Todays Boating

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

Yes I'd agree with Harry, I think Ashley must have been an Aeromodeller in a previous life

The old MAP plans handbook always had a category for un-orthodox models !!

Regards Ray

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Ashley

This might amuse you I, won't mention names but some of the members might have witnessed the event.

One of my recent projects was a Spitfire float plane which I took to a nearby local authority boating lake to test the floating trim.

As I was attaching the floats to the plane a very indignant model boater came bustling up and declared that I couldn't fly the plane here as it was strictly for model boats.

Despite his remonstrations I continued to put the craft on the water, where it happily bobbed around and then I pointed out to this now furious person that the control surfaces still had their transport restraints on and, as such, it couldn't fly and furthermore I hadn't brought my transmitter.

I pointed to the model and said it only becomes an aircraft when it takes off and until then it is just an oddly shaped boat.

I then pointed to his large tug and told him where he could put it, but being nice I also gave him the name of a good surgeon who would help him remove it.

Paul

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Thanks chaps. To be honest, these things just turn up. I have a shufty, as you do, on google and all of a sudden…bam! the next project rears its beautiful head.

The current project is progressing well (pm me with email address and I will fill you in) and has been aided by not only finding decent snaps, but also having contacted the current owner in the states. A test float has been carried out to ascertain clearance at the bow for the propulsion and that all looks ok. Some artful sculpting has been going on for side appendages and a woefully small rudder has been cut (needs to be bigger)

A point of fact, on Sunday there were only two actual boats on the grassy knoll, the rest were all…something else! and that from six boaters.

Paul. Exactly. The Walrus is a great laugh…will it…wont it… and looks great at speed. Anyone who cant "get it" should come to Bushy for an education.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Ah, a right treat in store for everyone in Julys mag! Not one but TWO Ashley scribbling!

Nothing too weird, but about as far apart in type and size as you could get.

New project coming along slowly, being slowed down by endless carving and sanding although I am at the point where I think it’s good enough. Aiming for perfection is all very well but with styrofoam, it is easy to go just over the top and ruin a ‘good enough’ finish. Off to Halfords today for some Grey plastic primer and gloss black.

Ashley

[redpmgParticipant @redpmg]

Hi Ashley –

re read your Walrus build article last night – as Colin said you are truly innovative when it comes to your models ! The Walrus is actually pretty true to life as I read somewhere long ago that the full size one had difficulty taking off – it was very underpowered – so spent a long time in the attitude yours was at in the pics.

You could have called the good lady who was so rude by the RN nickname for the Walrus – if anyone wants to know what it was you would have to PM me as its very rude…………..

Looking forward to seeing the July edition

Edited By redpmg on 04/06/2021 09:47:16

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Hi Red. I was looking forward to it going fast on the surface sitting on the forward section but sadly it is just like the original, which I suppose is no bad thing.

You tubefootage seems to show them taking off ok but then it’s difficult to tell without being in the boat as to know how it actually feels when trying to get airborne.

MyWalrus was quite light, but I have no idea how light a proper flying model should be.?

New project also prop driven but in this case it needs to sit nose up. Eventually the article will come with a video link to show why…

Ashley

[Empire ParkstoneParticipant @empireparkstone]

depends which one you choose Red

[Chris EParticipant @chrise]

Posted by redpmg on 04/06/2021 09:43:28:

…………………….You could have called the good lady who was so rude by the RN nickname for the Walrus – if anyone wants to know what it was you would have to PM me as its very rude…………..

Edited By redpmg on 04/06/2021 09:47:16

Do you know how or why it became known as a promiscuous Chiroptera?

[redpmgParticipant @redpmg]

Don't know know why you are sad about it Ashley – its a great replica of the real thing – looking forward to your next creation

You obviously know the same nickname as I do. Chris – read about it funnily enough in a book on Malta during WW2 – never looked up the source. Probably a complaint from a pilot – one of the RhodAF Aeromacchi's was known as the only aircraft fitted with a volume control instead of a throttle (having flown in one have to agree with the sentiment ) – probably something similar with the Walrus……………

[Chris EParticipant @chrise]

………….and the RAF Jaguar was said to be the only plane to need reheat to fast taxi!

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

…but more importantly….

i have an 8 inch length of 4mm st/st rod and it’s bent. Not bent bent, but there is the slightest wobble and it won’t do at 20,000 rpm. How to get it dead straight?. (No lathe),,

ALSO…the elastic on the Diamond has gone really saggy on yer masts. Disappointing after only a few months. I might buy more and try again , perhaps it was an old batch?

Tomorrow. Fishy. Stingray, specials and a lander.

Ashley

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

Ashley, how is the 8" SS rod supported? 8" sounds like rather a long length to be supported at either end turning at 20K anyway.

Can you add some sort of bearing in the middle?

[Tim CooperParticipant @timcooper90034]

Ashley

The elastic doesn't last long if you pull it tight. I have just had to re rig the pirate ship I made a few years ago for my Grandson .

On my S100 Schnellboot I used Kneinik metallic thread. It seems to be ok after about 12 months. I have used it on my OSA 1 model. Different colours and thicknesses are available. I bought mine from Amazon.

Tim

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Richard. The motor supports one end as there is a solid coupling in place, and a tiny ball race the other. Could put a centre bearing in but it’s not suffering from a whipping shaft as such so not sure if this would help.

i might, thinking about it, have a spare propshaft in the spares box….which might be straighter…?

Tim. Hmmm… dissointed it hasn’t lasted very long. I could use linen thread for the long bits but wanted the masts to be detachable for transit. I suppose I could use thread but just have the long bits not QUITE so tight? If the ends were terminated at the bottom of the mast instead f on the boat, that would probably work…the springiness of the masts (they are about a foot tall) would provide tension, and the mast seats are new, so they are quite solid.

Will make a note of the Kneinik thread though.

Ashley. (Bluebird as well today if it looks sunny)

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

Posted by ashley needham on 05/06/2021 19:39:28:

…but more importantly….

i have an 8 inch length of 4mm st/st rod and it’s bent. Not bent bent, but there is the slightest wobble and it won’t do at 20,000 rpm. How to get it dead straight?. (No lathe),,

ALSO…the elastic on the Diamond has gone really saggy on yer masts. Disappointing after only a few months. I might buy more and try again , perhaps it was an old batch?

Tomorrow. Fishy. Stingray, specials and a lander.

Ashley

An unwanted curve might respond to the old telephone engineers technique of stroking relay springs into shape by stroking the the curve out. Only a lot bigger. Clamp the rod so that the curve is in a known direction, use a bending crowbar (nice strong metal bar with a couple of bolts about 1" apart at one end to go each side of the rod, gently stroke along the length of the rod against the curve. Repeat until satisfied that the curve has gone.

Thin elastic has its disadvantages. If tight enough to look straight, it will lose its elasticity fairly rapidly. If not under tension, it will sag. OTOH, a 75 metre bobbin of shirring elastic from the haberdashererer was cheap enough many years ago.

[harry smith 1Participant @harrysmith1]

Hi Ashley

We stroked the into the relay contacts and bend them down/up for the correct contact pressure.

Them were the days !!!

I still have some of the required tools.

Ye old telephone technician

Harry

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Ah Harry…you take me back! Relay adjusting…with a spring gauge!

I have decided to use a flexible/rubber coupling to connect the shaft to the motor, and use a bearing either end of the shaft. Having a shorter shaft will further limit any vibration.

I acknowledge the method Malcolm, but the bend is so small I couldn’t see myself completely trueing up the rod?

Ashley

[geconParticipant @gecon]

Mine is bent too!

Put the motor into the Colin Archer today. After a bit of investigation I see that the shaft included in the kit is not quite true. I first blamed the old style nylon/brass coupling but I see now that it's probably the shaft which is at fault.

The motor only does 8400 rpm at max revs and will only be used for short runs at medium speed, so I hope the 'bend' won't matter too much. I will replace the shaft later (135mm) if the new U/J doesn't accept the vibes.

I'll send an e-mail to Billing Boats just to test their after-sales service. They still supply the same parts in today's kits I beleive.

George

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Good boating today. Swordfish (next mag!) and saucer.

Other stuff…this and that.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Having put the stuff in the new boat I suddenly realised that the flexible coupling will not stop the shaft being pulled out….

And having immediate and aired over which way facing the bearings ought to go I put them in so I can’t use one as a thrust bearing…

So.. will have to put a third bearing in to act as a thrust race. Hindsight eh??

At least an easy fix and I have spare bearings.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Just thinking on the bodge job, my favourite two truisms come from one of D K Brown battleship books.

Government/admiralty…On being presented with a design for a new ship

“it’s not what you want, but it’s what you asked for”

and. “The best is the enemy of the good-enough”.

I wish the military would bear this in mind. Two current British army programs have cost apparently well over 400 million pounds so far, taken ten years and delivered NO vehicles…Boxer, Ajax and Warrior upgrade (now cancelled). The waste is unbelievable…but hey ho..it’s only yours and mine’s money.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

So. Installed flexible coupling and thrust bearing in new boat and fired It up..

No discernible vibration, all dead smooth, but…

The oomph!, wowsy wowsy. I don’t think there will be an issue regarding a lack of power, and on 2s! Wattmeter showed 25A briefly (as only had a 20A esc). Need a 40A esc to keep the heat down inside the boat.

Boating tomorrow, but have to leave at 11 ish as meeting some ladies for lunch.

be there sharp.

Ashley

[redpmgParticipant @redpmg]

Hi Ashley – have been looking at a photo of the Walrus at Yeovilton RN Museum – saw there was one thing that I never knew and would be very hard to model – it seems to have had folding wings . Sure your one is strong enough to prevent that…….

Looking forward to the Swordfish – knew it was a torpedo bomber – but was it fitted with floats ?

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Peter,

I don't think it's a Fairy Swordfish (String bag)

Regards Ray

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Peter. As Ray says….

As I store the model hanging in the shed roof via its wings, this is my excuse for not having them fold!

Ashley

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