Help needed

[ken robertson 1Participant @kenrobertson1]

Hi All, i did post a couple of years ago but have been ill for long time so not been on here.Anyway im working on this Samson II which i was given. There are a few things i need to know at the moment.

1. Does anyone know the scale so i can purchase other bits.

2. Am i better with a bigger amps battery than this one.

3. Can anyone suggest better motors and which ones.

4. What is a good cheap speed control for it.

Thanks in advance. Ken

[ken robertson 1Participant @kenrobertson1]

Billings Samson II

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

Looks like the Billing kit, rather than the Artesania Tug.

Scale, measure the height of the stanchions, probably safe to assume that the real ones would be 1 metre high, get the scale from that. A googled picture shows something very similar with "35" in its title. If that indicates a 35 foot boat, and if the model is about 35 inches long, that gives 1:12.

Bigger amp battery – yes, but ditch SLA, go for a different technology. SLA are good ballast, using a getter battery will increase both boat speed and run time. NiMH will give more capacity for the same weight and can be got at the same voltage. LiPo will give a lot more capacity for the same weight (more volts as well – a 2S Lpo gives 7.4 volts), but at the cost of needing more careful handling.

Not being able to see exactly what motors are there, it's hard to suggest an alternative that would be an improvement.

ESC. Good or cheap. A choice is needed. If just one for a pair of 540s I would go for a Viper Marine 40. Not the cheapest, but you only need to buy it once. Dumping and unsatifactory cheapo and then buying the right one does cost more. without knowing the motors involved, thats guesswork anyway.

[ken robertson 1Participant @kenrobertson1]

Thanks for your response Malcolm.

The 2 engines i have put picture on so you can see. Would i need 2 speed controllers or just the one. Will have a look at what you have suggested and see how i get on.

Thanks again

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Ken,

Is there anything wrong with the old set up ?? They look like 385 motors which would push her along ok, you don't need a tug to plane, just curious.Regards

I assume it's a tug but could be wrong??

Regards Ray

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 05/04/2020 16:27:36

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 05/04/2020 16:29:09

[ken robertson 1Participant @kenrobertson1]

No Didnt want more speed just update the motors . Think mainly its a better speed control thats needed. Do i need 2 of these or just the 1. Thanks

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Ken,

Just one required for those brushed motors, say a 20 amp Mtronics, I have a similar set up in a destroyer.

Regards Ray

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

Posted by Ray Wood 2 on 05/04/2020 16:26:50:

Hi Ken,

Is there anything wrong with the old set up ?? They look like 385 motors which would push her along ok, you don't need a tug to plane, just curious.Regards

I assume it's a tug but could be wrong??

Regards Ray

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 05/04/2020 16:27:36

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 05/04/2020 16:29:09

Like I said in my post, it is the Billing Samson, which is a fastish workboat, not the Arrtesana tugboat of the same name. Looking at the hull form, it deserves the chance to plane a bit. When the kit came out SLA was almost the only game in town as regards batteries, so their severe deficiencies were tolerated. Vastly better alternatives are now available.

Without seeing the label on the motors, it is not possible to say what they are, but if they are 54mm long, I would guess at some version of a 540. A more modern version of the same will almost certainly perform better. Any modern ESC will give better control than the modified electric heater element, if the radio chanels are available, one ESC per motor will give lots more control options. Fairly basic 540 motors rated to run on the battery voltage chosen should work well. The props look to be a sensible size, so either a Marine Viper 15 each, or a higher power version to control both together.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Malcolm,

I think the clue maybe in the name of the thread, compare the existing motor size and the servo for confirmation of the motor size and the steel rule in the picture.

Regards Ray

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

OK, 380 size motors. A pair of 380 motors run on their rated voltage and with the right props, should be fine, especially with the weight reducions from using better batteries for drive and an ESC with BEC thus losing the weight of the receiver battery. Same ESCs as previously mentioned, what will control a big 'un will be perfectly fine with a little 'un. Unlike the electric fire element, which must be a good match to the motor to get actual control.

As with most other number motors, you can't tell what is on the inside by looking at the can, and one 38x motor looks very much like any other.

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