More realistic sailing

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

I was watching the latest club video this morning…..Courtesy of our intrepid video expert…..Duckie

It showed the members sailing their models etc…..One model was a lovely Tug boat towing two very nice barges…..But the setup didn`t look right

Why was that, Bob?

For a start the tow ropes were too short, but the real problem, was that the barges were as light as a feather!

They would have looked more interesting, had they been heavily loaded to the gunnels and generating prop wash and bow waves from the barges

I then thought about model boats in general. They seem to lack the water disturbance of the real thing

Then an idea came to me!…….We spend hours making the hull super smooth etc, but for added realism……Why not add baffles under the hull to cause excessive drag and make the motors earn their living?

I think it may be worth a try?

When my Great Eastern was laying cable at New Brighton a few years ago, it had to work really hard, so the prop and paddles created excessive foam, which looked very impressive?

At the time, I didn`t realise what was causing it, but it must have been the paddles and prop, simply labouring?

Food for thought?

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Or you could inject a bit of washing up liquid out of the hull at strategic points…

Bob is quite right though, model boats look best when they are struggling a bit.

Colin

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Models generally lack the mass to achieve a good look on the water. i deliberately made my NELSON too deep so i could fit loads of extra weight in (for its size) to give it a bit of gravitas. Similarly as Bob says, the GE is VERy heavy and so the paddles starin a bit more. How about feeding compressed air through micro-holes under the hull to get a bit of foam going?.Washing up liquid..Colin, you card you. Ash

[Dave_PParticipant @dave_p]

Sounds like we have found the chap who keeps dosing the local fountain with bubble enhancing material.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

LOL Dave

It would have to be a big fountain, for GE to fizz up the water……..It`s 7`0" long

I think the real culprit has already given the game away, with his washing up liquid!

Bob

[Dave_PParticipant @dave_p]

Washing up liquid was what I was referring to Bob.

I regularly drive through Hastings along the sea front and at one time it seemed at least once a month masses of foam would being emitted from the fountain.

[TelstarParticipant @telstar]

Bob I recall ( I think ) some of the older modellers with steam driven Tugs adding short pins like bristles on the waterline at the bow to give a more realistic 'dogs bone' bow wave.

Tom

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

It was just a hypothetical postulation – honest!

Colin

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

I agree with Ashley- weight is what you want. My Underhill police launch weighs 25lb and doesn't half kick up a wave when travelling at full speed. No froth though!

Edited By Ian Gardner on 28/09/2013 19:41:47

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Ian

Just a thought……You could try a finer pitched prop?

Or even an old plastic prod with a few holes drilled in the blade?

Here's a real froth maker!……If nothing else!

Bob

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Hi Bob,

I'm pretty happy with the performance of my Dunlin (the above police launch). It's just dragging it to the water which is a pain- literally. It has a 2'' prop driven by a MFA 500 witha 6:1 reduction- 12v 7ah battery which I charge about once a year as a token gesture.

It seems counter- intuitive to drill holes in props- I wonder what would happen, and if anybody has ever tried it.

Incidentally, I love heavy models where you can actually hear the sound of the bow wave.

The hydroplane is certainly kicking up a fuss!

You couldn't resist the veneered deck then? Don't blame you, it will look very fine.

Ian

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