Sanson Tugboat 1:50 Wooden Model Ship Kit R/C Compatible

Model ship ocean-going tug Samson

2023 completely revised wooden construction kit. Can be extended to an Rc model.

History of the original

The Samson is a tugboat that was launched towards the end of the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century. During this time, shipping underwent a major revolution, the most important factor of which was the introduction of mechanical propulsion. As a result, ships became larger and larger with more and more displacement, whereby manoeuvrability in the docks and harbours was lost. This gave rise to tugs, new types of ships with small tonnage and shallow draught, but with more than enough propulsion power and manoeuvrability to help ships much larger than themselves. This model replica was modelled on a ship that was in service until the 1940s. Its machinery is powered by a steam boiler that could easily develop an output of 2000 hp and a speed of 14 knots. This ocean-going tug is equipped with huge bulkheads at the bow and sides. In general, its task is not to tow, but to "push" the giants of the Atlantic. The hull is to be built in frame construction.

Construction kit features

The Samson model ship kit contains all the parts required to build the model, 7 high-precision laser-cut plywood panels and birch and oak veneer mouldings. The fittings consist mainly of very good cast metal, brass turned parts and etched parts as well as wood.  The two dinghies are also included. All fitting parts are clearly laid out in a sorting box, so that no part is lost during construction. The frame construction of the ship model is designed in such a way that it can be built as a standing model or a travelling model with motor. The set includes a complete ship's shaft system with plain bearings and a simple bone coupling. All construction plans, German instructions, many photos and video tutorials to help with the construction are available digitally as a PDF document. NO printed instructions in the set. The video instructions (10 episodes) on Youtube show almost every building step.

Who is the kit suitable for?

The kit is aimed at modellers with advanced knowledge and skills, but is also suitable for beginners, as the building instructions are shown on video, which makes assembly easier.

What else is needed ?

Paints, adhesives and tools are required and can be found in our range.
A remote control and the complete RC electronics, motor and battery are required to build the RC model.
We recommend replacing the plastic propeller supplied with a 60 mm brass propeller.
As a third-party product, there is no shaft available that comes close to the dimensions. A small geared motor can provide typical tugboat speed.

What do the building instructions look like?

Step-by-step building instructions with lots of pictures and pictograms as PDF, also available for download at the bottom of the page.
On Youtube a video instruction with all steps
Languages: Multilingual including German
Format: digital as PDF (download below)

Technical data:

Scale 1:50
Length 605 mm
Width 130 mm
Height 350 mm
Construction time: 150 hours