We hoped of all hopes, that they would make it. And they did!
As Members of Norfolk & Norwich Model Yacht & Boat Club, also the Norwich & Bungay Power Boat Club and O.M.R.A as we tended to travel to different Off Shore Power Boat events around the country and we thought it would be a good idea to have a model that would be different.
The first problem we had was to decide which type of propulsion to use: electric would be far easier but had two drawbacks i.e. speed and limited running time, or I.C. power that would provide us with both.
So we decided to use I.C. power.
To get two engines, fuel tanks, radio gear, and exhausts into a cat type hull is quite a feat of planning.
The boat had to be of reasonable size to take all of these!
We finished up with a length of 4 feet 13/4 inches or 3/4" inch per foot, which is just the right length for transporting around on top of our cars, and which creates a lot of interest to passing traffic.
On deciding whether to use wood or glass fibre, we took a leaf out of the T.V. series "Howard’s Way"; if it’s not made of wood, it’s not a boat.
As this was a pre-production boat for the Military; the plans were not available to modellers. The only plan available was a semi-scale plan out of the Model Boats Magazine which gave basic information, but was insufficient for details, so after a lot wasted time and effort, we finally turned to Mr Richard Branson.
We wrote in February 1984 and, in due course, we had a reply, enclosing a brochure of the last year’s crossing attempt plus an invitation to visit Brooke Marine in Lowestoft, Suffolk and to see the New Virgin Atlantic Challenger II boat, and to meet Mr Peter Birkett who would provide the information and photos that we desperately needed for Virgin Atlantic Challenger I.
Then Mr Peter Birkett said, "Now come and see my baby", meaning Virgin Atlantic Challenger II. To see such a beautiful boat in construction was really awe inspiring.
We started building in late December 1984, using the semi-scale drawing of Virgin Atlantic Challenger I from the Model Boat Magazine. Doubling up the size of the plan meant we had to draw out every single line and angle, Peter Dorsett, my friend and fellow model builder, was, as you will see later, very good at angles on models, which most certainly was NOT an easy job, and took about a week of down right slog!
Marine Ply
Peter and I already had some marine ply and a assortment of other types of wood in stock between us. The glue that we intended to use was Cascimite Waterproof glue as we had previously found this was very good indeed.
Modify the Semi-scale plan
Before we even began to build the model, we had to completely modify the semi-scale plan as it would not have taken the strain of I.C. engines. We made the tunnel side and bulkheads interlocking, to give the model super strength and rigidity. If we had made it to the original way, it might have split down the middle when we put on the power, thus giving us two hulls going different ways!
Time
At this stage we are putting about 60 hours a week, we must have been mad, as it had to be finished before May 1986.
As we progressed, the difficulties increased. We had, by this time, i.e. January/February 1986, got most of the hull and the steps in. The most difficult part was the stringers connecting to the bow. In a space of 12 inches it had to change direction three times with a twisting motion about it.
After many long evenings of discussion and hair pulling, we hit on an idea!
Laminating techniques
Using a laminated technique of very thin strips of ply 1/4" wide and 3/32" thick, enabled us to build up the stringer to its required thickness and twisted shape. The construction took us six days of pure slog for both side to be completed. We MUST have been absolutely mad to take on such a project but this was such a good challenge.
