Todays Boating

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

None – there is going to be some experiments before anything is finally decided.

Do not rule anything out yet.

[BanjomanParticipant @banjoman]

Ah! The stuff that dreams are made of, then … or possibly The Right Stuff?!

Mattias

Edited By Banjoman on 09/04/2017 10:48:36

Edited By Banjoman on 09/04/2017 10:50:06

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Not animal, vegetable or mineral? Sounds more like stuff-and-nonsense, Mattias.
DM

[Kev.WParticipant @kev-w]

I suppose, in our hobby, the phrase "Whatever floats your boat", is particularly apt.

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

True, old dear, but what we are desperate to know is exactly WHAT it is that AN imagines is going to float his boat. If it's not animal, vegetable or mineral that only leaves something hitherto completely unknown – or Boris Johnson.

I'm losing sleep over it and Paul has begun to hum tunelessly to himself and send me E-Mails with all the words written backwards…

I evah ot og ot kooc yadnus rinned won…. O raed – s'ti suoegatnoc!

MD

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Trevor has perhaps been carried away by the moment. Although it is the stuff of dreams, it is of course a material wot we can use for boat building. As to if it is A M or V well that would be telling and give the game away.

However. Todays boating was very pleasant with more than a few boaters down. The pontoon boat was performing very well, skipping across the waves on its pontoons to order, and demonstrating the effectiveness of the tilting pontoons by doing "donuts" in the water….the inside pontoon lifting just a bit, but all very controllable.

Project no5 also performing better than it has been. Not just fast per-se, but managing to stay upright whilst being out on the water for 20 mins or so all while being given a good thrashing. I had a Lipo, 2s, and additional lead for balance and this seemed to be the best combination. A 6 cell Nimh did not get the boat up on the plane. I think next time slightly less lead and a bit on the side to correct the massive torque reaction will optimise it….

Project no6 performed well, if not so spectacular.

Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Ho raed

Won m'I gnisool peels revo siht…..eht ffus tsum eb krad rettam

luaP

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

oN. elbaliava ylnommoc dna paehc si ffuts ehT. yelhsA

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Enough of that. Tomorrow I shall be bringing MHS Manchester out, having given it a good wash-down, and have charged up the 12v 7Ahr SLA battery that powers it (and is the ballast), along with the recently revamped Seahawk, now with metal couplings to restrain the power of the water-cooled Inrunner brushless motor. That may be it, probably a lander as usual in addition.

So, conventional boats at last, the destroyer having a commercial 1:96 fibreglass hall and major fittings, the Seahawk being ALL fibreglass. At least the lander is wood.

​Boating, as in building, at a standstill at the moment, pending something coming along that takes my fancy., There is the previously mooted craft made from a material hitherto and as yet unspecified, but I am in rush for this one.

​I have had second thoughts regarding the sailing boat also mooted, as I think it will either NOT work, or will only work under certain conditions, rendering it useless an all but very few occasions.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Sundays boating was very pleasant. Iain and I had a super morning gently floating about as you do.

Manchester and Seahawk running smoothly/fast as appropriate.

​Just as an aside, I was showing someone else round the boatyard (groups get a discount) and happened to twiddle t5he prop on the Pontoon boat and noticed it was very stiff. Further investigation appeared to show that the alloy straight coupling was rubbing on the wood motor mount and the motor had to be detached and the Dremmelly thing de-boxed and the motor mount aperture "eased" with a small sanding drum.

​Upon reassembly a) the drive went back together all ok and b) the drive was now free running. Whew!

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Last Sundays boating was…interesting. It was very windy at the pond, and not apparent in my garden. I would have taken other boats to the pond if I knew ho windy it was, however.

​The Cormorant (code name) did NOT get an outing as it was too windy, the lig LCM DID get an outing and coped manfully, due to the good freeboard, and the Sunderland also sailed very well (literally, sailed) until it turned over, that is. I can report that it makes good speed upside down on its four props, however directional control was somewhat lacking (no planes were harmed in the making of this farce).

​Peter had his medium sized and very heavy fishing boat, which shrugged off the wind, as did his RAF rescue boat (the 4 foot one). Trevors tug, although prone to being blown about a bit was similarly ok, although the brage filled with water a few times and almost became a good sea anchor.

​This Saturday all eing well I am assistiung (running is probably a better word) the model boat workshop organised by the Kingston Heritage department, in Kingston. An hour and a half`s fun, possibly, and consisting of a 30 min chat by yours truly regarding model boats in general, why you should boat, why you should OBVIOUSLY buy our favourite magazine (if over 18), and a gander at some of my unusual beasts courtesy of the very nice posters thet PF organised for the MEX show in 2014. I will be bringing the Ferry down as an example of something easy and interesting to build, along with a selection of the parts that comprise the running gear on a model.

​THEN we will be making a boat. In this case it will be a three point hydro design, using some small motors and air-props, and a switchable AA battery box. I say hydro, well, sort of, and using expanded polystyrene and 5 min epoxy. To cover the eventuality that we are oversubscribed, then a scale replica HMS Warrior of 8 inches or so, utilising BBQ skewers will be the fall-back.

​There is of course more to this than meets the eye. If any one of you were to be sat at a table with the prototype boat in view and the materials to hand. I should think that within 20 mins you would have easily made and slapped some paint on either model, but when you have NO model making experience, I recon we will need the full hour.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

See below. I have a little trolly to put the models on so they can zoom across the room to demonstrate the operation of them. I think this design meets the criteria of being (for an hours work) technical enough, interesting enough for adults, using a range of design skills (they do not have to copy exactly), model making techniques –measuring, cutting, using two part glue, simple electrics and also demonstrating the principle of stability, control (rudder) and so on.

​I have tested the design on a side stream in the pond and it goes very well considering, and the rudder is seen to affect the steering.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Ashley

That's a fine looking Hydro ! and the radio is well hidden My grandsons will be wanting one of these.

Regards Ray

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Cheers ray,

Radio…ah, well….yes……hmmm

​BUT, made perhaps 2 1/2 times bigger, how easy does it get?? and then radio can be fitted. Mind you, this is not so far different from the Foam Flyer Ecranoplan

Ashley

[Kev.WParticipant @kev-w]

I hope the first aid box is well stocked, I can see 1 or 2 of these budding boaters getting fingers too near that unprotected prop. (it happens to us all at some point)

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Kip. A good point….HOWEVER, I have tested this already and putting your finger in the spinning prop does not even make you wince. The motors are fairly feeble and the props crude, so not sharp and not being spun with any force. I have complete confidence that no fingers will be severed by these spinning discs.

UNLIKE the prop that was being spun on my 2200Kv motor a few months ago…….ouch

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Todays session went really well I thought. 7 persons turned up and this was a manageable group.

​Although the ambulance had to be called for one person whose knife slipped and gashed their thigh, the motor that slipped through the net (being a speed 400) and caused a cut finger(s) and then the paint pot that was spilt on the carpet (grade 2 listed building) I though we had a good time

ONLY JOKING

​After a short chat from yours truly we set to on the construction of a hydro.

​Perhaps I underestimated the time needed, a construction started at about 1130 am and we finished at about 2.30 pm!!! but this included painting and a test flight on the little trolley I made earlier. They were all dead keen and the two hours really felt like 5 mins. Such is the power of model boating.

​Some questions were asked and I pointed out the great body of knowledge that resides on this forum and indeed within the pages of our favourite magazine. Never know.
​
​Tomorrow….Invincible, BFB3, T22 and a lander, as always.

​Ashley

[Kev.WParticipant @kev-w]

Glad to hear everything went ok Ashley, if it only results in 1 of those 7 taking up the hobby, it is still a result, kudos to you for your efforts to support our hobby by introducing new blood (without spilling any of course )

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Fellow boaters: Its not a very nice day here so far, nippy, a little bit breezy and dull. I turned up at 0900 just in case, but no one turned up, predictably.

​Sailed the BFB3 ok, found (after all this time) that a bit of lead weight on the starboard wing worked well in keeping the wings dead level at full throttle. It was not that bad, but you could see that one wing float was just touching the water at speed and the other was just clear, due to the fact that both props turn the same way.

​The T22 when sailed off from the bank made a horrible "bonking" noise, and upon investigation I could see nothing wrong ??? I did ,yesterday, change the prop to a brass 25mm one (useless) from the S35, and found that the motor wood block was loose (refixed with epoxy). The only other thing is the motor mount is not quite fully glued to the thin rubber anti-vibration layer (inner tube) and I think I will get rid of this and refix the whole thing solidly. It was fine last time I sailed, but that's always the way,

​Car park full due to a kids fun run, and I saw Trevor driving round but he was unable to find a space…they were queuing, double parking…a right nightmare. He suggested tinker time on Thursday so hopefully it will be a bit nicer then.

​Hefted the carrier in and out of the car….was struck by the fact that one 7Ahr 12V SLA is probably twice as heavy as the flying boat !! Carrier uses two for propulsion (for the weight), has a dud one at the bow, and a dud 6v SLA both for permanent ballast. In operation, I put the thing in the water and then put the drive batts in. This is an easy job due to the generous deck hatch, and saves my poor back.

​The other work this week was putting a thin ply front on the big LCT to correct the small detail that the ramp is narrower at the top than the bottom!!. This was due to the strain on the front curvature pulling in the top a bit. It was not bad, but I noticed it every time I sailed. The new front is square, and has some ribs of the front for added interest. The small overhang at the top does not look out of place as the lifting chains fit nicely behind, making it look as if that's how it is supposed to be. Yes I should have taken more care at the time, but…

​Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 07/05/2017 11:41:03

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Further investigation and work on the T22 Boxer. Refixed the motor replacing the rubber with a bit of ply, and hot-gluing the big flat lead weight down in the hull. I had made the boat to carry a 6v SLA, on the basis that this was all the weight the boat needed for ballast and was an adequate power supply for the number of times it would be run on its own. I have been using the Nimh's more, and thus a big lump of lead was added to make up the difference. This sat nicely flat where needed, but may have been bouncing up and down due to possible vibration from the motor, causing the bonking sound. We will see.

As I was in a carrier mood, I dusted off the carpet carrier and have refixed the harriers on deck. These had been simply blu-tacked on so they could be removed for carpet duties however the lad is 18 1/2 now and this function is no longer required. Re-fixing has been accomplished in a similar manner to the Invincible`s air group, and the planes have been dowelled onto the deck with carbon fibre rod (yes really) other than one which is landing vertically. This uses clear 4mm acrylic rod, as per previously used for the big I, but the plane is much higher for better effect, about 100mm. I may re do the other one, as this does look quite good (to personal taste). At the rear of the flight deck the Osprey is also levitated, but only by about 20mm.

I could do with a few more aircraft on it now, I will have to look on an on-line auction site for some, and possibly some choppers.

​The MFA low power motor has been changed for a whizzy 540, and I will try out my new Tornado ESC (50A), using the wattmeter to see what the whizzy motor is actually drawing current wise. I will have a bunch of alternative props to balance performance with current draw.

​It should all happen Thursday afternoon….

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

I hope the helicopter will end up having working rotors using one of the motors from the "come in handy box" !

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Ashley

I followed your tip and visited 4D model shop in Leman Street, what a brilliant selection of useful stuff under 2 railway arches, they obviously know their hobbies as certain railway type items from Gauge Master mixed with some Perkins and Ripmax products. Great selection of wood, metal & plastics I will be popping in there on a regular basis.

Many Thanks & Happy Days

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Trevor. cleaned out my "come in handy motors" now!! used them on the boat workshop, and just ditched two more low power ones…obviously I will regret this but.. ​the low rev ones I was about to ditch may just be useful for rotating hele blades….

​Ray. Yes a great shop. You just don't know what to buy!!

​Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Tinker time yesterday ( Thursday).

​Re-tested T22 HMS Boxer and it was running ok now, no bonking. Obviously properly securing both motor and ballast weights has done the trick, as you might expect.

​Carpet carrier not so good. Whizzy 540 on 7.2V and an S35mm prop taking at least 13A (the wattmeter then senses low battery voltage and stops metering), much too much, and there did not seem to be a substantial increase in performance over the MFA 540/1 motor. It then packed up, no motor, but rudder ok. Swapped over RX leads and still same. Swapped receiver…same…swapped ESC…same/ Swapped the deans/futaba battery converter and motion at last.
​On inspection back at dock, it appeared that there was some (what looked like) tarnishing on one of the deans blades, and the spring that holds the blades in good contact was corroded and not springy…a combination giving a poor connection. Although there was obviously enough voltage to power the esc and rudder servo, there was insufficient to operate the ESC motor function (guessing).

​Trevor's new boat however gave a good first test. Inexplicably one of the motors seemed to pack up but then came back after a lot of lead swapping (/??). The nose up attitude at less than full speed needs some work, but it flattened out when at full throttle , and this was only on a 2s Lipo. Similarly possibly a bit more rudder area might be needed, What was impressive, for such big props was the lack of torque effect, and the wonderful noise at low speed.

​Rain stopped play, but we had had enough by then. I was only pootling about with the carrier as I did not want to burn out the motor of blow up the 15A ESC. I have since changed the motor back to a 540/1 for care-free full throttle use. I do have some Graupner ECO 600`s, 555`s and so on but for the use it gets, this will be fine.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Not content with swapping the entire propulsion system on the carpet carrier, it has been beefed up with no less than TWO Apache helicopters now, courtesy of Bentalls toy department (Matchbox die-cast) as |I had to pop into Kingston to get some cycle lights
​
. I have placed them near the sharp end, as there is an Osprey alighting at the back.

​As an aside, a snap (scanned negative sorry bad picture) of the first boat wot o built as an r/c jobbie. Possibly circa 1984. A converted Seawolf Leander, about 4 foot long, power…two 380`s. I scrapped it just before Berengar started coming to the pond and immediately wished I hadn't as he would have loved it. It was very crude all things considered, and latterly I would have been embarrassed to take it out, but I shouldn't have been really.  I didn't have much of a clue then, I was just fiddling, I had no mated who boated, didn't even think that model boat clubs existed and so on. 

​Ashley

 

Edited By ashley needham on 12/05/2017 19:14:42

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