Dumas boats

Which Dumas Chris Craft cabin cruiser are you planning to build?  The 1928 Chris Craft Commuter kit or the 1954 Commander Express Cruiser?  There are several build logs in the scale boats section of rcgroups.com.  MACK Products Model Marine has some light kits accessories, and power systems for the Dumas kits.  I've built several of the Dumas Chris Craft runabouts and did different things to improve the detrails. The first one I built, I ditched the vac form plastic seats; replaced them with some foam and blue vinyl upholstery.  On a couple, I cleaned up and replated the chrome fittings.  On some I ordered custom graphics from Callie Graphics - boat name, state registration numbers, yacht club burgee, Garwood or Chris Craft for the hull sides.  Loyalhanna Dockyard also has some accessory parts, like cloth Chris Craft pennants and US Yacht ensign.

Hi Lurch.

I think I've built all of the Dumas Cabin Cruisers at least once, some more than once, over my 76 years of building. If you know how to work with various woods, you'll be ahead of the game. If you build slowly and carefully (go over the instructions a few times before starting to build) you'll end up with a good looking boat. I just built their 19" sailboat for a neighbor. There was a couple of errors on the plans and a couple of bad pieces of hardwood but all in all a decent kit. My neighbor was very pleased with it.

Here's a pic of one of the Cruisers I used to show at the Philadelphia Boat Show back in the '70s & '80s. It's got a slightly modified cabin but still looks a lot like the kit. Sold it to one of the boat manufacturers at the show for his office.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qdXDaqmdKoPH1dCx8

It had 2 motors with speed control, all running and interior lights, 2 small recorders that provided boat horns and party music/voices. At one show, one of the vendors sent a member of the Coast Guard exibit over to inspect the boat. After a few runs around the tank, I backed it into the side in front of him. He checked for all the usual items and found that they were all in there. Signal flags, signal flare gun, and life vests. His last question was "Does  the fire extinguisher have an up to date inspection?" I removed the extinguisher from its mount and handed him a magnifying glass. I had photo copied the one on my home extinguisher, reduced it on the computer and printed it out. It was up to date and inspected every month (one of the percs of belonging to the local fire department). 

Stay Safe.

Jim  

Hmmm;

     There was a time that one after the other I have gone through the catalogue of Dumas products. Now, to be frank the LINDBERG Chris-craft Conestallation was the most detailed(Of Course, it was plastic) But I believe the best overall was the Dumas "Barrelback" 1940s edition of the double cockpit boat.They(Chris-Craft, Huckins and  others were used to take sight seers up the length of Lake George,N.Y. That's where I got my love of the species.

Have not done any of the Chris-Craft kits, but I did do the 'Dauntless' commuter boat with good results. Echoing others, go through the instructions thoroughly and take your time. Think out and document all of your intentions and modifications BEFORE chopping into the lumber. Research options for each detail point. With this and patience you will be rewarded with a fine craft and serious bragging rights.

Now, all that being said, everybody needs to contact Dumas Products and ask them to produce an 1:12 or 1:16 scale LCM-6 landing craft kit. As I've told them, such a kit would offer a tremendous number of build options, from a simple landing craft to any of a number of Vietman era riverine craft, to commercial use craft of all sorts. 

Thank you all for your input. I will seriously take all that advisement to mind..  Hoo ya I will contact them and voice your suggestion. I would also like to do that sublect . I knew I would get great suggestions from all of you.  Like I said before I am at the research stage at the moment.. I like all the cristcarft boats they make so I may do more than one of them. Again thank you all.

For a really neat way to light the boat, you can use an array of dip switches which can be easily hidden (under a seat, in the motor area) OR fit them into the dash and then they be both visible and functional.  Did it with a few car models.  Current Constitution has lighting with 27 circuits.  Let me know if you need any help.

Bob

Dumas also makes a 31' Trojan cruiser, whose lines are darn near identical to the 31' uniflite that was used for the PBR Mk1. It would be a fairly easy conversion, and it's also in the same 1:12 scale that my Tango boat is.

I'm tempted .   .   . 

Luvspinball

you can use an array of dip switches

Don't go looking into the programmable modules the railroaders are using to where you can use an app on your phone to run the switches.

Several years ago, I converted the Lindberg Nantucket kit to RC.  I found a model RR lighthouse simulator circuit that simulates the effect of a light as it rotates.  I wired it to drive the beacon when the model was at anchor in the pond.

As the Capt warns, there are lots of neat model RR electronics out there to threaten your wallet!!