Don’t know what to do and how to start

[Sonny SalienteParticipant @sonnysaliente24760]

Hello everybody

I am a new boat modeler enthusiast.  I bought a Queen Mary 2 model kit and I want to put a motor so that I can run it in the water.  Since It says in the package that it is a RC compatible.

The problem is I don’t have any idea what are the things that I’m going to put.  My boat model size is 85cm x 10cm x 18.

I hope any body can enlighten me what gadgets i can use so that It will run on water.

Hope to hear from you guys. Thank  you.

[Revell WalkerParticipant @revellwalker82816]

Welcome to boating! First off, we can break it down into three areas:

Guidance and Control: Get a 2 channel radio with either two servos or  a servo and a speed control

Drive system : Motor ( perhaps a 280 size) , shaft and prop

Power: Batteries

For the size of your model, it won’t need a huge pack of cells, maybe two d cell batteries. The servos won’t be very  large either, just big enough to fit in the hull and move the rudder, which should be a small one of your deisgn or store bought. I’ll let the others jump in, I’m going to bed!

Rev 

[Charles OatesParticipant @charlesoates31738]

  Hi,

        Like Rev says motor shaft and prop first, then radio control. You need to plan these at the start of the build so you can work out how to get access to these when the model is built.

  If you’re new to installing radio and motors you could do worse than contacting a specialist in these things. I use a company that has always given good advice. You will probably find they they recommend a small motor and electronic speed controller, then you will only need one servo to steer the model.

This is who I use, and I have no connection with them other than as a customer.

http://www.action-electronics.co.uk

 Good luck.

 Chas

[Sonny SalienteParticipant @sonnysaliente24760]

Rev and Charles

Thank you very much for enlighten me about this matter cuz I dont have any idea about it.

I will  let you know if its running.

Sonny

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Sonny

I for one would be very intrested in seeing some progress photos of this build so is there any chance of some nice piccies as Vinnie would say.

Paul

[Sonny SalienteParticipant @sonnysaliente24760]

Paul

Sure I would love to send you some piccies (as you would say that a new word for me) my boat when its finnish and running. 

Do you have any idea about servo and motor since I’m new in this hobby and the guy in the hobby shop near in my place it seems that he is not happy to help me or he’s just a busy guy.  Can you recoment me a specific brand or model for moter and servos.  I heard about the volts and amperes I totaly dont have any idea. 

I would be happy to her from you soon.  Thank you in advance.

Sonny 

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Sonny. Assuming you dont have any r/c gear. My shopping list would be would be….Standard Futaba/ hi-tec or whatever 27mhz set (transmitter/reciever/2x servos/battery box for reciever)..instructions in the box for connecting all this up.

Graupner speed 280 motor,

lightweight 2mm propshaft and 30mm propeller, small rudder assembly, spring motor-shaft connector—all available from hobby`s catalogue (online)–but all model shops should have these items.

A  6 x AA battery holder from Maplin etc , some AA NiMh batteries (2000mAh or bigger) for transmitter and the boat  (that will be about 14 in all !!) Holder will need some thicker wires soldering on to the output terminals. Might need a charger if you havnt got one already.

A Viper 15 Amp electronic speed controller with BEC (this allows the reciever in the boat to run off the aa battery pack.)

This will certainly make it go ok, or you may want perhaps 2 shafts and a pair of less feisty motors, the standard Como/MFA 280 but running on 4.8v, (get in this case a 4x AA battery holder).. All this wont look very "scale" under the boat of course…depends how subtle you want to be.?   Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Sonny

I think Ashley is bang on with his specification especially given how light your model is.

Don’t get to upset about the guy in the model shop it might just be the case that he doesnt know about putting rc gear into a plastic model.

On the other hand this site is full of friendly people who are only to glad to pitch in with help and advice so don’t be afraid to ask.

Why wait until the project is finished to post some "piccies" ( fancy a cup of tea with your piccies? the word makes me smile) when you could post some building progress shots so that we can all see how you are getting on with the conversion.

All the best

Paul

[Sonny SalienteParticipant @sonnysaliente24760]

Ashley,

 Thank you very much for the wonderful and great help.  I can now go directly to the hobby shop and ask for these things. 

 You’re an awesome person Ashley and to Paul thanks for approving of what Ashley’s advise with this. I trust you guys.  Both of you are great.

Sonny

[Sonny SalienteParticipant @sonnysaliente24760]

Paul,

I already created an album entitled Sam I upload two "piccies" and waiting for the approval.  Hope you like it and please try to comment about the model. 

Thanks!

Sonny

[Vinnie BraniganParticipant @vinniebranigan92297]

Sonny,  they’re not waiting for approval.  It don’t happen like that.  You upload ’em….people see ’em.

Vinnie 

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Sonny

The model looks great, are you sure that you are new to model building as I have seen far worse from guys that have been building for years.

I look forward to seeing the photos of the fit out.

All the best

Paul

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Sonny. I have seen this kit in the shops and felt tempted myself. Be interested to see how you arrange access to the insides !  I would also be very tempted to make the stabilizers much larger so that they actually have an effect on the boat when in the water, as boats like this with very large superstructures can roll horribly. Make them so that they can detach somehow if you want to display it without them. I have never tried it but a tube water tank is supposed to be very good at stopping the rolling, assuming you have some weight margin for this.   Ashley

[Sonny SalienteParticipant @sonnysaliente24760]

Paul

Thanks for the compliments.  I started this hobby last  August 2007 when I saw a Revel model kit in the hobby shop. My first model boat was Titanic the scale is 1:1500.  Actually QM2 is my fourth Revell model all in all I have 6 model boat however QM2 is my biggest model boat so far.  This is my first attempt to put motor in my model boat.

Ashley

You are right the super structure is bit heavy however I tried to float it in my bath tub. I put some weigths on it and it floats.  The problem is the water level is beyond the model’s indecated waterline.  I’m curious and interested about the tube water tank?How does it look like?

Thank you for spending time with my concern. Looking forward to hear you guys…

Sonny 

[ashley needham 2Participant @ashleyneedham2]

The water tube idea works thus… a tube, or tank, is put in the bowels of the vessel  running side-side, and is filled perhaps 2/3 or 3/4 with water. the theory is that when the vessel starts to roll to one side, the water stays stationary (due to its momentum), but when the vessel rolls the other way the water in the tube THEN starts to move in the first direction, cancelling out some of the rolling forces. I have never tried this, but by all accounts it works ok. The main problem with real ships inthe noise generated by tons of water slopping about. I should think that you wouldnt notice this on a model. Size wize  I would think the bigger thge better, within reason-would probly need experimentation in a model, but easy enopugh to accomplish. Ashley.

[Sonny SalienteParticipant @sonnysaliente24760]

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