Ashleys Rubber Powered Boats

This topic is empty.

Viewing 18 posts - 1 through 18 (of 18 total)

Author

Posts
13 February 2009 at 22:09 #18497
Tony Hadley
Participant
@tonyhadley
Ashley,

Whilst looking at the MB magazine of July 2007, I couldn’t help but admire your rubber powered boats, in the two page item.

Your modern craft, performed surprisingly well, but as a lover of older craft I couldn’t help but admire the photograph of the historic Bowman model.

Have you continued with development of these craft? and did you consider fitting single channel r/c to give rudder control?

A superb item and project.

Well Done.

Tony.
Advert

13 February 2009 at 22:09 #3302
Tony Hadley
Participant
@tonyhadley
Scratch Build Item
14 February 2009 at 18:59 #18526
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Tony, thanks for that. I have not co ntinued development i am afraid due to other projects. There really is so much to try on a rubber band powered craft. So many variables…motor size,rubber type/thickness,prop type,gearing…all sorts. It would be nice to know how an original Bowman goes, Or are they all too precious?? I think that fitting an r/c rudder and using an electric cordless to wind the motor is the way to go, but then it loses some of the character I think ? Ashley
15 February 2009 at 06:12 #18532
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Hi Ashley

Nice to see that you have been published again and can we look forward to an item on the fantome.

Got to sign off now as the nurses are here for my bed bath.

Paul
15 February 2009 at 07:33 #18536
Bob Abell 2
Participant
@bobabell2
Hello Ashley…………………and good moaning to you, Paul

What`s this about you having something published?………is it something new?

Regarding your rubber powered boat, which I haven`t seen yet………..way back in 1965, I had an article published in the” Model Cars” magazine, relative to rubber powered Dragsters………………..If you fancy having a nosey, I`ll dig it out and do a scan.

These cars were retained on a straight line tether and could do 90 feet in 3 seconds!

Perhaps the idea could be extended to modelboats?…………You won`t believe this, but the craft would be almost ballistic!…………………something Paul is craving for!

I`ll find the mag……………..just in case!

Bob
15 February 2009 at 07:53 #18537
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Not moaning anymore Bob………the girls have left now and its time for breakfast.

Ashley has sneaked a piece into the mag about his non flying boat so you will have to hurry up with JD at war to keep the scores level.

talk to you tomorrow when I get back home.

Paul
15 February 2009 at 08:02 #18538
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
OOoo Err matron. Nice to hear from you again Paul. Have you considered rubber power for you barrel back?? that would get is shifting nicely , at least for a short while, but winding it up would be a b****r ! Bob, see March issue of the magazine, Its a follow up really to Shorty. A rubber sprinter would be a wow, but it wouldnt half take some experimenting to get it right. I think the general public dont realise the power that is available from a simple rubber motor. My Ashleyboat2 had 20 metres of rubber in it, and thats some very serious power!!! Ashley
15 February 2009 at 08:23 #18541
Bob Abell 2
Participant
@bobabell2
Hello Chaps

Thanks for the info Ashley……………….20 m of rubber hey?………..Sounds interesting………..mine had 18 yards of 1/4″ flat rubber split between four drive shafts, all connected together with bevel gears

I`m going to create a new album for rubber powered craft……………I`ll be food for thought?

Bob
15 February 2009 at 13:46 #18549
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Ashley

Haven’t we discussed rubber power before I do recall planning to link up rubber bands to a flywheel……..or is this memory a medication induced senior moment.

Paul
15 February 2009 at 19:37 #18558
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Nope, I think we have mused over this topic. Is there any other novel propulsion method we have not touched on yetAshley
15 February 2009 at 20:43 #18561
David Meier
Participant
@davidmeier28154
It doesn’t relate to model boats, but I have a friend who when he was a little boy got hold of an old electrolux vacuum cleaner, removed both ends and filled the dust bag end with petrol soaked rags. He plugged it into his dads garage via a long extension lead and pointed it down the drive. Apparently it got to quite an impressive turn of speed when he flicked the switch.

David.
16 February 2009 at 06:45 #18570
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
David, this friend…is he still with us ????? Ashley
16 February 2009 at 07:13 #18573
Bob Abell 2
Participant
@bobabell2
He was a bright Spark!
16 February 2009 at 08:27 #18578
David Meier
Participant
@davidmeier28154
Yes he is still in the land pf the living. He is a very accomplished petrol head and used to own a race car building company. He took my job of workshop manager when I retired last year.

David.
27 April 2009 at 15:24 #20481
Barry Martin
Participant
@barrymartin11489
I am a new member of your Forum, and am interested in your discussion of “old-fashioned” methods of propulsion, i.e. rubber. I am considering clockwork, using an old gramophone motor. In my teens, I made a balsa paddle boat (side paddles), about 24″ long, powered by a Meccano No 2 (?) (the big one with reverse) geared up well via bevel gearing, and at one wind it would sail for at least 20 minutes, and even crossed the width of the Fleetwood pond (is it still there?) My point is that using the high torque of rubber or a good clockwork motor – paddles going slowly seem to be more efficient than the drive to a faster revolving propellor.
27 April 2009 at 18:47 #20493
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Barry, I would love to agree with you but he simple fact is that an underwater propeller is far more efficient than a paddle. A big slowly revolving prop is the thing to have for efficient propulsion at low to medium speeds. Also unfortunately the rubber on me` boat has rather perished a bit over the year of non-use despite being well lubricated with castor oil and other stuff…oh yes, Glycerine. I was going to break it out for a run soon to speed past a few tugs on our pond and give them a good thrashing, but it looks like I may have to spend thruppence on some more knicker elastic. Ashley
27 April 2009 at 18:49 #20494
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
another thought, i dont suppose there would be much chance of me winning Colins proposed “it looks dead realistic on the water” picture comp with the Ashleyboat 2 ?? Ashley
27 April 2009 at 19:10 #20496
Tony Hadley
Participant
@tonyhadley
Came across this on the original Bowman Launches.

The rubber powered craft are found in section 06 (Archives). At the foot of the section these craft are the ‘Tiger’, ‘Panther’, ‘Aeroboat’ and ‘Greyhound’.

http://www.bowmancircle.co.uk/index.html

Tony.
Author

Posts