Todays Boating

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

You're right I need to sort out another tug or something slow, and stop thinking about EDF jet boats for now.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Noel. What sort of thing do they WANT to play with? It is the reason I got into making odd things, these were things that Berengar wanted on the water. Top gear craft, flying boats, Aircraft carrier and so on, kept him pond-side for 5 years or more

​It is surprisingly easy to make a landing craft look like a lot of things…it can be longer, fatter, a bit more pointy, have different superstructures…ferry, aircraft carrier….Cheap and indestructible, very manoeuvrable so they can keep them near the jetty.

Pop round and within an hour a set of lander/whatever parts will be yours.

Ashley

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

Thank you, that is very kind of you, and I will take you up on that as I think that is the best way forward.

What they want to play with is whatever the other one has got, so similarity is the key.
The pair of speedboats were great, but are complete mayhem because they are too fast and crashy. Plus even with the lipo packs after 15 mins its game over.

I picked up that river tug because it is slower and more manageable, so something similar is what I need to knock up – a lander fitted out as tug (or even ferry) style would hit the spot.
Simple is the key – I am not up do scratch building complex stuff from plans.

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Noel,
I have a spare Lander (with motor, shaft and rudder) if you are interested.
Would be the same as Ashley has (that’s where it came from ).
The boys will have a hard time breaking them.

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

Now I have a dilemma! message me wot sort of price you thinking?

Noel.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

OR….. get Trevor's, and I could make another so the boys will have two boats the same!!!!

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Noel,

It is a freebie. Call it an investment in the future of modelling.

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

Very kind. I will be at Bushey on Sunday so we can sort it out then.

Thank you.

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

I will pop it round to Ashleys tonight as I am booked up for the next couple of Sundays.

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

That's great – Ashley any chance I can pop round to get this stuff later this week as I may not now be around Sunday by the looks of it.

Noel.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Noel pm sent.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Sundays boating consisted Seahawk, Hornet and lc(f). Trevor had the Orange subby thing down (impressive performance) and Noel had tug, fast, Cabin and two small boys.

Hornet going well and a change from X45 to S50 perked up performance after the first run very nicely. Seahawk (with its new high Kv brushless in) also going well, both on only 7.2V Nimh packs. Probably fast enough for the pond.

​Trevor has dropped the lander round, and what a good egg for the donation. The lander is untouched and in "as built" condition (apart from a waterline) and is nice and clean ready to go. It seems a long time ago now that I made so many landers!!

Ashley

 

Edited By ashley needham on 05/10/2017 09:31:02

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

Posted by ashley needham on 05/10/2017 09:28:47:

Noel had tug, fast, Cabin and two small boys.

Ahem, tug, fast Graupner sailing boat, Cabin and two small boys.

That was my £15 job from Sue Ryder. It even came with batteries.
Boys like the idea of sailing it, but the big wind shadow near the jetty caused frustration++ and <<attention-span

Looking forward to getting landing craft. Really appreciate it Trevor. Should mean a bit more calmness on a Sunday.

I've added a deck hatch to the tug this week as it always looked weird without any means of entry to the internal space. Non-working as I didn't really want a big hole in the roof. Wants a rusty oil drum and a pile of chain on the foredeck too.

Noel.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I sit corrected, but almost right…

​Have spent the afternoon and morning sanding for England. EZE Kote on foam now. Nipping to Walton to pick up new cycle panniers (nothing to do with boats)

Ashley

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

Thank you to Trevor and Ashley for sorting out a landing craft.

Receiver and ESC on order, so should be operational soon.

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

No problem, those little boats take a lot of abuse and can be personalised by the boys.

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

Bloomin ESC I ordered for it hasn't turned up so won't be on the water tomorrow as I'd hoped grrr.

Next week I think.

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

Got fed up waiting for ebay stuff to turn up so did the tried and trusted method of going to a real model shop where they had everything available on the shelf!

So, the landing craft is now fitted out and ready:

and whilst in the shop I picked up this for a tenner:

couldn't pass that one up! This might end up ducted fan powered.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Noel, good man. You may want the battery forward of the motor in the lander (Velcro). Tenner for the hull, bargain. Ducted fan yes go for it.

I have been "restoring" the Top Gear Herald. The wheels (after 7 years) had just started to crack, ditto the bumpers (MDF). The bumpers have been painted with epoxy resin as I had some over from doing project W, and new wheels have been cast using a rubber mould that I made at the start of the build but never used. |Some two part casting poly resin having been bought at the same time as the other supplies for this purpose.

Its funny stuff, you mix it and it is clear, pour it in the mould and after about 2 mins it develops a tiny cloudy patch which rapidly spreads and within 20 seconds turns white, gets very warm, and is hard after another 2 mins.

Other work was the rudder assembly which had come unsoldered on one side. The operating arm was clamped with small mole grips (to stop it unsoldering) and long nose grips held the flap in place while the blowtorch heated it all up. Total success and it is hanging up now allowing the black paint to dry.

Hopefully this Sunday will be a top gear day…. Toybota, Herald, Hovervan.

Ashley

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

Be interesting to see the Herald as the prototype was not much of a sailer, so is yours more successful?

I did try the sitck pack in front of the motor, but then it was nose heavy. Am thinking of using a 4.8v 4 cell pack because it was rather lively with that 7.2v, even in the bath. That should balance it better.

Noel.

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

oh yes, and Ashley – the Ekranoplan is now fully commissioned too.

Put a 3S lipo in it and a 5×3 prop and couldn't believe the thrust it produces!

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Noel. Several points: Bath tests always make the item under test look to be more powerful than they are. Trevor's lander has the "standard" 385 and radio-active 2mm shaft/prop setup as they all did. You have seen mine on the water, yours will go just the same on 7.2v.

Herald. Yes it does go as badly as the original, perhaps it sails a tad better, but will not come about into wind and needs the motor. It has not sunk though.

You will need to experiment a bit with battery positions on the Ecranoplan, at rest it has to sit with a very nose-up attitude due to the big lift at the rear when the motor starts. 3s….brave man, I hope your reflexes are good for when it leaves the water…. top tip…get a lander in the water first as a rescue boat

Herald wheels now painted, rudder assy painted, bumpers filled and undercoated white. I may have to stick the wheels on individually , holding them in place while the 5 min epoxy sets as there is no convenient way to wedge/clamp/weigh them in place. Toyboata ready for the water.

Need to buy sanding drums for project W, and I have identified the next project, project V, which may be built alongside W as W will take a fair while to construct, and no doubt I will stall on some difficult bits and I am thinking rigging here. A trip to see ndbjdhdjfgjked will also be in order later on for details regarding deck fittings and armament.

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 19/10/2017 17:51:02

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Noel. Just had a thought. Did you try it with a tank in it? or a car/teddy/aquanaut (or woteva) or anything else?? obviously you will be sailing this with SOMETHING on the tank/vehicle deck and this will alter the balance. ALL the LCM`s have their batteries forward of the motor.

Ashley

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

Good point I'll bath test it again with a 7.2 pack and a Land Rover. The 4.8 didn't work as the ESC hit its low voltage cut out and kept stopping. Once I RTFMd I saw it was for 6-12v. Duh.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Try and stick with 7.2 packs, interchangability is always the vest way. Unfortunately when building specials you are forced into a battery shape and then it becomes tricky. I try and provide room to bumg ANY battery in, but it is not always possible.

My larger LCT needs a couple of strips on the current tank deck stop to enable a compact (twin row) pack to be fitted (will do later), the LC(F) has had the underneath of the lift out flak bit chopped about to fit a square pack. Velcro is a good idea to hold batts in place as you don't need a tray sized for a specific size.

Charging LiPo`s now, will TopGear and Ecranoplan tomorrow assuming it is not piddling with rain.

Ashley

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