Open Day From 10am to 3pm on Saturday, May 2, the Gresford Sailing Club at The Flash, Old Wrexham Road, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8TY, will be hosting a ‘try your hand at sailing’ event organised by the members of its very active model boat section (who build and sail all sorts of scaled down watercraft). For further details, visit https://gresfordsailingclub.com/…

This month we’re delighted to be able to offer you the chance to win Billing Boats’ exquisite 1:25 scale wooden kit for the Oseberg longship. Aimed at the more experienced modeller, on completion, this striking Viking measures 86 cm in length, 21cm in width and 45cm in height, and can be constructed either as a very impressive display piece and talking point or, if suitably sealed, can venture out on water looking so formidable it’s sure to turn a lot of heads (see Tomasz Klyszynski’s build review on pages 11-19). Fancy trying your hand at becoming a Viking ship builder? Then get ready to engage your inner Floki! To further explore the Billing Boats’ extensive range, including the 1:50 scale mini kit for the Oseberg longship – aimed at the…

So, there I was cogitating the need for a ‘grab it and go’ boat, basically, a model that could just potter around the lake. While seeking a suitable candidate, I came across a free semi-scale frigate plan by Martin Garrett (still listed by Sarik Hobbies UK) for HMS Kincardine in a pile of old model boating magazines. While ‘semi-scale’, this is clearly based on the Royal Navy Type23 frigate, with a target displacement of 2.4kg. Coincidentally, I had recently taken delivery of two 6V 5Ah lead-acid batteries of a long and narrow form which would fit the Kincardine design. Then, however, I spotted a silhouette diagram on the web comparing the T23 with its Royal Navy future replacement, the T31, noting how similar in size they were. Although the latter…

Some 50 years ago I built the Clyde puffer Inchcolm. This was of course well before the internet had been invented; there’s since been a revolutionary change in the sheer variety of materials, adhesives and parts available, to say nothing of the experience I’ve gained through a lifetime of making models. Reflecting on all this, therefore, I felt it was time to have another go at this characterful vessel. Extensive research through books and the internet revealed very little information to add to the Model Maker Plans Service drawing. However, as the build progressed an old photograph came to light depicting Inchcolm with the more conventional and typical puffer arrangement of the funnel forward of an enclosed wheelhouse. One can only assume the vessel was either altered to keep the…

The thousands of container vessels and other ships that come to Port Melbourne each year must enter and leave Port Phillip Bay through the 3.2-kilometre-wide gap between Point Lonsdale and Point Nepean. The immense tidal flows in and out of this narrow gap cause what is known as ‘The Rip’, and it is regarded as one of the most dangerous passages of water in the world. Testifying to this are the more than 200 shipwrecks that scatter this area of the coast. An efficient pilot service is therefore essential for safe passage, a service that was originally provided by whalers and sailing boats before giving way to motorised craft at the turn of the 20th century. By 1950 the Port Phillips Sea Pilots were seeking a dedicated pilot cutter. “The…

PLUS A thematically varied selection of feature-length articles, all your favourite regular pages – including Your Models, Your Letters, news, reviews – and lots more (Please note: content may be subject to change) You will find more about the exciting content coming next, features of particular interest you may have missed in past editions and details of the very latest subscription offers on our website at www.modelboats.co.uk You can, of course, order you copy of the June 2026 issue, which goes on sale at all good newsagents from Friday, May 22, 2026, now, but why not treat yourself to an annual subscription, as monthly copies will then be delivered directly to your door. What’s more, if you opt for either a digital subscription or a combined digital/print package, the unique…