Todays Boating

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Sob. Never went to Saturday flicks. Don’t know why…?

Looks lovely and sunny out now so hopeful of a good morning sailing. Need to get snaps of Stingray performing, and also the top secret projects…which need to be photographed “en mass” for effect. these are different to the current project, which is also top secret obv).

I also need snaps of the Tups en-mass as well.

Will also take the Walrus for an outing, although it’s going to be tricky loading the car as the boot lid gas struts are missing.

One has failed completely, the other is only half pressure (as I can compress it by leaning on it, but it should be rock solid) AND the things are attached to the car by brackets, which are permanently attached to the struts! Both have been sent off, as SGS engineering can remove And re-attach the brackets on new struts. Meanwhile the lid Is bl**dy heavy, and I don’t want to risk using a pole or something, as if it slips….

.Ashley

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

You need a van Ashley, preferably the size of a Transit, long wheelbase, with a trailer!!

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

There are masses of disadvantages of owning a van. Big insurance, van insurance affecting car insurance but mostly as vans are not allowed in the park!!

Stingray blew its 30A fuse on first application of full power?. Investigation needed.

all others ok, great fun with the non flying Walrus, even though wot the point of it not flying as some would say.

Photo shoot with Tups all good ….see what the other ones look like.

Ashley

[redpmgParticipant @redpmg]

That was expensive Richard – seem to remember it was a bob for the the flicks and sixpence for a ice cream or cold drink – must have been earlier years – loved the cartoons .

Shame you never went to the Saturday flicks Ashley – told my grandchildren about it – they did not really understand what a comic was……..

Perhaps what you need is a trailer – young lad at the the club in Johannesburg used to bring his big boats on a trailer – behind his bicycle……..

The full size Walrus did not fly too well either……..

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Ashley

Re Transport.

I gave up lwb 4x4s in favour of people carriers, no problem parking and with the seats laid flat you get a great storage/transport vehicle.

Current car is a 2 year old Hyundai i800 that I've had since new, even my largest planes will go in the back.

Paul

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

The current Suzuki Ignis is a little tardis. The load area is a flat 4` by 4` with a level-with-bumper tray, and with the passenger seat forwards I can get the 6 foot destroyer in easy. It is also a small car which is very handy.

Not sure what (eventually) I will replace it with.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Having trouble painting the new project. Despite multiple layers of EzeKote and primer, the top coat has gone funny and there are a few dimples caused by. The stuff eating into the foam.

I have resorted to covering the fore deck in fine glass cloth and EzeKote, and hopefully this will stop the rot! It should also give me a more smooth finish.

As usual everything looked great in primer, but as soon as a bit of gloss went on the tiny imperfections were almost highlighted. That’s the trouble with foam, especially ally spraying it using cans.

The rear rim on my 20inch wheel folding bike has split (gone thin, probably worn by all that mud when braking) and surprise surprise you don’t seem to be able to buy rims in this size. Three bike shops advised me to buy a complete wheel on eBay BUT this would be great if it was the front, but I will have to buy a complete wheel and strip it just for the rim as I have a 3 speed hub on it. How wasteful….but finding a 2nd hand one locally?.? And in good nick?. And with 28 holes?.

Ashley

[redpmgParticipant @redpmg]

Found some on Amazon first go Ashley – 20in with 28 holes – might be a bit expensive but at least delivery is free……sure there must be cheaper options out there too………..Not sure how to post a link

From long ago seem to remember Zinc Chromate primer stopped nastys getting through to the top coat .- just an idea – long ago ran a friends body shop when he was ill – solved the problem on a car painted in the US using the latest technology paint which was not available to us. Long story but the wife ran the imported yank tank into the gateposts and we did a quick repair – she forgot to tell her husband and he did the same when he finally arrived home ……….. 2nd repair and widening of the gates required !

Apologies if I'm teaching Grandmother again

 

Edited By redpmg on 12/07/2021 16:47:45

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I used A sealer when I sprayed the Bond Bug (fibreglass body) , but this is something else.

Havng covered the nose in fibreglass and EzeKote and sprayed it with primer I left it on the sun…and there were big wrinkles appearing in the foam underneath, not only that the left rear side shelf was blistered.

Its to do with the heat, the top coat being black gets very hot. Not experienced this before and I have more than a few models with a substantial foam content. Perhaps due to the various multiple layers of paint.

Anyway, I have now cut the top off completely and replaced it with a single foam block (I used two layers and a front piece last time). The foam is open hard crumb, and once shaped I am going to cover it in glass and epoxy resin and this should cure any ills. I should then get a superior finish. In addition I thought perhaps my original top was a bit high at the bow, so I can correct this 2nd time round. At the sides I have sanded virtually all the paint off and will glass/epoxy these as well. Hopefully that will be that then.

Re August issue (all foam, and no issues), the picture I submitted which is technically the worse of the bunch has been used very effectively for the front cover! Taking pictures of lights is almost a non starter as they are bright (no s**t Sherlock) and overwhelm the cameras sensor contrast. Not only that but in this case they are flashing meaning you don’t always get the right combination in shot. That snap was the best of probably 50 or 60 taken in the shed with the lights off (gloomy but not pitch black).

Resistance is futile! Get your copy soon or the bunny gets it! (Death ray)

Ashley, galactic overlord.

 

 

Edited By ashley needham on 14/07/2021 08:48:01

Edited By ashley needham on 14/07/2021 08:48:18

[harry smith 1Participant @harrysmith1]

Hi All

As soon as I see the cover of August mag, it's Ashley again !!!

Ashley maybe looking for a very long wheelbase van as a mobile workshop and boat storage with auto pilot/driver to get to the pond.

Air ride suspension for comfort ride for his models, please !!!

Mainly because it takes up design/build time for the next totally out of the box build !!!

Fort Knox security is a main requirement as you all would understand !!!

It has been a good price as he is on the pension .

Harry

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Hi Harry. I will look into those suggestions….

Ashley

[redpmgParticipant @redpmg]

Begin to see why the magazine needs a name change Ashley ……………

Looking forward to reading about the Saucer and how you powered it

Really amazing and creative models – what more can one say……………

Think its a good Job the Tardis did not float – space travel might be a trifle difficult to emulate…………..Although I would not put it past you to try………………….

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

The really clever cameras nowadays take more than one exposure simultaneously at different exposure settings. It then automatically blends the pictures together using the best exposure from each to create a perfect composition.

This is specifically to help with night time shots and bright lights. I've got a pocket Panasonic which does this so it is not only the big fancy expensive cameras that do it.

Ain't technology wonderful!

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

GMy big bridge camera will do that as well, but I have not mastered it yet. In this case I don’t think anything would have helped. It also combines different focus length pictures, can send them via Bluetooth, mail and so on. The manual is like a telephone book! I bought it to take pictures rapidly using the 4k option,(like video but separate pictures to a slightly lower than normal resolution but much higher than video) but I have found that it processes the pictures very quickly using the high speed SD card and in practice it will take snaps as quick as you can press the button (almost) on single shot….the first digital camera I have had that’s that fast (not got a DSL)

New boat looks a right mess now. Drips of epoxy rampant (9 hrs set time), now filler all over the shop. I have to console myself that once it’s done, priming and spraying the topcoat should be painless.

Its the thought of all that sanding/wet’n’dry work really, but probably a couple of hours and loads of mess will have it done.

Top nose shape better than originally so that’s good as well. Ashley

,,,,loads of edits due to poxy auto correction when I don’t need it!

 

Edited By ashley needham on 15/07/2021 10:19:57

Edited By ashley needham on 15/07/2021 10:21:01

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Watch the skies with Fox Needham

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Ah Paul….didn’t know you thought I was a bit foxy….

🥰

yes i I get it really

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

Allright Dudes, not done much actual boating lately. Kids cricket and stuff Sunday mornings. All this activity-ness impressive though.

Shared the Ark island with Bushy people few weeks ago.

Here it is.

So that bits done. It comes out and gets shown to visitors a lot! Main hull now moved to garage and bit of sanding done. Next stage will be filler and glass cloth.

Thats my boating lately!

Looking forward to next mag issue!

Noel.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Noel….Noel, lets see….hmmm…Noel…oh yes…THAT Noel.

Still a cracking good job mate.

Yes get that fibreglass out. are the shafts in yet?

Ashley

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

Shafts are in although I haven't used any glue yet – so can slip them in and out to do sanding.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Noel,

Ark is looking the business Launching next year ?? I have my Destroyers at the ready for your escort group

Regards Ray

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Nice one Ray. We are all looking forward to the grand voyage next year!

Remember to bring wellies as the pond will rise somewhat when it goes in the water!

Wet’n’dry work went well yesterday. Another swipe of filler was done last night and hopefully that will be that after another sanding session. Boat looks a right mess now and some flat ply sections now have some scoring on them but that’s easy to sort out.

Looked in Halfords (re Stingray 30A fuse blowing) and 40A fuses are twice the size of the “normal” up to 30A sizes.

Have had the thing out several times before no issues so wondering if it was simply a surge problem and a more gradual throttle application is needed? Will need to use the watt meter to check actual consumption.

weather forecast looking good for Sunday! Need a good turn out of dollies for group photo action please chaps.

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

I would like to launch it this year, although that would be as a hull to check trim and running gear etc. I think finishing the flight deck and painting will be the winter job. Might even get it back in the house for that (!), as the garage storage location is a good but not easiest for ad-hoc working.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Great morning. Weather brill, no wind. excellent. Had the Farman whizzer out amongst other stuff.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Exciting stuff. Spraying new boat and it’s looking very nice, well worth the effort fibreglassing it.

Two black topcoats on and after some rubbing down after each with 600 and 1500 w+d (I can’t find any grits in between in my sandpaper store) I think the next two are going to be the final ones with no rubbing down, must be mega careful not to get any runs.

i have to spray it all in one go otherwise overspray gets on other surfaces and goes Matt. By doing it all at once the whole lot is wet even just for one minute and I can spray a nice gloss coat in one.

Ashley

[Chris EParticipant @chrise]

Ashley

I have been reading your "Flying Saucer" article in the August Model Boats and it set me wondering.

The Bilge Pump says 12v 3W (36W) although you run it at 9.6v. You say that it gives strong quiet power but how does the amount of thrust that you get from it compare to a normal propeller drive of the same power?

 

Edited By Chris E on 19/07/2021 16:30:57

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