Higgins 78

[Guest]

Thanks guys!

I visited Model Boat Mayhem, cheers Bunkerbarge, and had an immediate reply, recognising my boat as an Aerokits Patrol Torpedo Boat. It even had a price on the add of £7/8s/3d (148/3).

So now I know how it started I still need to decide how it ends up.

[Guest]

Back in 1981 my family decided to try living on the river, and our search for a suitable craft took us to Conyer , which is in Kent England, upon the River Swale...a tributary of The River Medway, not far from The Isle of Sheppey.

The craft in Question was a Motor Torpedo Boat, and as it was a long time ago, I'm not sure what her pennant number was but 210 comes to mind...

Anyway, this boat was 72 feet in length, was built from money raised by War Bonds, (in this case by the good people of East Anglia) and she had been equipped with three Rolls-Royce Merlin 10 engines, of a similar type found in Tanks, Spitfres, etc., although many MTB's had Packard Merlins (built under License in The States), or often what ever could be stuffed into them.

Tagged as 'expendable', these boats and the heroic crews which served in them sadly often came to grief rather abruptly, and to see this fine, once super-fast attack boat in such a sorry state brought a lump to my throat.

Anyway... Construction was "Double-Diagonal", which was two diagonally opposed thin layers of Marine Plywood, with a canvas and pitch (tar soaked) skin between the layers of ply. Air-Sea Rescue Launches were made the same way, as were MGB's, but the latter were larger. Colour would have been Battleship Grey as a rule. Armed usually with twin Oerlikons in a motorised aircraft turret above and behind the windshield/conning position.

I assumed this particular Boat was made in England, but I'm not certain.

Sadly the boat had daylight visible down by the water line when we looked into the forward cable locker, also someone had cut wood windows into her hull, but as was usual with MTB's there wasn't any superstructure to speak of, but she was at least recognisable. Below decks was a plaque made of brass with her number, and her builder's plaque from somewhere on our east coast up near Great Yarmouth I think, but I'm not sure now. We knew she would probably sink if moved, so we bought a 64 foot twin-screw Naval Pinnace instead, built in 1945 at Chatham Royal Naval Dockyard.

[Guest]

Hi, Just picked up your thread, In Model Boats Aug 2004 there was a Free Plan and Feature for a Higgins 78 MTB, plus in Marini Modellinging International Mar 2005 John Lambert did an excellent Plan Feature on MTBs & MGBs.

I have a database of about 20 years back issues of these magazines which I am constantly updating (massive task) so all articles are listed alphabetically, about 5000) so if I find anything more, will contact

Soldier151

[Guest]

After starting this quest I have taken a big interest in MTB, MGB and Mls, also the German E boats. Am busy reading Flag 4 by Dudley Pope at the moment, a very interesting and informative account of small vessels in the Mediterranean. I love how, wherever possible, he quotes the report from the opposing vessels as well as the allied reports. How at least one Captain reported sinking a boat that wasn't even in that region!

I am really surprised how little credit is/was given to the crews who served on these vessels during the war. Not only were most of them volunteer reserves, but nearly all fought at such short range and showed extremely high levels of bravery. Where are all the Movies and documentaries about these guys?

So Soldier151, as far as I am concerned you can post as much information as possible about these creatures of stealth and speed!eace:

[Guest]

Terry,If you are going to refurbish it, yank out that old taycol motor and bin it.

It will cause hours of heartache trying to get it to run in fwd and reverse (has to have a mechanical switching mechanism), and even then you will find your radio will have a permanent case of the twitches.

They have very little intrinsic value, except for maybe curiosity.

I used mine to power my Martek drill sharpener rather than an electric drill. Powered it with my car battery charger.

John

I took the Taycol motor out and tried it on the bench.

I can see how it would cause interference issues, loads of sparks flying from the armature.

I wonder if the original builder ever got it running as I could not get it to rotate in the correct direction. It would be going in reverse all the time no matter which way you connected the power to it. Very strange! :thinking:

Looks like a Torpedo 850 will be fitted as soon as funds allow.