Plastic models kits for RC

[Terry MillsParticipant @terrymills74602]

request for information

[Terry MillsParticipant @terrymills74602]

Is there any discussion group dealng with the conversion of plastic model kits to working radio controlled models? I have seen various articles from time to time, but no continuous thread. Specifically, I am thinking of re-using the electronics from small model aircraft which are surplus to requirements or just plain crashed beyond sensible repair.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Terry. Welcome to the font of all boating knowledge.

Unless it is plastic conversions of course. I have not seen any prolonged discussion group. The subject is not without its adherents, but it is a tricky thing to do, requiring lots of miniature engineering and being very fiddly. Nowadays, the gear does come very small and there is no reason you cannot use model aircraft items, being small and light, and size and weight are the driving force in a plastic conversion.

Did you have a model in mind? Almost nothing is unmotorisable. You can even purchase really really small ready-to-run speedboats, the gear of which would be eminently suitable for use in a connversion. There are several large kits able to be converted, PT boats and so on, liners etc

Ashley

[Terry MillsParticipant @terrymills74602]

Ashley. Tried to respond, but e-mail was rejected.

regards

terry m

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Terry not sure what you mean there?? replies on this post is usual! Ashley

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

There is a discussion group now. It's here.

First you need to consider what kind of boat you want, then look closely at the parts you want to use. For aircraft drive parts, patrol launches spring to mind – the originals were largely powered by aircraft derived motors. The limit is about the Airfix Vosper, below that there is just no payload ability since the plastic of the kit floats at waterline with nothing added.

Warships – in smaller scales, look for prototypes over 35000 tons, meaning battleships. They sit low, as opposed to aircraft carriers which do not, and give stability problems. Liners have the same problem.

If considering working boats like fishing boats and tugs, best to forget the aircraft parts. Planes rarely reverse, work boats need reverse for maneuvering and braking. And backing out of tight corners.

Whatever you build, always bear in mind that it has to be sound and watertight. If a plane crashes, you often get a collection of re-usable bits. If a boat conks out or leaks, the bits are on the bottom of the lake, and even if you get them back, often not of much use.

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Further to Malcolm's previous post, one of the most interesting plastic magic conversions was carried out to the 18" long Airfix model kit of Brunel's paddler Great Western. The item describing this conversion (by Dr Marcus Rooks) was featured in the January 2010 Model Boats magazine, and the model looks superb on the water. The installation was carried out at a very affordable cost.

The Airfix Great Western is now difficult to find, only rarely do decent kits appear on ebay and a substitute could be the recently re-released Lindberg kit – Civil War Blockade Runner (19" long).

Tony

Edited By Tony Hadley on 13/08/2014 12:54:15

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

There are several 'Plastic Magic' conversions described in the kit review section of Features – just click on the link above.

Colin

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Not that i have particularly paid much attention to plastic magic conversions, but the norm seems to be using whatever comes to hand, from memory.

A landing craft conversion comes to mind and I dare say someone will be able to pinpoint it, in which tape cassette motors were used, but if I recall the model was really only a garden pond boat as it was unable to handle virtually anything other than a dead calm day. I wondered what was the point after reading this, there does not have to be a point if you want to do it!! Viz several things that I have made.

I think this does have to be borne in mind though, the use you will get out of it considering the effort required for a satisfactory conversion. It is only one facet of our boating hobby, and a good way of getting something you like to sea. Colin has a QM2 I think?? and is considering a conversion. In this case, if you want a QM2 you would be hard put to make one of a similar standard to the kit without taking ages and expending considerable effort.

AND THERE AGAIN..you see a kit and think.,…oooh …I just want to motorise that!

Ashley   Pic, not quite a kit, but a toy, from Argos, motorised and jolly a lot of fun to sail and can take a bit of a sea.

Edited By ashley needham on 13/08/2014 19:13:20

[Francis MacnaughtonParticipant @francismacnaughton39461]

I don't know of any specific site but RC Groups quite often have threads on specific subjects. This one covers the Airfix Vosper for example **LINK**

I have made the Airfix 1/72nd RAF rescue boat work well on a very light aircraft type set up (Dean's Marine supply the set or you can buy the bits separately) but it is forwards only.

[The Long BuildParticipant @thelongbuild]

Seeing what is around , I would say that pretty well most Model kits could be made to work on RC.

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Seeing what is around , I would say that pretty well most Model kits could be made to work on RC.

Not really, the model has to have a minimum payload capacity to carry the R/C and motors. It also needs to be relatively stable without too much top hamper. Only a relatively small number of kits meet these requirements.

Colin

[Francis MacnaughtonParticipant @francismacnaughton39461]

" the model has to have a minimum payload capacity to carry the R/C and motors"

As I said in my previous post, my RAF rescue launch achieves a good speed on an RC installation that probably weighs less than 15 grams including motor. I would suggest that is quite a small payload and there are plenty of kits that can be made to work.

[The Long BuildParticipant @thelongbuild]

Hi Colin

As I say Pretty well Most

If you think that you could use the electronics out of those small Micro helicopters ( I have seen it done ) then I stand by my statement, Not that I would like to try.

The smallest to date I have seen live is the Harbour Tug Boat 1:108 scale working, although I do have 2 Model Landing craft which are smaller than that designed by a member on the Model Warship Site ( must build them one day !!)

Must admit would not like to try the small waterline models.

Larry

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Larry,

Converting a waterline model to R/C would be an achievement indeed! I do agree that there is some really miniaturised gear out there now which would fit into just about anything. At the weekend, Colin Vass was kind enough to show me the interior R/C installation of the ship's boats on his wonderful HMS Warspite and they were pretty small.

My interest is more with the liner models such as the old Airfix kits which used to be motorised back in the 1970s so should present no big problems these days.

As has been stated previously, you are likely to run into problems if the model floats on the designed waterline without any gear inside it at all due to lots of plastic in the upperworks etc. It is possible to 'add lightness' by removing surplus plastic which would normally be hidden but each model would present its own challenge.

Colin

[LooverlijnParticipant @looverlijn]

Hmmmm… Hope my conversion of the Italieri Schnellboot doesn't finish up as U Boat. I haven't been paying that much attention to keeping it light. I just assumed that something a metre long would have plenty of flotation.

Paul

[The Long BuildParticipant @thelongbuild]

Can not see the schnellboot that being a problem.  However , just to be on the safe side do not use 2.4, that way if it does become a sub it will still work.

Edited By The Long Build on 19/08/2014 13:46:18

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Larry

Has someone put something in your tea?

Dave M

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

Model liners come with their own problems – many have each superstructure deck as a complete, often quite thick, sheet. knowing which bits can be cut out and discarded helps a lot. I remember trying the Airfix Canberra when it first came out. Held upright, it floated a bit deeper than waterline, but would not stay upright. HMS Hood fared better (also new out back then).

A 1 mere long Schnellboot is not really a "plastic magic" contender, but it should be a fast boat (clue in the name?) and the first rule of performance is to add more lightness.

[John Thornton 1Participant @johnthornton1]

Rouind2Models recently reissued many of the old Lindberg kits, among which are the Coast Guard Tug Boat, Diesel Tug, North Atlantic Trawler, Shrimp Boat, and "Q" Ship, the latter being based on a small tramp steamer. All are suitable for R/C conversion, the smallest being around 12" long. Indeed, some were previously issued as motorised kits by Lindberg. The tugs are of US design, but could be converted to British.

Microglass in the US produce fibreglass hulls for the Lindberg Diesel Tug and the Revell Harbour Tug, which have been extended in draft to allow for the fitting of R/C equipment.

There's a thread or two on some of the Lindberg models on R/C Groups Forum.

Then there is the Revell Fishing Trawler (not from the same moulds as the Lindberg trawler, though sometimes the two are confused).

I' have all the above kits in my plastic model stash and intend to start on one as soon as I've finished my Model Slipway Puffer build.

Lindberg/Round2Models also released a Tuna Clipper. There is also a Heller model of the Smit Rotterdam that is suitable for R/C conversion.

On 1 September a new , 1/144 scale kit of the tug Fairplay will be available from Revell. Unfortunately, it's just under 7" in length so it might prove too much of a challenge to convert.

If anyone knows of any other plastic kits of working boats I'd like to hear from them.

Would there be enough interest for a Plastic magic sub forum on here?

Edited By John Thornton 1 on 20/08/2014 16:50:54

Edited By John Thornton 1 on 20/08/2014 16:52:04

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Read an interesting 'plastic magic' conversion item in the July 2011 Model Boats. Dr Marcus Rooks converts the Revell USS Kearsarge to the US revenue cutter Harriet Lane. As the Harriet Lane is paddle driven, the paddles had to be built from scratch, and what a superb job he makes of them.

Tony

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I think that where there is a will, there is a way. You can get some tiny tiny r/c RTR models, and surely this gear could be used.

Other than that, some CREATIVE THINKING needs to be applied. Nothing to stop you deepening the hull on some things for instance..may not look right out of the water, but no one will see when it is ON the water and the payload will be increased and also this would add to the stability of the model.

Just a thought. And this harks back to my original post regarding the use of whatever comes to hand in the way of gear and stuff from your collection of bits.

Ashley

[The Long BuildParticipant @thelongbuild]

At the model boat Convention these 2 boats were there, one just on display but you can see a picture of the same Harbour tug towing some barges and a fast MTB , boat kitted out with RC.

 

Speaking to the Gentleman with the MTB, it does not have battery's but capacitors !. and uses the electronics from the small mini boats you can get. Went well in the water as well and lasted for a good 10 minutes, although not pushed to the limit. I think the MTB is about 8 inches long.

 

 

 

Edited By The Long Build on 23/08/2014 19:17:01

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