Fairey Huntsman

[MattParticipant @matt]

[MattParticipant @matt]

Despite a previous thread about building my first boat I never quite got it off the ground…

 

I still quite fancy making a Fairey Huntsman but notice that it’s available in both wooden and fibreglass hulls. The wooden option seems quite appealing but I am wondering whether I might be making a mistake?

 

Grateful for some advice.

 

Thanks

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Matt.   Only you can decide this. Balance the work and time involved with the satisfaction quotient.  Have you built this sort of thing before?

 

There is no definitive answer here.

 

I know of several posters who would build the hull in wood, and then cover it in fibreglass !!

 

I would have the fibreglass hull, personally and I am not even going to bother justifying that statement !

 

Ashley     PS  do NOT EVEN think about asking for suggestions in the motor department…..life is too short.

 

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Matt

Take it from the guy who designed the ruddy thing – if you’re just starting out then you don’t need the hassle of a wooden hull. Stick with the GRP one – it’s a better shape at the bow anyway. The smaller one will also give you marginally less problems finding (and affording) a suitable power train.

Dave M

[MattParticipant @matt]

Thanks for the replies. I think I’ll go for the GRP one.

[MattParticipant @matt]

Having made that decision I’m now on to considering the best place to buy… There seems very few retailers selling the Huntsman. I came across one here. Is anyone familiar with this store? Is there anywhere else I should be looking? (I did see some on eBay too).

 

Also… I’d quite like to build the boat and then turn my attention to installing the motor and electrics etc; however, I get the impression that’s not really the way it’s done and that the motor etc should all be installed during the build?

 

Apologies if these seem like daft questions, it’s just I want to make sure I budget for what I need before making any purchases.

 

Thanks.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Matt, have not looked at the webesite

 

but

 

The build issue is one of access and hull stiffness. installing the shafts and motor assembly without having fitted the top and you may find that there is a bit of twisting going on and things dont line up quite as they should afterwards. But you can always drill the holes and trial fit the stuff with the top….ah no, hang on , if you are building the top out of bits of wood this will need to be fitted to the hull straight away.. i think there should be instructions with the kit to sort that out.

 

Having bought an MFA Fantome, at 48 inches, i would buy the bigger boat personally as it will ride the waves better and you can take it to the seaside and play in the sea. It also gives you more of a margin viz batteries and stuff . Again a personal choice (big is better at the pond side!)

 

The motor/battery combination depends on the speed you want to achieve. And whether you want single or twin props., and how long you want to run for.

 

 

Ashley

[MattParticipant @matt]

Oh no… conflicting advice… Help!

 

Mr Milbourn – can I ask you to elaborate a little re your comments about the powertrain in relation to the size of the boat?

 

In the meantime I recall a blog somewhere about building a Fairey – I’ll see what was said about the order of things.

 

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Dave Milbourn designed it and can recommend the appropriate drive train.

 

I would go with his advice every time.

 

Colin

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Posted by Matt on 24/11/2009 20:05:44:

Oh no… conflicting advice… Help!

 

Mr Milbourn – can I ask you to elaborate a little re your comments about the powertrain in relation to the size of the boat?

 

In the meantime I recall a blog somewhere about building a Fairey – I’ll see what was said about the order of things.

 

 “Mr”?? Ah! Promotion at last!!

The prototypes both used IC engines (what are called nitro motors these days) so I can’t recommend anything electric from direct personal experience. I do have a customer who has two Darke Horse 3:1 geared 785 motors in his big Huntsman. These run off 20 cells each via ACTion P98 speed controllers. It goes like greased weasel pooh but you’ll get no change from £250 for this set-up. A 34″ Huntsman should be quite interesting with a single Graupner Speed 700BB Turbo. There are several folks around who use this set-up and can advise exactly which variety of Speed 700 and what voltage is best. If none is forthcoming on this forum then have a look at The Other One…….

 

Regards

Dave M

[HS93Participant @hs9317166]

Have a look on this site under plans , there is the original Huntsman 28 boat some people say its the nicest one of all , it is correct in it’s lines and builds to a nice boat I have heard that one of the kit boats has a reputation for very poor timber and a lot of people have had to replace the wood , there is a nice build of one on Mayhem. that has an ic but it can be made to go well with a 700bb woth a bit of work. have a look at Both boats to make shore you pick the right one as I know someone who was disapoited when he got the kit as he didnt know there was a few models of them.

 

Peter

http://www.myhobbystore.com/1792/Colyer-Fairey-Huntsman-MM680.html

 

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=14357.0

[MattParticipant @matt]

Thanks again for the feedback. I’m erring on the side of electric. I have a IC RC car and I find it messy and hard work. When I bought it I was thinking about the convenience of adding fuel and away you go, however, I never have the glow plug charged nor the controller’s batteries either. It’s also a pain to start!

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Ummmm   the build  on Mayhem sure looks good.. but he seems to be having big problems at speed (any, by the looks of things unless its in a slow straight line). So saying he is using a glow engine, and thus its reasonably powerful and naturally only one prop.

 

I wonder how much of the turning problem is due to the relativly large flywheel on these engines?  Twin props certainly seems safer on electric, even if it may not deliver the ultimate in performance.

 

 

Ashley

[RedratParticipant @redrat]

The Fairey Huntsman is close to my heart! I own one and love it!, however, as HS93 has pointed out, there are a number of versions, mine is the 28, and featured in “From Russia with love” Bond film, it was one of the chase boats, Bond himself rode the Huntress, I digress!

 

As to the shape, Personally I prefer the Veron version of the 28, the shape of the bow, and hull are very accurate, and as you hvae seen on the mayhem link, its a real nice boat, and I think the wood version is the best.

 

I run a brushless set up, which took a lot of saving up!but is ballistic!,  previously it ran a 700bb turbo neo motor, 2:1 gearbox ratio, on 2 x 9.6v (equalling 19.2v) nimh’s, run time was 20 mins flat out and was very good (single shaft) 52.5mm “x” prop.

 

Set up is a very personal thing, and is very dependent of budget. If you read Ramons build on mayhem, it has been suggested what was wrong, it would appear that the prop is too far back, but it could be a number of other factors also, this Hull thrives on speed and rough water, just like the real thing, so dont let the mayhem problems put you off, thats what model building is all about, testing, testing, and more testing 

“>” width=”350″ alt=”” />

Not quite finished yet, rear ladder, seats etc, a floating gym palace in its day!

Edited By Redrat on 25/11/2009 20:27:02

[HS93Participant @hs9317166]

Look at there are a few Huntsman Vidio’s of the above boat you will see it does not need IC  and it handels even rough water well.

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/onehs93

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/onehs93#p/u

 

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

 

Peter

 

 

 

Edited By HS 93 on 25/11/2009 20:59:09

[MattParticipant @matt]

Two of my favourites (i.e. spotted the fire tender in the vids too). Both very nice.

 

I don’t think I’ve seen any models other than the 31 in kit form (or perhaps I’ve not been making the distinction).

 

Redrat – very nice Huntsman!

 

I think I need a good book on the subject of RC boats so I can spend a bit of time learning about the options before spending.

[Author]

Posts