Royal Navy - Fast Motor Dinghy -'Dragonfly' restoration complete !!

[ErikBenson]

After 7 long years I have finally completed the restoration of this fine little vessel. I kept strictly to the Admiralty specifications, and so she is the only working, original example of her type out of the 954 which were built.
She is really from the WW2 period though ordered after the war and probably never saw service. I managed to locate all the missing parts, as the Admiralty stripped them out completely when selling them off.
I am expecting to have a magazine article come out soon, and would really like to make up a dedicated website for her. Of course I have taken hundreds of photographs ! I did the final test days here on the River Charente a couple of months ago, and she performed wonderfully. That Coventry Climax KF4 engine is amazing ! Unfortunately the river is too small for a vessel made for the speed required of a Captain's " Skimming Dish ", so I only used up to half power. . . .speed limits and the huge wake to consider. I also ran her with the white ensign flying. I did think that as a return to the water after so many years it was a fitting tribute.
She was launched with a fine single malt. One shot in the river. . .one shot over her prow. . .and a well deserve shot into me !!
I don't know how to put up decent sized pics for you here. . .if you want any any more please contact me on : erikpam@me.com.. . .or wait for the website.
By the way. . .what really nice and helpful people I met on the way. . .many many thanks to you all.
Seven years of vertical learning curve !!!
Cheers. . .erik

 

[Flynnbarr]

What a beautiful little firecracker.Well done,you should be dead chuffed.
Let us know what magazine she is in and website when up and running please.
Will be showing this to my elderly father ex RN,he'll be interested as well.

 

[Eyore]

Congratulations. its lovely.

 

[ErikBenson]

Can anyone tell me how to put larger pics up in this box please ?
Thanks. . .Erik

 

[FWB]

Can anyone tell me how to put larger pics up in this box please ?
Thanks. . .Erik

Put them on photobucket then paste them on here. If you have an iPad/iPhone then use the Photobucket app. Really easy

 

[ErikBenson]

Tried this. . .The launch. i have uploaded to photo bucket but don't know how to paste. . .so I took it to desktop then dragged it across. . . . here's hoping Erik

/Users/Erik/Desktop/DSCN0636_zps773d805d.jpg
Didn't seem to want to work. . . any suggestions ? there are some nice pics

 

[FWB]

Take a look at this thread.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...-FIRST-attempt-at-posting-a-Photobucket-image

 

[ErikBenson]

Trying to show pics

Thanks for that advice foeu. . . .I tried for ages last night with no success. . .here's it for this morning ! Does this configuration look right ? then why will it not show? appreciate your advice .. . .Erik

Now THIS I CANNOT understand. . .how the hell did I get this to work ?? Must try again !
Anyhow. . .here is the launching ceremony on the River Charente. . .a decent single malt. . . .one in the river. . .one on the 'Dragonfly' and a well deserved one into me !!
Like the rope bumper ? I knitted that myself !!
I hope I will be able to repeat the photo miracle. . . . .how long have you got ???
Erik

 

[ErikBenson]

one of the only 4 period pics I found

more to follow. . . I HOPE !!

 

[ErikBenson]

If it's a Royal Navy engine you want ?

Here is a shot of the Coventry Climax KF4 2 stroke diesel with Rootes supercharger. These were made specifically for the FMDs ( Fast Motor Dinghies ) 50hp at 2000rpm. . .and sounds wonderful !!

 

[ErikBenson]

Just half power on here ! My ' Skimming Dish '

Please excuse my use of the White Ensign here, but I felt strongly about her return to life. This actual flag came from the 'Ark Royal " ! I dared not open her up as the wake at half power was embarrassing on this French river, and I didn't want to upset the locals !. . .not to mention the two charming German holiday-makers on their rented river cruise boat !!

 

[ErikBenson]

all tucked up for the winter

Just a few notes. . . .the colour isn't 'blue' .. . .it is the official Royal Navy - " Admiralty Light Grey"- -of the period. The "period" is from 1938 through to 1953. The Navy went on to glass-fibre versions and then to much lighter ones , as the warships were no longer fitted with davits strong enough to lift a 1.5 ton speed boat off the deck and into the sea

I have lots more pics which i will try to present soon. I took ages to get this far !!

Erik

 

[FWB]

Congrats on the photos
The period one is a real treasure.

 

[Sandyman]

Bravo Zulu Erik. She looks a beaut. Where did you get the Ark Royal ensign from? Cant see any problem in you using it for the ceremony, but no doubt there will be some old farts out there who will be crying into their tot Most impressed with the donk

 

[ErikBenson]

Another period pic

 

[ErikBenson]

I don't see a wake like this making friends on the local river !!

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Beginning to get the hang of this. . .probably should to load several on each reply. . .too scared still !!

I see this one had a windscreen as opposed to the original dodger.

Out of the 954 made most were destroyed in use apparently. I have had tales of young officers racing them to destruction . hence the lack of survivors. When the Admiralty sold off the remaining FMDs ( as well as all sorts of other obsolete craft ) they stripped them out completely. . .hence the total lack of replacement parts today.

 

[ErikBenson]

Up River !!

They always look quite big, but really are only 16feet long. This is as clear as I could get it. . . .and the last of my period pics. . . .anyone out there with more ??

 

[ErikBenson]

Working plan

There were 2 series of this FMD type. . .the earlier ones just had an 'on/off' gear stick. This was replaced for reliability's sake with a Teleflex Auto- interlock control. This preventing changing from forward to reverse at high speed, by automatically cutting the revs to save the gearbox etc. You can see this here - -below the steering wheel.
This , being heavy in brass was long gone from 'Dragonfly' and NO-ONE in the world had ever even SEEN one, far less knew where I might even find one. After 7 years searching I was hugely lucky to find it under a bench in Fort William !! and bought it on Ebay. . . .a total MIRACLE !! This was the last piece of the jigsaw.
I was so fortunate to find early on, the complete Admiralty Build specifications, and then the complete information on the Coventry KF4 engine. with assistance from extremely helpful people. This meant I cpuld stick to the original concept. Half way through, I removed all the nice brass screws and bolts and replaced with silicon bronze !. . . YES. . . all the slots line up !!
'Nuff said . . . . .Erik

 

[Niander]

How about a film on YouTube mate?

 

[Capt Popeye]

Ahoy there, thank you for all the information and pictures, great historical stuff there with a degree of personal commitment to the refurbishment that can only be described as outstanding.

Thank you again