Graupner Wiesel RC setup

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

Back again, a month!!! been busy in work so apologies if you were waiting. Looking at the hull again I wasnt happy. imagine looking at an arrow head face on concave from point to where it meets shaft, that was the shape of the hull viewed from the bow,from keel to w/l. after a week of working on it, sanding whole hull filler,sanding spraying more filler etc, (you get the drift?) I have got as near as dammit as I think it should be. alot more work than i wanted to do. gonna have to repaint the whole hull now,which is what i tried to avoid, not sure of painting the hull below w/l red lead again, it seems to look nicer with grey primer/filler spray, will have to see. At least now I havnt got knife edge looking bow and its a bit more rounded as it should be. Not too worried about added weight in the bow as when first built I had a fairly heavy lead battery up front compensated by lead at the stern to compensate, have to see when i do ballast test in local duck pond.. some photos of work so far

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

started the removeable deck. the parts you see are those that could not be removed.not sure what araldite was made of in those days but after 40 yrs i still cant get them off. these days i find epoxy is not nearly as strong as it was years ago. Anyway, painted in revel matt and then coated in ronseal exterior matt varnish. doesnt do what it says on the tin it has come out more like a shiny satin. never mind, this job is taking me longer than i thought, and lots more to do. i left the gantry on because believe me I didnt want to break the soldered metal work. if i remember right, back when i made it originaly, this part was the hardest part on the boat.lots of shouting and binning soldered parts untill it was right. enjoy the fotos so far,its coming together.

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

BTW, does anyone know what the fenced off well is/for behind the open bridge? I have searched online and cant see any info. there doesnt seem to be a way in or no steps down to it. I know it was only a semi scale model but graupner seem to have got all access points pretty well covered in other areas. just curious, a swimming pool/jacuzi?

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Captain,

It's a hot tub, they all had them 😀

Regards Ray

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

seriously ray? i was only joking when i said jacuzi. its just that its the same shape as the 1 on deck 9 queen elizabeth

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

😂

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

cheesed off with picture rotation. originals on d/top all rotated /saved. soon as i post on this site the pictures revert to origal rotation. 2nd time of trying this post no joy. thats life apologies but turn your heads to view

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

all original transfers removed or decayed so improvise. 1/35 military etch brass fittings came usefull. large grating midships was a net from a guppy breeding box and some card. slowly taking shape and i know its scale but i want it back to how i built it back then and to the graupner design. More scale can be added at a later date but I am pleased with the result so far. the hull is waiting for the green w/l to be painted on and sealed. hope you like the refurb so far

keith

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

80% of fittings now back on deck,hardest part was the gantry and mast/radio unit on top of it. Decided to virtually make a new one but looks much better than if I had just repainted the old one. Just all the small pieces on deck and sides of the main cabin. waiting for new tiller arm for the 3x rudders. should be on the water by end of next week. enjoyed this project and very grateful to original poster of this thread to motivate me to retrieve this boat from the attic. wonder what else lies therein?

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

back again guys, nearly there now, a bit of rigging to do and some minor adjustments to r/c gear. should be on the pond end of week depending on weather.its been a long slog but so glad i kept those plans,couldnt have done it without.

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

not sure what to do with it after, highly likely to go on ebay but will have to see what she sails like first. nearly forgot, in line fuses, do i put it between battery/speed controller or speed controler to motor? been a long time since using battery set, all my planes are i/c

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

If you intend to protect the boat, you need a fuse between battery and ESC. That protects the boat against a broken ESC. The only sensible time to have fuses between ESC and motor is if more than one motor is fed by one ESC, and that is more for testing purposes than protection.

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

thanks malcolm, I thought the fuse was to protect the esc if the motor suddenly stalled and tried to draw mega amps way over the esc capability? i had that problem once when the prop got weeded up and when i finally got the boat in and opened her up there was a mini fire, s/c wires totally melted and when i went to remove the s/c i nearly took the skin off my fingers. so your suggestion would prevent this would it? only asking as the s/c is of unknown quantities at the moment still searching the web for info on it. details in the thread earlier.

cheers keith

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I'm belt and braces. I fit a fuse between the battery and everything else and on twin screw models between each motor and its ESC.

I prefer the ESC not having to deal with a stalled motor or the possibility of melted wires. Each motor fuse is rated at a bit over the normal load at full speed.

It's just an extra degree of protection and costs pennies.

Colin

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

cheers colin, I am "presuming" this macgregor esc is rated at 10 amp. so I am going to fit a 7.5 amp car fuse between battery and s/c. my uncle bought it 1972(informed today) for a french ocean going tug what was going to be powered by a 12v pb and a car heater motor. he never got round to finishing it so i claimed the s/c and hull. he hasnt got the paperwork but its still boxed and works on my 7.v set up.(have to up the voltage i think,9.6 v) wonder if any old timers can remember this s/c? its wonderfully smooth. anyway will put 1 between s/c and motor as well. hopefully on the water this week

keith

[Kev.WParticipant @kev-w]

Have just rescued an example of this model, it has been sat on a shelf in a garage for 30 years, it had the 3 Graupner 2000 Jumbo motors fitted with a 'Bobs Board' speed controller wired to run all 3 motors in unison.

Have begun the task of ripping everything down & if the motors are the actual ones that Graupner designated for it, I would like to keep them as the power units.

Should they prove problematical due to age, what would be the best 'brushed' alternative be?

See 'Album' for more pic's

Edited By Kip Woods on 27/11/2019 17:16:24

Edited By Kip Woods on 27/11/2019 17:16:56

Edited By Kip Woods on 27/11/2019 17:18:49

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

hi kip, looked at the photos and to be honest yours looks in better nick than mine did from the attic. just a few things to sort out on mine, new flags are a problem. I can find 1st and 2nd ww german navy and modern but finding it dificult to get 1960s/1970s cold war flags 1/35 scale. if you need anything from the paperwork (plans/instruction book(needed for part nos.description on plans) then I have the full set. just ask but they are not for sale. I would suggest 3 500/600 size motors as mine is running on a single johnson 550 and does ok, but needs a bit more oonffff but i am happy just sitting there for an hour sailing round. I get my pleasure from the building. anyway let me know iff you need any paperwork

keith

[Kev.WParticipant @kev-w]

Thanks for the offer Keith, but apart from a few minor bits, it's all there, I can do what needs doing to replace these from the photo's I found on line, plus I have the pic's of your boat as reference.

Have added another pic to my album of the flag you need, there's a chap in Spalding who does silk flags, he will be at Mobile Marines 'Xmas Cracker' show this Saturday, will check him out & let you know.

[Kev.WParticipant @kev-w]

There's one thing puzzling me, twice while reading the thread, you mention the scale as 1:35, but from what I have managed to find online, it says 1:40 ???

Could also use advise on how to wire up for 3 motors, have only ever done twin on 'Tank Steer' before.

[captainslogParticipant @captainslog]

kip, my mistake, it is 1/40 scale but the crew i used were airfix 1/35, nearest i could get but they dont look to far out, especially when the boat is out on the water. As for wiring up 3 motors, well thats a problem with me. I can build but havnt got a clue on radio/electrical installation. hate the bloody job. best bet is to go the r/c installation thread on there. Theres loads of boys on there who can give advice. mine is useless on that subject, thats why i stick to single motor.

cheers keith

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