Captain John’s Remote Control Fleet “A ship in harbor is safe.

transcript

Captain John’s Remote Control Fleet

“A ship in harbor is safe.But that’s not what ships are for.”

Captain Shedd

Captain John’s Fleet, Cambridge, MA, john@build-it-yourself.com

Fleet History

Circa 1971, Memo, a frisky little skipper from Mexico at the ripe old age of 5, who spoke not a word of English, entered into a partnership with his neighbor, John, a misguided engineer who was working on a crew to build a helicopter-borne submarine sonar detection

system for the US Navy.

Fleet History

During a trip to Disneyland, it occurred to these two aspiring ship builders that what the world really needed was a soulful vessel to explore

the great waterways of the world.

Fleet History

Since these two enterprising ship builders lived quite literally on the other side of the railroad tracks in the old Mexican / Californian town of Pacoima, there were plenty of junk yards to roam. From their ship yard, a

great paddle wheeler was built and stocked with plenty of black eyed peas, whiskey, and a big fat pig.

Memo The River Boat

Remote Control Cabin

If you wanna be a sailor, you gotta look like one and ya gotta have a proper captain’s cabin.

Sailors at the Boston Commons

Don't mess with these sailors. They're on an important mission.

The Tug-That-Could

Made from premium quality junk including Starbucks coffee stirrer sticks, foam rubber, bottle caps and rope.

Garbage Barge

On a mission to collect premium quality junk for building more boats. The two sea gulls, connected to a motor, hover around the barge.

Pirate Boat

Inside this fearsome ship is a walkie talkie and a water cannon pump.

Yer money or yer life, ya nat-brain, pigeon-gut, low life!“

Walkie Talkie & Cannon Control

Pirates in Central Park, New York

Look'n fer fat bankers who have too much money.

Mellow Yellow Submarine

“We all live in a yellow submarine.”~ The Beatles

Onboard are a working water cannon and a tape recorder that plays Popeye the Sailor Man.

Boston Police Plane

To save the world from scurrilous scoundrels and vile villains.

The plane is attached to a transparent plastic rod which is mounted on a floating platform. When it is towed by the pirate boat or sub, it looks like it is chasing the bad guys.

Young-at-heart SailorsSeaport Museum, NY I wanna be a sailor when I grow up!

Pirate in a Row Boat

Serenading his best friend, the parrot.

Flower Power Flying Machine

The marvelous men and women and their flying machines.

The balloon is a nerf ball, the wings are shoe horns, the basket is a tuna fish can and the wheels are bottle caps mounted on golf tee's. The whole contraption is mounted on a transparent plastic rod which is fixed to a platform. The platform can be mounted on an RC chassis or hull.

The Engine Room

The RC receiver, servos, rudder control and motor control are packed into a Tupperware container. The boats can be quickly interchanged on this hull.

Future Captains

Lining up to have a go at steering the Mellow Yellow Submarine at the Boston Tall Ships Exhibit.

Have Boats. Will Travel.

The fleet requires a dry dock for maintenance.

Traveling to model boat shows means you need to think about packing everything.

Captain John’s Remote Control Fleet

"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change;

the realist adjusts the sails."

William Arthur Ward

Captain John’s Remote Control Fleet “A ship in harbor is safe.

Documents