Ever felt sorry for those Philipino static models you see all over the place? Well I did and bought this launch from a charity shop in Didcot for a fiver. I reckoned that the fittings were worth that even if the change to working model failed. Fortunately, the model floated about right as it was and I managed to save a lot of weight to allow for the added weight of motor/batteries/ rc gear etc.
The project has not been without its problems but it should be finished and ready to maiden within a couple of weeks. Not sure that I would do this again but it has been interesting......... I intend to mount it on a boat trailer rather than a stand. Report more when she is launched.
Just for fun ! an interesting project for the new year ! - RC Sailing :- Mississippi Steam Boat from BMBC member - electric conversion with original steam / boiler setup .
Happy 2020 to all !!
Remindes me of berthing alongside just down from the Crescent city connection bridge, near Canal Street - I`m sure the "Precedent" steamer used to be there 45 years ago ?.
I like your paddlewheel “Mark Twain”!
The boats namesake is quite a prolific writer, and in his book “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” he talks about his time in England. I don’t know if you smoke cigars, but an interesting paper he wrote is more about the nature of people, “Concerning Tobacco”....this is a short paper. Funny, but oh so true!
I like the Calliope!
This is the latest smoke version running on only 2,2V (4 Amps) and using a 12v water/air pump running on 8v to push the smoke. I can't run it on 3v (coil capable of 3.5v) as the regulator (5 Amp) is only rated for around 3.5A continuous (found that out cooking the last one) They say they have an over heat cutout, - but not so much☹️!
Don't need any more smoke than this for most applications I would think, but it's there if you need Mt Etna. Might see if I can get some lower wattage coils to drop the amps. I've ordered a few different 5A regulators to try, but I think fans are going to be needed to cool them. I think this is about as small as you can make these, using this method and easy to find bits and pieces, as you have to leave a reasonable air gap so as not to melt the housing, (also to pack the cotton around the coil)
There are the pre-wound coils to try next which might be able to be fitted in a smaller metal housing, but that's for later. I'm sure everyone has the idea by now and it will be interesting to see what others come up with for their particular models.
JB
Hi G6, yes, I removed the whole device. It was cooked due to a short/over voltage when the voltage buck threw a rod. Wired it up direct with another buck turned down to 2v. I'm going to try some other coils to drop the amps and have fitted a 12v fan to this buck to help cool it.
JB
Using the e-cig element in the alloy box again but with the old smoker pump bored out and converted to a single outlet in line with the piston. Even makes a cool sound out the exhaust side!. Still waiting for my air pumps so just playing around in the mean time. Also trying glycerin and water 50/50 instead of baby oil. The pump doesn't shift much air ( slightly more blowing than sucking, - sort of pulsing back and forward) but if I blow down a tube I get clouds of smoke, I'll see what the air pumps do. Still only running on 2v.
JB
Hi JB, That's interesting about the Dutch Girl, wonderful trip. I know about the Welsh settlements in Patagonia of course. Many of them are very proud of their ancestry. I was at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen a few years ago and an official party from Welsh Patagonia were there as an official delegation.
I agree with you about the shops and what gets us is the scripted speech from the till assistant, 'can I help you with your packing, do you need bags? do you have a store card' and so it goes on. Try and enquire about something or ask for information and more often than not, they just bluster and cannot answer. No proper training or product knowledge at all. But this is it, the modern world, one often gets the impression that the government wants a populace of ignorant easily manipulated sheep, who will believe anything they are fed.
This version of a smoker box uses an E-Cig element in an alloy electronics enclosure.I gave the lid and box a 7mm haircut on the mill to reduce the size, (now 50x50x26, - was 50x50x33) but it could still be 1/2 the width. haven't found a smaller alloy box yet but might come across one, (only really needs to be 35mmx35mmx25mm The element is mounted on a bracket screwed to the bottom of the box (the box being the resevoir and neg) and against the outlet tube, and the pos wire runs through the side (in silicone tube) to the element.
The box is packed with cotton wool which is surrounding the element and soaked in smoke fluid (in this case baby oil) but leaving a passage through the center for air flow. I'm waiting for a couple of air pumps to arrive but I've used the old smoker unit pump again to demo the smoke and pulsing, (makes good smoke rings too)😊
The element is capable of taking 4.5v, but I'm only using 2v for the test and it smokes quite well. The pump is running on 7v but can be varied from around 3v - 8v. The large tubes are to allow for later exhaust fitting (water or dry stack). Once I get the air pumps I'll be running this one with the water again. I've done this (like Grahams version to be able to easily replace the element as the Heng Long smokers, while working ok (but noisy) have non replaceable elements, so if you kill one, it's off to file 13 at the end of the bench😉😁
The pump actually works quite well and if you mount it on sponge rubber it is reasonably quiet and could still be useful in a boat with a bit of interior room.
Super, I will be watching this with great interest. When the final version is finished I would like a set of diagrams and instructions. Or I could place an order for a dozen units.
Cheers Colin.
Using the modified fan forced Heng Long smoker box, and a dead unit pump to pulse the smoke. This version is a 'dry stack one', which would look good on tugs and work boats. Still working on perfecting the 'wet' version.
Told you to get on with a new project before you sank the ship........ Interesting that Bluebottle is still around - so which one are you ??????? Next thing you will be talking about Iceland Parrots (aka wheels-up) . What were you putting in the smoker ..............
Hi Peter, if you meant what am I using for the smoke,it's baby oil, or if you meant what am I putting this system in - nothing as yet. have to reduce the size, but I could fit it in the Fairacre or the Maiami as I have enough room in both to fit something.
JB
Changed the piping around and modified the outer tube so the smoke tube now comes straight in the back, and goes almost to the end of the outer tube. The water now comes into the outer tube and flows round the smoke tube and out, stopping any suck back to the smoke pump.
Re Get the Patent first JB,👍
But how will I stop certain 'reverse engineering experts' 😉 copying it Doug. Perhaps call it a vape machine to put them off the scent😀? 'Thinks' blast! I've already told them how I did it. Never mind, now we'll soon be able to buy one off Ali Express. Once had an idea for a pen with a triangular letter opener on the top end. Years later I went to a pop-up Chinese nic nac sale in a rented warehouse, and guess what was there??!!!☹️ They are obviously employing psychics to walk around jotting down peoples' ideas😮
I also still have 5th form (1968) sketches I did for a hybrid go-kart using a Briggs and Stratton motor driving 2 alternators charging twin 12v batteries driving electric motors on the back wheels with chain reduction drives, WHO KNEW???
JB (the too late inventor)
Saved from a farm rubbish bin and restored. It was originally scratch built from a 60s/70s RCM ? plan. Photos of rebuild are in the harbour. Not sure if it was originally built in the UK and immigrated to NZ as it's an unusual subject for a NZ build. Plans are apparently still available.
I've just found some info on Bates 'Starcraft' cruisers, UK. Looks like the original R/C plan may have been modeled on a version of one of the 'Starcraft' variants.
The farm is a fair way from the sea,- someone was not on watch obviously. Not my car, some guys doing building maint. We can park on that cobbled area you've pictured on the opposite side, (room for about 8-10 cars,-usually chokka when the yachts are racing) There is a nice little jetty built by the Gulf Harbour Model Yacht Club next to it which is great for setting up and launching. It's all part of the big Gulf Harbour Marina development and pond is actually a drainage control pond.
Was full of Koi carp to keep the weed down (carp were rented from a company by the council, but there was some dispute and the company came and removed their carp) probably missed a lot and they breed like flies, so it should come right. Pond's pretty weed free all the same. Pics of the jetty (from the HSL) with some old codger sitting on it, and the real HSL in the Bayswater Marina (Waitemata harbour Auckland), which I have been on board (once recently,-Modded- and once 50yrs ago-original form) Its' story is on the Waitemata Woodys website under W1.
The other pond is at the Onepoto reserve near the city on the waterfront. Bit of a drive (20mins down the motorway all the way) Yachts there as well. The pics with the Marine modellers club - Panmure Basin - East Auckland (the only scale model boat club in Auckland and virtually dead (pics are old), - only about 3 or 4 scale clubs in the country!) we tend to go more for the full scale here. Evening, JB
here is my Robbe Sirius, the Stock maritime tuned version.
I traded an iphone 5c for this model.
it was in a used state without any working electronics.
Completely removed all electronics, stickers and rigg and started with sanding.
resprayed the hull in oyster 'pearl metalic' and started building up with new fittings , electronics etc
Sails like a beauty !
This is a first try at a simpler quieter smoke unit. I used the smoker box/element off the Heng Long tank/car smoker unit with a 40x40 5v fan (the fan being voltage controlled by a 5v UBEC and the lot being run by a 2s Lipo (with a y splitter for the fan UBEC and the element using JST leads. Doesn't smoke that well as I had broken then repaired the element previously, but the other one I have smokes a lot better, and has a better type of element (possibly a newer version) Some photos etc on the smoker discussion. Unit is almost silent (the noise you hear is the camera and outside noise, as the window was open)
"Searcher" was a Graham Goodchild design offered as a free plan in "Model Boats" in December 1981. Here is my version , many years in the building and finally nearing completion. Access to the hull on the original design was via a hatch above the cockpit - I had no faith in my ability to make it water tight so went for removable grp. hatches. The model is activated by a reed switch just in front of the rear hatch, which saves me the hassle of doing/undoing all the nuts (this had not been fitted when I took the first picture). The rear hatch gives me easier access to the drive coupling. The name "Nimbus2" is in honour of one of Dan Dare's spaceships in the Eagle comic. The third picture shows the ship in its final state with added 'enhancements' and working lights.
This ship was a lightship tender named "Coeur de Lion" that was armed and drafted into the Union during the civil war to counter blockade runners. This model is scratch built and is inspired by a paper model designed by Magnus Mörck. A sidewheel steamer equipped with the typical walking beam machinery, it was rebuilt to carry three guns. A line of iron plates along the gun wales added a measure of armoured protection. After the war it was returned to lightship service. On my model the paddles are independently driven, mainly because I have a Robbe Navy F14 transmitter with twin sticks. The walking beam is operated by a servo modified for continuous rotation. The original ship towed a barge that flew an observation balloon and could be described as the first 'aircraft carrier' the fifth picture shows the barge I have made - I hope one day to emulate the real thing by raising and lowering a suitable balloon. I have included some pictures of the rest of my paddle fleet.The 'Rachel Erin' is a freelance sternwheeler 'quarter wheeler' tug that uses a worm drive to the paddles. She does not steer well. The last ship is an enlarged version of Graham Goodchild's Santa Anna.
