Todays Boating

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Ashley

I used PVA on the large Slo Mo Shun and it was ok

Bob

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

A thing of beauty indeed (I've seen it naked) and deserving of the finest real mahogany.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Mixed success and lessons learned.

One part was super…veneer flat and stuck down on all sides.

2nd part..nice and flat…two horrid black marks on veneer due to the steel holding down blocks…presume rust or some reaction to moisture from the PVA drying. Bugger.

However, not too much of an issue I will just sand to thin a fraction and glue another bit on..the offending part will be 0.4mm wider than the other bit, hardly anything to shout about.

Good lesson learnt however and just as well it happened now and not on some tricky bit later on.

Bob; good veneer work as always. Mine will not have any fancy stuff, diagonal grains and so on as my original was strictly a mundane sort of boat and the finish appears to have been the starndard "built from plank and ply and varnished" affair, as they did in the 19XX`s.

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Ashley

To hide the black stains, just use Acrylic paint, straight from the tube

Recco…..Burnt Sienna, Raw umber and a touch of black……In random amounts

Bob

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Or just use burnt mahogany paint on the other side !

Either way, I will expect a sneaky preview on Sunday.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob. good tip.

However this is a small bit and easy to re-do so will just stick some more on. I will however file this tip for future use. There are a couple of very tight curves on the superstructure and may have have some trouble there..never know.

Trevor. May not be much to see…will bring the few bits down for perusal .

As an aside, i purchased a figure at the car boot on b/hol monday which when cut in half is about the right size…I cannot find my spare Alvis men, who would be almost perfect…may have to buy some more. their weapons etc will file off ok!

Ashely

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Ashley – as you know, I am easily impressed by little bits !

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Well….. Re-veneered the stained bit…all ok. No one will notice one side is 0.07mm wider than the other.

Experimented with contact adhesive…

I have a tube of UHU POR glue which is meant for expanded polystyrene and other foams. It says spread thinly on both sides wait 10 mins and press together and I did, and the bit in question has stuck perfectly.

On the shelf is a tub of Armaflex impact adhesive purchased along with the Armaflex tube for the Hovervan skirt. When I first opened it I thought it smelled just like evo-stick, and it seems to be much the same..but it is a bit thinner and spreads really nice and even with minimal stringing (unlike evo-stick).

I have stuck a scrap bit of veneer to a scrap bit of plywood and it is all ok. Last night I varnished this bit and in the morning it seems to have dried and there has been no lifting or melting of adhesive, so this is what I am going to go for.

Dm says he uses contact adhesive,Bob uses PVA and I think there are uses for both types of glue. Flat sections that can be weighted down I think may benefit from PVA, but you certainly cant beat the impact stuff for curves and awkward hold-down situations.

The bench is in the garden and i will be polluting the atmosphere with volatile vapours on and off all day.

Proj No1 has now been wired up and suitable connectors applied, and I need to make some sort of frame to hold the gear in place now before plugging everything up, then all I need is some Lipo`s and I can debut the beast at the pond.

Have not thought about tomorrows selection, I may go large with the LCT and something else.

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 30/05/2015 10:00:49

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

LCT and Argus (to show off new aircraft)

1/2 the proj no2 has been veneered now, unbelievably. Has gone on really well. Unfortunately I have the difficult bits left to do, and although I made some nice hatches and so on, the veneer means that some of them will have to be re-done. There are a few edges that will need painting or staining as well.

Its tricky this, the veneer is delicate and splits very easily, and the grain direction has to be taken into account when cutting and trimming or your cuts can suddenly take on a life of their own, and overhanging bits break and or split if you are not careful before you start trimming.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Not too special out. May just have a quick sail and then pop to homebase for some more essential boat building material so saying it is not cold..I migh even get the Herald out and make use of the breeze.

Proj no2 in boot for perusal on veneering so far.

|Ashley

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Ashley

A tip from when I used to make marquetry pictures is to cover the "wrong" side of the veneer with cheap sellotape, well thumbed-down onto the surface. Cut out the shape, apply the adhesive and fit the piece, then peel off the tape. This prevents the veneer from splitting when you cut it or just handle it.

DM

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Dm thanks for that. I have been veneering outside so my roll can lay flat to prevet splitting, The end of the roll has been taped at manufacture. There is a lot to think about, this veneering lark..there is more to it than meets the eye.

UNFORTUNATELY proj no3 will have some veneering as well but easy stuff and not much of it.

I have two hatches to cut out now on the deck, and this may be tricky, but the scalpel is handy, and I shall be using the tape method I think..good idea for this situation.It also gives the blade something more to grip on and not slip.

As it happens virtually all the surfaces are flat, or at least, they curve but not in a compound way. The most tricky bit is some tight bends around, shall we say, pylons (to give you the idea).

I have been mulling this over and tried simply glueing these bits down from one edge pressing firmly as I go along and having cut a section or parallel grain. The first bit went on perfectly, the second with some splitting but having had a quick sand I can say that this should not be an issue and I have sufficient thickness of material to simply sand to a nice curve; Two more to do.

Todays boating. The lads (I use the word loosley) excelled themselves. Fantastic, well done chaps , a right hoot…and that woman who came walking along !!! icing/cake and so on. Shark fin next time!

Trevor still battling with his project, say no more.

LCT running well if a bit wind blown. Andy had a small child with him today!! didnt know he had one I must say, but there she was. Let her loose on the small lander ferry..not to worry, paint easily touched up..but as it happens she really preffered playing with the sheep and land-rover. Kids, eh?

Ashley

explanation…there is a land rover on the ferry, and a Britains farmers wife and shepherd and some sheep to accessorise the vehicle deck. They are not glued down. Taliking point for onlookers.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

The other two tight curves have gone on really well. veneering now finished, at least, the sticking on bit, apart from the access hatches. Now comes the varnishing….

Sanding this thursday eve as I am in and just possibly apply first coat of thinned varnish as a sealer, thats if it is not raining, and should be well dry for a rub down saturday.

I am going to purchase some small cheap aircraft style ESC and a couple of small 1600mAhr 6v 2/3A size batts to use in the Severn and the New Jersey and possibly something else. I rarely use these boats as they are fiddly to outfit ands need the extra small battery packs, which now seem to be past their best (7.2 AA packs these were). By outfitting them and having a decent battery to use (the 2/3A ones are a bit more robust I think) then i can take them for a spin more. They are both fun and easy to transport…handy for boating-on-a-bike moments.

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Ashley, I know where you can get a couple of cheap brushed ESC's on quick delivery !

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Hmmm….you will be using those on something, Severn possibly and wotnot…ferry?

Veneering done. Tricky bits not tricky at all once you get down to it., First coat of sealing varnish on the ljkdhifhkjh and the kbndjnfkjsddf…..how pretty!! should look wonderful this boat, and yes, it is a boat this time. Proj No1 is a bit, well, and proj no3 (eventually) is sort of boatish..boatish with a twist perhaps (thats a little joke for those in the know)

If I say it myself, the veneer has gone on very well, if not REALLY well. We now come to the long bit of any build, the painting. The KM Ecranoplan used one whole tinlet per coat, and I had to do it all in one as matt or satin Humbrol seems to have a habot of changing colour or matt/satin-ness if done in patches. Actually, the Alvis looks quite good done like this as it makes it look like it has been used a bit.

Its funny…looking back on todays boating posts, even I am struggling to determine which project I am talking about…cryptic comments are that good (or cryptic).

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I have just finished rubbing down the xxxxxx for proj no2 and they look….rubbish…horribly matt and not at all attractive. I have hung the xxxxxx up to dry on the washing line, dont want any soggy veneer to hide underneath fresh varnish. I am going to leave the varnish at least two days between coats to dry so as to have a better finish, possibly…with any luck….I may even leave it three or 4 days…

Have ordered 2 X 1600 mAh 2/3A batt packs, and also some small esc. Will outfit Severn and New jersey on reception of the goods, and also a couple of other things not so often used. Also ordered sopme male Deans connectors. I have loads of female ones left, and am gradually changing over top Deans. The new batts arriving will be dean`d and or in the case of the ESC I will solder some on.

Will make the effort and bring sub down Sunday with shark fin, for extra larfs. Never know when there is a diver about to bite!

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Fellow boaters. Great morning at the pond. A new person appeared with family ?? (sorry didnt ascertain this) and they had two tugs and a fast`n`pointless.

Loads of boaters.

But thats enough about them

To whit; Severn…going well on the very swiftly delivered new small batts but burnt out the 8A aircraft ESC, fortunayely not far from shore. Will ave to order something else.. New Jersey, after all these years not using it because I thought it needed a small battery..a[[ears to cope with a standard 7.2 stick no probs!!!! it was ballasted and i removed that…job done. Sailing the Severn made me remember why I dont use it much, and I may flog it, not sure what its worth,… has two speed 280 motors, 25mm props, servo all included. Runs very well, its just not me.

Sub with shark top, impressive as usual and even found a diver or two to swim menacingly around!

Trevor..more mods with the Puffin. More mods to try. It may be that in retrospect certain liberties could have been taken with the design to assist its correct operation. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and two or three of my models would have gone better with some redesigning, but , you dont know this until you try. The KM Ecranoplan in particular with a 3S LiPo will go more or less as I intended, but I was dissapointed with almost all the testing that I did. It seemed to be getting nowhere, and you start to think that all that work will come to nothing. Unfortunately it is not possible in most cases to 1/2 build something and get itworking…you have to make it and then test it.

Weed, clumps, making an unwelcome appearance ho hum.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Finally got round to fitting the remote electronic cutoff switch to hovervan. This a Turnigy device, controlled via a channel on the Rx to switch something on/off. I have put this across the lift motor and so now I can switch this off and let the `van float freely while we chat or motor home on prop only to save battry if running low. being an aircraft ESC it cuts off at a certain low voltage, still provides Rx battery, and can lead to the situation I had last time when the thing was bouincing around with the fan going but no rear prop. Should be able to turn fan off now and restore some voltage to at least get back in.

Also installed a 2.4Gig Rx, hook and eye fastened behind cabin bulkhead out of the way of the tremendous splashing that goes on.

So, hovvervan on Sunday at least, perhaps an Ecranoplan…foam flyer…try out one of my tiny batts, and a flying boat.

Plus a lander for rescues and small children, or boaters unfortunate enough to be BOATLESS but wanting to keep their hand in.

Proj No2 varnishing going well. Third coat and showing promise now. One bit that is on its 4th coat looks almost there…another rubdown and poss 2 more coats and that will be that.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Went to Mick Charles Models today to pick up some bits I had ordered. Spend too much. Chatted about ptroject No3 and came away with ideas and a possibly suitable brushless outrunner.

Tomorrow the mighty Hovervan, foam flyer, Hornet (now with hot 600 motor and dog drive Hydro prop) and of course a rescue/kiddies boat, the ever popular Ferry.

Batts charging on the living room floor.

Ashley

Oh, and car model of proposed proj No3, for ideas and criticism (i think its a bit short)

[The Long BuildParticipant @thelongbuild]

You have far to much fun !!

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Hi Ashley.

Was at the lake yesterday with the lad, Tom. Thought I would try out the new main sail on the Goblin. Not too bad, as it goes, a bit flappy at the top. Might try and stiffen it a bit with some thin plasticard. There were some other sail boaters down with their starlets. Those things put my Goblin to shame a bit, but happy with how she moves. Tom had a fair go at sailing it too, which was nice to see. Their was a fair amount of wind and it was great to see the starlets flying about. Also a family down with a plastic warship for their lad. Not sure if it was an ARTR or a conversion.

Andy

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Andy. The Whitton club boat Saturday mornings, sail.

Plastic warship, likely the Russian styled RTR. Actually,this is a very nice boat, and with some repainting to

get rid of all the Silver paint, could/can look very convincing. It needs a conversion to conventional R/C though.

Todays boating. Andy and Iain only (it wasnt that bad out). The usual, animals and men…attention seekers, I say… and with MORE animals planned!! (apparnetly)–they wont tell me or I will spill the beans…but Dinosaur was mentioned….

Hornet. Going possibly its best so far with hot(ish) 600. Need to file a better flat on the drive shaft though (if you know what I mean).

Hovervan….so much better with the remote lift motor switch. On the pond for probably 40 mins, operating on and off….couldnt have done that before. Foam flyer..no great performance improvement by using very light 7.2V battery. but it was probably the wind was the issue, as certainly I could only turn right…the usual issuue when theres wind about. No use for the ferry. It did get a bit nippy and then there was that horrid light misty sort of rain and so we left, but only at 1115 so a reasonable bash.

To round off a good day I had a reasonable nlow in the afternoon on the old Kaiser in Canbury Gardens, although it again started to get nippy…it was so nice just after lunch as well. 2pts after in the riverside pub…what more could you ask for (I cycled to this one!!)

Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Ash

2 sunny day pints in a riverside pub……sounds idyllic……

shame about that weak southern beer.

Paul

Edited By Paul T on 14/06/2015 20:14:09

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I will ignore that last remark and treat it with the contempt it deserves !!

At home today.

Varnishing goes on apace, changing to very fine now and stopped using the cork sanding block as the edges keep on ngetting rubbed down too much. The rear…bit… of the boat is now done and another coat if dust and hair free will see it good, the rest i see another two or three coats. After this there is just one mechanical issue to sort out (has knackered a servo already) and that will be that…at least. i need to find a driver.

Proj No1 – work on, in the garden. A "frame" for want of a better word has been made to hold the speed controllers, rx and so on, and a magnet hold-down system superglued in place for the hatch. Handy stuff, plasticene for seeing how much packing was required to get the magnets to hold properly.

The auxiliary motor units are working ok once I got the leads sorted out, but there is a bit of a mismatch between the main motor and prop. I have sussed this out by using my 100A watt-meter (to find out the motor was drawing twice its rated current (oops!!! sorry fishes in the pond) and not revving out. I have a bash prop which has taken the current down to spec and appears to be working a bit better. Shopping time I think for another prop.

I MAY take it to the pond Sunday…..if I can summon the nerve to charge my one LIpo with the massively complicated charger, the one with not only charge leads but a massive board full of secondary connectors on. gosh.

Ashley

[harry smith 1Participant @harrysmith1]

Hi Ashley

Of boating this weekend.

[Author]

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