I fancy an MFA Fantome

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Jordan. It may be worth writing to MFA…model flight accessories.They may supply you with the top half and transfers if you ask nicely!  I have two props of course, currently some high-twist 3-bladed 50mm brass ones, but the standard (as supplied) ones were 50mm “X” 2-blade plastic jobs. It has slow revving 800 Torpedo motors (5000 rpm), so I would imagine a high revving petrol unit would take  a similar sized one or perhaps a size or so larger, 60mm…i am not up on what sizes these larger petrol units will spin. I goes along at a jogging pace,ie i have to jog briskly to keep up!   Ashley.   

[jordan kjfjParticipant @jordankjfj41080]

also about to get some rudders for it which do you have the extra large or just large

thanks

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I think they are just the Large size, the rudders. They came with the kit I didn’t get them seperately. I would have thought  a single large rudder would suffice if you only have one prop.  Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Day of reconing tomorrow. I am taking the Fantome to meet its natural element, the wild and stormy sea, at Littlehampton. (at least, I hope it ISNT stormy). Low tide is 05.29 and high tide is 1202 or thereabouts, so getting there for a bit of breakfast in the cafe and then launch (not lunch!) at 0930 should get us in just the right position on the beach for zooming. The beach at littlehampton goes out for miles at low tide, and at half tide you are only up to your knees for probly 50 yards either way, so its great for boating, and there will be no one in the water at that time to worry about. We are taking my HMS Jersey fishery protection vessel as well, as this copes admirably with a swell. Its about 1 yard long in 1/72 scale I think.  I would love to take my 1/96 HMS Manchester to try out but I have insufficient hands for that lot not to mention boot space.  Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

On the sea at last, wen t really well. The large floaty hull handles the swell easily, looked spectacular leaping up the swell and becoming airborne (briefly, anyway) sorrry not great pictures, difficult getting good pics when the boat a zooming about and a small boy is controlling it….  Ashley

[David MeierParticipant @davidmeier28154]

It looks great going through the wave Ashley. It must be good to have a regular swell like that to cruse through rather than the chop of a pond.

Cheers.

David.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

David. Sailing through a swell is completely different to “normal” boating on the pond. The pictures posted are not too good, and the boat is only going half speed so I could capture a few “moments”. I took some video of it which looks better. The offshore patrol boat we also took, HMS Jersey looks just so good on the sea, lifting up and crashing down on the waves.  I did try a bit of surfing with the Fantome, riding the tops of (small) breakers, but the back lifts up and the front digs in a bit and it all gets a bit dodgy so I had to be content with powering over the surf for additional speed. This time I took a large squeezy bottle of fresh water to rinse the boats down (inside and out) to stop corrosion. Its amazing how quickly all that salt will attack the plating on motors and firrings!  Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

At full chat on the pond. See those ducks bobbing in its wake! (imagination needed). The funny thing about it at speed is the noise, a deep thrumming sound, none of this high pitched wizzing sound. Ashley

[Kevin Flack 2Participant @kevinflack2]

Got to be something with this hobby why is it as soon as we build something we get that urge to go bigger. I must say I was looking at the daughters Barbie dolls wondering what size launch they would suit, better still what size model I might fit into!

And then the speed thing!

Ok ok, might as well go over the real thing then?

Kevin

 

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

The real thing is too expensive. The fantome is sized for approx 6 inch dolls and is about 48 inches long, a barbie is 12 inches tall, so I make that an 8 foot Fantome!! But you could just about base it on a full sized dinghy?

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