Mantis build

So here is the build of the Mantis tunnel catamaran, drawn by Glynn Guest, a free plan in MB Nov 1992.

I was inspired by my new found friend (Pirana) from Liverpool Model Boat Club.

I could really do with building it out of rubber as I am not very good at steering anything that goes faster than 5 mph, but as the plan says 5mm balsa for the main frame and 3mm balsa for skinning the hull, that is what I will use.

The only deviation from the plan is a thin piece of aluminium on the inside of the transom, skinning the underside of the tub with thin ply and a thin skin of ply on the outside of the transom.

Thin ply skin been glued to the bottom of the tub and 3mm balsa glued to hull sides

Sanded to the right profile and the bottom skins glued on.

The hull is now finished and has been given a thin coat of sealer, a slot cut for the prop tube, the lolly stick stuck across the transom is just to make sure I get the prop tube in the right position.