This original full size racing hull was designed by Adolph Apel and constructed by the Ventnor Boat Works. The hull was originally a two-seater hull. The boat was then acquired and driven by the bandleader, Guy Lombardo.  It was converted into a single seater hull and was powered by a V-16 Miller and in it's latter racing years, the hull was repowered with a Allison. Joe Frauenheim restored and owns the full scale hull now.
 
 
 
 

So far, it has been a two year project and I'm still not done. As with any custom built model, every time I need a part, I have to stop and make it myself. The model is 6' long and 26.5" wide at the sponsons and features scale frames and planking. The shaft log is made of a brass sheet and tubing and has a packing gland.
 
 
 
 

The engine is a Blois G-45 twin cylinder, two stroke, Zenoah.  It is water cooled and has a clutch.  It is rated at 7.4 H.P. @ 14,000 rpm.  The water pump is a vacuum operated fuel pump from a snow mobile!  It also has a functional v-drive just like the full size boat. The drive shaft goes up to a 30 year old homemade V-drive that I found in a hobby shop in Miami.
 
 
 
 

The sponson braces are made of airfoil shaped brass tubing. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mr. Lombardo was originally a hollow latex pilot for a bi-plane.  His helmet is a big glob of Marine-Tex.  His head was removed and mounted on a dowel so it can be turned with an extra servo. The gauges were done from digital photos of the actual ones in the restored Tempo VI.  The miniature Kainer steering column mount was machined out of aluminum.
 
 
 
 
 

There are 25 frames in the boat.  Each frame is built up with two side frames, a deck frame and a bottom frame.  There are 42 individual gussets fastening the stringers to the frames. In the bow and the stern there are cross bracing as in the real boat. 
 
 
 
 
 

The hull is covered with 1/8 inch individual mahogany planks.  The transom has an inner layer of 1/16" birch plywood.  This is applied at a diagonal to help support the mahogany planks thru the compound curve.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Unfortunately no one makes 1/4 scale Ventnor hardware, so it was all done by hand. I made full size drawings of the bow cleat and V-drive hatch handle and reduced them to 25% on a copier.  These were then glued to a piece of aluminum plate and roughed out on a band saw.  Each one has about 6 hours of grinding, filing and polishing.  For the deck vents I had to learn how to hammer copper.  I made a female mold out of white oak.  I then heated to red hot and quenched 1/16" copper sheet.  I worked into the mold with a hammer and punch until the work hardened and then I had to remove it and reheat and quench it.  Each of the 6 vents had to be heated and hammered about 9 times. 
 

I then filed and polished them and sent them off to the chrome shop. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The plan's were drawn for the original version of the boat when it was a 2 seater called MY SIN. This meant all the cowlings had to be done from scratch from pictures. I did them in solid foam first.

This allowed me to shape and sculpt them more easily.  When I was happy with the overall shape I ran them through the band saw every 2 inches and traced the cross section onto 1/8" birch plywood to make frames.  I then ran 1/8" square birch battens fore and aft over the frames and covered them with aircraft silk.
 
 

The copper exhaust is in and has the cooling water dumping in just down stream from the engine. The exhaust exits out the transom as on the real boat. The aluminum tank complete with "MOON EYES" welded in threaded bungs is in and was an exercise in overkill. I still need to make the polished aluminum trim rings for the exhaust, Guy's seat and install the radio.  I will also be bring a 1/4 scale step bottomed Ventnor 225 called EMANCIPATOR IV.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This is my first big scale hydroplane. The model is for scale display and running for fun as there isn't a 1/4 scale race class....yet! My other boats are full size restorations.  My wife and I have a 1953, 48 cubic inch Crosley, Ingram  hydroplane, 1947 Chris Craft Racing Runabout with a 392 Hemi and V-drive and 1956 Speed Garvey with a 354 Hemi and V-drive. My Dad has the F-Service runabout Dancing Bear. All photos were taken by Roger Sherwood.
Click here to see Keith's 225 Ventnor 1/4 scale model EMANCIPATOR IV.
©2001-2002 Keith P. Brayer

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