Todays Boating

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

larry. Sort of !! i have found the leaflet now.. it was the "Massey Shaw" fireboat, a bit larger than the one you found.

Need a decent water pump if you made a model of it.

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Posted by ashley needham on 04/11/2012 09:02:37:

Blast, no boating. Pouring with rain.

May go to Kew steam museum today instead, they have a modelling event on (new event they say), and not the usual steam boat one. Opens 11am.

Great place to visit in any case. Stuffed full of large bits of nicely machined metal. Great.

Ashley

No rain when I got there, wind had dropped too, we were wondering where you were !

Lots of technical problems and had the project too.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Double blast! but if I had waited it would have been too late to go to Kew.

Did you try the project ? Shame I missed it. keen to see y`know! Always worth trialling projects and getting feedback. Sometimes you get suggestions that are good, or if not immediately good, lead on to another train of thought. Funnily enough, I witter on to the chaps at work about my projects and get suggestion, and these are strictly non-boating people, and they have a completely different perspective on things,. Most useflu some times.

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

The project did not get wet at the pond, however bath trials are onging and positive.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Weather permitting, boating tomorrow!! I am taking down the , or the, or possibly the, or there again I have not decided yet,

but it MAYBE the LFM (as it is the newest boat) and the Invincible, possibly with T22 escort, maybe not.

Reminds me I need to e-bay some more sticky strip LED lights for a project.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Well, sparse on the boaters front today, 4 others. Nice crisp day, got quite tolerable as the morning went along, brilliant sunshine and no breeze whatsoever.

LFM and Invincible. Going well, lots of leaves in the water.. a bit odd, as the LFM doesnt push them aside but rather lets them slide under the hull to be caught on the prop. Not that i had and "incidents" or stalled props, but you could hear the noise of them inthe prop at regular intervals. The carrier is such fun, I will say it again. The accelleration is remarkable as is the stopping power, and it just BEGS to be chucked about. And I do!! what a wash!! such fun (sorry chaps, I will try harder not to swamp you all next week)

Mr T had a bad time of it. HAving popped over yesterday to sort out the rudder issue (the servo was full over one side, the arm needeed moving, twice) he turned up, put the battery in and screwed everything down but then discovered he had NOT connected the battery, so put the boat on the park seat, conneceted it up..whereby the motor started wizzing away .. and promptly sheared both blades on the seat!! He is not the only one to have done this, I have had TWO props go and I have seen others do exactly the same thing.. It is very easy, just pop the boat on the seat to adjust something.,.. and..

I know you are ALL experts out there, but it is a tip..having mounted the servo where you want it to be and having put the arm on and connected it to the rudder or whatever….take the arm OFF and then connect the reciever and let the servo reach its normal position.. THEN put the arm back on.

Its a bit like worrying about having the rudder dead straight, dont bother, get it somewhere near straight, as you are bound to have to alter it when you start water trials ..all boats veer one way or another, be it due to prop-torque of slight differences in the hull shape or ballasting/whatever.

Mr T`s prop was a plastic item bonded to a brass collar-with-grub-screw, on a plain shaft end so were not able to get him going. As far as we could see it was a standard 4mm shaft so he should just need to get a replacement shaft with a normal thread on the bottom and away he will go.

Trevors project.. interesting. He is running out of room to fit the gear, or at least not specifically running out of room but faced with several options about gear location. We ummed and arred, and to be honest, it looked to me like anything would do, it has to be stuck in the water for a run and THEN we should see what needs altering. With something odd you just cannot predict how it will behave. The Sunderland started to go nose down when i took it for its first trial and put the power on,,took me by suprise I must say, and I had to alter several things and remove the water drive before it was running correctly.

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 18/11/2012 18:52:56

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Well boaters. It was blowing a gale todfay so I thought I would treat James to a sail in the Herald. He had a right time of it I can tell you. Good job he has an auxiliary motor as it was nigh on impossible to tack! The Type22 Boxer and HMS Midge also had an outing. Boxer has not seen bad weather yet, and what was apparent on setting (non) sail was that although it was breezy, the waves were disappointingly small, so hardly any test of sailing qualities. Midge similary unchallenged although she has been out in some REALLY blowing condiitions.

On me own for a while, and then Chris and Tony turned up with respectivly the fast`n`pointless and a fishing boat.

The jolly old fishing pole saw some action…speedboat, fishing boat superstructure (!) and then a small boys frizbee. I lowered my recovery charges for the last one…give us a fiver I said, which I thought was very decent of me.

Ashley mending sails tonight !

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Todays boating…not.

Ice, both the boating pond and main lake were completely frozen,varying from 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Doesnt normally ice up completely, but there we are.

So, I did assume there might be some ice and took the LFM..this would either ride up and break the ice, as the bow is flat, or simply get stuck and sit there. Didnt get a chance to find out !! The ice was much too thick for anything I have to break it.

Next week perhaps??

Ashley

Just a thought. It would ve very easy to knock up a sled arrangement for the Ecranoplan, ski`s, that sort of thing,.. could be held on with rubber bands for easy attachment…watch this space if its as cold next week..I could knock something up really easily ….hmmm

OR I might take the BFB3 (now a BFB 2) as this has an air rudder and no skeg (like the a90)..all it needs is a couple of very thin ribs on the underside to asist the sliding quotient and limit damage to the bottom.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Sundays boating. V V cold. LFM and Hasty out, no ice.

Andy had new boat…Bluebird…and didn`t it go!!! first time out an whopping performance. A was well chuffed and is not going to change anything, gear wise.Good man, know which side your bread is buttered and all that. He has the taste for a much larger one now….

 

 

6 or 7 of us, not a bad turn out considering the freezing cold. Mostly fast boats, which is why i took Hasty out, as she is quite quick, although nowhere as quick as the rest . Left at 1115ish as cold and had a brass band xmas carol concert to play in.

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 11/12/2012 17:50:34

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

No boating last Sunday, missus had the car.

I am plodding on with two projects. One doesnt want to run properly and the other is balsa mostly. I keep on bashing it. I fill and paint and sand and fill and paint and sand. You know how it is.

It leaked on its first bath test although perhaps I rushed this bit. I thought that the finish was sufficiently good enough to give it a quick Humbrol enamel topcoat, and on opening the tin of paint discovered the contents looked more like putty than nice smooth enamel. Horror of horrors it was matt paint !! didnt know they did the larger tins in matt !!! painted anyway as I was all ready and in the end it has dried to a fairly smooth flat finish.Have mucked up the proportions at the stern..probly because I was scuttling back and forth from the warm kitchen and cold shed trying to get it built and not concentrating. But its not bad.

I have some maintenance to do before next year.

Sails for the Herald, more rubber for Ashleyboat2 and strip the drive and relubricate, Eze-Kote and cloth for shorty as she is showing signs of stress on the bottom. Lubricate drive on the Toyboata, stick the deck extension back on the carpet carrier, stick the broken aeriel back on the T22, one of the Nelsons jollyboat derrecks is also just hanging on, get another ESc and strip the shafts and relubricate on the Manchester and finally, in anticipation of ice, check over HMS Jersey as that is a teriffic ice breaker.

Small jobs mostly. Usual sort of thing. I must tally up the seasons runs as well, and start off next year with those boats that didnt get a good outing. The sub, for instance and Berengars little striped HMS Argus (needs one plane glueing back on).

Ashley       NB what NOT to use as an ice breaker ! but what fabulous wheel spin

Edited By ashley needham on 18/12/2012 20:19:39

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Today it is fairly warm out but thoe dark clouds!! and its very blustery. Should be interesting on the pond. I am taking the Invincible, the deck lights will look a treat if it stays gloomy, and the rough seas will be no problem. I dont suppose there will be anyone else there as its close to xmas, but one last float before the end of the year eh!

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Yes on me own mostly. BUT the lights loked good and I enjoyed charging up and down, you should see the wake! There were no fishermen on the Leg of Mutton lake, so I went into the middle of it just for a change.

Water in the hold; due to surging over the deck and going down the deck hatch, it seems to me, rather than leaky propshaft tubes which I assumed it was. The water is deflected well enough by the ski jump on the port side, but it comes up to soak the Green Merlin hele on the starboard side, and runs across the deck. Perhaps I should not drive so fast?? DONT THINK SO.

Why do people always turn up and want to see it going just as I have stopped for the day?? I usually leave the radar and helicopter blades running to delight the kiddies, as a sop.

Ray popped along on his bike and then Chris came along with his fast`n`pointless. The busty driver he was going to pull….sorry… PURCHASE, was out of stock..we have been going on to him for some time to get a driver for his boat.

Had one of the projects down for a show, to get some ideas and feedback, and quick float. Wanted to get a meter reading of the mo…propulsion system. Cor !! how powerful?? well suprising considering XXXXX, although I did have a large battery in. Other aspects disappointing although to be honest it was not in the water correctly for these items to be functioning properly.

I forsee a lull over xmas for the build, Have good christmas chaps and chappesessseses. Dont suppose I will be out Sunday after christmas, so probably next year. Fancy that, a whole year before the next session !!

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Well. A nice day, but not quite as much wind on the pond as I had hoped for. Took the Titanic and the LFM. Both going well, Titanic a bit sluggish turning against the wind due to the low power ond single rudder..only washed by the centre prop. I have 385 motors fitted, and run the ship on 2x 6V SLA batteries..I have thought of fitting a 380 in the middle, for more oomph on the sterring front..would be a stright swap?

Young Ray bought down a sailing boat, a recent purchase off a man who had not siled it much. Last time it was very windy and the sails and thread were not up to it, but this time it seemed to be taking in water. JUST possibly via the keel, which had a knife edge gap around it but Ray is going to test tank it at home to see whats what.

Andy the croc (and Bluebird) man had the afore mentioned croc down, now with added tail, all bits secured via acrylic tow rods (like my carrier/T22 combo). Trouble appeared to be, while this setup looks good with the carrier (ie the frigate does not appear to be being towed, as it looks like it is moving independantly of the larger ship, especially in a wind) the croc tail needs to be more restrained. We mulled this over and I thought perhaps that by moving the rod securing pole back a bit and adding two posts forward, they would limit the amount of swivel available and so still give the tail a bit of leeway, but not too much. Damping was mentioned, and I suddenly thought that a twisted rubber band around the "goal posts" would do the job and be an easy fix. We thought a fixed rudder might also do the job? listen and learn, how great minds work !!!

Beautiful day..a bit nippy but sunny and the park looks very nice. Where are you all????

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Went to the seaside – plenty of wind there ! ! !

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Trevor, We almost went to the seaside on Saturday but Berengar had spent his xmas money in Kingston so there wasnt much point !! May go this Sat, just as an outing.

News on "the project" ???? i am expecting great things after all this time.

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Have had problems on the electronics for the project – however received a subscription to Model Boats for Xmas so await my transmitter with baited breath, which will hopefully solve the issues – time to join the modern age !

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

New radio gear has arrived and control system seems to be working on the "project" will be taking it to the pond to see if it works on the water.

I am sure Ashley will report on success or failure (or somewhere inbetween).

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Trevor. Failure is not an option. Ashley

Last Sunday 5 boaters, I took titanic, Midge and Ecranoplan.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Ah, fellow boaters. Was it cold or was it cold on Sunday!! Only took the Nelson, as anticipated freezy cold digits. (correctly) 4 boaters including Trevor with "the project".

A little bit choppy and affecting The Project, due to its fairly small size…but.. a most successful test. It did exhibit some odd behaviour before performing as intended, and we were well impressed. I could see perhaps a small hull alteration at the rear might improve matters (but with these things nothing is certain) and it definately needed bigger side bits. All in all. a great run.Shame it was a bit choppy. Hopefully some pale paint with darker patches will have been applied by the next time we see it and he will be almost there!

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Yup, total success for a first outing but less than 10 mins on the water as fingers began to stop working.

Off to get some car paint at lunch time to add the vital decorations. Hopefully Ashley will have his camera next week (weather permitting).

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bad. Too cold and icy last week, looks to be no better next week and in any case the wife has the car. This weather is just too cold to fiddle at the pondside, especially if transporting small models by bike and getting them ready by the jetty.

Current 2nd project..at the trial stage almost, however too cold for fiddling with now but also it is getting so heavy I am taking weight lifting lessons. Cant believe it. Have had to purchase lead sheet, not cheap.

Trevor, you will have now had extra time for paint etc so expecting good things..made some larger wotsists?

Have you thought about magnetic tape to fix the top on?? it would go around all 6 "flanges" and be adequately waterproof.. I have some, unused purchase via the missus (not magnetic enough for what she wanted, but will be fine for yours) and it is self adhesive and will cut with scissors. I will pop it in the bits box for you to have a look at.

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Also wimped out last Sunday as fingers refused to work the week before.

Yup, suitable colours applied in the necessary places, will just glue on extensions to the four bits to experiment with for now.

Cover may well be screwed on next time.

Hardware for next project is on the slow boat from China !

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

BUT. It is sunny today (Saturday) and so I may be boating-in-a-bag, by cycle, tomorrow.

I am charging the batts up for the Toyboata, however all is not well, as it needs some work, following age (cracking here and there), abuse (being driven over rough ground <cracks and breakages on the front axle&gt and also mis-handling. Unfortunately the "sunroof" in the cabin (this was to provide ventilation for the thrashed speed 600 motor) is a handy hold to pop your mitt in to lift the car up. As it was not designed for this, there are also a few splits in this area. It also didnt help when I dropped it getting it out of the shed..the front bumper (also a nice handle) came off and it fell to the ground..on the cabin roof. Fortunately a "stand-alone" area to paint, I shall be able to just do this bit and not the rest of it. Ho hum.

Ashley

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Must be the wrong glue you used Ashley!

Colin

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Ooh that Colin can be very cutting (after all that good advice i gave out on other posts regarding glue!)

yes yes, small contact area on end of bumpers, heavy car, juggling with something else in other hand, tripping over the cat.

But, Boata repaired, bagged up and delived to pknd all ok. good boating, choppy..but thats how I like it.

Ray with sailing barge (or was it almost planing in the wind?), Andy <the croc) with small sailing boat (unable to tack against the wind). peter with his "gentelmans" cruiser, with smart maroon paint job and canoe stern (very swish) and not one but TWO tops for it..one a cabin cruisery thing and the other a 30`s speedboat two seater type. Great, the hull is not scale specific,to a point, and both tops work really well. good performance and acceptable lifting of the bow not two batteries have been installed at the front.

Trevor..has painted up "the project" and added extensions to the sticky out bits, and what a performer..still having trouble starting off, and not helped by the small craft size and again the choppy sea, but once there..wow! well impressed. having trouble with the control department, I recon not enough "grip" on the water, and it may take a fixed fin to assist..had exactly same problem with the Ecranoplan, cured by the addition of a small fixed rudder. Will have to wait for a calm day to get an accurate assessment of the issues.

Suggestion from some bright spark a few weeks ago about the Ecranoplan.. needs a bit extra under the hull to raise the wing tips off the ground….I am going to go with that and glue a strip of 10mm Styrofoam under the hull. never know, with a bit less water resistance it might go a bit faster without resorting to Lipo`s..?

Ashley

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