Thor

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Got an idea, Paul

Fit vertical tubes to act as bearing supports for the nozzles, and high enough, to be above the waterline!

We don't need precision housings or seals now

A chain drive may be more suitable than gears?

Bob

[lnvisiblemanParticipant @lnvisibleman]

Hows about enclosing the steering gear and nozzle with a slightly pressurised compartment. Would that not prevent leakage ? All you would need is a little bike pump .

A silly idea I know but – – –

Mike

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Gentlemen

We are having some fun discussing this subject and all of the comments are gratefully received, perhaps it might help people get their heads around the idea if they could see photos of the prototype that I demonstrated last weekend.

Paul

[lnvisiblemanParticipant @lnvisibleman]

Gentlemen ????? Where ?????

[mike farrellParticipant @mikefarrell21522]

Hi All ,Second attempt to update the Thor build .I have been unable to show the build in the way I,d have liked. I am now at the stage of painting and have covered the hull in three coats of Garage paint rubbed back between coats ,still one coat to go.

The rest of the boat have been painted

[mike farrellParticipant @mikefarrell21522]

Not professional but will pressist and hopeful will get better so here goes again

[mike farrellParticipant @mikefarrell21522]

Above picture shows lighting and radar and tray for electricsMichael

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Mike

You are doing well with this quite difficult build

What powerplant will you be using?

The background on one of your pictures looks a little like a museum?

Bob

[mike farrellParticipant @mikefarrell21522]

Thanks Bob

Power train will be 2 900 high torque (4000 rpm) motors driving a pair of 65 mm handed 4 blade props

It will be driven by a pair of 50 amp speed controllers running on 2 12 volt 3000 ma batteries .

Back ground shows a collection of historic bits like me.

Having looked at Pauls drive units I suspect the next Thor build will need much bigger motors to do a bit of show offing

Elaine and I will be at Elsmere next March so I will need to send a PM soon. Will now keep up with developments as and when things happen

c

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Looking good Michael

[CookieOldParticipant @cookieold]

OK Guys , Point taken ,I will try and steer away from recommending machining in the future , But when the likes of Paul and others what to design a boat and need something machining i am always here to help.

PS Ashley : The double sealed bearings you talk about , the seals are only designed to stop dirt / dust ECT from entering the bearing race they are not water tight.

Dave

[mike farrellParticipant @mikefarrell21522]

Hi All Well I painted my build of Thor and with a smug satisfied smile I took it out in the sunshine to stand back in horror paint work not as good as I had thought it to be . Did not see the minor blemishes and the bloom . All that work ,off to my pal Andrew for advise . Rub it back again and use his proper spray bay and equipment.

Off to Mobile Marine Models for the Kort Nozzles and again disaster ,be aware when using Kort Nozzles be aware you need to have the right props for the nozzles .

My props are 65 mm and should have been 70 mm to fit the 70 nozzles available Power loss if incorrect props is massive ,5mm too small means a loss of inexcess of 10%. Lesson learned ,props will be used for something in the future

The problems all comes in threes ,went on the Prop Shop site to find their web site is down.

Hope this is the last of my problems ,Michael

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Mike

Despite all your mini setbacks, you are not far off sailing!

Then paint blemishes will be history!

You are getting there

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

A quick report on Thor prototype

There has been a little redesign on the prototype to make allowance for the drive chain that links all of the thrusters together, the original design had a recessed area on the bottom of the hull that protected the pump inlets, this recess has now been removed and the bottom of the hull levelled out.

The reason for this is to move the sprockets and drive chain lower in the boat to reduce the strain on the thruster outlet seals.

Photos soon

[CookieOldParticipant @cookieold]

Hi Paul , Looking good ,i don,t know were you get the time to do all you do ( designing and building ) keep up the good work.

Dave

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Dave

I am in the happy (or unhappy) position of being retired due to poor health so I have plenty of time to play with the boats.

Dear All

A news report from the ICU

Thor is now on the bench in the garden recovering from open hull surgery involving a jigsaw, chisel and big hammer, There has been plenty of first aid in the form of plywood skin grafts and car filler bandages but it is still touch and go as the next 24 hours are critical however we remain hopeful that Thor will make a full recovery.

Just to be on the safe side the donor card has been filled out and a tug has been brought into the shed just in case there has to be a quick motor transplant.

This ends this news flash.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

The reason for the drastic surgery is to flatten out the hull base to accommodate the pumps and associated pipe work

The next stage is to add the drive chain and motor.

Paul

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I hate to say it but the front squirty outlets appear to be feeding the front squirty inlet suction blue nozzles…will this affect THRUST at all??

The blue squirty inlet boxes could be recessed in the hull for less drag and also this may line up the pump outlets with the outlet inlets thus getting rid of the kink in the copper pipe?? There may be an equipment height issue of course with this suggestion.

Just a suggestion and observation (in the other order)

The underside shot would make a great boat on its own!

It is almost giving me ideas about a car ferry (IOW style) where the front and read ends are the same. Just two pumps…could be a novel model.

 

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 14/09/2014 08:30:07

[The Long BuildParticipant @thelongbuild]

I hate to say it but the front squirty outlets appear to be feeding the front squirty inlet suction blue nozzles…will this affect THRUST at all??

Turbo Charged ..

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Ashley

The pump inlets, the blue strainers, were originally set into a hull recess (and the copper tubing was straight) but the frame of this recess got in the way of the thruster drive chain.

Getting the chain to clear the hull recess would have meant positioning the chain too high on the thruster shafts which, in turn would have caused excessive stress on the bearing surfaces.

The outlet flow shouldn't make much difference when it passes over the inlets however Larry might have a point.

The pump / jet combination would be great for a shallow draft ferry.

Paul

[Diede van AbsParticipant @diedevanabs87670]

Posted by ashley needham on 14/09/2014 08:28:45:

It is almost giving me ideas about a car ferry (IOW style) where the front and read ends are the same. Just two pumps…could be a novel model.

Ashley

Pssst…, Ashley;

Ro/Ro ferries

That kind of ship makes for a nice model indeed…

This specific one (and her older and smaller predecessors) are powered by Voith-Schneider Propellors (VSP's), two on either side of the ferry… But in a model, thrusters would probably work fine indeed.

Edited By Diede van Abs on 14/09/2014 22:08:08

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Dear All

I have been having some trouble getting the thrusters to turn in unison so decided to strip everything down to see what the problem was, I found that a couple of the thruster feed pipes that go down through the hull hadn't been fitted at 90deg and so were binding on the seals.

Totally my fault for not checking the angles but the strip down did give me the chance to strengthen the plate that the pumps and thruster are mounted on.

The current idea is to increase the towing power by fitting two forward pointing propellers, one on either side of the bow, set in adapted nozzles to send the thrust down each side of the hull.

The problem is that the lower hull is now full of thrusters, pumps and main drive motors so the twin 600 size motors for these new propellers will have to be fitted vertically in the forward superstructure with 90deg gearing between the motors and prop shafts.

All be warned that I intend to issue a tug of war challenge at next years Haydock show

Paul

What do you mean 'I must be mad'?

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Gosh what a shame I cannot go that far for a show. I would love to take up such a challenge, but I am sure there are far more MEN oop` north more than capable of defeating such a mighty improbable topheavy fantastic vessel.

I am certain of it…

sort of

Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Ashley

It is such a shame that you are to far away to take up the challenge…………….but then maybe not because as we say 'oop north' you talk a good job but are you really capable of rising to a real challenge?

And with a mighty clang another gauntlet is thrown down, the challenge is made but will the southern softie be man enough to stand his corner……..after all he doesn't actually have to be present at Haydock……just his boat and a trusted squire to operate it.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Take that!……..Arrogant Swine!……….Kapow! ( Smack across the chops with a wet fish!)

Bob de Denton ( Ashley`s champion) accepts the boastful challenge of the high and mighty boastful braggard………..Paul de Lymm

The giant "Lady Jane 5" will do battle with the little pipsqueak "Thor" at the Haydock Arena!

Ha! Ha!………Just the very attraction that our stand needs for the show?

Well done, Paul, it will be very interesting to see four MFA 850 motors fight it out against two dubious motors, found in a skip and four garden hose pipes!

The winner will receive a free "Model boats for Charity" plan and the loser will receive two copies!….lol

How`s that, chaps?

Bob de Denton

[Author]

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