Todays Boating

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Small mishap indeed if you are referring to my sunken yacht – thankfully rescued by the Malaysian Navy !

Radio gear quickly opened up and left in the airing cupboard over night – will check it out this evening – other than that a sucessful maiden voyage !

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Oops!! have had several lots of receivers dunked and they all dried out ok. Oddly enough the LFM packed up as stated in last post, also water, receiver sitting in a puddle, unclipped the case to dry out and will try it some time before next week..

Bath tested project No 2 in the bath today, held down with extra lead and water topped up to an appropriate level and left for two hours. No leaks, althouight I did re-adjust the propshaft. Have fitted a Deans connectoer on Proj1, much better. By and By I may convert the lot?

Pictures. Andy`s croc, dont you just love it?? Happy boaters at the pond, what a glorious venue!

Carpet carrier from a couple of weeks ago. Not bad for a non-boat build!

Next week…hmm. projects 1&2 and a.n.other….depends on the weather, may take Herald if windy and NOt No1. Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Must have been a fast shutter speed as the yacht is still afloat in second picture !

No pictures of the children throwing bread to the croc though – smiles all round at that.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Ashley

That croc is great but you cant give us half a story…how long is it, how many onlookers fell for it, how does it work?

Paul

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Andy`s croc is about six feet long or so, in total. The bits are poured polyurethane foam (I think), the eyes are acrylic balls painted up. The body portions are joined by lengths of acrylic rod (like my aircraft carrier / t22 combination) and under the head there is a little "boat" for want of a better word, wedged in a recess in the head, for propulsion etc.

It looks deads good, but people dont think its real as no one would believe there would be a real croc in the pond, just like my shark top…

It needs a roar sound generator or opening mouth and THAT would scare the kiddies!

Trevors yacht did indeed go under, possibly filled up with water when heeling over..but first time out..it wont happen again (we hope). Other than that it went quite well despite the modest wind, and it being Trevors first sailing vessel.

I cant speak of course , only having the Herald as a sailing boat..and that does not sail properly at all.

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Yup I think a slight gust heeled it over a bit too far and suddenly it floated like a brick.

Receiver and sail servo dried out in the airing cupboard, both tested out OK last night and re-installed, cheap rudder servo got dropped and gears broke (pulled one out of the "come in handy" box).

Will get some water proofing tape under the hatch for Sunday rather than the finger crossing method used last week.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

This Sunday, weather and leaks permitting < and delivery of new battery ! >, should see the laying to rest of projects 1 and 2, and the beginning of the next one.

The next one will be.. very challenging,but the first one was.. really really challenging, and no2 was….easier than expected!!! despite on the face of it being even more tricky. you just cant tell .

Nice weather I need, no wind.. calm and flat.. not too bright for photos. No kids with RTR speedboats. (crocs allowed). Need someone with a decent high speed camera.

I need to get a waterproof slider switch and I might bring the shark top out for a swim on top of the sub. Need the switch to turn off the power so i dont have to undo 12 screws and get all greasy.

Also need to test dried out receiver from the LFM.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

What great boating today! Superb day.. hardly any wind and absolutely crystal clear water (although didnt see any of the two-dozen or so props that have been lost over the years).

Project 1 going as well as it will , I think..didnt try a LiPo due to the massive water ingress..but new battery has got the pace up somewhat.

Project 2 befefitting from the clear water. Bashed the bank and put a big crack in one side. A small leak spotted in the..somewhere.. and patched with sticky tape. Another pinhole spotted by the trail of small bubbles up tye port side (tape again). But didnt it go well!! fantastic. All well impressed.

6 0r 7 boaters.. Thames barge, Sailing dinghy, several fast electrics of one sort or another.

Also took the Ecranoplan out for a spin (two years old now! how time flies) and the Hornet, running very nicely. Small rooster tail.

Ashley (pics show boat NOT going very fast!!

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Next Sunday is the Chestnut parade day, Bushy park gates close 1215-1330. General consensus of opinion was that, given the exit traffic of late, those on parade would not be attending next week.

Just as well as I have a GIG on Sat evening so could do with a lie in..or I might go to to a car boot sale.

Have cut very first piece of 20mm MDF for the new project (I kid you not) Exiting. Choices choices; actually, need to get another sheet of 20mm MDF first, and several packs of cheap superglue/accelerator AND a tub of wood filler.

Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Ashley

20mm is very heavy……. are you building an oil rig? I thought that you preferred that lightweight blue foamboard.

This choice of material gives me hope that you have moved on to grown up IC engines as motive power.

Paul

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Blast!! sussed out already. I admit it, I am building an oil rig, with extending legs so it can anchor offshore (jetty) to provide an anchorage for model boats, pulled into position by my TUG.

Ashley

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Ashley, that isn't ambitious enough. If YOU build an oil rig I would expect it to walk around on its legs at least…..

Colin

[Kimosubby ShipyardsParticipant @kimosubbyshipyards]

Colin,

you don't expect Ashley to be on the bank when he could be out there on his oil rig docking all his craft! And I expect he'll have to be there to keep the ducks/swans etc from establishing nesting rights, though the image of a windmill type device to "scare" the fowls springs to mind.

KIm

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

BUT, wait until you see the drilling start and the flaming vented gas from a long sticky out pipe!!

AND for extra realism, a bit of an oil slick….(used BSA engine oil, for extra blackness)

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

BUT, wait until you see the drilling start and the flaming vented gas from a long sticky out pipe!!

AND for extra realism, a bit of an oil slick….(used BSA engine oil, for extra blackness)

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Ashley, I can get you some plans for an FPSO (Floating Production Storage & Offloading) ship / converted supertanker which has the flares, cranes and helicopter pad : plenty of opportunity for operating features.

Not sure one would fit on the pond though.

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Ashley, I can get you some plans for an FPSO (Floating Production Storage & Offloading) ship / converted supertanker which has the flares, cranes and helicopter pad : plenty of opportunity for operating features.

Not sure one would fit on the pond though.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Trevor. Yes, might struggle with the size there.

The depth of water may also be an issue. Should have seen it Sunday, crystal clear it was! (apart from some Daphnea). Paul….dont say it…

I must put the sub in the boot next time, would look really excellent in that clarity of water.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Trevor. Yes, might struggle with the size there.

The depth of water may also be an issue. Should have seen it Sunday, crystal clear it was! (apart from some Daphnea). Paul….dont say it…

I must put the sub in the boot next time, would look really excellent in that clarity of water.

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Basic dimensions of Maersk Peregrino FPSO is 350m long x 58m wide with 21m draft and 35m above waterline – even at 1:200 you would need a bigger car !

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Basic dimensions of Maersk Peregrino FPSO is 350m long x 58m wide with 21m draft and 35m above waterline – even at 1:200 you would need a bigger car !

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

AS stated, was not at the pond today, got up early despite having a gig last night, but it was an early finish,,2310 so home at a reasonable hour. Fantastic evening. Band brill as usual, lots of dancing.

As it was a nice day, decided to crack on with the NEW project, having stuck yet more bits of MDF together. Moved the deWalt bandsaw out side for some serious cutting action as the main body is now 40mm thick. The cutting was followed by some glueing action, PVA. Other parts are 3 1/2 bits of 20mm MDF thick, and the main bit has no less than 5 layers, although this is due to be "worked on" and wont be quite so heavy as it looks. Should be solid if nothing else.

Actually, I spent more time sketching out various items dickering with the proportions..while attempting to keep "the look". BECAUSE building a representation of, or a working version of, are two distinct things when tackling the unusual. I am using a completely different propulsion system for this one, and it is completely at odds with the original; I have to install gear in places not originally meant to put gear, and also fathom out some sort of access for wires, battery and so on. I am leaning towards going brushless, as the motors are much smaller and speed controllers are cheap and also small. No reverse on most of them though which may be a problem. Our "new" crop of boaters have vessels in the main with no reverse and we get the unusual specatcle sometimes of boats drifting close together just so they dont collide, as neither of them can back out. Just lads really, I ask you.

We are all looking forwards to Andy`s Action man RIB next week, which is powered by a motor that would not be out of place in an electric car. Our jaws dropped when we saw it, and we wondered how the boat was going to float given the weight of copper that was contained within the leads…

When he puts the throttle on, I swear that the level of the lake drops 2 inches as the pump jet sucks up water. We said he better be careful where he points the rear end just in case he knocks some children over with the stream of water issuing from the back end. Great stuff..we love it.

Ashley

 

 

Edited By ashley needham on 12/05/2013 18:38:24

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Very nice morning today. Very light breeze, just enough to make the surface of the water interesting, however loads of CLAG in the water. Looks like lumps of poo but theres too much to BE poo. Wind blowing towards jetty so it all gathered our end.

Took the Fantome, Hornet and Oberon out for a spin. Sub diving well, comparisons were made with the performance of something else two weeks ago..the sub does not keep depth quite as well as but there we are. The Fantome looks very good on the water, I bought it because it is so big and "commands"the water rather than bobbing and skipping along the top of it. Its 800 motors hum nicely, theres no buzz or thrashing involved in going at a reasonable pace. HOWEVER certain individuals (you know who you are) want me to pop a pair of 850`s in there (straight swap) to really look the business..will I?? perhaps, never know.

The Hornet performed adequately, and lo!! Barry had HIS Hornet out, with a big outboard as per original equipment, and did it fly?? yes, after 4 mins of sitting there thrashing the water. The prop just does not bite,,,I suggested stopping, and banging the throttle open (we thought originally that a slow incrementing throttle would help) as, reminded of the video on u-toob of this boat, it occurred to me the chappie launched the boat with a full throttle approach…and it did work.. but not all the time?? baffled. It went like stink once on the plane, but the pond is too small for extensive high speed work. My hornet goes fast enough considering the "cooking" motor and ad hoc parts AND has a bit of a rooster tail even.

Only 5 of us down.Wher are you all??

Being frustrated when trying to order stuff for new project. Know what I want, var websites either contradictory with the information concerning mixing parts (for instance) motors diameters and coupling shaft sizes, or out of stock, or not listing the items that are supposed to be used with the bits I want..oooooh!! Was going to go brushless but am sticking to brushed as have found some brushed items suitable for purpose. Have found aircraft style ESC`s for brushed motors that are very small. Doubt exists as to their usefullness with a V tail mixer.. I need hardware now to determine the size of certain aspects of the build. All equipment has to be light. Used a very nice P94 esc/mixer for last proj, but it is too b ig for this one… no room.

Anyway, the shed beckons, my pile of 20mm MDF needs attention (no word of a lie). Had a really really useful meeeting with a man in the pub Friday evening. This chap is assisting with my project, and he is a mine of information regarding the techniques I am going to use. My mouth was watering (slaked by sufficient BEER) with the ideas being thrown my way. A project suddenly come to light. Oh, it is well well worth talking to EXPERTS now and then.

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

After yesterdays pond side chat, I can dig out various electronic hardware to "experiment with" which may help, let me know.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Trevor. May well get to that. I am going to get the hardware as discussed anyway, as you said, it will all get used one way or another. I may buy the two types of ESC to try in any case

While I think of it, the motor/ESC in the Hornet was running commendably cool, despite a good thrashing, but when I opened the sub up before leaving the pindside, the motor was red hot,, and the ESC was none to cool either.. It can only be that all the equipment is in a confined absolutely non-vented space.

Is there a method of cooling this space I wonder?? normal motor watercooling would bee too bulky and add too much weight to a finely balanced system. Alternatives??

Ashley

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