Combat Boat 90H

combat boat

The Prototype

The "Stridsbåt 90" (Combat Boat 90) replaces the old 200 boat as the Swedish Navy´s standard combat boat. It has two main differences from traditional boats: the hatch in the front and waterjet engines instead of conventional propellers. With the current engines - two diesel V8s developing 670 bhp each - has a top speed of 40 knots and can stop in two boat-lengths - in a massive cascade of water. (See the videos below.) It is 15.9 metres of aluminium, carrying a total of three .50cal machine guns and a full troop (half a platoon, 21 men) of soldiers. It has a crew of three - skipper, driver and gunner. Its main purpose is to rapidly deploy troops onto shore by driving almost onto the shore, dropping the ramp at the front and disgorging its cargo in a matter of seconds.

The Model

rote -- CB90 sideview running in rote

When I did my military service in the Swedish Coastal Artillery, I was trained as a gun controller, and we used the old 200 boats to travel from island to island. This memory inspired me to build a model boat, after twenty years of model trains. Originally I intended to build a 200 boat, but when I saw the new CB90 on the internet (at Swedish Navy), there was no question about which boat to build. When I then discovered that the German company Graupner makes a waterjet system for model boats, I decided to install radio control since not only would I have a nice model, but I could make it look and function as the prototype does. When I got started in marine modelling as a teenager, installing radio control could set you back a good 10,000 SEK (Swedish Kronor) - and today it costs around 600, despite the devaluation of the Krona. In fact, the waterjets and the engines turned out to cost more than the radio does - about 3,500 SEK, if you install double waterjets as the original has. (To get an idea of the prices in your currency, visit www.xe.com/ucc)

The finished boat is built in aero-plywood and balsa. The types of plywood I use are 1.5 and 0.8mm thick, for frames and skins, respectively. I considered making it in plastic, but so far my skills are not sufficiently advanced. However, a friend of mine - who works full time making models for companies - made a model of CB90 in 1:100. He may agree to make a plastic hull in the future.

FMV (Swedish Defence Materiel Administration)

On the 30th of August 1999 the schematics finally arrived from FMV, after six months of emails and phone calls - it seems that nagging really does pay off! In the envelope were not only a very nice building plan in 1:70 scale, with frames (well, enough to build a model from) but also a leaflet showing internals, details and colours used. All rights belong to FMV, of course, but it is not secret information so it´s OK to download for the pure purpose of building a model from it. If you print these, choose landscape format to get them nice and big. If these schematics are not enough for you, you can order your own set directly from FMV.

To download the blueprints, go to FMV Plans.

Content list

Combat Boat 90H, the Hull

how the hull and details were made. May 17, 2012 : how the hull and details were made.

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Combat Boat 90H, the Logbook

Some pictures showing building progress. This is my first modelboat building project. When finished it will be controlled with 4 R/C channels. Nov 15, 2012 : Some pictures showing building progress. This is my first modelboat building project. When finished it will be controlled with 4 R/C channels.

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Combat Boat 90H, Painting

how it was painted. May 17, 2012 : how it was painted.

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Combat Boat 90H

model building plans for CB90. May 17, 2012 : model building plans for CB90.

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