Best ship kit afloat? (literally)

Well I know it was not the Lindberg Hood. In 1971, mine sailed out to the middle of the lake at Mile Square park and then rolled over and sank.... No Bismark required. The PT-109 was great...

For me it would probably be the 1/72 Flower class corvette by Matchbox or Revell.   I read that the Revell yacht America could also sail, but have never seen it.

Keep in mind that some ship kits were intended to be floated.  I would assume these were better floaters than ones not intended for water.  Sterling and Dumas kits were wood and either included, or offered accessory kits with, fittings for prop and rudder.  Lindberg made several kits with motors, as did several of the Japanese mfgs.

Dumas kits intended for floating are still being made, though they are a bit pricey.  For kids that age, why not just cut hull out of 2 x 4 stock and put a couple of simple deckhouses and dowel masts on?

The Glencoe USCG Rescue Boat (1/48).  At one point I had a fleet of 5.

I've had this little baby floating around in all types of bodies of water, to include the California surf (photo op).  If you weigh it carefully it will self-right too.

Forget scale models and buy purpose-built floaters...

Revell Missouri/ New Jersey.  Manny, maybe you didn't have room in that railraod water tank (peckinpah ref) with the captured russian machine gun team, oh never mind, but it's a rubber duck question.

When I was 13 and 14 years old, my best friend and I set out to motorize every model we had. The big Lindberg kits, at least the ones we could afford, were a natural; I had the Tirpitz, he the Bismarck. They may have been wildly inaccurate, but they were fine sailors. I had the Lindberg Minesweeper as well; the belt drive proved to be very cranky so converted it to a single screw.

We frequently employed the little "torpedo motors" that were commonly found on toy boats at that time. 

By the way, never got the Lindberg Hood to sail worth a hoot.

It's not a ship, but I wonder if the 1:18 [?] Revell Laser kit might be an option?

Not a kit but a semi-scale 12.5" Gato/Balao class toy sub meant for pools; It is made by SeaVentures and is supposed to be a current rendition of the old motorized diving subs from the 70's if memory serves. It has a more or less sealed battery compartment and a sealed motor both mounted inside the split hull. It does not operate as advertised though; the small propeller cannot propel it fast enough to overcome the positive buoyancy nor generate enough speed for the dive planes to work hydrodynamically (they are adjustable) but it can cruise on the surface in large lazy circles or straight (rudder also adjustable) and makes a great get-it-wet toy. I wrote a fairly scathing review on Amazon detailing the deficiencies. It, alas, goes underwater in a sinking but not diving fashion. Mine was all black and with some haze gray or gray primer in a rattle can, one could replicate the two-tone wartime paint quite easily. It does look cool cruising the surface or motionless bobbing on the waves especially if you are at eye level with it. I still recommend it. Got to have a predator for the surface "targets".

Thanks for the input.  Dug through the stash and found some old dust collectors:  the Lindberg Air Force Rescue Boat and a Chinese knock-off of the Tamiya Vosper patrol boat.  Of course both were purchased many moons ago with the intent of a serious, superdetailed conversion project!  The Vosper runs great, but fast and wet.  Completed the Lindberg kit tonight and will launch it tomorrow!  

Lindberg's Bluedevil destroyer for me. Added motors and R/C gear. worked pretty good at the local pond till i pissed off the ducks and they attacked...lol  barely got it back to shore

uspsjuan

Lindberg's Bluedevil destroyer for me. Added motors and R/C gear. worked pretty good at the local pond till i pissed off the ducks and they attacked...lol  barely got it back to shore

Agrees, The Bluedevil was perhaps the best, that and the Revell PT109 were the best plastic kits, but both had issues with water migrating in thru the prop shaft thrust bearing packing which was just a covered box filled with vasoline that the prop shaft went straight thru if I remember right. Oh those were the days LOL

Tamiya has rereleased a 1/300 WWII Japanese destroyer called Yugumo that has a detachable battery operated submarine motor for motorization. Apparently she has a sister ship Yukikaze also with the submarine motor, not to mention a Vietnam era "Pibber" in 1/35 and a Marine Corps AAVP7A1 all featuring the same motor.

I think these are utterly fascinating and probably perfect for your purposes. The destroyers appear to be priced right too (I checked). http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/89733_6sabmarine_moter/index.htm

The old Matchbox 1/72 Flower Class Corvette is a good floater. In fact, I have one that is set up for Remote Control.

Mike T.