Todays Boating

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

Posted by Tony Hadley on 02/05/2015 19:01:16:

Posted by Malcolm Frary on 02/05/2015 10:58:3

sailing it on Fleetwood and Fairhaven lakes (both salt).

Malcolm,

The lake at Fairhaven brings back happy memories. Does the club still exist? I can remember sailing (as a guest) back in the 1980's. The sailing times I went to were on Saturday evenings in the summer months. From what I remember, the lake was a very large with model boats being allocated the top corner near the sea, this area was indicated by two marker buoys. Once one of my models sailed in error outside of the buoys, and a club official advised this area was out of bounds to model boats. He was quite ok about it and later said the club was a breakaway from the Fleetwood Club.

Same lake, different club formed in the mid-90s. Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings unless there's something else going on on the Sunday. Since nobody else is using the water then, we get to plays boats on all of it. Come to think of it, we can play there any time.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Quick test. propulsion unit running smooth and no issues (bit of a releif that).

Issue with steering or lack of and also prop selection may be an issue despite trying to think this through beforehand.

BUT apart from that, promising, and nothing to prevent ultimate success seen in its behavior that cant be redesigned.

More importantly, it didnt let in much water, despite the top being open and the back end also open. My drive unit sealing scheme appears to be adequate.

Appearance on water satisfactory despite a bit of a weight issue, and thinking ahead, based on the performance demonstrataed so far, a bit of weight at speed may be a blessing.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

You know that box I said I built to ac comodate the new boat??? well now I have made some mods, based on the pond test…the boat no longer fits the box!!!

Damn and blast. I am going to have to mod the box now.

Other than that, and that I appear to have knackered one of the servos, the mods to the boat have gone well and hopefully an appearance next Sunday will be in order for some technical testing with instruments and so on.

Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Ashley

In the north we have a saying that would apply to your situation……….oh bugger

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Have seen some "Top Secret" photos smuggled out on a microdot, definitely up to Ashleys level of "oddness".

Weather forecast for Sunday looking OK, dry but a bit blowy – could help or hinder performance.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

so says a man with a lesser spotted marsh wader under construction !!

Hope it is calm, for both boats sake, have a feeling that certain..propulsion… difffs were due to wave action.

need to extend the boat box with some more man-made board first.

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Much spotted – just camera shy !

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Box extended using that much maligned king of materials, man made board (which shall remain nameless) and emulsion finally drying. Battery being charged in-situ on proj no2 (you will find out why at some stage) and all systems go for Sunday. My bag of S and X props arrived from Cornwall and are just ITCHING to see some water action at high speed. I may be able to steer this time, never know, well I DO know..it will be fabulous. Doubts will be cast aside and as long as the drive holds out we will amaze `em all.

Fears regarding using low tech batteries have been proved to be ungrounded, and indeed, the slightly heavier weight may actually be to advantage, the boat sitting kjedhfiwerhiugnmnvknhdfoijoerij when moving. Besides, i dont want any explosions on the pond using Lipo`s. If it all works to plan, then I will be into veneering for a very traditional look, oh yes, this boat is TRADITIONAL, and the ,muhkgydgukjbjhg but that all I am saying about it

Accompanying this (as yet a bit of a mess) boat will by the ARGUS and my LC(F) on which I have just re-glued half the crew as the lander fell, nay, was knocked clumsily off the shelf to much wincing HOWEVER did not suffer any other damage, and a dab of light Grey undercoat soon put thing to rights, as did a quick tweak with the pliers to straighten the ruddder.

#####REMINDER #### The annual may day parade takes place tomorrow, and the park gates will be shut 1215-1330, so its out sharp or be locked in and have to suffer wandering around all the stalls, listening to the various bands and eating greasy burgers and putting greasy hands on all the custom cars (snigger) NOT THAT I WOULD.

Trevor, I have the wedges (dont ask).

Ashley. PS Andy C …bottom in gear and get down sharp 0900.No excuses

 

Edited By ashley needham on 09/05/2015 19:08:35

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

ll I leaned somethng today, do not use too much loctite or it gums everything up and you have to come back from the pond without having sailed the b####y thing. Perhaps as well as other mods were shown to be not working so well (statically). Ho Hum.

I have found that the hot air gun is useful in allowing small grubby scews to be undone, but other component(s) of my drive system are knack….and can I find the spares??? no.

Ray, Trevor and John at the pond. Trevors special defying all and any attempts to get it working aesthetically but there is more drive unit adjustment to be had (wisely built in) that so far has not been used, so its not over yet.

Argus working ok but lost the forrard Sopwith Camel so gutted a bit. In fct very gutted. Replacements now v expensive , but I have some small die cast biplanes which will look ok, so will be adding to the flight deck soon..

All in all, a rubbish boating day.

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Yup, disappointing but enjoyable none the less.

Next project progressing and is probably just as likely not to work properly !

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Hi Ash.

I will come down, once I have something to show for my troubles. The triton is coming on, working on the steering setup at the mo. Nearly there. Is it just me or is finding time to devote really tough. Find my only time is about 10.00pm onwards, and after a few beers, it becomes quite tricky. Spose I could drop the beers. Oh well keep on truckin'.

Andy

 

Edited By Andy C on 10/05/2015 20:15:54

Edited By Andy C on 10/05/2015 20:16:25

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Andy c.

There is always a spare landing craft at the pond to play with to get your hand back in whilst you are building….

get the feel of a real quality boat, despite not being made of hardboard (but that can be arranged)

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Well, after a swift bearing delivery proj No2 should be back in working order for tomorrow.

The Alvis and Toyboata will be in attendance plus of course a small lander for those unfortunate enough to be boatless or indeed need rescuing as you will all have read just how smashing a lander (with foam bumber) is for recovery work.

Andy C…arse in gear, c u at 9ish sharp, plenty boats to have a go on.

Anyone wanting a SPECIAL treat and piloting a hardboard boat only have to plead nicely.

Ashley

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Hi Ashley. Sorry not going to make it today. Chores, and swim club, have a way of interfering with play time. Another week. Andy

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Hi Ashley. Sorry not going to make it today. Chores, and swim club, have a way of interfering with play time. Another week. Andy

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Lovely day today, great morning, excellent boating weaher. Good turnout from the chaps, couple of sailing boats as well, very nice.

Proj no2 behaving mostly. Just one quick run to test the mods as there are no hatches/cabins etc etc on it and it was a bit wetter than anticipated at speed, so much for the inventors claim that kjerht i2gbvds hweufh fjh, you have to wonder sometimes, I dont suppose he ever jjijj erofkj oijfoi ccfffqw thats for sure!

Having mostly sorted the running out, it will be now time to veneer it to make it look pretty..this will add weight so no doubt a few more trails will be in order afterwards.

Alvis and Toyboata and ferry running well as usual.

Trevors latest mod for the Kittyhawk (name changed to protect anonimity) partially successful. It is very reliable though and there have been no propulsive or steering issues despite at times the amount of moveable ballast on board!!

Ian and Andy are making something quite audacious and I cant wait to see them !! I will need a mat so I canm roll over in streams of laughter,,,will be a step up from the Hippo/Croc thats for sure rock on, chaps! Fantastic. Dead jealous, me, These chaps think outside the box. Not sure where I would keep one though ……

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Have a busyish week end shaping up.

Having to finish off the box for proj no1; this seems to be a non productive thing to have to do but prevention of damage has to be a priority..as it is so big I have been moving it about the shed clear space and sooner or later….and hopefully wiring up the craft for a q test.

testing the veneering out, and even doing a bit on No2.

Putting a few new/replacement planes on the ARGUS.

Rumour has it a Victorian battleship may make an appearance on Sunday, so I may make it a Victorian Sunday…Devastation, Hasty and Midge

THERE WILL OF COURSE BE A SPARE LANDER, POSSIBLY A LARGISH ONE FOR BODS TO USE IF THEY HAVE NO BOATS CURRENTLY RUNNING SO THEY CAN COME DOWN AND SAY HELLO…

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

yes, Victorian day tomorrow, PLUS a medium-to-large size lander for that lucky individual to try and hone his rusty control skills.TWO engines on this one!!! yes you read that correctly, not one but TWO. (can YOU tame the power of two x 385 motors on 8.4V ???)

Morning and half the afternoon at the PW show in Whitton, home, and decided to make a box for a small lander and also a box for the Hornet hydro, out of a fairly thick large corrugated card box I had. The Hornet , although there is not much to damage on it, was just propped up on some other stuff, and the box should keep it a bit safer besides allowing me to move it around a bit easier. They have come out alright and are plenty strong enough.

Painted box for proj No1 and now that is safe and sound in covered accomodation.

New aircraft in place on the ARGUS and looking ok, now I have two different types on the boat, as per its original compliment of Fairy Flycatchers and something or other.

Batts charging. Camera charged ready for the men…if you know what I mean… (no, coz I have told NO ONE !!!) Looking forward to seeing the men, lads! oh yes

Ashley

NB Those wishing to understand the obscure nature of posts on "todays boating" have to get their a###s bottoms down to Bushy, life will never be the same again.

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Well, finally made it lake (pond??) side today with my lad Tom. Thanks to Ashley for letting him loose with a landing craft. A few tips garnered regarding Triton, smaller speed controller maybe, and a small spring mechanism on the rudder to help keep the tension. will look and see what I can figure out. Was great to see a different array of boats (ships) on the water and Tom loved his little pootle around. If the landing craft are easy to build maybe I should add one to the list.

Cheers again Ashley.

Andy

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Andy. Nice to see you at last. Lander no problem, landing craft are the ideal think to give children..easy to make and repair, cheap to build, they take the knocks and are easy to repair….did I mention repair? A sunny afternoon will see one built.

Nice to see the Triton, and the isses regarding weight and space.

Sorry i did not have anything exotic down for a demo! Hasty, Midge, Devastation and big lander as previously chosen.,

3 old faces down and two new ones. Lovely day, slight breeze enough for sailing,. no enough to upset small boats..not that we had any.

I have had to chuck away a 7.2Nimh batt pack !! 3 cels dead or dying. Was one of my "square" packs so need another one of those, handy for sebveral of the boats.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Work on proj No1 today. Boring work wiring up drive units and so on..also finishing off some lettering. Always a tricky thing this, applying lettering….on the Titanic, the name on the bow and stern was in 3mm gold…tricky or wot!! I use a scalpel when applying sticky plastic numbers./letters etc as it enables you to tag the items JUST on the corners and place with good accuracy.

Applying good, evenly spaced and level lettering is a bit of a make-or-break moment on a boat I always think. C##ck it up and all anyone will see is wonky words, they wont even notice the boat. Proj no1 has "an amount" of lettering on it, crucial to the plot and so far it all looks ok (thankfully Proj No2 and eventually 3 have no lettering).

Generally I use some masking tape as a level…this enables you to mark out distances and so on between letters/numbers on the tape for one thing. Todays task was two words of five letters (both sides of the boat), and I was going to do the centre letter and work outwards, but when it came to it, I started at the inner end and worked each word backwards. Usually I work "freehand" and apply (whatever) by eye, as this is how you view it..sometimes strict measurement does not work…accuracy is ok, but when something looks wrong, but is right (if you see what I mean) then you have an issue.

Come to think of it, this method applies to my "boat" building (and I use the word very loosly here) ..you may have seen plans in some of the pictures in my articles, but they are no more than a guide, and I rarely stick to them. I have an idea in my minds eye, and that is the plan. i think its a bit like playing music, you read the music one bar ahead of what you are about to play, or it is too late !

I have ordered some Loctite 222 of Amazon for the mechanism on No2. I hope this will be ok, it is designed for small freds so i an hoping things will be ok. Unfortunately Meccano grub screws are an inconvenient 5/32 Whitworth thread and there are no alternatives with Hex heads.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Had a first bash at veneering just now. Experimented with the ironing method on some scraps and decided this is too tricky.

The veneer showed a strong tendancy to warp and curl, and you have to apply even pressure across the work whilst not lingering too long and melting or cracking the structure underneath. To be honest it seemed too good to be true and I think it is. May be ok for kitchen worktop edging, but….

I have stuck and firmly weighted in place two pieces and we will see what that looks like tomorrow.

I have a feeling that the impact adhesive method, as suggested. may be the way to go some areas, especially those bits I will not be able to clamp up.

Its funny, you can deliberate and cogitate all you want about how to do this and that,, but nothing beats actually getting down and doing it, beats all the theory in the world.

If the veneer currently stuck looks ok, I will wait until the week end and hopefully some warm to hot weather before doing any more. A bit of sun works wonders for PVA…spead glue, wait 30 secs to go tacky….HOLD ON A MO…I have something called "Hi-Tac" glue , from a fabric shop…very grabby…I wonder…it seems to be a form of PVA…hmmm

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 26/05/2015 20:21:55

[Dodgy Geezer 1Participant @dodgygeezer1]

Its funny, you can deliberate and cogitate all you want about how to do this and that,, but nothing beats actually getting down and doing it, beats all the theory in the world.

For if a man who has never seen fire should prove by adequate reasoning that fire burns and injures things and destroys them, his mind would not be satisfied thereby, nor would he avoid fire, until he placed his hand or some combustible substance in the fire, so that he might prove by experience that which reasoning taught. But when he has had actual experience of combustion his mind is made certain and rests in the full light of truth. Therefore reasoning does not suffice, but experience does.

Roger Bacon: Opus Majus [1266-1268], Part VI, chapter I

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Ashley

Have you considered the Fablon alternative to the pesky veneer?

There are some fantastic designs too………Just up your street

Good enough for your hardboard creations

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Dodgy. Thanks for that.

Bob. If it WAS a hardboard creation and a lesser model I would be happy to apply fablon, you are right there is some good gear out there now, realistic. Not sure about long term use though??

BUT as this current boat will be a thing of beauty I want to use veneer. No short cuts. I may investigate impact adhesive a bit more. I dont want to use evo-stick as it strings horribly and is difficult to evenly apply. Must be something easier to apply. Spray adhesive no good due to all the masking off I would need to do.

Wait tonight see how my first lot looks.

Ashley

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