Hello there, new to model boating, new to the forum, let me introduce my self. My name is Amy Jane, and I have one whole model to my credit!

This is my little "Annalisa" 30"x4", displacement of 20oz, scratch built to my own design. R/c useing the radio and motor from a cheap toy car. Small beginings I know, But I'm pleased with her, and she gets along very nicely indeed. I have another under construction, a battery-less side wheeler, using a very effcient motor, a solar panel and capacitor.

looking forward to getting to know you all,

thanks

Amy jane

Sorry Paul, forgot to mention construction

The hull is carved, one complete side first, mostly by eye, but often using a set of lines plans, normally from a fullsized boat, as a guide. The lines are then transfured to the other side with card templates and a lead bar bent to shape, from a block of ploystyrene. I then stretch a leg of and old nylon stocking over it, tying or pining where needed. The whole thing is then epoxied. Quick, simple, cheap and I can make what ever shape takes my fancy!

Thanks Bob, yes I'll check out your builds, this is all new to me, so the more I can learn the better! Thanks for measurements, gives me a good starting point. the paddle speed is a little higher than I was expecting, so I'll try a 1:1 drive from my 50 rpm motor.

Why solar? I was given the electrics a while ago, and I thought it would be a more interesting project than a toy windmill!

Yes, I expect she will need a ballest keel of some discription

thanks again

Oh yes, Bob, I've been looking at your Great Eastern, most impressive! A standard for me to aspire to, perhaps? lovely. Looking forward to seeing how the t.v. doco goes.

Hello Bob.

The journals for the drive shaft will be at deck level, mainly due to the fairly low motor speed requireing what will be over sized wheels in order to obtain a reasonable hull speed. The shaft will be driven, 1:1 gear ratio, by two gear wheels, with the motor directly below the paddle shaft. I think I would prefer smaller, lower, faster turning wheels, but I don't think there is torque enough to gear the paddles up.

Your thoughts?

Thanks

Thanks Bob, that'll keep me going for a while!

Thank you for the feed back, Gentlemen.

Ashley, The displacement,to LWL, will be 35oz, give or take a little, so by no means heavy. I agree that this is all very experimental, and will be very trial and error, But I think (hope) I can get it all to work. Yes, making paddle wheels, gearing etc easily adjustable/interchangeable sounds very sensible. If it dosent work out I can always adopt a more conventional set up!

Thanks for the complements Paul, I dont mind those at all! (Constructive criticisim is always welcome too) I've been playing with her quite a bit, and am having fun. She is quite fast, probably more than scale speed, and runs with very little wake.

Thanks for the wellcome, Chris. I've had one sinking scare with her, I was runing her amongst the moored boats, against a fair bit of tide, when the aerial got caught in a mooring line. The tide rolled her over, and because I neglected to secure the battery pack, she stayed that way. A mad dash in the dinghy. No harm done, lesson learned, battery pack now secure.

My pleasure, Bob. I enjoyed your video.

Saturday morning and hubby and kids are off to sports, so a couple of hours to work on the boat. I've set up the steering gear. The car's drive motor, (with the wires swapped to work off the rudder stick on the transmitter),runs a nut up and down a length of threaded rod to work the rudder. Granted, as a servo it's neither self centering or proportional, but works well enough in practice. ( this is Annalisa's arrangement too).

The paddle wheel drive is completed, and ready to install

and the rudder is made, ready for final shapping, once the glue dries. (I really should get some 5 minute epoxy!)

Amy jane