"Looking for 'Craftworks' miniature racing boats (I think...)" Topic

Hello all,

While working on some post-apocalypse cars for Machinas, I stumbled on some hobby bloggers who indulge in a more watery racing game called 'Thunderboats!' – and some nice resin models by a company called (I think) Craftworks. A chap by the name of Shawn McEvoy was behind the company, from what I can tell.

I am always interested in miniatures of racing machines in all guises, and this 'Thunderboats!' game looks like a spot of fun, But, there seems to be no lead on the 'net for this company. At least, none that I can find so far… does anyone have any info? Or an alternative source for such miniatures?

Many thanks!

link

Address for Craftworks at bottom of article…….

Nice models, but they ain't cheap. I went for Matchbox (or were they (Hotwheels?) hydroplanes when I put my Thunderboats game together.

My "Mad Wet Max" variant uses all sorts of things however :)

MM,

The model in your link is a 1/48th scale model. Quite beautiful, I've seen Terry Moore's "Coral Reef" and it is spectacular, but you don't want to game with it. Shawn makes some very nice resin cast models for Thunderboats. Unfortunately Craftmasters is no longer on line. If you want to PM me, I can pass along his contact information. He has a very nice range of 15mmish scale hydroplanes that are nice and affordable. Links to some pictures of my boats painted and unpainted below. These miniatures range from $5 USD-10.

Picklefork boats from the 1970's
link

Unpainted hulls awaiting my attention
link

Thunderboats at the Columbia River Maritime Museum
link

KSmyth, thank you! Unfortunately, I cannot PM you, (neither of us are paying members… I think this must be the only forum on Earth where you have to pay for that privilege…) but if you could email me – macrossmartin(AT)yahoo(DOT)com – that would be brilliant.

By the way – do you have a source for the Thunderboats! rules?

Yours and Dave Manley's blogs were amongst those I was perusing as I soaked in the atmosphere of racing on the waters of the PNW.

Down here in Australia, it's mostly offshore racing or powerboats skipping through mud, neither of which much appeal to me. I guess we need more water Down Under to accommodate the Unlimiteds!

Dave – thanks for the thought of using Hotwheels diecasts (they are Hotwheels, I checked,) but I'm more attracted to the open cockpit look of the earlier boats. I saw your blog on my travels, the Mad Max version looks fantastic!

Cheers!

What's really crazy is watching those hydroplanes (or some smaller ones) going up 15m narrow rivers, dodging rocks and rapids!

Kevin – email and rules received, with thanks.

Those are the smaller boats, Lion, although just as spectacular. I kind of see them as the motorcycles of water sports, while the Unlimiteds are the Formula Ones.

Surprised to discover there's a manga and anime series based on those smaller craft: Monkey Turn!

YouTube link

"I guess we need more water Down Under to accommodate the Unlimiteds!".

'T'is a pity you suffer from such a dearth of that commodity, on the other side of the world.

If only you had better access to a large body of water, like an ocean, or if you lived on an island.

Ho, ho, Mako, ha ha. :P

Actually, I've discovered there are Unlimited Hydroplanes here, although they seem to be doing their utmost to hide under rocks. They often break cover and flee to Seattle, presumably to escape anyone's attention down here.

Meanwhile, I've been contemplating a 'Fantasy Formula One Hydroplane' concept, after reading up on Donald Campbell, and the beautiful boats that Ferrari and Alfa Romeo produced. I might have to sculpt the European boats myself, though…

Still, if there's European races as well as American ones, at least the drivers will get to turn right from time to time… ;)