Looking for build instructions for MFA Fantome Power boat

[Luc GParticipant @lucg46039]

[Luc GParticipant @lucg46039]

Dear All

I am new fairly to boat building having only made an airboat and a KK speed boat (although both from plans). I have just bought an incomplete MFA Fantome kit from ebay but it is missing the build instructions.

Has anyone built this kit and might still have the build instructions/plans that they would be willing to scan and send a copy to me.

I've searched online but haven't found very much information, a few pictures and that MFA have stopped producing these kits.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Luc G

PS Sorry if this post is in the wrong place.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Luc. I have a Fantome, I will look and see if I kept the instructions. They are pretty basic, there is not much to it after all!!

 

Do you know what bits are missing? there were ply ready cut pieces for the motor and battery, hull, top, cabin, tray for cabin, ply for "flying bridge", 3 pieces. A few things like steering wheel, and railings. If you look at my photos you will see the general layout. Built straight from the box using the specified MFA running gear,,,,800 motors, Digipro ESC and x50 props, oh and commercial large rudders.

 

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 06/06/2012 21:35:15

[Luc GParticipant @lucg46039]

Hello Ashley

Thanks for the quick reply.

The kit has a couple of printed ply sheets, including the flying bridge and a couple of other ply rectangles. I'm not sure what the cabin tray is so maybe the parts are there. The hand rails and bow rails are present but painted white and not chromed. There's only one prop shaft and rudder and no other fittings. There is a 9mm thick ply V shaped piece that I suspect is for mounting an IC engine. Perhaps why there is only one prop shaft and rudder. There is also a round fuel tank included. I think I'd prefer to go with electric motors for easier running.

Could be that this is an early design of the kit.

The windshield and the decals are missing but I could probably make them from coloured plastic sheet and print some decals onto decal paper.

I'm not very clear how the prop shafts should be laid out and supported, where the rudders should go exactly and how to best mount the electric motors and electronics. Hence the instructions, although perhaps basic, would be very helpful for someone (like myself) with little experience of fitting out boats.

Is there a good boat parts supplier where I might get another prop shaft and rudder and a couple of props. By the way does X50 mean 50mm diameter? Also where might I get hold of 800 size motors. That seems quite big for an electric model motor.

Also what are the best glues to use for GRP; silicone, epoxy or polyester resin? Or something else perhaps. I've only worked with ply and balsa in the past but have used polyester resin and glass tissue for skinning over balsa.

Your build photos are very helpful but the instructions might show what other parts are missing and maybe give enough information to make new parts for the electric motor setup.

Thanks for whatever help you can offer.

Regards

Luc G

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Luc. Was sold primarily as a pertol hull.. they sold a pull start engine for it. The ply you have is for that. Ply for an electric version would be 4mm or so. The 800`s on 12v (get a 5000mAhr Nimh pack) will give reasonable perfomance and reasonable endurance.

I used marine epoxy filler to join the fibreglass bits, from a boat chandlers.

You will need some 5mm shaft size propshafts, the X in the prop designation refers to the pitch and form, 50 is 50mm size. Very common plastic prop anywhere will sell them. will need two large commercial rudder assemblies as well.

I will endeavour to take more photos with a ruler beside to give an idea of the layout, but the exact location of the running gear is not critical.

The cabin well is the bit the dolls stand in, it has moulded in couches and door hatches.

Dolls used for the original were 6 inch tall, 7 would be better but more difficult to find.

Ashley

[Luc GParticipant @lucg46039]

Hi Ashley

Thanks for all the info.

I suppose it's a case of making the motors, shafts and rudders fit when I've got them to put in. I've made a template for the windshield just need to find a suitable piece of plastic sheet maybe 1-1½mm thick to cut it from. I've also designed the FANTOME + flag decals which are ready to be printed.

Again thanks for the help

Luc G

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Luc. Have thrown the instructions away, were not up to much if you dont have some of the bits anyway.

The propshafts are 12" long, 5mm shaft size, spaced at 6" (so 3" from the centreline either side. The inner ends of the shafts are approx 16" from the stern. The props therefore are about 3" fron the stern underneath..set to provide clearance for a 50mm prop,

The rudders are 50mm long (match them to those currently on offer), and set about 40mm in from the bottom edge.

If the main access hasn`t been cut out yet, the top part of the hull needs to be cut out leaving a  13mm lip around the upstand (if that makes sense), the upper removeable fibreglass moulding sits around the upstand. I put the wooden crossmember with a captive nut in at about 20" from the stern..a hole is drilled through the cabin well and a bolt can be screwed into the captive nut to stop the top moving. 

This is as per plan, wot I followed to the letter. The mptors sat on their steel mounts screwed to the ply base as per my picture, the inner ends of the propshafts are supported on essentially scrap wood trianngles to steady them. No skegs outside under the hull.

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 07/06/2012 22:29:25

[Luc GParticipant @lucg46039]

Hi Ashley

Thanks for the new info. I've gotten hold of a poor copy of the instructions for the mk II version of the Fantome. The one I have must be the mk I version. There's very little detail in the instructions and the pictures are very poor quality so your dimensions will be very useful. I'll copy your pics to add to the instructions that I have and so should be able to work out where to fit the hardware.

Thanks again

Regards

Luc

[Pete GowParticipant @petegow79026]

Hi Did anyone get instructions for the mk1?

I inherited one from my father that must be at least 20 years old with loads missing and no instructions, But it has got a neew un-run merco 61 with the water cooled head.

Would love to get this beast on the water under electric power but I am stuck almost at the first hurdle as my main interest lies with helicopters and planes and boats are something new and alien to me apart from the odd toy type when i was younger.

I am lucky in that i have a couple of large lakes near by that are begging for a model to go on.

Regards Pete.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Pete. I am not sure the instructions would be very helpful.

At what point are you stuck on?? is the boat complete (ie hull deck and cabin? and has it got a propellor shaft stuck in it? and rudder come to think of it.

If it has you are mostly there. Can you post any pictures so we can advise further…. see my album.. has a picture of completed boat and one of the innards…nothing much in there to be honest.

Ashley

[Pete GowParticipant @petegow79026]

Hi Ashley,

thanks for the quick reply.

I have the hull and all of the deck and superstructue, the prop shaft is fitted but will need to be sorted as i noticed that it was loose when looking it over the other weekend. It is missing pretty much everything else. but most of it I can make or bodge

The boat was a project that my father started but then it ended up in the loft and is of the single shaft version, athough your photos will prove usefull.

I am stuck with what is probably the easy bit for everyone else in that i haven't worked with fiber glass for more years than i care to remember and that is How do I join the deck to the hull etc?

The rudder is fitted and some bits of ply that were probably the glow motor mount and also included is a long length of rope that is either for protection or sealing but again unsure.

Also not sure what size motor and prop to use, I will be running from a 12 volt 7 amp hour battery as i have a readily available supply of 2nd hand ones from work.

Did I say i was new to all this as reading back through i almost feel stupid but thats why i am on here to gleen as much info as i can.

Regards Pete.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Pete. I think I fixed my top on with marine grade silicone sealant.

If using a battery as derscribed, and this is what MFA recommended (as they sell them), then you dont want anything too juicy, as the battery will not cope. It does cope with either a twin MFA800 or single MFA850 engine, and gives a reasonable run time. performance will be ok for such a large boat but not FAST. Nimh pack of 12v and 5000mAhr will improve performance, due to less weight (but not if you have a ready supply of batteries!!).

Would be best to cut out the proshaft and use a moderm 5mm shaft. 25A ESc will be ok. Araldite, Devcon or indeed p38 filler can be used to stick the shaft in.

the rope is either that supplied to go around the edge of the deck as protection or cord to start the glow motor!!

Ashley

[Pete GowParticipant @petegow79026]

Thanks again Ashley.

I re read the previous posts you had put on this thread and all started to make sense.

it was also your pictures that lead me to the forum after googling images of the fantome.

It won't be too much effort to change the shaft as it is very loose, Speed controller is already sorted from the flying side of things but i might look for one with reverse on it just to make things a little bit easier.

I'm not after speed with this boat just something quick enough to be fun but at the same time something that looks like it belongs in the water.

The rope supplied must be for the edge of the deck as it is far too long for a starter cord.

thanks again for the advice Pete.

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