Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Dave,

Sorry to hear you have been afflicted with the Covid

Before I'd worry about the steering, I'd put some planks on the hull to keep the water out

Regards Ray

[RobcParticipant @robc16634]

Looks fantastic! Looking forward to seeing the finished hull.

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Thanks Rob,

Just started to plank some of the stern section. The rudder servo bearers are in and I've fitted a temporary rudder to work out the control runs etc.

I'll post some pic's when things are a little more advanced….

Regards,

Dave

ps We've got the builders in next week, I've had to do some quick catch-up work on the model railway to make extra room in the workshop. So, there will now be 'a short intermission' !

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

A quick update : After nearly 4 months of building works (original quote – 2 weeks), and 3 personal, industrial injuries to me, the customer…. I finally get my workshop back !

So, with a stroke of luck, I can get the hull back on the workbench and carry on planking.

Note to all, this is not a good time to be getting tradespeople in for work on your property – be warned !

Best regards,

Dave

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Yachting experts please :

Is 30 degrees (60 inclusive) of rudder travel enough to cover all points of sailing ? I can get more but it means a bit of re-engineering at the transom. I'm using 'jury-rigged' hinges at the moment, so, professional ones may give some extra throw.

Just fitting some extra noggins in so there should be some photos of planking progress soon…

Cheers,

Dave

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Dave,

That amount of rudder travel will be fine any more than that will just be a brake

It's not unusual for a scale rudders to not be effective , so I always drill a couple of holes in the blade to bolt on an extension if required

You should have asked me for a Gant or Logik linked Bar chart for your building works, that's what I do for a living !! The current project I'm programming is £8m in value should take 78 weeks

Regards Ray

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Thanks Ray – yes, it looks about right. You've got me thinking about rudder area though – with the 'cut-out' for the prop' the area is reduced quite a bit. I may just add a bit more profile below the waterline just in case.

That's a sizeable project you've got going there. We did a fair amount of research and pre-planning on paper, but, have been badly let down by the various trades and other suppliers. .At one point, my son had to step in to 'rescue' the floor complete with the submerged electrics.

Hey ho, – we're nearly there, but, no one gets paid in full until everything is working properly !

Cheers for now,

Dave

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Dave, I go with Ray. There’s no such thing as ‘over ruddering’ (that a file won’t cure), but if the rudder is ineffective then enlarging the area afterwards can be tricky.

Holes to bolt a Perspex extension in place the perfect answer. Perspex/acrylic extensions invisible in the water and innocuous when out.

Ashley

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

An interesting idea Ashley. I think I've got some Perspex left over from another project…

Bonus point : it saves me making a new rudder if the scale one doesn't work !

Cheers,

Dave

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Quick update :

I'm currently finishing a railway oil painting for someone (Lynton & Barnstable Narrow Gauge). As soon as this is done, I can get on with some more planking.

All this assuming I can afford to heat the jolly workshop ! Failing this, the hull will have to come 'in-doors' – Gasp, whatever will the management say…

Regards,

Dave

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Rudder now drilled to take a 'see-through' extension if needed.

A quick planking query : – some planks are not 100% abutted to the one below /above. The gaps are just a few thou' but probably enough to let water in…..

Gap filling ideas I have are :- P38 (or, similar), balsa sawdust and glue perhaps ? Other ? I'm currently working on the inner skin in balsa strip as it nicely follows the curve of the frames without steaming.

Probably not going to glass, but most likely an outer skin of obechi, lime or similar (I'll try a few test pieces first). The idea being for a 'natural' wood finish to show through. I'm open to all ideas though at this stage.

Cheers,

Dave

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

The important thing is to fill the gaps with something which is not harder than the adjoining planks otherwise you can get high spots when sanding.

P38 is OK but I prefer Ronseal High Performance Wood Filler as it is a bit softer and specifically designed for wood. It also comes in white or light wood colour.

**LINK**

Colin

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Thanks Colin. The Ronseal Filler looks useful. I think I may have some on the shelf (just have to check it's age !).

Dave

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

As my winter oil painting sessions now draw to a close, I have managed to sneak out into the workshop for a bit more planking at the stern.

The motor (DC brushed) is trial mounted and the rudder is jury-rigged to check clearances etc. around the prop'.

Planking is quite satisfying, but, time consuming as each 'plank' has to be cut from balsa stock…..noggins often have to be inserted here and there as the 3mm frames need extra support. Scarf joints are also needed due to hull length v. standard stock sizes……nobody ever said it would be easy ! Lots of learning on the job taking place as I go along – all part of the fun.

Photos soon,

Dave

 

Edited By Dave Cooper 6 on 02/03/2023 10:51:10

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

For general interest, I have been asked what were the subjects of the paintings :-

1. Lynton & Barnstaple Narrow Gauge railway

2. Ballet

I suppose I really should do a boat next !

Cheers for now,

Dave

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Planking proceeds at a snail's pace now that the workshop has warmed up a bit. I'll have to think about the mounting for the sail winch soon. Also thinking about taller plank sections to ease my burden a bit ! (Currently 6mm pitch).

Edited By Dave Cooper 6 on 08/04/2023 16:24:07

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Just a quick progress update :-

I have now switched to 10mm tall planks (from the original 6mm) – hence planking has now doubled in progress ! These look fine where the radii of the frames are largest. However, for the tighter curves I think I may well revert to the 6mm planks…also, at bow and particularly stern sections, the 6's will be better suited to tapering and blending to form.

Before planking gets too advanced, I have to have in mind a couple of design items – ie the hull lower mast step plus the sail servo mount and sheet runs. The thinking at present is to have the two jibs and the two mains controlled by the same servo – I think this was Ray's suggestion and is sound thinking. I can't really see any need to go 'goose-winged' so probably best to keep things simple. I can always introduce a second sail servo at a later stage if necessary.

Photos to follow when things are a little more advanced,

Dave

Edited By Dave Cooper 6 on 21/08/2023 10:44:26

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Hi All,

 

A quick update on the Pilot Cutter – work on the planking is continuing (about 25% up from topsides when inverted). Motor and prop shaft installed and adjustable mast step also added.

Will post some photos shortly (hopefully !),

Dave

 

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hello Dave,

Welcome back to the forum 🙂  steady progress is better than non at all.

I have plenty of started projects waiting to be finished 🙂

Regards Ray

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Er, haven’t we all!

Will be good to see it progress again Dave. I’ve only just started again.

Chris

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Hi Both, and thanks for the welcome back….I’ve had all my medical thingy’s for the year now.

A quick summary of all my other time distractions :-

1. Writing – up to Chapter 23 of the novel.

2. At my 70th birthday, I foolishly started a band “Old School Blues” (pretty much describes what we do !) – great fun actually.

3. Sportscar – updated the wind tunnel model and now fitting out the full-size cockpit. Latest addition is an ASI instrument.

4. Painting – finished all those promised. Nearly froze to death stewarding the last exhibition.

5. Sad news – the National Gliding Association has stopped me flying solo (just one of my prescription drugs disallowed under the new ‘Euro’ rules).  Still, more time for modelling !

6. Built my first control line stunt trainer “Mercury Cobra” – as yet unflown.

7. Grandson is starting to show an interest in modelling, so, planning a few projects for him. Built a mixed-gauge crossing for the model railway diorama. Also, trial conversion of 00 gauge to P4 (test track)

That’s about it for now – Oh!, new lathe and drill press arriving shortly when leaks in the workshop roof are fixed…

Cheers,

Dave

 

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

That should certainly keep you occupied for a while.  Good to hear the grandson is showing interest, the most rewarding thing you will ever do is to give him an interest in any craft based hobby.

I only once went gliding as a test flight.  It was at a club at Selby in Yorkshire, which was a relatively flat field so no available lift.  They got all their lift by flying over the cooling towers of the nearby power station, which was life going up in an express lift when you hit it.  We banked over and I got to look down an inactive tower, which was a bit scary!

By the way why are you putting an ASI in a car?

[Dave Cooper 6Participant @davecooper6]

Hi Richard,

The sportscar is designed for competition use (Sprints and Hillclimbs). It effectively doubles it weight at round 120mph. So far, the ‘aero’ stability looks good in the wind tunnel at 10% scale.

During ‘shakedown’ and initial test drives of the full-size car, I may find some instability has crept in and, in that case, I would need to know the true airspeed so that I can re-visit my aero calculations. Hence, a calibrated ASI will be fitted on-board.

I also have two different nose profiles (long story !) but, I only have drag figures for the low-nose variant so far. This week, I’m fitting the ASI into the cockpit of the full-size car and, also, in the process of fitting working suspension to the wind tunnel model. This should enable Downforce and Centre-of-Pressure data to be created as well.

The car is my own design and was inspired by the two LMP Mercedes cars taking off (Dumbreck and Weber) on the Mulsanne straight at the ’99 Le Mans race. I was there, and it was really scary to see….

If you’re in the Bristol area – early part of next year, I’ll be giving a talk on this at the Bristol Pegasus motor club (used to be The Bristol Aeroplane Co. Motor Club of old.)

 

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Blimey Dave I thought I was doing well at 71 to still have a sports car, albeit a modern Audi TT roadster, I salute you sir!

I do still have a garage full of motorbikes but don’t use them as much as I used to.

Chris

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I do still have a garage full of motorbikes but don’t use them as much as I used to.

Very sensible! Older bikers have all the riding savvy and awareness but physical frailties eventually offset that due to declining reactions.

I used to love touring around France, Germany, and latterly Greece by car but the loss of an eye and slowing reactions due to age have put paid to that. Wonderful times but you need eyes in the back of your your head when driving abroad and if there is only one functioning eye then the risk level just shoots up. The local drivers take no prisoners!

No fun in growing old.

Colin

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