DUMAS
Dumas Model Boats – classic American RC boat kits
Dumas Products was one of the best-known American manufacturers of model boat kits for many decades. Particularly distinctive are the classic Chris-Craft mahogany boats, American tugs, patrol boats and scale model boats, which can be assembled either as high-quality display models or as fully functional RC boats.
Dumas looks back on a modelling tradition spanning almost 80 years. In June 2026, the American company ceased trading. The kits still available today therefore come from existing stock and continue to offer modellers the opportunity to build classic Dumas designs.
Chris-Craft mahogany boats – a Dumas speciality
Dumas is particularly well known for its wide selection of Chris-Craft model boats. These elegant American motorboats from the 1920s to the 1960s are among the most distinctive models in the Dumas range.
Well-known kits include, for example, the Chris-Craft Cobra, Racing Runabout, Barrel Back, Triple Cockpit, Utility, Commuter and Super Sport. Many of these models are built using traditional wooden construction methods with plywood, mahogany veneer and wooden strips.
It is the visible mahogany surfaces in particular that make these models especially attractive. After careful sanding and clear varnishing, the typical look of classic American runabouts emerges.
Wooden construction, ABS hulls and RC conversion
A large proportion of Dumas’s model boats are based on wooden constructions. In the larger and more detailed kits, frames, planking, decks and superstructures are assembled step by step.
Depending on the model, materials such as plywood, mahogany veneer, wooden strips and other materials are used. The models therefore require typical model-making techniques such as fitting, sanding, gluing, sealing and painting.
In addition, the earlier Dumas range also offers numerous models with pre-made ABS hulls. These reduce the effort involved in the actual hull construction and are particularly suitable for functional RC boats.
Many Dumas kits were designed from the outset so that they can be converted into RC models. Depending on the model, parts of the shaft system, rudder, propeller or other propulsion components are already included in the scope of delivery. The motor, speed controller, battery and remote control often need to be purchased separately.
As a result, the Dumas range extends from traditional wooden model-making to functional scale and RC model ships.
Tugs, workboats and scale models
Another key focus of Dumas is tugs and workboats. These include, for example, the Army Tug ST-74, The Lackawanna, George W. Washburn and Brooklyn.
Tugs are particularly well-suited to RC model shipbuilding. Their relatively low speeds allow for realistic handling, whilst the spacious hulls often provide sufficient room for the motor, battery, receiver and special features.
Many models can also be fitted with lighting, sound or other features.
Patrol boats, military vessels and special models
In addition to recreational and workboats, Dumas offers numerous military and government vessel models.
Our range includes, for example, the PT 109 torpedo boat, the USS Crockett gunboat, various patrol boats and the SC-I submarine hunter from the First World War.
Other unusual models, such as propeller boats or stern-wheel steamers, demonstrate the wide variety of the former Dumas range.
Dumas Laser Classics
In addition to the large-scale kits, Dumas developed the Laser Classics product range. These models use laser-cut wooden parts, offering a precise and straightforward assembly process.
This series also focused on classic Chris-Craft boats, including the Capri, Continental, Cobra, Barrel Back and various runabouts.
The Laser Classics range thus combined the traditional look of American mahogany boats with more modern parts manufacturing.
Dumas at Schiffsmodelle-Shop.de
At Schiffsmodelle-Shop.de, you will still find a selection of Dumas model boat kits and accessories. The range focuses on classic Chris-Craft mahogany boats, whilst we also stock tugs, patrol boats, historic military vessels, specialised boats and selected accessories.
As Dumas Products ceased trading in 2026, many models are now only available whilst stocks last. For enthusiasts of classic American model boats, these kits therefore also represent a piece of model-making history.