Todays Boating

[Kimosubby ShipyardsParticipant @kimosubbyshipyards]

Ashley,

 

aye, thought about using this hull as a plug – but that extra keel!

 

Ballast worked very well, another 600g on the bottom and no indication of a capsize (wind was very slight I have to admit!)

 

Now to get onto some other models and restorations, but not till after Warwick Show [and the pirate boat is going too – to show the Ashley spring tensioning method for rigging amongst other innovations.)

 

Will be in Bushey Park December 11th on current timetable.

 

Kimosubby

 

 

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Kimo, will check diary.

 

THIS Sunday (19th was it) very foggy again and dissapointingly on me own. No one to see maiden voyage of me new carrier HMS Invincible. Not to scale, sized to fit in the car boot so 48″ long by 9″ wide. Built because I found a quantity of die cast sea Harriers and thought “aircraft carrier!!!” But then it went wrong as of course a carrier to fit them on would need to be about 5 1/2 feet long, too long for the car (and other stuff) so I cut it down a bit. I dont care. It is powered by 2x 800 motors and 5 blade brass 50mm props (or will be), the plastic ones sem to be ok, even if they dont reverse very well. Not of course a serious model, and I am making a Type 22 to accompany it, to the same scale…so about 33″ long. It is nice and clean and sharp though, one helicopter has rotating blades and the radar turns, and the deck lights work, courtesy of sticky-on strips of LED`s, plumbed directly to the 12V battery.

 

Went very well and jolly stable, considering the weight of metal on deck. Unrealistic wave pattern at overscale speed.

A few more on my album.

 

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Sundays boating was a bit blowy, and indeed a test for the new carrier.

Despite at times heeling 45 degrees once or twice, she remained completely dry internally and was remarkably upright most of the time.

 

Power was not a problem (on plastic props at the moment) and fast progress into wind was accompanied by good clearing of water off the bow. No bobbing or fast rolling, due to the weight and fixed stabilisers. Accompanyiong Type22 coming on nicely sholud be interesting being towed in stiff weather,,

 

HMS Midge 1890`s torpedo boat 2nd vessel, also performing well in the chop. Very light this one so stays dry, doesnt heel too much (as I made it a bit wider than drawing) and powers through the surf, bow clear of water.

 

Its remarkable how different boats feel on the transmitter. I was almost feeling a weight at the controls of the carrier that dissappeared as soon at the tb was in the water?

 

On me own AGAIN for first 1 1/2 hrs until Chris and boys showed up (Buoy handler and Spanish fishing boat). Shame, although there was a bit of rain at 8.30am it was really nice over the pond by 9.15.

The latter being very difficult in the wind, not enough power and much too light. Like a cork it was, and its shallow and almost oval hull means it just will not hold a line in the breeze.

 

Ashley

[LARRY WHETTONParticipant @larrywhetton68737]

HI ASHLEY,

Had a break from forum, so i just had look whats going on.

nice to see kimosubby pirete ship. posted a picture of my BLACK ROSE in

action and some glum looking bloke freezing his bits off CHEERS LARRY..

 

 

 

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Larry.. oo er !! like a bit like Kimo`s problem!!1 too much wind and not enough lead! perhaps a keel extension ??? Like the idea though. A square rigger is something as per post that I would like to try..

 

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Larry.. oo er !! like a bit like Kimo`s problem!!1 too much wind and not enough lead! perhaps a keel extension ??? Like the idea though. A square rigger is something as per post that I would like to try..

 

Ashley

[LARRY WHETTONParticipant @larrywhetton68737]

HI. ASHLEY,

That as a extended keel atached , but like the govenment to much wind.

so come on have a bash . ……..LARRY…

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Boaters. Last week.. again on me lonesome, a bit chilly but otherwise nice and bright. What are the odds of trying to debut a new boat on three consecutive weekends and no one turns up?

 

This week, have what I think is a chest infection following on from a cold/coff week or so ago so on the old anti-b`s, so no boating. Yesterday 10th dec, went to the missuses Cub pack church xmas fair and the very nice pond next to the church (looks like Guildford cathedral , and was designed by the same chap ! ).. was frozen !! didnt bode well for Sunday boating at Bushy at all.

 

Will soon be dusting off HMS Jersey Island class OPV for ice-breaking duties..but..temporary skates on the Ecranoplan??..or Shorty? (using the rudder on shorty as a steerable skate….Hmmm…..

 

Progress on the T22 carrier escort has ground to a halt, having rapidly made the hull (what a fabulously pointy front) and superstructure, all nicely sprayed with pale Grey and having painted the decks dark Grey, I need to now fiddle with small bits of wood in the freezy cold shed for “accessories”.. Seawolf / Exocet etc . So a bit of a delay there.

 

Ashley … yes I know..

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Well, happy new year and all that.

 

I fancied a quick sail after weeks of inactivity so off to the park today. No fishermen in the large lake so I gave the old Invicible a taste of the wider water, or ocean as we like to call it. Saw two more helecopters in a shop so decided to purchase and paint green for RAF types, and have removed the front grey `copter and replaced it with two green ones, also added another Harrier. No difference in sailing qualities despite the small addidtional deck weight, and a nice splash of colour to boot (!!!).

 

The “spare” Merlin will go on the Type22 flight deck.

 

Latter on a fishing boat appeared followed by another one..so not quite a billy no-mates although I fully expected there to be NO boaters on new years day.

 

Ashley nb video clips on youtube of ecranoplan, see under “bandleader42”, for a larf

 

 

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Last Thursday when we had all that wind I happened to have a day off and took the Battlecruiser to the pond ..Wow…the waves ! was like a sub most of the time. It was so blowy I had trouble turning around, I had to do a three point turn mostly just to make headway. Not a drop of water in the boat after 30mins of taking it green, bone dry it was.Fantastic fun.

 

Today, Sunday, Carrier, Sub…sub going well after the usual 15mins of rebalancing, the water was very cold. Three small bits of lead had to be added to the rear and one at the front compared to its last sail in a warm pond.Nelson in the booty but unused.

 

A few others over there, Ray had his stripy HDML and yacht, Chris had his fast`n`pointless and Spanish fishing boat, and a new face (Trevor?? sorry if you are reading this and thats the wrong name!) popped along fiddling with a couple of partly finished boats (made from free MB plans). The PT boat he had was going well but was throwing up hughe sheets of spray until on to the plane. We though perhaps he should fit some spray rails? not had experience of this sot of thing before.

 

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Yup that was me.

Temporary spray rails will go on ready for next sea trial, also have fixed the additional weight at the back to get a more “nose up posture”. On its next run out it may even have a lick of paint on it !

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Trevor, Nice to see another poster in the flesh !! As I said on Sunday, if that was your first outing with the PT boat, well done, not much wrong really. I have had several of my oddities out 4 or 5 times before they sail or swim correctly!

 

Trevor was using a Nimh stick in both his boats, he wanted to have the same battery type in all his vessels for commonality (in response to a suggestion that his tug could usefully use a 6v gel cell for power and more importantly, the weight ! ) and sometimes I reflect that I have boats that use variously one or more 12v gel, 6v gel, 7.2v 3700Mahr Nimh, 7.2v 2400 Mahr Nimh and 9.6v Nimh batteries. Hmmm…

 

Ballast, and I find that a hot glue gun does the trick usually. Holds stuff in place well but allows removal with a bit of peeling and pulling.

 

I had a good tip when ballasting the sub. A pin (nail) minus head was set into the bottom of the sub at either end and suitable sizes of lead sheet were cut and drilled with a small hole to suit. The various bits could then be popped on and off the spike to ballast up, and yet be held firmly in position at the pond side without slipping.

 

Even the tiniest weight makes a difference, and I have half a dozen thin lead strips about 5mm by 30mm which can be bent over the casing rib to get the sub just at the right trim for diving (ie, barely floating!), before popping them inside the hull. A process that can take 20 mins before its operating ok…and then there is the 12 screws and greasy gasket and checks for water tightness.

 

Ashley

 

 

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Boating sunday 15/1 a bit curtailed due to thick ICE!!.. a small stretch in the stream ice free. Toyboata too light and square to break ice. BUT with a bit of pole assistance, and freein g up later on as sun came up a bit of fun was had. Sunderland climbs up on ice easily on just prop power, again too light.

 

Trevor again down, his tug was a great ice breaker, PT boat much better with spray rails on. A few boaters (minus boats ) down for a chat, and later on a couple of fast rtr, fairly useless in the narrow stream and icy ends.

 

I regret not taking HMS Jersey along…couldnt be bothered at home to dig it out and equip it, but its a great ice breaker, with good strong drive and a strong pointy fibreglass hull. Never mind, next week…

 

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 16/01/2012 10:36:50

Edited By ashley needham on 16/01/2012 10:40:28

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Sunday 22nd. Blustery, and the lad is attending church parade with the scouts so curtailing boating time as he has to be picked up.

 

Was really just right for the Herald, as it needs a fair blow, but takes too much time to fiddle with so took HMS Midge and Hasty , as they are almost a pair, being of the same vintage, one a torpedo boat and one a torpedo boat destroyer! even if the scales differ somewhat. Great waves, made the boats quite lively. Midge shrugs off the waves when at speed as the bow lifts by quite a bit. The TBD simply dives THROUGH the waves, and shows why they have a turtleback at the front (if that makes sense!)

 

Must cure the horrid vibration period noise that bedevils Hasty.

 

Fellow boaters Pete with large scale fishing boat..having a bit of trouble..now it goes and now it goes 1/4 speed?? and Ray braving the wind with his Yacht.

 

Toyboata in need of a bit of attention after bashing around last week (oddly enough) <see youtube>. Have cut off the old front bumper to replace the old balsa one with a pine one and will reinforce the front generally as I can see it was a bit on the light side to start with. Despite re-doing the front axle, it still shows signs of cracking on the filler. Takes a terrible pounding when driving on the rough. Perhaps I should rubber mount the front to provide a bit of suspension??

 

Ashley (was looking forward to a bit of ice on the pond this weekend!)

 

 

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Cor, how cold!! on me own YET AGAIN for a bit until Chris and boys showed up..

 

The Nelson and Titanic out today. Chris had an E-Bay MFA Piranah new out, purchased minus motor and esc. Went like the wind, on only a Graupner speed 500, not noted for its rapidity…but he has a small 2200 Mahr 3s (11v) LiPo on board !! no wonder, and indeed no wonder the engine didnt melt. still, fast on the cheap.

 

Been stalled lately on the T22 carrier escort, making all the small bits to populate the empty decks. Tried making the Sea-wolf radar but want getting anywhere. The thing has a round dish (no problem) and also a funny elongated cup sort on the side (there is a technical term for it somewhere),trouble is it is only about 188 mm or so high…what to do?? I thumbed through a few books and saw that the first version of this director had simply the large round dish, and two small dishes to one side. Easy peasy. job done resulting in renewed vigor to make any number of assorted guns/execet missiles and wot not. Have next week off, should more or less have it ready for next Sunday!

 

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

sorry, 18mm high…as the boat is only 33 ins long!

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Well, after all that ice on the pond, a nice bright, if a bit cold (windy) day.

Carrier out on the pond with the T22 on its Acrylic 900mm long towing rod. As predicted, its invisible unless really really close to the bank and in sunlight. It had a few people guessing, looking for buddy packs or the lad hidden in the bushes with another set, although my suggestion that I had an infrared transmitter in the carrier and a sensor on the frigate linked to a controller was poo-pooed out of hand.

It`s really cool, although the boat follows the carrier, it doesnt do so obviously, especially at lowish speeds. The wind and different hyrdrodynamic/weight differences ensure its always somewhere else rather that directly behind, unless going fast, normally hovering on the port or stbd quarter, like a real one might??. Going fast is not so good as the t22 bow remains flat and does not lift over the considerable wake of the carrier and ships it green big time.

The seperate compartment that is the space underneath the flight deck works well, filling up with pond water half way to the deck, main boat remaining exceptionally dry (rudder operated by an aircraft style plastic rod in a tube).

On its own the frigate works very well, despite the smallish size. The flat metal ballast glued underneath the hull has done the job and she remains very stable, Speed is good flat out, fast even !! not as fast as the tbd or torpedo boat,, but brisk none the less. Too nippy on the fingers to fiddle with pictures. some next week hopefully.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

chaps, what a lovely day today..but was car-less and so had to go "boating in a bag" on my bicycle..this meant the jolly old landing craft, complete with Herald khaki army soldiers, Lone*star sailors and an Airfix polythene 1/32 tank (Cromwell), this doubles as the moveable trim weight!

Modified since its last bag outing with a MFA 385 motor and the Ecranoplan 9.6V Nimh pack. A good combination,,, an hour and a half`s boating, and a very reasonable turn of speed,

Beatiful morning, pond looked great, oads of bods about.. only one other boater, Pete with his large fishing boat…. where are you all?? ats a great pond for model boating. More of you must live within 30 mins motoring !!

Ashley

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Ashley,

I must get down to join you one Sunday soon. It's omly about a 40 minute drive for me.

Colin

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Colin.. good man!! let me know, as sods law says it will be the very Sunday I cant get there!!!

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Tomorrow, weather permitting, I am going to take the carrier and tow-bar T22; I want to see if, as a suggestion from the pond side last week, if the t22 is also under r/c, what you can achieve. By this I mean can you go side by side, or take station on the port quarter when patrolling, or park side by side when stopped. Should be interesting. If both boats are controlled then it should be possible for some pretty tight manouvers that would be very difficult if the boats were completely seperate, as close station keeping (especially with boats of such different size) is tricky at the best of times…however, with a little help ??

I am going to drag the lad off the PS3 and make him play with the BHA (WW1 German flying boat) on the pond. He likes going to the pond really, its just that he cant be bothered to go out on a Sunday, its easier to stay at home. He likes telling anyone who shows an interest about the plane and the motors and soldiers/whaterver..all boys like to show off a bit. The plane has troops on for added interest. Ashleys thoughts…somethings like speedboats and the like look silly without someone on them. Bit like making a r/c surfboard and not putting a surfer on top…

Dont forget, when it comes to impressing the Mums and small kids, its not the quality of your fittings that impresses, but the throw of your squirter !! (sad but true)

Ashley.

Expecting Ray and his big Belfast to be there tomorrow. GET THOSE BATTERIES CHARGED UP!!

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Rain stopped play last week of course, but..

What a spiffing morning today! Just lovely, and the park looking very nice in the sun. Loads of boaters today.. however just myself with Invincible and tow-bar Boxer, and Dave with his buoy handling vessel, to start with. We went up "the ditch", a small stream off the main pond. Challenging, as there are shallow bits, weed and logs to contend with, not to mention a strongish flow of water from the drain inlets at one end.

An aircraft carrier is not the best thing to try this with, and having the T22 attached was…interesting, I had to do it in one shot, as reversing was not an option, although keeping station while moving sideways IS an option, due to the flow of water.

I have had a few interesting voyages up this stream (its only about 100 yards long)..one memorable day, with the stream fairly choked with weed, both on top and on the bottom I recall taking some 40 mins to do the distance, Was exhausted..but what fun!! Bring your wellies..

Going back has its moments as well, as you have the current FOLLOWING you, and so station keeping is then much more difficult.

Also had the jolly old Ecranoplan out for a zoom.Tried catching Trevors PT boat but a bit tricky, not having a reverse (and hence no "brake" on the Ecranoplan) and so you have to be a bit more cautious..I think I might just have had the edge though?? No lad. Spare boat…Torpedo boat destroyer… and that would have given him a run for his money.

There were a good amount to chaps there today, We had about 8 boats on the water at any one time, from Ray`s big Belfast to Trevors very small lifeboat (styrene kit, work-in-progress running gear only).

Any one else have fun today??

Ashley

 

Edited By ashley needham on 11/03/2012 18:21:37

Edited By ashley needham on 11/03/2012 18:25:31

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Yup, went down to the pond with three boats and a daughter :

MTB (Model Boats free 70' Vosper plan) – gave an Ekranoplan a run for its money !

Tug and barge (Model Boats free Jasmin plan) .

1:40 Billings Waveney, twin motor and twin rudder – work in progress first time getting wet in something larger than a bath, it works and is goint to get the deck secured with something a bit more permanant than sticky tape next !

Pleasant morning spent whilst Sunday roast was in the oven.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Very pleasant. Trevors Waveny showing what can be acheived in motorising a small vacform without spending vast amounts of money. Two small 280? size inmarked can motors with couplings (£3 per motor& coupling he said!!) and a battery pack made up from a common AAA battery holder (maplins) with a cheap (£8 delivered )ESC.

Good job there Trevor. Quite adequate performance for a very small boat without spending vast sums on exotic micro machinery.

Ashley (had to cook own lunch on return home)

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Yup, worth a go and not that fiddly if you think about what you want to achieve well before you get the glue out. Think about it four times – measure twice – glue once ! Otherwise you will end up trying to fit equipment that is too big for the hole or space.

Small motor & coupling = £3.50 each (Marks Model Bits)

4" M2 Propshaft = £2.00 each (MMB again)

Tiny servo = £5.00 (MMB again)

ESC = cheap e-bay item

Battery holder = Maplins

Rechargable Batteries = Aldi !

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