Well,here we are again,after my success’ s with the Vosper Corvette & Type 24, I just had to look about and see what I could build next. After looking through various issues of both MB & MMI,I came across yet another Clive Halliwell plan that really piqued my interest. This one came in the MMI Plans & Construction special from September.

  Looking at the design,and construction methods applied,I felt that i just had to give this one a go too,with some modifications of course,so without further ado,here’s the build.

 

 

She has been fitted with a 385 motor powering a Raboesh 25mm 3-blade prop,running off a 6V-4.5A gellcell,with a further 5lb of ballast. In the 2 video’s which I’ll put up later,you’ll see her running at flank speed,which looks not too bad a scale speed I think you’ll agree.

 

Hi Ian,I’m not too sure just what you mean by tech details,but I’ll give it a go.

The receiver is just a 2-channel 27MHz AM Futaba one that I had lying around,though I normally use Acoms ones. The servo is a Futaba 3003,though any make of basic servo could be used,as a rudder on these boats doesn’t require a lot of torque.

  The ESC,now comes the fun part. Coming from racing R/C cars,I have plenty of esc’s available,but most are overpowered as far as boats go,though you should only really need an Mtronix Viper Marine 10 or 15,and as these are waterproof,they’re perfect for boats.

  The handset that I use is of the steeringwheel type,(I don’t like sticks),and is a Kyosho Perfex KT-14 with a 10 model memory,with dual steering rate,throttle adjustments,EPA settings for both steering and throttle. This is my main controller that I use for racing my cars with,and is far more advanced than you really need for sailing boats with. Any good quality transmitter can be used in your boats,you don’t need a tranny of this spec to do the job. As long as the tranny has got some form of EPA adjustment,you can trim your rudder perfectly.

What you may find when setting up the boat initially is that the rudder throws more to one side than the other,this is where EPA comes into it’s own,allowing you to trim the throw equally,both left and right. I hope that I’ve explained this reasonably well,I’ve not been asked this before.

   I’ve still to source a further two airvents for the aft deck,but they need to be of a smaller diameter than the ones on the foredeck. The aft deck hatches are still to be finished off as well as finding another capstan for the aft deck too; the ships boats are still to be painted, as are the ladders to the flying bridge;the searchlights aren’t finished yet either; the charthouse has still to have it’s side windows fitted and painted. I’m in two minds whether or not to fit the foremast,as this was later removed from these vessels. The anchorchain chutes have been fitted,but are still to be painted,and I’ve still to source some 15mm Marine figures for her crew. I can find Russian marines easily enough,but finding British ones is proving much harder.Being 1/128th scale,15mm figures(1/100) are just about perfect for her,and are far easier to find in wargames circles than are boat figures from our marine model counterparts.

  I hope that this has been of some help Ian.

 

Ashley,I can see your reasoning for adding further ballast to her,but in doing so,I risk puting the top of the ruddershaft below the waterline,and that is just asking for trouble. At the moment,the top of the ruddershaft is a mere 6mm above the waterine,I had to cut down the stock rudder and collet in order to get her to fit below the aft deck hatch.

  I might just take your advice,and narrow her waterline stripe though,as it might just cut down the optical illusion that she is toppling over on the turns.

 David.

A couple of vids from today.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPk6nUjw5fw 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZkHfxqMU00 

She certainly looks the part Ashley,though I’d have painted the funnels a buff colour. My ship is about 1/2″ narrower than the plans,as I built the base from a 4″ wide sheet rather than from 2x 3″ sheets.

 I see what you mean about the side wake,it’s really pronounced. I wonder if it’s got anything to do with the fact that you run with twin motors on yours? Is she quite maneuverable?

 

 

 

The little Cyclops doing her good deed for the day.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KodBfDdd-uQ