Thought that some updated photos were in order this boat is now running on a 3 cell 11.1 volt 5100mAH Lipo no ballast and a 40mm brass prop at Cwmbran 30/05/2012
HI Huntsmanman, The boat was a President Plywood kit from 1975, and is quite heavy by todays standards its 5Kg /- a little bit depending on what batteries I use at the moment its a 5100mAh 11.1 Volt lipo. The run time is reasonable dependant on how long I run it at full power. Hope this helps. Graham 😊
At last I have a Fairey Huntsman (34 inch) that appears to work, The photos are of it last Sunday at Cwmbran it needs a little extra ballast at the rear but once added it should be OK. it's running a Johnson 600 through a Graupner 3:1 gearbox at 9.6V with a 50mm brass prop, I may also try dropping the prop to 40 or 45 on the next trials.
Here are a few pics of my Scout which wwas originally built in 1958, but left in my parents loft when I left home in 1966, but thankfully still there when my Mum asked me to clear the attic for insulation installers last year.
So far have cleaned it and fitted a MabuchI Brushed motor of unknown power, but appears to work well at 6Volts running a 2 blade plastic prop 30mm 'S' type.
Havent got round to fitting radio gear yet, so have done tests as a free sailer, setting rudder on a slow arc and watching as I walk round pond.Will update as soon as next stage is complete.
Thanks and no restoration work yet, but may have to coat hull as some seepage at joints.Will hopefully be able to keep model integraty without too much trouble.
Have been resurrecting this old 34 1/2" FIREBOAT which was originally built in 1958 from an aerokits kit, for the last 12 months. Went for first sail at Cwmbran on Wednesday, and I am pleased to say it performed very well, But needs a little tweeking to get balance right as she sits a little low at the bow. Having been given some great advice by the local club members, I will be moving the motor and mount further back, and reducing size of prop as it used too much power. But still I'm happy with the performance and the fact it didn't leek. Will update as soon as I've done the mods.
HI Dave thanks for comment, Cwmbran are certainly a friendlyand helpfull bunch and I'll be joining their club along with my wife, as she's now got a boat restoration of her own to do.(FAIREY HUNTSMAN 1/12th scale)
Ill update as soon as I've had chance to do mods,
trouble is an86 mile round trip to do testing runs on safe water at Cwmbran.
HI Colin, This is a big thank you for your families help at Cwmbran last wednesday, if it had not been for your sons help my Sea Commander on its first run would probably be at the bottom of the lake. it's dry now but will need major work on it as some of the plywood has delaminated slightly. The motor, Receiver and servo work but the speed controller I think has died. I look forward to your next visit, on Sunday I sailed my 40 year old 34 inch Fairey Huntsman and think that I have at last got it to run reasonably well. Graham J from Cwmbran Club
MY 34 inch and 46 inch Aerokits Fireboats are readied for the lake. The 46 inch is covered elsewhere in the gallery but the 34 inch was recovered a couple of years ago from a hulk and fitted with a 220 watt 1050 kv bruhless motor. With a 10.8 NiMH and 40mm 3 blade brass prop it looks great on the water.
Deans do a range of raf launches under their fast launches section. They do a 1/24th fire boat within this for about A£120. I built one of these a couple of years ago. Not the best quality kit in the world but with some skill and rework makes a good model. I put a 18owatt 1100 kv brushless od 7. 2 volts and a 35mm x prop in mine and it flies. Let me know if you need any info on these boats.
HI Tom,
Hope you are well. Finally got my boat on the water at the weekend (Fleetwood Scale & Power weekend) and I was quite pleased with things, however it does keep blowing fuses so I will re-wire and see if that helps other wise I am flumoxed.
I am considering converting it to 2 props though to be more true to the original boats and wondered if you had any tips and internal/external pictures of your 46 for me to look at.
Many thanks again Tom.
Dean
This is a Deans Marine Kit which I built about 2 years ago. it is now fitted with a 180 watt 1100kv brushless motor running on 7.2 volts and using a Turnegy 18amp car brushless ESP. With a 35mm X type prop it FLIES.
Thanks for your response.I agree Deans are not the best quality kits and the destructions are vague to say the least.Pity anyone who chooses a Deans as a first venture into boat building it could put them off for life!
When we had a problem with a part of the MTB 77 instructions a call to Ron Dean bought the reply ,ignore that bit, those plans apply to several boats!
Having said that I would not hesitate to purchase a Deans kit in future as I am confident that I can overcome any problems that may arise with the help of good people like youself and the experience already gained.In any case if it was easy it would'nt be worth doing in my opinion.
Thanks again Andy.
Bought off ebay, where else! Had been started as a cruiser, with one very small electric motor,then put in a loft for goodness knows how many years.Replaced prop shaft with 2, 40mm r/h and l/h props, 2x 540 motors running through 40a esc.Radio is 27mhz. 2ch. would like to swap to 2ghz to get rid of the unsightly aerial! I am awaiting some plasticard windows to Improve the looks and will slowly add fittings as and when.I tend to sail it every now and again on the boating lake in BUXTON, no-one has shouted as yet,though I'm not sure the swans approve.!: The photo on the water was just as the power was running down, none as yet at speed.It is very manoeverable with the twin rudders,almost on the gunwhales at speed.
This is a lighter version of my MK1 previously posted, lighter by some 80g, and having a slightly larger prop, I assumed it would be faster, the reality was that the X438 was too much, so will go back to an X435. it ran a bit wet as well, so now I have adjusted the angle of attack on the prop, which should sort things out. The 6 inches of boat tip in the pond was my Arowana 22.5" mono, it flipped and a hatch clip failed, and that was the end result, so I was trying to nudge it in, and I failed, luckily my brother is good with a fishing rod and recovered it.
Graupner Systems Catamaran (Second hand, and refitted) with Leopard 2860 5050kv Motor, it has 2 x 11.1v 4200mAh 50c-100c batteries in parallel, as the motor has a max draw of 120A, The prop is an octura X435 connected to a Prestwich models Strudder.
This was it's Second run, , this run was very successful, the speed took me a little by surprise, hence the expletive (Sorry). I would love to know the actual speed. After a short run, a connection on the electrics came adrift. all repaired and ready to run again now.
Graupner Systems Catamaran (Second hand, and refitted) with Leopard 2860 5050kv Motor, it has 2 x 11.1v 4200mAh 50c-100c batteries in parallel, as the motor has a max draw of 120A, The prop is an octura X435 connected to a Prestwich models Strudder.
This was it's maiden run, and initially I hit the throttle too hard, and made it tail walk. and the coupling came adrift. after a little tighten up, the second run was very successful.
Built from a .PDF plan I found on the net, this 22" Outrigger Hydro sports a Hobbywing 3600Kv Brushless, along with a Hobbywing 60A esc, a 5000mAh 11.1v 45C LiPo, and an Octura X435 Prop connected to a Strudder from Prestwich models.. it weighs 930g without the battery, with the battery, she goes 1386g.
This was it's Maiden run, at Herbert Woods Boatyard, at Potter Heigham Norfolk. it ran very nicely, but can do with a little tweaking to get more speed.
For the record, I did not swear, it was someone onlooking.
HI aquamatic80
She's awsume, 😎 I think that from the way she ran I would have said the same 😭 . 🤐 How much more tweeting would she need?
Cant wait to see your MkII 😀
I have not played with the prop depth and angle yet, however, she has been banished to the back of the cupboard to make way for the MK2, to be re-visited a later date.
