Stabilisers on Model Boats

[David WilliamsParticipant @davidwilliams11464]

Can anyone offer a suggestion as to how I might build in active stabalisers on my 1:48 scale model of HMS Clyde OPV(H). I have seen one or two ideas using submarine auto levelers but these seem to be far too sensitive when I have tried them.

 

Regards

 

David Williams

[David WilliamsParticipant @davidwilliams11464]

Ceating active stabilisers on a model boat

[The Long BuildParticipant @thelongbuild]

There is a build on the warship Forum where teh Builder has puit in Stabalisers on a T45.. Might be of some interest.

 

http://modelwarshipsuk.informe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1778

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

How about having fixed stabiisers, and a water tube stabiliser / anti-roll device.much easier, or is it the hi-tech approach you specifically want?

 

I have simple fixed oversized fins on my HMS JERSEY OPV and they work very well (compared to NOT having them on)

 

Ashley

 

 

[John W EParticipant @johnwe]

 

 

hi there David

 

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6134.0

 

 

Just put a link on from anoter forum of another discussion which was made about stabilisers and their true value on a model.

 

Personally, I feel the actual effectiveness of them on a model is very small unless of course it is a very ‘thin’ warship.

 

aye – John

 

 

 

 

[Peter FitnessParticipant @peterfitness34857]

I made the stabilisers functional on my Model Slipway Sentinel, and I have to say that she does not roll excessively in tight turns although a slight outward lean in a turn is prototypical. I have attached a photo of the linkage set up.

 

Peter.

 

 

[David WilliamsParticipant @davidwilliams11464]

Thanks for all the ideas guys I think I will have to try a few experiments with variable stabalisers eg linking to the rudder. If they fail as variable I will simply fix the stabalisers in place. I had already thought I would make them slightly oversize to try and improve their effect.

 

David

[Colin MillerParticipant @colinmiller68338]

David,

Have you put your Clyde in the water yet I have got one also and it weighs a ton and I don’t think it will need to have working stabilzers to keep it up right.

 

The stabilzers were only fitted to the real one for working with helicopters in the south atlantic. The other river class don’t have any fitted and are very stable

 

[David WilliamsParticipant @davidwilliams11464]

Thanks to one and all for your advice on the stabalizers on my model of the Clyde.

Having set up most of the hull contents and put it on the water to check the water line I find that she is very stable even with her relatively shallow draught. Then cosidering the other working features I would like to include I have finally opted for fixed stabalizers (slightly enlarged).

Sorry it ahs taken so long to get back to the forum but I have been through two lots of major surgery and a house move since I posted the query.

Kind regards and many thanks

David Williams

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

The difference in having either bilge keels or fixed stabilisers can easily be seen by holding a boat over until the sides are almost touching the water and then letting go. Note the number of side to sides before it almost stops rolling. Try with bilge/stabilisers and then see the difference. This is the difference between a model bobbing and rolling on the lake, or looking much more solid (perhaps not the bobbing, but rolling certainly).

Always worth having dampening. The Sentinel "active" stabilisers are too small, from what i have observed and would need to be enlarged to be effective..especially as this model appears to be very tender.

Ashly

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Ashley

The stabilizers on Sentinel are true scale and in my experience are not necessary. My original plank-on-frame Nellie had 6mm less draught than the kit GRP hull yet was as solid as a rock on the water. I believe that the reason some kit-built models are "tender" is that the owners fit far too powerful motors and try to take turns at full (aka unrealistic) speed. Sentinel spends most of her time trolling on the waterjet, tailing yachts just over the horizon. She only uses main engines for transit from one operational area to another, and the hull is not a planing type. Vospers' design staff call the Island Class a "short, fat warship".

Dave M

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Dave. I did not mean my post to mean "they are under scale" but simply I think they are a bit small to be effective on a working model.

I personally have not sailed a sentinal to get the feel of it, so can only say what I have observed.

Ah, the difference between one persons boat and an outwardly identical other !

Ashley

[Peter FitnessParticipant @peterfitness34857]

I have not found my Sentinel to be tender, Ashley. As I said previously, she does lean slightly in turns, but I believe that would be quite prototypical. As Dave pointed out, hurtling around the lake at warp speed is definitely not prototypical for the class, so working stabilisers are not necessary. I just made mine functional because I wanted to

Peter.

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